The members of the Baltimore Reservoir Watershed Protection Committee (WPC) have executed a new Action Strategy for the Reservoir Watersheds.

Finalized in 2019, this Action Strategy details the measures that members have agreed to carry out in order to protect the quality of the region’s three drinking water reservoirs, and their tributaries. The affected watersheds feed the Loch Raven, Prettyboy and Liberty reservoirs.

Measures include both policy and program commitments to advance watershed protection, restoration, and management. The new Action Strategy builds upon a 2005 agreement and includes new efforts to: implement an enhanced monitoring plan, reduce road salt runoff; and explore funding opportunities.

This important agreement will also continue policies and practices in water quality monitoring and analysis; point source management; nonpoint source management; planning, zoning and development; resource protection and restoration; management of city-owned watersheds; toxics, spills, pathogens, and disinfectant by-products; reservoir watershed program coordination; and public awareness.

Members of the WPC include staff representing Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties, Baltimore City, the Maryland Departments of the Environment and Agriculture, Baltimore County and Carroll Soil Conservation Districts, and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

[Baltimore, MD, March 4, 2021] 

The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) applauds the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a renewable power purchase agreement on behalf of local governments in the Baltimore region. Baltimore County, as chair of the Baltimore region’s Energy Board, will lead the RFP process.

The Baltimore Regional Cooperative Purchasing Committee (BRCPC) works with regional procurement officers from its eight county/city membership to aggregate purchasing volumes of like commodities and services to leverage government buying power. BMC hosts and provides staff support to the work of BRCPC and its subcommittees, including the Energy Board.

The Energy Board is responsible for energy cost management and procurement programs for both electric and natural gas supply on behalf of its 24 members (including local governments, community colleges, public schools, museums and libraries). The committee reviews and assesses energy market developments, including renewable energy, on an ongoing basis. The combined portfolios for the Energy Board’s 24 participants was $84.7 million in fiscal year 2020. The Energy Board purchases more than 1.62 million MWhs of electricity and 2.5 bcf in natural gas per year. The Board is the largest purchaser of electricity in the State of Maryland.

By working together, Energy Board members negotiate significant cost savings on energy purchases. When compared to Baltimore Gas and Electric’s (BGE’s) standard offer service (SOS) rates alternative during FY20 for non-hourly priced accounts, members saved $10.0 million on electricity. From the electric portfolio’s inception in June 2006 through June 30, 2020, the portfolio has generated savings of $173.8 million when compared to BGE’s non-hourly priced SOS rates.

“The cooperative energy purchasing facilitated through BMC and the Energy Board is a model of regional government collaboration,” said Carroll County Commissioner and BMC Board Chair Stephen Wantz. “We are proud of the nearly 15 years and millions in savings this group has achieved on behalf of taxpayers and we commend our partners in Baltimore County for leading the way in this next evolution of the committee’s work.”

For roughly two years, the Energy Board has explored leveraging their collective buying power to support new renewable energy development and secure additional renewable energy certificates in accordance with the State of Maryland’s goal of achieving 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. The RFP released today by Baltimore County represents months of analysis, discussion and deliberation by the participating organizations. The RFP seeks a supply of 160,000 to 240,000 MWh of renewable energy and associated renewable energy certificates annually from one or more of the following sources: wind, solar, or other renewable energy plants. The Energy Board aims to achieve a 10 to 15 percent mix of renewable sources by comparison to its current energy portfolio, with electricity delivery to begin as soon as July 1, 2022.

“This is an important next step in our County’s—and our region’s—ongoing commitment to combatting climate change and growing the green economy,” said Baltimore County Executive and Immediate Past-Chair of the BMC Board Johnny Olszewski. “This planned power purchase will help our governments better support renewable energy production today and will reduce our carbon footprint in the years to come.”

This renewable power purchase was spurred by a number of factors, including new renewable portfolio standard goals set by the State, growing concerns about the effects of climate change, leadership by regional peers in Philadelphia and greater Washington, and a desire to build capacity in the renewable energy market.

“We are extremely proud of this RFP and the potential for a sizable renewable power purchase agreement for the Baltimore region,” said BMC Executive Director Mike Kelly. “As the single largest purchaser of energy in Maryland, we have an important part to play in achieving our state’s portfolio standard goals of 50 percent renewable energy by 2030.”

The following Energy Board members will participate in this procurement: Anne Arundel Community College, Anne Arundel County Government, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Baltimore City Government, Baltimore City Housing Authority, Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore County Government, Baltimore County Libraries, Baltimore County Public Schools, Baltimore County Revenue Authority, Baltimore Museum of Art, Carroll County Government, City of Aberdeen, City of Annapolis, City of Bowie, City of Westminster, Community College of Baltimore County, Harford Community College, Harford County Government, Harford County Public Schools, Howard Community College, Howard County Government, Howard County Public Schools, Walters Art Museum. Additionally, the following non-Energy Board members will also participate: Montgomery County Public Schools, and Eastern Shore of Maryland Educational Consortium – Energy Trust.