Future county buildings and those undergoing major renovation will have to invest in clean, renewable energy, according to a bill passed unanimously by the Prince George’s County Council.
The bill, sponsored by Councilwoman Mary Lehman (District 1), requires investments in 1 kilowatt of clean, renewable energy technology for every 1000 square feet of floor space, up to the equivalent of 2 percent of the total cost of the building or renovation. Clean renewable energy includes geothermal, solar, and wind.
Exceptions are allowed if the investment will not be cost-effective or physically feasible, among other criteria. In those cases, the funds may be used to finance clean, renewable energy costs in other public buildings.
Increased use of clean, renewable energy is key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming. Maryland’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan mandates a 25 percent statewide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2006 levels by 2020.
Every megawatt of clean energy installed in the county’s buildings will avoid 706 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The bill is also expected to save energy costs to the county in the long run, stimulate technological development, and create new “green” jobs.
Maryland is one of only a dozen states with laws mandating greenhouse gas reductions. In passing this bill (CB-83-2013), Prince George’s County is the first in Maryland and one of the few in the nation to mandate clean renewable energy in new public buildings, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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