FY2025 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets

FY2025 Proposed Budget Organizational Budgets

Division of Energy & Environment

The Department of Climate & Energy works in support of the County Executive and County Council’s agenda to address climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with local, state, and federal targets. This work also increases Fr ederick County’s energy independence, provides economic opportunity and technological advancement, improves the resiliency of County operations, and attracts federal and state funding. Our climate resilience and operational preparedness are a factor in the County’s bond ratings. To achieve its goals, DEE structures Climate &

Energy efforts around the following initiatives: · Climate and Energy Action Plans (CEAP) · Clean Fleet and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

· Building Energy Performance · Clean Energy Procurement

Figure 1: Climate and Energy Action Plan elements

Climate and Energy Action Plans (CEAP) are designed to meet the County Council’s Climate Emergency Resolution goal. These goals are consistent with the State and Metropolitan Washington Region targets. Phase one, the Climate and Energy Action Plan for Internal Government Operations, was completed in partnership with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) in March 2023. Scoping for the equity-focused community-wide plan is underway in collaboration with MWCOG and the City of Frederick with a start date in spring 2024. The CEAP includes greenhouse gas emissions inventory baselines and business-as-usual projections, a plan to mitigate these emissions, a Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment, and a Resilience Plan. A Project Manager I pos ition is requested in FY’25 to provide support for the implementation of the CEAP. $825K is requested in the CIP to implement elements of the CEAP in FY’25. The Clean Fleet and EV Infrastructure program evaluates the County-owned fleet for electric vehicle and clean fuel conversion opportunities, as well as community-wide needs for electric vehicle infrastructure. The transportation sector produces 41% of the greenhouse gas emissions from Frederick County Government Operations. Yearlong coordination efforts took place in FY’23 that led to the publication of the Frederick County Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fleet Transition Plan (AFVP) in November 2023. This Plan includes substantial collaboration with six Coun ty Divisions. It “right sizes” our fleet and proposes electrification of specific vehicles. It also looks at biodiesel as a transitional step for vehicles not currently recommended for electrification. The analysis of vehicles for electrification considered the total cost of ownership along with the status of existing vehicle technology and the kinds of tasks County vehicles must be prepared to do. By mid-2024, coordination was well underway with DPW Fleet and Professional Services as well as the Division of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) on fleet conversion to electric vehicles, installation of EV infrastructure, and biofuels. We wrote grant applications for the FY’24 replacement of 9 Fleet sedans to electric and to support the FY’25 proposal by

325