MoCo Government

“Passing BEPS was critical toward meeting our Climate Action Plan goals of reducing 100 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions by 2035,” said County Executive Elrich. “Our new Building Performance Improvement Board is important toward the implementation of this process. I encourage all residents who are eligible to please apply for this board.”

County Executive Elrich will appoint members to the board after July 31. Nominees must then be confirmed by the County Council. Applicants of diverse backgrounds, professions, genders, geography, abilities, ethnicities and ages are encouraged to apply.

By law, no more than three members of the board shall be from the same political party. This position can be filled by a Republican or a voter who is unaffiliated with a party, or a voter who is a member of another party officially recognized by the Board of Elections. This position cannot be filled by a Democrat.

The current members of the Board include Chair John Pentecost (Democrat), Richard Melnick (Unaffiliated), Caryn Hines (Democrat), and Roberto Pinero (Democrat). Members of County Boards, Committees and Commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

The Climate Action Plan (CAP), unveiled in 2021, is a strategic plan to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035. The plan also seeks to reduce climate-related risks to the County’s residents, businesses, and the built and natural environment. The annual climate work plan describes the actions that the County is making progress on in the near term in support of the CAP.

“As showcased in the Quarter 3 updates, Montgomery County continues to make progress toward meeting our climate goals,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Addressing climate change supports and builds on the County’s efforts to improve quality-of-life and economic vitality in our community. I am proud of Montgomery County’s leadership on climate.”

“Yesterday, four people were killed in a Tulsa medical building, in what can only be described as a horrific and senseless incident of violence. This marks the 233rd mass shooting in 2022.

“The Montgomery County Council is enraged that our nation is suffering from yet another mass shooting, mere days after the tragedies that took place in Buffalo, New York, in Uvalde, Texas and across the United States where over a dozen mass shootings took nine lives and injured more than 70 individuals during the Memorial Day weekend.

There is no place for hate in Montgomery County and our community will not tolerate any attempts like this to intimidate religious, racial, ethnic, or minority group in our County. We are committed to creating a community of inclusion and respect. Today, we stand united with our Jewish residents, particularly our local Holocaust survivors, their children, and grandchildren.

In fact, we are the only local jurisdiction in the region that provides grant money to nonprofit entities and houses of worship to protect their members and congregants. Following last month’s hate crimes and tragedies in Buffalo and at an Asian American church in Southern California, faith and government leaders came together to increase our communication and vigilance in our County. In response to today’s incident, we will be meeting with members of the Kemp Mill Jewish Community to discuss safety and security and emphasize that our County stands united against hate.