Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and Montgomery County Council President Marilyn Praisner today

announced that the County joined large counties across the country and the Sierra Club to found the Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration, which calls for dramatic cuts in global warming emissions and urges the federal government to enact policies designed to fight global warming and the country’s dangerous dependence on oil.  

The initiative was launched today at the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Convention in Richmond, Virginia. Participating counties pledged to reduce global warming emissions 80 percent by 2050. The Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration also urges the federal government to adopt legislation requiring an 80 percent emissions reduction by 2050 and calls for fuel economy standards to be raised to 35 miles per gallon within a decade.

Praisner and County Councilmembers Roger Berliner and Nancy Floreen represented the County at NACo’s press conference.

 “Montgomery County is a leader in the fight against global warming and we are making a difference through our initiatives to cut greenhouse gases,” said Leggett. “We are proud to join the Cool Counties Program as we continue to do all we can on the local level to safeguard our climate and set a course for future improvements.  But, we can’t do

it alone.  For our actions to be successful, the states and the Federal government must also be at forefront of efforts to reduce these harmful emissions.”

“There are many issues in which counties across the nation share concerns, but I cannot think of an issue that will have greater impact on the future for all of us than the need to protect the environment,” said Praisner.  “For some of the common issues discussed at this conference, we can take our own individual routes to solving them. However, the problems threatening our environment are not limited within a jurisdiction. These matters cross all borders. We must commit to identifying the problems, identifying the remedies and then to working in a united effort to make these solutions work.”

Montgomery County is a national leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In 2004, the County began purchasing five percent of its energy from wind – the largest municipal purchase of wind energy in the country at the time; increased the purchase to 10 percent in 2006 and has committed to purchasing 20 percent of electricity from wind in the next four years. 

In 2006, Montgomery County’s Clean Energy Rewards program became the first local program in the country to provide an incentive to businesses and individuals who purchase energy from renewable sources.  The County conducts energy efficiency

workshops and distributes compact fluorescent lamps. 

Also in 2006, Montgomery County passed legislation that requires County-built or funded non-residential buildings to achieve an Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver rating (33-38 points) and requires private non-residential or multi-family residential buildings to achieve a LEED certified rating (26-32 points). The Leadership in Green Building Rating System is a nationally accepted method of rating design, construction, and operation of buildings for sustainability.

Montgomery County was the first jurisdiction in the Washington area to implement a “Code Red, Ride Free” program to encourage more transit use during the region’s worst air quality days. Montgomery County is also committed to reducing fleet emissions.   The County’s Ride On bus fleet currently has 100 alternative-fueled vehicles, representing 27 percent of the fleet. By January 2009, that number will increase to 141 -- 38 percent of the fleet. The County also operates more than 120 compressed natural gas and ethanol-fueled cars and trucks. 

The Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration called on signers to commit to some ambitious goals – all of which the County is already in the process of implementing. The Cool Counties initiative calls on participants to:

In 2002, Montgomery County was one of the first local jurisdictions in the region to conduct a GHG inventory of both government and non-government sources. The County is currently updating this inventory of GHG emissions, which is expected to be complete later this year. 

Montgomery County joined the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives Cities for Climate Protection program in July 2000. Following completion of the GHG inventory, the County will develop a Climate Action Plan that will identify additional actions the County could take to reduce GHG emissions.   This fall, the County Council is expected to consider a package of climate actions based on principles agreed to by the majority of the Council earlier this year. In addition, the fiscal year 2008 work plan for the Office of Legislative Oversight includes a study of climate protection best practices undertaken by other jurisdictions to help guide further development of Montgomery’s climate action plan.

Montgomery County participates in the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Climate Change Steering Committee. The action plan will outline additional targeted goals.

The County provides input to the Office of Intergovernmental Relations regarding federal and state legislation related to climate change.

For more information on the County’s environmental initiatives, visit the website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dep.