Berliner Prepares to Introduce Energy Bills

Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27, will be joined by representatives of national and local environmental groups, renewable and energy efficiency company executives, the County’s director of the Department of Environmental Protection and many of his colleagues as he prepares the following day to introduce a package of 13 measures addressing long-term protection of the environment and the use of clean energy.

The event will be held in the Third Floor Conference Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville.

“These measures are designed to ensure that Montgomery County remains at the sustainability forefront,” said Councilmember Berliner, who chairs the Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee. “They focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and government accountability. Based on the initial response of my colleagues, I am confident that we will pass these measures. Climate change is obviously not a hoax and we know what we need to do to address it: we need to use less energy and use cleaner energy.”

Among those expected to attend the event are Kateri Callahan, President of the Alliance To Save Energy; Shelly Poticha of the Natural Resources Defense Council; Brian Toll and Michal Freedman, Montgomery County Sierra Club Executive Committee members; Tony Clifford, CEO of Standard Solar; Joyce Briener, Executive Director of Poolesville Green; John Brill from Silver Spring Green and Bob Hoyt, Director of the County’s Department of Environment Protection.

“It is time to make sustainability a core government responsibility, and this package includes a measure that will create an Office of Sustainability within the Department of Environmental Protection,” said Councilmember Berliner. “Sustainability is an important value for our community; these measures reflect and reinforce that value and, in the process, will enhance our quality of life and promote a green economy.”

For more information on the legislation, call 240.777.7828.

About Staff Writer

View all posts by Staff Writer