Council Doubles County Buy of Renewable Energy to 20 Percent by 2011
Council Gives “Green” Light to “Clean Energy Rewards” Program for Users of Non-Polluting Energy
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Council Doubles County Buy of Renewable Energy to 20 Percent by 2011
Council Gives “Green” Light
to “Clean Energy Rewards” Program for Users of Non-Polluting Energy
The Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved an executive regulation designed to implement a County “Clean Energy Rewards” program to give incentives to residents who use clean, renewable energy. The Council also amended the County’s energy policy to double the County government’s purchase of renewable energy from 10 percent now to 20 percent by 2011.
“County residents who use clean, renewable energy reduce air and water pollution, help conserve fossil fuels and combat global warming,” said Council President George Leventhal, who sponsored the law. “They pay about two-and-a-half cents more per kilowatt hour over standard rates and they pay the County’s energy tax. This program would give them about half a cent per kilowatt hour back – just about the equivalent of the County’s energy tax.”
“In 2004, the Council committed Montgomery County government to purchase at least five percent of its energy needs from clean renewable energy sources. Now, we are at 10 percent. By changing the County’s energy policy today, we are setting a goal of 20 percent by 2011.
“I want to especially acknowledge the activism of David Bronstein and other members of Montgomery County Student Environmental Activists, with whom I’ve worked closely on promoting the purchase of more clean energy. They know we have to ‘think globally and act locally’ to address global warming.”
The estimate is that up to 6000 County residents could be eligible for the awards program and would receive either a direct County payment of up to $60 per year or the same amount credited against their utility bills. Wind power, energy from landfill gas, and solar energy are among the energy sources that would be eligible for the rewards program. Businesses are also eligible for the program.
Utilities and environmentalists have voiced support for the initiative, which is the first such legislation in the nation.
The projected start date for the program, which will be administered by the Department of Environmental Protection, is March of 2007.
Businesses and individuals can sign up to buy clean energy through the following vendors:
PEPCO Energy Services
www.pepcoenergy.com
Washington Gas Energy Services
www.wges.com
The Clean Energy Partnership 301-754-0430
www.cleanenergypartnership.org
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