Howard County Cuts Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Howard County has reduced community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 23 percent from 2005 baseline levels, according to an analysis of the latest emissions data released today within “HoCo Climate Forward: 2024 Annual Report.”

The County is now more than a third of the way to its 2030 goal of a 60 percent reduction in climate-warming emissions. The report shows a 15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emission levels in Howard County from 2005 to 2019, a one percent annual reduction rate. Since 2019, during the last four years of available GHG data (2019-2022), the County nearly tripled its annual rate of emissions reduction. However, even at the current accelerated pace, Howard County will not meet the Climate Forward goal of a 60 percent reduction by 2030 unless the current rate of reduction is nearly doubled.

With the release of “HoCo Climate Forward: 2024 Annual Report,” Howard County is marking one year of strategic climate action guided by Climate Forward, Howard County’s Climate Action & Resiliency Plan. Under the leadership of County Executive Calvin Ball and his Climate Subcabinet, the County has made advances in energy efficiency and renewable deployment, expanded EV infrastructure and curbside composting, strengthened watershed protection efforts, and exponentially increased tree planting. These efforts are detailed in the Climate Forward annual report.

Climate Action Achievements
Covering all eight focus areas within climate mitigation and resiliency, the annual report provides a snapshot of County government achievements and opportunities in the past year. Highlights include:

• Energy: Solar capacity in Howard County increased by 26 megawatts (MW) since 2022. Howard County’s total solar capacity as of June 30, 2024, was 134 MW. County staff are working to accelerate solar adoption to reach Climate Forward goals of 437 MW of solar capacity by 2030.
• Nature-Based Climate Solutions: There are more than 130 acres of registered pollinator habitat in Howard County as of 2024. Howard County’s “Trees for Bees” program gave away 1,650 native trees in 2024, restoring pollinator habitat while helping to meet climate goals.
• Transportation: As of June 2024, more than four percent of cars registered in Howard County were either fully electric or plug-in hybrid. Despite Howard County’s rank at the top of the state in community electric vehicle adoption, this percentage is still well below the 2030 Climate Forward goal of 26 percent.
• Waste: Howard County’s Green Bin curbside composting program composted 399 tons of organic waste in 2023, avoiding 139 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (the equivalent of planting and growing more than 2,300 trees).
• Emergency Preparedness: The County will receive $24,000 from the Maryland Energy Administration’s Resilient Maryland Program to support resiliency hub planning and research solar and battery storage systems at the North Laurel and Gary Arthur Community Centers.
• Water: A May 2024 Watershed Protection & Restoration Fee increase will fund water quality improvements, improve public safety, and allow expansion of partnership and grant opportunities for watershed protection.
• Infrastructure and Heat Resiliency: With funding support from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Howard County planted 300 native street trees in targeted areas to provide increased shade and reduce “urban heat island” effects.
• Ecosystem Services: To protect existing forest and tree canopy, the County managed 40 invasive species projects covering 206 acres in 2024 and launched the Howard County Tree Savers program to enlist volunteers in invasive species management.

Funding for Climate Action
HoCo Climate Forward: 2024 Annual Report reports a nearly five-fold increase in the total value of climate-related grants that the County expects to pursue in 2025. In 2024, Howard County was the recipient of more than $1.5 million in climate funding from federal and state agencies.

The Howard County FY25 Operations Budget included $250,000 for a pilot climate infrastructure rebate program for low- and moderate-income households for the installation of energy and climate infrastructure, as well as $75,000 in Climate Forward implementation funding.

“Howard County’s Climate Forward goals are achievable but will require innovation and the sustained efforts of both the County government, its partners, and the broader community,” said Howard County’s Office of Community Sustainability Administrator Tim Lattimer. “The upcoming decade – the decisive decade – is our best chance to take climate action to secure a livable community now and for the future. Working together and guided by the science-based work plan within Climate Forward, we can reach our climate goals.”