Last week, 17 states, the District of Columbia (DC), and Quebec agreed to a Multi-State Action Plan that aims to “translate commitment into action” by accelerating the market for zero-emission…
Maryland
New Maryland Conservation Finance Law Advances Green and Blue Infrastructure
On April 21, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed into law the Conservation Finance Act (H.B. 653/S.B. 348), which defines green infrastructure (the use of land-based natural areas to improve the…
Maryland Joins DOE’s Better Climate Challenge
This week, ECOS President Ben Grumbles attended the kickoff meeting of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Climate Challenge representing Maryland, the only state to join the Challenge to…
Activities of Several States Spotlighted in Maryland Blog on COP26
ECOS President and Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment Ben Grumbles has published an article for the state agency’s blog, eMDE, about his experiences at the 26th annual…
Maryland Featured in Washington Post on Climate Resiliency and the Eel Comeback
This week, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) was featured in a Washington Post article on its efforts to reinvigorate the American eel population in the Susquehanna River and…
ECOS 2021 State Innovation Award Videos
ECOS presented its annual State Program Innovation Awards at its 2021 virtual Fall Meeting. States submitted excellent video nominations showcasing the results of innovative programs and approaches. Videos appeared in…
Letter from Newly Elected ECOS President Ben Grumbles
ECOS’ newly elected President Ben Grumbles, Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, wrote this letter to ECOS Members to start his tenure for the 2021-2022 year.
Maryland Passes Ambitious Organics Diversion Mandate
In late May, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed HB 264, a bill mandating organics diversion. The measure requires covered entities generating at least two tons of organic waste per week…
Nine State AGs Request Revocation of Test Methods for Wood Heaters
On May 21, nine state Attorneys General wrote to U.S. EPA’s Air Quality Assessment Division detailing how two alternative test methods used to certify that new wood stoves meet EPA’s…
ECOS Green Report: State Environmental Agency Modernization — Leveraging Unmanned Aerial Systems to Improve Environmental Results
In recent years, states have established the use of drones within various environmental programs to boost emergency preparedness and response, water monitoring (harmful algal blooms, E. coli, Cyanobacteria, bathymetric, &…
