County Executive Ball Announces New Climate Goals and Climate Action Cabinet in State of the County Address

In the State of the County address on Wednesday, October 13, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball declared the State of Howard County to be strong.

“We are award-winning environmental stewards. Our communities are safe, strong and accessible. And we have thriving businesses that are the backbone of our community,” said County Executive Ball.

Along with plans for educator loan assistance, community college scholarships, childcare expansion, finances, public safety and more, the County Executive outlined bold plans for climate protection.

County Executive Ball announced Howard County’s new climate goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by year 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.

County Executive Ball also signed an executive order creating a Climate Action Subcabinet to oversee the new Climate Action Plan. The executive order directs all county departments and offices to incorporate climate action into all government planning and operations, to ensure equity is accounted for in all decision making, and the community is updated regularly on Climate Action Plan implementation.

In the State of the County Address, County Executive Ball also mentioned Howard County’s recent achievement of becoming the first certified LEED Platinum county in the U.S. for LEED for Cities and Communities, under the current rating system.

The County Executive outlined additional plans with positive environmental impacts. Howard County is expected to launch a Mobile Marketplace as an expansion of the Roving Radish food program. This will improve food security, support local growers and protect the environment by reducing transportation emissions of food.

Also reducing transportation emissions, as well as improving public health, is the commitment to completing Howard County’s pathway system.

Finally, County Executive Ball reflected on the relaunch of the Agricultural Land Preservation Program and the purchase of Camp Ilchester. Both acquisitions protect important pieces of land from future development.