(1/2022) Grant to Help with Home Energy Saving Home Improvements

Frederick County residents can save money by making their homes more energy efficient. Funding through the Power Saver Retrofits Program will help low- and moderate-income households to have energy audits conducted and energy-efficient home improvements made.

Improvements and audits will be funded through a $400,000 Low-to-Moderate Income Grant that was awarded to the Frederick County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources by the Maryland Energy Administration.

To qualify, households must meet income requirements equal to $57,750 for a one-person household or $82,500 for a four-person household.

For more information about the program, income limits, or to download an application, visit FrederickCountyMD.gov/psr or contact Dawn Ashbacher, the County's Sustainability Program Manager, at 301--6864 or dashbacher@frederickcountymd.gov.

County Launches Climate Initiatives

Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner unveiled a comprehensive program to address climate change and to make Frederick County more resilient and sustainable into the future.

The long list of initiatives fall under one of four broad categories: climate and energy action plans; clean fleet and electric vehicle infrastructure; building energy and resiliency programs; and clean energy procurement.

"We save green when we go green," Executive Gardner said. "Sustainability ensures a bright future for our community. It is good stewardship and good government. And sustainability fits with our goals and vision for Livable Frederick."

Frederick County’s Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources will utilize one-time funds to implement the initiatives to ensure the County meets its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. The initiatives include:

Climate and Energy Action Plans:

• Regional plan in coordination with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and its other partner jurisdictions.
• A parallel Frederick County specific plan, which will include an internal inventory of greenhouse gases; and a strategy for mitigation, risk and vulnerability assessment, and resilience. The plan is being conducted in coordination with the City of Frederick.
• The action plans will outline how the County transitions to clean electricity, improved energy efficiencies in buildings, electric or zero emission vehicles, and additional forested land.

Clean Fleet and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Programs:

• Expand the number of clean vehicles in Frederick County Government’s fleet.
• Identify opportunities to install electric charging stations at FCG facilities and in other areas in the county.
• Conduct a study of codes and ordinances that may need updated to support electric vehicle technologies.

Building Energy and Resilience Programs:

• Create a program to deploy building technologies, such as combined heat and power, microgrids, and distributed generation.
• Enhance the residential Power Savers Retrofit program to help more people save on their home energy costs.
• Augment the commercial clean energy loan program (Property Assessed Clean Energy), which helps businesses to invest in energy efficiency projects through private bank loans, which they pay back through their property tax bills,
• Retrofit County government facilities and install micro-grids to reduce reliance on non-renewable energy.
• Conduct a telework study for County employees to reduce the number of cars on the roads and design office space that can be shared when employees need to be on site.

Clean Energy Procurement

• Increase renewable energy sources to fully offset building electricity use with 100% renewable energy credits.
• Launch public outreach programs to help individuals, businesses and nonprofits boost their renewable energy sources.
• Update the popular Green Homes Challenge.

The County’s Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources will oversee the implementation of these initiatives. Those duties are in addition to the Office’s regulatory role to ensure the County meets strict standards imposed through its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit with the State of Maryland.

Community Foundation Fund Established for Animal Control Renovations

The Community Foundation of Frederick County has established a fund to support Frederick County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center’s planned renovations and additions. Over the next couple of years, the Frederick County Division of Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center will be undergoing a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) to plan and design, then upgrade and improve the facility’s infrastructure—much of which dates back to 1978.

The Frederick County Division of Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center is the only animal shelter in the county. Each year the division takes in—and provides care for--thousands of unwanted and stray pets. Animal Control Officers respond to an average of 10,000 calls each year that involve animal bites, sick or injured wildlife, and responses to house fires, auto accidents, or other emergency situations where animals are present.

Director Linda Shea says, "We are grateful for the ongoing generosity of the Frederick Community and appreciate the financial support of shelter advocates. This fund has been established to specifically support long overdue renovations that will help us provide better care for the animals in our shelter, our staff, and the community we serve."

The fund was created by Frederick Friends of Our County Animal Shelter (FFOCAS), a volunteer group that supports Animal Control’s lifesaving efforts through fundraising and education.

Visit Explore Funds - FFOCAS Animal Shelter Fund (frederickcountygives.org) for more information or to donate. Donations are tax deductible to the furthest extent of charitable giving law.

Call Frederick County Animal Control at 301--1546 during normal business hours for more information. To reach an Animal Control Officer, dial 301--1544. For animal-related emergencies, dial 301--1603 at any time.