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Green Bank asks council to let fuel‑energy tax support resilience programs; advocates urge full funding
Summary
Montgomery County Green Bank CEO and partners told the council Bill 2‑26 would allow the Green Bank to use fuel‑energy tax revenue for resilience projects such as flood mitigation and heat resilience; climate advocates supported the move and urged full allocation of the 10% statutory share.
The council heard testimony on Bill 2‑26, which would permit the Montgomery County Green Bank to use fuel‑energy tax revenue for resilience and adaptation projects in addition to clean‑energy investments. Steven Murrell, the Green Bank CEO, described the proposal as a way to anchor and scale a resilience dedicated fund that pairs financing with technical assistance for flood mitigation, heat resilience and water‑management upgrades.
Climate advocates and partner organizations urged the council to fund the bank at its full 10% allocation of fuel‑energy tax revenue and highlighted existing Green Bank programs, including a Victory Housing resilience fund and a climate‑smart agriculture pilot that supported local farmers. Some environmental groups welcomed the expansion but cautioned that resilience funding should not crowd out renewable energy and efficiency investments.
Supporters argued the approach is fiscally prudent because resilience investments reduce future disaster costs; opponents asked for safeguards to ensure renewables and efficiency are not underfunded. Council members were given written testimony and will consider the measure in committee.
