Author: Elissa Reineck

Article update January 21, 2022.  The Climate Action Plan RFP is closed and the award process is underway. Please refer to the article below for information on what the new Climate Action Plan will cover. Howard County’s Office of Community Sustainability and the Office of Purchasing announce that the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a… Read more »

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball highlighted transformative new solar legislation that allows solar in all zones across the county including on agriculturally preserved land. The Howard County Council unanimously passed the new regulations in Council Bill (CB) 17-2021 in May, 2021. Photos from the event can be found here and video here. “This legislation expands business opportunities… Read more »

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball kicked off the upcoming solar project with an information session on February 24, 2021. The Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with KDC Solar, Inc. will build enough solar power to provide up to 50% of the electricity used by County government operations. The original plan had a goal of 20-30%,… Read more »

Howard County is celebrating 30 years as an Arbor Day Foundation-designated “Tree City.” In honor of this achievement, Howard County Recreation & Parks planted 150 trees at Rockburn Branch Park in Elkridge. Some of these were planted by volunteers during a scaled back and socially distanced Family Volunteer Day on Nov 21st. “Our 30th year… Read more »

On October 30, 2020, County Executive Calvin Ball announced the launch of a 21-day public comment period on the Howard County Forest Conservation Manual draft. The Forest Conservation Manual implements the Forest Conservation Act, by explaining the nuts and bolts of forest conservation in Howard County. This “how-to” guide describes in detail how forest conservation… Read more »

The County’s Office of Community Sustainability (OCS) and Department of Recreation & Parks (HCRP) have received a 2020 Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grant by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Part of the larger Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, the nearly $1 million ($999,202) grant award will… Read more »

County Executive Calvin Ball today (8/25/20) announced that an Agreement of Sale has been reached to acquire the Savage remainder property, a five-acre parcel located to the west of Savage Mill, for $1.725 million. Howard County will now preserve the property as open space. The County will use Program Open Space (POS) – state funding… Read more »

Looking for a fun activity you can do at home that also has benefits for the environment? You can plant your own Climate Victory Garden. During World War I and II, citizens planted “Victory Gardens’” By 1944, nearly 20 million victory gardens were producing 8 million tons of food, about 40% of the fresh fruits… Read more »

Howard County became a Bee City in 2019. In June, 2020, the Howard County Bee City committee held an on-line vote to decide the Official Pollinator Plant of Howard County.  Out of 5 candidates bee balm was the winner! The outdoor, socially distanced event at the Howard County Conservancy was attended by County Executive Calivin… Read more »

Howard County is proud to announce the completion of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the Howard County Library System’s (HCLS) Savage Branch complex. This is the second of several planned sites to add electric vehicle charging in partnership with BGE. The first site at HCLS’s Miller Branch launched earlier this year in February. As… Read more »