Dear Friends,
We had a great visit from Governor Moore this week showing him how we are adding electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout the County. You can read more about his visit here: Wes Moore wants apartments to install electric vehicle chargers | wusa9.com
The County installed its first EV charger at a garage in Bethesda in 2015. Nearly 10 years later we are receiving the kind of State and Federal support with EV infrastructure that will keep us on the forefront of environmental change.
The Governor’s Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Equity Grant Program will help. The Governor’s program would invest $23 million toward electric vehicle charging infrastructure in low- and moderate-income, historically underserved communities in Maryland.
Together with the Governor, we toured the Seneca Woodvale Apartments in East County to see how charging stations can be and are utilized in equity emphasis areas. The County has used the Montgomery County Green Bank to be a leader in this regard, allowing companies to add charging stations to their properties for employees and residents. Money for the Green Bank came originally from the energy tax. They have been able to multiply that seed money many times over, so it is a worthwhile investment for us.
We have added EV charging stations to public garages and community centers in the County. There are 64 County charging ports in Bethesda, Silver Spring and Wheaton and more that have been added by private companies and community partners. The point is to make them accessible so that more people can seriously consider buying or leasing an EV next time they need a vehicle.
Montgomery County is home to 31 percent of registered plug-in vehicles in Maryland, but we need to continue to expand the infrastructure. With the Governor’s support and private partnerships with companies, I know Montgomery County will continue to lead the way in adding electric vehicles to the road so we can lessen the impacts of greenhouse gases.
WSSC Bioenergy Facility
We have found another creative way to cut carbon emissions by using waste to create energy.
I want to acknowledge and thank WSSC and MCDOT who celebrated the opening of the Piscataway Bioenergy Facility. This video explains how the process works. The facility is now operational and producing methane gas that will help fuel our Ride On buses, a contract we agreed to last summer.
According to WSSC, the region creates 8,000 tons of biosolids per month, which are then turned into renewable natural gas. The solids that are left behind are used as additives for landscapes and gardens.
Transportation accounts for 42 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing the efficiency and reliability of our Ride On bus system is an important part of reducing our carbon emissions by 100 percent by 2035.
This agreement is an important improvement for our natural gas-powered Ride On vehicles. When coupled with our new electric buses and solar-powered bus depots, it is another example of how the County has made significant progress toward our climate goals and is leaving a positive legacy for future generations.
November is Remembrance and Reconciliation Month
In November, we observe Remembrance and Reconciliation Month by embracing our past. There will be several events aimed at helping us heal from a history that included slavery throughout our state and lynchings here in Montgomery County. Last year the County placed historical markers on Maryland Avenue in front of the Council office building to honor those killed and to spread awareness of our history.
Friday, Nov. 1 also marked 160 years since our state’s Emancipation Day. Maryland was one of the first states to abolish slavery in its constitution, ahead of the nation’s 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery nationwide the next year.
We know that racist laws and policies continued well past the end of the Civil War. For decades they helped shape where people lived, how they were moved out of neighborhoods and who could own property. Discrimination in housing was extreme, and it is not part of ancient history – until the mid-1960's black residents, and often Jewish people, could not buy or rent housing in Montgomery County. And at the end of the 1950’s, as Washington was integrating, white residents of Washington were leaving the city and land developers in our County encouraged them to come here where the housing was still segregated. It was an advertising lure to prospective buyers.
There are several events and listening sessions over the next few weeks that have been set up to help more residents understand the struggles Black Americans went through. They include:
- An emancipation event at the Josiah Henson Museum and Park on Saturday, Nov. 3, starting at 10 a.m. in North Bethesda.
- Another event at the Sandy Spring Slave Museum on Saturday, Nov. 3, from noon – 3 p.m. honoring Emancipation Day.
- A ‘Community Conversation’ to celebrate African and First Nations Culture at the Rockville Memorial Library on Thursday, Nov. 14.
- On Thursday, Nov. 14, an online seminar on exclusionary housing policies will be led by Montgomery History starting at 7 p.m. Online registration is required.
You can also watch my weekly media briefing to learn about this and a variety of other issues. of other issues.
Election Day Prep/Security
Early voting wrapped up on Thursday, with the largest turnout of the eight days. At this point, approximately 40 percent of voters have voted either by mail or during early voting.
The Board of Elections is asking that those who have not yet returned their mail-in ballots do so soon. Mail-in ballots can be returned through the mail (they must be postmarked by November 5, but the Board of Elections is urging that you mail before November 5) or deposited in a secure drop box. You can find a location here: Montgomery County Board of Elections - Drop boxes.
Voters who have requested and received a mail-in ballot can vote in person, but they will have to vote a provisional ballot, which will be counted after the Board of Elections staff confirms that the mail-in ballot was not returned. For more information go here: Vote by mail - Board of Elections - Montgomery County, Maryland
As we head to Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, there remains a lot of discussion about integrity and ballot security – perhaps it is because former President Donald Trump is back on the ballot after making unfounded claims of election fraud in 2020. I want to assure you that we have teams of people from several departments focused on security and election integrity. On Election Day, our Emergency Operations Center will be open to coordinate and address any issues that arise regarding safety, security and your ability to cast your ballot. Every one of the drop boxes used to collect mail-in ballots are under video surveillance. If you feel more comfortable turning in your mail-in ballot you can do that at any polling location.
There is no reason for our voters to be alarmed—please know that we are prepared. We are ready to respond to, mitigate and address any issues that emerge at polling locations or drop-off sites, as well as any misinformation, to ensure that your right to vote is protected. Visit 777vote.org for updated information.
Honoring Veterans Throughout November
Keep an eye out for green lights in Rockville, Silver Spring and elsewhere in our community this November. Operation Green Light is back to show support for veterans and their families.
The County’s Department of General Services will salute veterans by altering the lights at the Executive Office Building’s Memorial Plaza. Lights will also go green at Veterans Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring.
This week, my office and the County Council got a jump start on honoring Veterans Day with a joint proclamation. Thanks to the County’s Department of Transportation, a special Ride On bus honoring the military will soon be on the road.
Military families sacrifice so much for our nation. These tokens to honor our military and their families are the least we can do in honor of Veterans Day. Visit montgomerycountymd.gov/veterans for tributes to our local veterans and information about other events planned to commemorate Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
New Life Sciences Training Center Opens
Last week, we celebrated the opening of the new BioHub Education and Training Center at Montgomery County, which will help Montgomery County employees and businesses for years to come.
Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, Rockville Mayor Monique Ashton and other elected officials were with Maryland Tech Council leaders in Rockville to open this new facility. The tech council developed this facility in response to industry demand for more biomanufacturing training.
The project is receiving $3 million from the County, $2.5 million in Federal money made possible by our Congressional delegation, and an additional $1 million invested from the State. We appreciate the support and resources for this facility from our federal and state partners.
The County currently is home to about 40,000 workers in the life sciences field. This new facility will complement education at Montgomery College and the Universities at Shady Grove which upskill our workforce with training in biomanufacturing.
Our County has all the elements needed to be a good location for biopharma manufacturing opportunities. This facility provides new opportunities for residents across the County to enter this growing industry sector and ensures our employers will have the workforce they need as we continue to diversify our economy through manufacturing and see our area grow as a national leader in life sciences. Learn more about the hands-on training and lecture opportunities available through BioHub Maryland by visiting the 'courses' page.
Celebration of Diwali
This week marked the beginning of Diwali. I want to wish Happy Diwali to all Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Muslims across the County and the world marking the victory of light over darkness.
The celebration continues next week, with the County hosting its 14th annual Diwali celebration on Friday, Nov. 8, at the Executive Office Building in Rockville. I look forward to celebrating the ‘festival of lights’ with everyone.
Silver Spring’s Koiner Farm Expanding
The County's first and only urban farm is expanding. The Charles C. Koiner Center for Urban Farming (CKC) recently celebrated its second location at Loiederman Middle School to help more kids understand how to grow produce and learn the benefits of having locally sourced nutritious food.
It has only been five years since the Koiner Farm was awarded Maryland's first conservation easement for urban agriculture. The move protects the property from development and allows the mission of the farm to continue well into the future. The farm hosts educational programs for local schools and community groups while maintaining the farm with help from interns and volunteers. In the video we showcase the work done by Koiner and the partnership they have with nearby Shepherd’s Table to donate produce used in Shepherd’s Table’s meal preparation.
Montgomery County is home to a diverse agricultural environment, 583 farms and an industry that employs more than 10,000 people. A few weeks ago, I joined the County Council in honoring National Farmer's Day.
We are very proud of our Ag Reserve and proud of some of the positive changes including the increased emphasis on farm-to-table products and using technology to make farming more efficient. I recently attended the launch of a composting education hub at the Agricultural History Farm Pak in Derwood.
I hope more people get to know the role of the Composting Education Hub as it works with groups to reduce food waste, enhance soil quality and take positive climate action. I want to thank the University of Maryland Extension, Montgomery County Master Gardners and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance for their work on the collaboration. A schedule for compost training will be available soon.
This is a great time of year to visit the countryside of Montgomery County, especially with the leaves changing colors. I encourage you to check out this Visit Montgomery blog to get some tips on the best places to grab the best photos.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
