7. Goal: Green Economy
Foster a stable and competitive business climate providing opportunities for the current and future work force to live in Montgomery County. Encourage new and existing businesses that complement the County’s strengths and serve the county’s needs.
a. Business Indicator
% of Green Collar Jobs - Data in development
There is a growing consensus that mainstream business practices and traditional models of economic growth are undermining the health and ecological balance of the planet’s resources. Development of technologies, mechanisms, and practices that encourage the sustainable use of resources have risen to the top of the public agenda – locally, nationally, and internationally. A green economy promotes businesses and jobs that produce products with less energy and waste or produces products that allow others to be more sustainable.
To accelerate the transition to a more sustainable economy, Montgomery County has passed legislation and developed voluntary programs to promote the construction of green buildings, implementation of enhanced stormwater management, and other sustainable practices. Congress has adopted legislation that calls for new efficiency standards for buildings and appliances and raises automobile mileage requirements by 40 percent. Congress also is working on a climate change bill that would require the reduction of greenhouse gases by 70 percent by 2050.
Private sector investment in clean energy, including biofuels, new battery technologies, wind and solar power, clean coal, fuel cells, and “green building” design have more than doubled in the past three years, now exceed $100 billion and are projected to double again over the next three years.
A green economy is good for consumers. The American Council on an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) projects that for every dollar invested in energy efficiency, a Marylander will see a $4 reduction in electricity bills. ACEEE believes that investment in energy efficiency can create more than 12,000 new “green-collar” jobs in the State.
Finally, people choose to live in communities committed to fostering a green economy. This, in turn, stimulates an environmental ethic and more sustainable lifestyles.
[back to top]
