On Tuesday, July 15, Montgomery County Council President Kate Stewart introduced a bill designed to “stabilize energy costs” and allow the County to diversify its energy options.
According to a July 15 press release, the bill aims to foster renewable energy at competitive prices. It centers around the idea of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), which allows local governments to outsource energy while also utilizing their own energy sources.
In a July 8 background document, Stewart said CCA is the “#1 most impactful climate action the county can take to reach its Climate goals by 2035.”
The bill’s introduction comes in an era marked by “great changes to federal policy and climate action funding compounded by the uncertainty in energy prices and increased demand,” Stewart says in the press release.
Background
The proposed legislation, Expedited Bill 27-25, Environmental Sustainability – Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), builds upon a pilot program passed in 2021. This program put in place regulations governing the implementation of CCA initiatives, according to the background document.
What followed the 2021 passage were a series of hearings, working group meetings and various proceedings leading up to today’s bill proposal.
According to the press release, the director of Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection would be tasked with supervising “all operations and functions of the CCA.”
What does this mean for Montgomery County?
Takoma Park Mobilization Environment Committee Co-Chair Laurie McGilvray said in the press release this bill would “[allow] the County to purchase and offer energy with more renewable content at an affordable price.
According to the press release, a community hearing is tentatively planned for Sept. 9.
Learn more about the proposed bill and read the full July 15 staff report here.
