Sustainable Maryland Update

August 2015

Welcome Aboard Federalsburg and Rock Hall / How Much Do Bike Lanes Cost? /
Save the Date: Leadership Trainings in November / Webinar Wednesdays /
EFC's 2014 Annual Report

Our monthly sampling of news, resources, events and other items of interest from across the sustainability spectrum in Maryland.

Summer is a great time to explore Maryland by bike - check out these bike trail maps for a ride near you!

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Watershed Assistance Grant Program

(Chesapeake Bay Trust)

Deadline: Sept. 3
More info

Charles County Forestry Grant Program (Chesapeake Bay Trust)
Deadline: Rolling
More info

Community Engagement & Restoration Mini-grants (Chesapeake Bay Trust)
Deadline: Rolling
More info

Prince Georges County Weatherization Program

Deadline: Rolling

More info

Prince Georges County Raincheck Rebate (Chesapeake Bay Trust)

Deadline: Rolling
More info

EVENTS CALENDAR

Building a Responsible Energy Infrastructure for the Future
Date: August 20
Location: Crystal City, VA
Link

Nature in the Walkable City Exhibit

Dates: Aug. 7 - October 3

Location: Washington, DC

Link

Montgomery County Green Bank Information Session
Date: Sept. 16
Location: Rockville
Link

Chesapeake Watershed Forum
Dates: Sept. 25-27
Location: Shepherdstown, WV
Link

Looking Ahead

Maryland Tour of Solar and Green Homes
Dates: Oct. 3-4
Locations: Across MD
Link

Maryland Municipal League Fall Conference
Dates: Oct. 26-28
Location: Cambridge, MD
Link

Engineering Green: Urban Design and Revitalization Using Green Infrastructure
Date: Nov. 3
Location: Towson University
Link

SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND MUNICIPALITIES IN THE NEWS

Ocean City Looking to Become More Sustainable

Link

Searching out Sustainability in Berlin, Ocean City
Link

ELECTRIC VEHICLE READINESS PRESENTATIONS AT RECENT MWCOG WORKSHOP

The metropolitan Washington region has over 3,000 registered plug-in electric vehicles, and nearly 500 charging stations. On June 30, in partnership with the Maryland Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council, MWCOG co-hosted the Regional Electric Vehicle Readiness Workshop, bringing together experts from the private and public sectors and local leaders for a conversation about the purchase and integration of EV fleets. Check out the workshop presentations here.

WELCOME ABOARD: FEDERALSBURG AND ROCK HALL

Sustainable Maryland is pleased to welcome two towns on the Eastern Shore into our program:

Federalsburg Town Hall

The Town of Federalsburg, a community of 2,700 in Caroline County, is located along Marshyhope Creek, where a Hiker/Biker Trail offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including prime wildlife-viewing, for residents and visitors alike. The weekly Farmers Market on Main Street offers a variety of local vendors during spring and summer months. The Federalsburg Historical Society has converted an old garage behind Town Hall into a museum. In 2014 the town, with support from EFC, completed a stormwater infrastructure analysis, including the location and sizes of existing stormwater system structures and pipes.

The motto of the Town of Rock Hall, a waterfront community of 1,300 in Kent County, is "The Pearl of the Chesapeake". Located along the National Chesapeake Scenic Byway, Rock Hall maintains an active working waterfront of commercial fisherman and leisure boaters, and is a jumping off point for many outdoor pursuits like kayaking and bird-watching. The town's Business Association organizes a steady supply of events, and the Farmers and Artisans Market runs from April through October. On the energy front, a 1.6 megawatt solar array was installed at the Rock Hall Waste Water Treatment Plant, which will provide up to 75 percent of the electricity needs for the plant, Rock Hall Town Hall, an elementary school, the Kent County Board of Education building and a pumping station. Finally, a stated goal of the current administration is to retain it's "small-town village model - with livable, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods."

We look forward to working with Federalsburg and Rock Hall!

EVER WONDER HOW MUCH WALKING & BICYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS?

Bike parking, Hagerstown

How much does it cost to paint a sharrow (answer: $180 on average)? What's the tab for bus shelter ($11,560) or a raised crosswalk ($8,170)? How about the going rate for a mile of bike lane ($133,000)?

Many towns and cities are planning for more walkable, bikeable communities these days, including preparing plans for infrastructure improvements. Here's an excellent resource for putting together a detailed budget:

Costs for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Infrastructure Improvements

from the Federal Highway Adminstration and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Active Living Research program. This report is a comprehensive survey of walking and bicycling costs from across the US, with photo examples and detailed descriptions, average/high/low costs, and other resources.

SAVE THE DATES: SUSTAINABLE MARYLAND LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMS IN NOVEMBER

2014 Leadership Training

Save the date! Building upon our successful Leadership Trainings last year, Sustainable Maryland will be holding similar day-long programs this November. The topic this year, which we addressed in a condensed format at the recent MML convention, will be "Financing Your Community's Sustainability Projects."

Training dates and locations will be as follows:

Monday, November 16

Eastern: Public Safety Building, Cambridge

Wednesday, November 18

Central: UMD campus, College Park

Thursday, November 19

Western: UMD campus, Hagerstown

Stay tuned for agendas and registration information in September!

ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCE CENTER'S 2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Learn more about all of the Environmental Finance Center's activities across EPA Region 3, including green infrastructure, stormwater financing, working waterfronts, energy efficiency, asset management and, of course, the Sustainable Maryland program, in our 2014 Annual Report.

WEBINAR WEDNESDAYS THIS FALL

Sustainable Maryland will be holding webinars on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month this fall. Stay tuned for a schedule and registration. Topics will include unpacking SM Actions, green purchasing policies, DHCD sustainable communities, financing sustainability projects, energy, health and wellness and more.

QUOTE

"This is one of those rare issues - because of its magnitude, because of its scope - that if we don't get it right, we might not be able to reverse, and we may not be able to adapt sufficiently. There is such a thing as being too late when it comes to climate change."

-President Barack Obama, The Clean Power Plan

Sustainable Maryland is an initiative of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland. It is a free and voluntary program designed to help Maryland communities choose a direction for their sustainability efforts, improve access to resources needed to implement action, and recognize their accomplishments. Our sponsors include the Town Creek Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Maryland Municipal League. For more information about how your municipality can register in the Sustainable Maryland program, plus customized Green Team training and access to student resources that are available to provide consultancy services for municipal planning, please contact 301 405-7956 or mikeh75@umd.edu

Mike Hunninghake

Program Manager

Sustainable Maryland

STAY CONNECTED