Montgomery County is spearheading sustainability projects

 

Great Falls, Maryland

Montgomery County, Maryland, secured an $8.3 million investment in state funding this summer to support clean energy and energy-efficient projects. This is significant since the implementation of energy-efficient technology can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Greenhouse gases, such as methane and carbon dioxide, are byproducts of the burning of fossil fuels in energy production and automobile emissions.

Montgomery County is Maryland’s most populous county with over a million residents and includes towns such as Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Rockville. Approximately $7 million of this grant money has been allocated to renewable energy projects with another $1.3 million to be used on energy-efficiency improvements. This initiative is estimated to save taxpayers $439,000 annually in energy costs.

The funding was awarded through Maryland’s Energy Administration's FY26 Local Government Energy Modernization (L-GEM) Program. Its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy and economic development.

Some of the 20 projects this state grant will go toward include:

• Installation of solar-powered backup systems at recreation centers and parks.
• Advancing Montgomery County's resilience hub and microgrid initiative.
• Improving safety, lighting, and energy efficiency in public parking facilities.

Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González said, “The more than $8 million funding from the Maryland Energy Administration will help Montgomery County advance clean-energy projects that reflect our sustainability-aligned values.” This underscores the common public sentiment among Montgomery County residents about the importance of sustainability and energy efficiency.

The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is also essential to help mitigate the impacts of human-induced climate change. Although climate change is a naturally occurring phenomenon, it has advanced more rapidly in recent decades, largely due to human activities since the Industrial Revolution. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “Since systematic scientific assessments began in the 1970s, the influence of human activity on the warming of the climate system has evolved from theory to established fact” (2021).

Through careful planning, this state funding will be put to good use in support of clean energy and energy-efficient projects across Montgomery County.

A closer look at September’s severe weather

 

The Enhanced Fujita Scale (Source: NOAA)

Severe weather is defined as a thunderstorm that contains any of the following: wind gusts of at least 58 mph, hail 1”/+ in diameter, or a tornado. Although it’s less common in September than during the spring and early summer, severe weather does occur. The remnants of tropical storms and hurricanes can also be a significant contributor to severe weather this time of year. 

2024:  Hurricane Helene was a devastating Category 4 hurricane that had far-reaching impacts in areas well inland both before and after its September 27 landfall in the Florida panhandle. A large and powerful storm, Helene and its remnants spawned dozens of tornadoes between September 25 – 27. The most active severe weather day was September 26 when 17 tornadoes touched down in South Carolina.

2023: The first half of September was quite hot in the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) with plenty of record heat. Not surprisingly, there was no shortage of severe weather between September 7 – 9. There were dozens of large hail and damaging wind reports in DC, Maryland and Virginia. According to NOAA, a wind gust of 75 mph occurred in Williamsport, Maryland on September 7 and hail 1.25” in diameter was observed near Dulles Airport in northern Virginia on September 8.

2020: A small but significant severe weather outbreak occurred in the DMV on September 3. Several reports of severe wind gusts were reported with a variety of damage that ranged from downed trees and power lines to roof damage. An EF-1 tornado also developed in Anne Arundel County, Maryland that tracked over six miles, according to NOAA.  

2018: Hurricane Florence made landfall on September 14 and its remnants lingered for several days, bringing devastating flooding and severe weather to the Mid-Atlantic Region. The DMV experienced significant impacts on September 17-18, with 13 confirmed tornadoes in Virginia alone. The strongest was an EF-2 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with wind speeds of 115-125 mph. A September 18 record rainfall total of 2.22” occurred at BWI Airport.

2001: September 24 will be the 25^th anniversary of the deadly F3 College Park tornado that claimed the lives of two sisters who were caught in their car on the campus of the University of Maryland. At peak intensity, the tornado had winds of nearly 200 mph. Although it was ranked an F3 at the time, the College Park tornado would be a borderline EF4/EF5 tornado today. The College Park tornado was one of several, including an F4 in Culpeper County, Virginia that touched down across the DMV.  

September’s significant hurricanes

 

Hurricane Helene, September 2024 (Source: NOAA)

Although it may not seem like it this season, September is statistically the busiest month of the Atlantic hurricane season. Whenever a tropical storm or hurricane is particularly destructive or deadly, the World Meteorological Organization retires its name. There are four September hurricanes that have impacted the United States in the last decade that have had their names retired.

Hurricane Helene (2024): Helene developed in the western Caribbean Sea and intensified into a major hurricane as it tracked northward into the Gulf. It reached its peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 140 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 939 millibars (mb). By comparison, standard sea level air pressure is approximately 1013 mb. Helene made landfall in northwestern Florida near the town of Perry and was a prolific rainmaker in areas well inland. Widespread flooding occurred from the remnants of Helene as far north as the Carolina’s and Tennessee Valley. According to NOAA, the storm is responsible for approximately 250 deaths in the United States along with $78.7 billion in damages (2024 dollars).

Hurricane Ian (2022): Ian developed in the Caribbean Sea and was upgraded to hurricane status south of Cuba. It intensified rapidly after crossed Cuba as it headed toward southwestern Florida. Ian briefly reached Category 5 intensity (160 mph / 937 mb), but made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Cayo Costa Island in southwestern Florida. Ian was an exceptionally destructive storm and did an estimated $119.6 billion in damages (2024 dollars). That not only made it the most destructive hurricane in Florida state history (ahead of other catastrophic storms like Irma, Charley and Andrew), but Ian remains the third costliest hurricane overall in the United States.

Hurricane Florence (2018): A long lasting Cape Verde hurricane that lasted more than two weeks, Florence was a Category 4 at peak intensity over the open Atlantic. It had sustained winds of 150 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 937 mb. Fortunately, it weakened to Category 1 intensity before its landfall in North Carolina on September 14. However, because the atmospheric steering currents were very weak, it meandered across the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic Region for several days where devastating flooding resulted. According to NOAA, Florence did an estimated $30.0 billion in damages in the United States (2024 dollars).

Hurricane Irma (2017): Irma was another long-lasting Cape Verde hurricane that reached Category 5 intensity on two separate occasions. At peak intensity, Irma had sustained winds of 180 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 914 millibars (mb). Irma left a deadly trail of destruction across much of the Caribbean and ultimately made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. It was the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Charley in 2004. Ultimately, Irma killed dozens in the United States and did $64.0 billion in damages (2024 dollars).