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Friends of Frederick County

Wine tasting small event organizer:  need support to plan late springtime event at local farm, prepare and send invitations, arrange for food, get support to set up and break down;  estimated time 2-3 hours/week

1- HB 150/HB 151/ SB 140/SB 141 : Protecting the Green Infrastructure Budget

This article protects funding for Program Open Space, the Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Programs, the Historic Tax Credit and opposes cuts to funding for our Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Planning agencies

2- Smarter Transportation Choices for Maryland

HB 282: Bicycle and Pedestrian Access

HB 1155: Consolidated Transportation Program

HB 461: Three Foot Bicycle Safety Rule

SB 51: Three-Foot Bicycle Safety Bill

SB 624:  The Shoulder Rule Bill

SB 760: Consolidated Transportation Program

Transportation for Maryland supports legislation that ensures transportation dollars to be spent in ways that create jobs, improve public health and improve the environment

3- HB 999/SB 686: Watershed Protection and Restoration Act

This bill will require counties to implement a stormwater user charge on impervious surfaces. This will create a dedicated revenue stream and hundreds of jobs in Maryland repairing the damage done by runoff from existing properties

4- Stormwater Management

HB 964/ HB 1125/SB 420

Stormwater is the only pollution source increasing loads to the Bay and its rivers. The bill proposes to step up reductions from development and redevelopment

5- HB 522: Public Service Commission – Report on the State’s Long-Term Energy Needs

SB 910: Comprehensive Energy Planning – Maryland LCV Priority

Requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) to oversee the creation of a state energy plan that is consistent with all state environmental laws and to review proposals with respect to that state plan

Committee Action

HB 33/ SB 213: Child Care Articles and Toys Containing Bisphenol-A (BPA)

Prohibits the manufacture, sale or distribution of toys or child care articles containing Bisphenol-A; requiring the use of the least toxic alternative

HB 51: Real Property – Installation and Use of Clotheslines on Residential Property

The bill encourages energy conservation by prohibiting communities from banning clotheslines on residential property

HB 70: Bay Restoration Fund – Expanded Uses of Funds

The bill is recommended by the Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee to make the best use of the Bay Restoration Funds for local governments to use in their enhanced nutrient programs

HB 169/SB 464: Marilyn J. Praisner Safe and Earth-Friendly Roadway Act

Authorizes the State Highway Administration, the Maryland Transportation Authority, or a political subdivision to install or replace safer, more energy efficient road lamps bulb

HB 160/HB221/SB155: Keep Farmers Farming

HB 160/: Estate Tax Exclusion for Family Farm in Preservation

The bill supports full relief for farmers from estate taxes when the parents die. The bill also supports partial relief for those farmers who go the extra mile and preserve their property. Keeping farmers farming promotes smart growth and protects open spaces

HB 221/SB 592/SB 790: Estate Tax Exclusion for Qualified Agricultural Property

The bill supports altering the determination of the Maryland estate tax under certain circumstances to exclude from the value of the gross estate the value of  certain agricultural property; providing for the recapture of certain Maryland

HB 313/SB 20: Bay Restoration Fund – Authorized Uses

The bill reduces pollution by authorizing the Bay Restoration Fund to pay the cost of connecting properties served by onsite sewage disposal systems to existing municipal wastewater facilities

HB 349/SB 455: Maryland Efficiency Standards Act – Televisions

The bill saves energy and reduces global warming pollution by establishing minimum efficiency standards for televisions sold in Maryland

HB 351/SB 462: Chesapeake Bay Restoration Consumer Retail Choice Act

Reduces waste and energy demands by establishing a customer bag revenue program for reusable bags used in place of plastic and paper bags. A portion of the fee will go to the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund

HB 446: Distribution of Telephone Directories – Customer Opt Out

The bill requires a telephone company to provide customers with an opportunity to opt out of receiving telephone directories distributed by, or on behalf of, the telephone company

HB 468/SB 282: Qualified Submerged Energy Lines

This bill would help facilitate development of offshore wind energy off the coast of Maryland

HB 471/SB 277: Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Solar

The bill provides altering a certain renewable energy portfolio standard in certain years for electricity derived from solar energy

HB 475/SB 285: Sustainable Communities Act

The bill reestablishes and alters the Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program (a.k.a., the Historic Tax Credit) to be the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit Program.

HB 527: Abandoned Vessels

The bill makes it easier for citizens and the Department of Natural Resources to remove abandoned boats

HB 624: Pharmaceutical Disposal Act

Reduces water pollution by requiring healthcare facilities to safely dispose of pharmaceuticals

HB 701: Payment for Accrued Generation Credit

The bill requires a certain net metering contract or tariff credit electricity generated by certain eligible customer–generators at certain rates under certain circumstances

HB 801/SB 355: Credits

The bill requires a certain net metering contract or tariff to credit in certain manner electricity generated by certain eligible customer–generators calculated at certain rates under certain circumstances

HB 902/SB 537: Net Energy Metering Credit Transfers

Authorizes certain not–for–profit customers to transfer certain generation credits accrued from electricity produced from certain renewable sources to certain properties

HB 705/SB 656: State, County, and Municipal Buildings

Building Energy Disclosure: requires that all government buildings publicly disclose

building energy use

HB 985/SB 713: Public and Commercial Buildings

The bill requires gas or electric companies to maintain, in a certain format, gas or electric consumption records for nonresidential retail gas or electric customers

HB 710/SB 229: Blue Ribbon Commission on Maryland Transportation Funding

The bill requires the Commission to review, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning certain issues

HB 716/SB 566: Direct Wine Shipping

The bill supports sustainable farming practices and maintaining Maryland’s farms and open spaces by promoting the sale of a growing agricultural product –Maryland wine. This bill would allow both wineries and retailers to ship up to 24 cases of wine to a Maryland resident per year

HB 827/SB 569: Biomass and Biofuels – In-State Production Incentives

Allows farmers to receive revenue for surplus energy produced with biofuels and requires blending biofuels into transportation fuels to provide energy independence and cleaner water

HB 903/SB 775: Road Salt Management Programs

Requires the State Highway Administration and each local jurisdiction that is responsible for highway maintenance to establish and implement a best practices road salt management program by certain date

HB 930/SB 359: Fertilizer and Pesticide Reporting

The bill mandates tracking and geographic mapping of fertilizer and pesticide use

HB 943/SB 311: Chesapeake Conservation Corps

The bill would establish a public-private volunteer service-based program that will train young adults for green-collar and community organizing jobs in environmental restoration, protection, energy conservation and education

HB 944: Recycling – Bars and Restaurants – Beverage Containers

The bill requires a certain distributor, on or before a certain date, to establish a certain program for the collection and recycling of certain beverage containers

HB 953/SB 859: Agriculture – Commercial Feed – Arsenic Prohibition

Prohibits a person from using, selling, or distributing certain commercial feed that contains roxarsone or any other additive that contains arsenic; and generally relating to the contents of commercial feed

HB 982: Solid Waste Management – Recycling – Requirements

The bill requires the Office of Recycling in the Department of the Environment to establish certain commodity–based solid waste reduction through recycling goals

HB 1014/SB 720: Clean Energy Loans

Gives cities and municipalities the ability to loan citizens money for solar or energy efficiency projects at very low interest rates, resulting in more access for homeowners

HB 1041: The Lead Paint Reduction Act of 2010

The bill gives legal standing to neighborhood associations to sue on behalf of their members over damages from lead paint poisoning and makes current lead paint law consistent across the state

HB 1360: Invasive Plants – Labeling and Notice

Discourages the introduction of invasive plants by requiring retailers to notify customers that invasive species sold could cause harm to the environment

Up and Coming Bills

HB 1257/SB 513: No-Discharge Designation for Maryland Waters

Reduces nutrient pollution by prohibiting boats from discharging treated and untreated sewage into the waters of the state

Incinerator Regulation

SB 228/514: Conditions for Issuance/ Limitations on Issuance

These bills establish important criteria for the building, re-licensing, or re-permitting of any incinerator or waste-to-energy facility

SB 653: Keep Coal Ash Out of Our Water

Prohibits certain uses of coal ash and adds stricter requirements to prevent toxic dust from blowing in the wind

SB 558: Long-Term Power Purchasing Agreements

Requires the Public Service Commission to enter into long-term purchasing contracts with renewable energy sources

Good Governance Bills

HB 107: Legislative Voting Sunshine Act

Requires that certain votes taken on a bill or amendments in a standing committee to be made available on the Maryland General Assembly website by a certain time

HB 344: Maryland Open Government Act

HB 1031: Open Meetings Bill

Requires the State Open Meetings Law Compliance Board develop and offer an online training program on the requirements of the open meetings law to employees, officers, and members of the public

Other Senate Bills

SB 3: Wetlands and Waterways Program Fees

Exempting aquacultural activities for which the Department of  Natural Resources has issued a certain permit from a requirement to pay  certain fees under the Wetlands and Waterways Program

SB 29: Preparation of Fishery Management Plans

Authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to prepare fishery management plans for any species of fish under certain circumstances

SB 37: Oysters – Patent Tongs and Power Dredges

Prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from prohibiting the use of certain devices to catch oysters in the waters of the State

SB 63: Transit-Oriented Development – Pledge and Use of Tax Increment Revenues – Operations and Maintenance Funding

Authorizing counties and municipal corporations to directly fund the costs of the operation and maintenance of certain improvements for transit–oriented development from the levy of tax increment revenues

SB 95: Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation – Farmland Preservation Partnership Program

Authorizing the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation to establish a Farmland Preservation Partnership Program to purchase certain agricultural preservation easements under certain circumstances

SB 156: Apartment Building Recycling

The bill requires owners or managers of apartment buildings or condominiums that contain a certain number of dwelling units to provide for recycling for residents on or before a certain date and follow recycling plans

SB 215: High Performance Building Act

Making the High Performance Buildings Act applicable to capital projects that are funded by a grant of State aid to certain grantees under certain terms

SB 224: Solar Drying Bill

Removes the prohibition of clotheslines or other outdoor laundry drying devices, but would allow condominiums, homeowners associations or housing cooperatives to adopt reasonable rules regarding the timing, placement, and manner of use of these devices

SB 235: Mobile Home Parks – Plans for Dislocated Residents

Requires better land use planning of the relocation of dislocated residents of mobile parks to encourage the continuation of their community

SB 342: Natural Resources – Oyster Poaching – Hearing

This bill complements the Governor’s oyster initiative by directing DNR to conduct an administrative hearing for anyone who receives a citation for oyster poaching

SB 350: Transit-Oriented Development – Expansion of Geographic Area

Expands the geographic area within which a specified project could qualify as a transit-oriented development (TOD). This would weaken TOD, a targeted smart growth program, and would steer precious resources to less efficient locations

SB 515: The Renewables First Act

Requires that Maryland first consider renewable energy for new electricity generation

There will be a one hour public briefing at noon on Thursday March 4, at FSK Mall Holiday Inn.

What’s the Green Neighborhood Effect?: Clean Currents  – through its Green Neighborhood Effect – is partnering with the local organization Friends of Frederick County to offer clean power for your home!   Please let your friends and neighbors know about this so we can reduce our demand for dirty and non- renewable energy and promote clean currents!

Sign-up your Home for Wind Power at www.CleanCurrents.com

HELP THE ENVIRONMENT

By default right now your home’s electricity is coming  from a mix of coal and nuclear sources. The average home is responsible for putting about 15,000 lbs of carbon dioxide, the main global warming gas, into the atmosphere each year.  That’s a 15,000 lb carbon footprint or the equivalent of 4 cars on the road for a year!  By switching to Clean Currents you personally eliminate your home’s carbon footprint.  Pass this around to your friends and neighbors -  and you can see results like these or better:  10 homes = 150,000 Ibs of CO₂ (or the equivalent of taking over 40 cars off the road!).

SAVE MONEY

The really good news is that right now, Clean Currents Wind Power for Home rates for Maryland and Washington, DC are lower than Pepco and BGE’s rates and there are no sign-up or switching fees!Your neighbors will thank you for telling them how to save money (most homes see $100 to $300 a year savings) And…it’s easier than you think.  Direct you neighbors to www.CleanCurrents.com and click on Wind Power for Home to enroll.

AMPLIFYING THE EFFECT

For each household that enrolls between now and the end of June 2010 Clean Currents will donate$10 to Friends of Frederick County for land and water conservation.

TAKE 3 MINUTES TO SIGN UP ONLINE

All you need to do to enroll your household in Clean Currents wind power is to go to our website,http://www.cleancurrents.com.  Click the “Wind Power for Home” link to access the signup page and fill out the requested info. (Clean Currents provides a packet of support materials for your community!). We can’t wait to help you get started!

Guest speakers were County Commissioner John  “Lennie” Thompson, who developed the proposal, and Frederick County Public Schools Facilities Services Division Executive Director Ray Barnes.

Mr. Barnes began by saying that enactment of the original APFO, as well as subsequent amendments to it, had been a significant factor in slowing growth in critically overcrowded locales so construction of the County’s school infrastructure could catch up with needs. He noted that there are still 20 schools in the county that exceed state rated capacity. However, he also explained that since the passage of the original APFO, the state has significantly dropped its capacity requirements per classroom.

The Frederick County Public School System serves the entire county, including the municipalities. So municipalities without an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance similar to the county’s can put a more severe stress on the system through unrestrained growth, which costs county taxpayers more in taxes for school construction.

While current pressures from this imbalance are low, Mr. Barnes said, the county birth rate is experiencing a significant upward trend, which means there will be more pressure for additional infrastructure in the coming years. “The APFO contributes to reducing the operating budget of the new schools, which helps with recurring and non recurring expenses when you open a new school as well as the reducing the operating expenses for that school and others in the system,” Mr. Barnes stated.

Commissioner Thompson explained that his proposal, now law, was aimed at requiring municipalities to operate under the same Adequate Public Facilities standards as the county. “ The municipalities are complaining that we are intruding on their sovereignty by requiring them to operate under the county’s Adequate Public Facilities standards for schools,” Thompson said. He