Montgomery County: County, Others Pledge to Fight Global Warming

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 recently at the National Association of Counties annual convention in Richmond, Virginia. The 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. Counties represented pledged their participation.

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. "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."

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.

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. 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 initiative calls on participants to:

1) Create an inventory of County Government greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

2) Implement actions to achieve reductions in GHG emissions Montgomery County joined the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives Cities for Climate Protection program in July 2000.

3) Develop a regional plan to reduce GHG emissions with short, mid and long-term targets Montgomery County participates in the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Climate Change Steering Committee. The action plan will outline additional targeted goals.

4) Urge Congress and the Administration to enact methods and strengthen standards to reduce GHG emissions 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.