Renewable Energy
Montgomery County, Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is committed to providing leadership which will foster conservation, protection and improvement of the environment by adopting a MCDOT Environmental Sustainability Policy that includes minimizing use of non-renewable resources.
Wind Energy
In 2004, MCDOT led a wind energy purchase by a regional partnership to purchase 5% of their energy supply (over 38.4 million kilowatt hours per year). This purchase represents the largest wind purchase ever conducted by a local government organization in the U.S. This purchase is equivalent to reduction of 42 million pounds of carbon dioxide, or 36 million miles not driven, or 2.9 million trees planted, the reduction of 95,000 pounds of nitrous oxides, and the reduction of 1.4 pounds of mercury.
In 2007, the following partnership members increased their purchase of “clean, renewable” energy to 10%: Chevy Chase Village, City of Rockville, City of Takoma Park, City of Gaithersburg, Village of Chevy Chase ( Section 5), Town of Laytonsville, Town of Somerset, Town of Glen Echo, Town of Kensington, College Park, Prince Georges County, Montgomery College,; Maryland - National Park and Planning Commission; HOC, and Montgomery County Government.
Goals and Achievements
- 2000-2004: Combined cost avoidance savings of $5.6 million
- 2004-2006: Over $27 million in contracts.
- Combined cost avoidance savings of $2.6 million
- 5% “clean, renewable” energy (largest award
for Green Energy by a local government in the Nation). - 2007: 10% “clean, renewable” energy
- 2011: Goal: 20% “clean, renewable” energy
Bio-Diesel
In May, 2007, DSWS changed the fuel it uses for all equipment at the Dickerson Compost Facility to B20, a bio-diesel fuel that is 20% based on soybean oil. Environmental benefits of B20 include the reduction, by 20 percent, the introduction of fossil carbon into the environment.
Waste-to-Energy
The Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility (RRF) is a waste-to-energy facility that converts the stored internal energy of waste into electricity. By generating power for use by homes and businesses, this waste-to-energy facility offsets the burning of fossil fuels, as well as emissions from coal and oil fired utilities. In fact, combusting 1,000 tons of solid waste saves the burning of about 1,600 barrels of oil or 500 tons of coal. The Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility (RRF) is a waste-to-energy facility.