(2/2025) County Will Intervene in Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project

County Executive Jessica Fitzwater will petition to intervene in the Maryland Public Service Commission’s ("PSC") consideration of PSEG Renewable Transmission’s application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity ("CPCN") for authority to construct the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project ("MPRP").

"Frederick County totally opposes MPRP, and our decision to intervene should send a clear message that we will use the legal tools at our disposal to protect our community," said County Executive Fitzwater. "While the law is clear that Frederick County does not have the authority to stop MPRP ourselves, we will continue to work with our partners on the County Council to amplify our residents’ voices and advocate against the project."

On December 19, 2024, the County Executive’s Office asked to brief the County Council on the possibility of intervening in this matter. The Council scheduled a briefing for tonight’s meeting, which starts at 5:30 p.m. On December 31, PSEG Renewable Transmission filed its CPCN application, and, on January 10, 2025, the PSC set a February 17 deadline to petition to intervene.

On December 9, 2024, the PSC responded to a letter from the County Executive and Council and indicated it will hold a public hearing in Frederick County, which will provide another opportunity for residents to be heard on this matter.

The details of that hearing will be posted to www.frederickcountymd.gov/mprp when they are available. County officials urge residents to check this site regularly for facts related to the potential impact of MPRP to County assets, project timelines and details, letters sent to and received by County officials, and video of the County’s October 9, 2024, public meeting. The County will update the page as more information is available.

County Earns Three AAA Bond Ratings

Frederick County has once again earned AAA bond ratings from all three major bond rating agencies, County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced today. Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s each reaffirmed Frederick County at the highest possible rating based on the County’s exceptional financial management and culture of long-term planning.

"This achievement is a testament to Frederick County’s unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility and sound management of tax dollars," said County Executive Fitzwater. "We can be proud that our AAA ratings allow us to invest in schools and other critical infrastructure for our community."

Frederick County remains one of the few jurisdictions nationwide to earn AAA bond ratings from all three rating agencies. Similar to how a consumer’s high credit score allows them to borrow money for loans or mortgages at lower interest rates, bond ratings allow Frederick County to pay lower interest rates on the construction of schools, roads, libraries, parks, and more.

Earlier this month, Fitzwater and key Frederick County Government leaders met with credit analysts from all three rating agencies in New York City to review the County’s financial reserve policies and fiscal management procedures to address critical needs such as cybersecurity and climate change.

In their reports, the rating agencies highlighted Frederick County’s "exceptional financial management" and noted that "robust reserves" provide for financial flexibility. Analysts also commented that the County benefits from a diverse local economy with ongoing development, particularly in the areas of biotech and life sciences. According to the agencies’ reports, the County’s healthy finances are expected to remain stable on a forward-looking basis.

Executive Fitzwater expressed her appreciation to County employees for their hard work in ensuring taxpayer dollars are managed responsibly. "It’s the commitment and expertise of our employees that drive our success – they are our greatest asset," she said.

For additional information, contact Division of Finance Director Erin White at 301-600-1193 or via e-mail at EWhite@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

County Unveils Advanced Manufacturing Profile

The Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED) welcomed nearly 100 attendees at its second annual Business Insight Forum on January 23 at Frederick Health Village.

During the event, FCOED announced its latest in a series of industry profiles, "Advanced Manufacturing." Building on the award-winning success of the previous publications, "Advanced Manufacturing" outlines the continued growth of the sector and highlights what makes Frederick County one of the premier locations for manufacturing in the United States.

More than 200 manufacturing companies bring over 11,000 jobs to the County, divided between diverse subsectors such as construction, life sciences, food processing, machinery, and more. Frederick County boasts impactful tax incentives, a skilled and growing workforce, competitive energy costs, and strong partnerships with regional resources, making it an attractive location for manufacturing.

"Our previous publications highlighting the life sciences industry and a general profile of Frederick County have been invaluable resources for FCOED in building brand awareness on regional, national, and global levels," said Lara Fritts, Executive Director of the Division of Economic Opportunity. "We are thrilled to introduce this new tool, which will showcase Frederick County as a premier location for manufacturing. This publication will serve as a valuable resource for industry leaders, commercial real estate brokers, developers, education partners, and government collaborators."

The profile is now available on the FCOED website at: www.discoverfrederickmd.com/amindustryprofile.

The Frederick County Office of Economic Development is a catalyst for economic growth in Frederick County. The agency’s mission is to sustain, diversify and grow Frederick County’s vibrant economy by providing leadership and resources for businesses to start, locate and expand. For more information, visit www.discoverfrederickmd.com.

County Celebrates a Year of Sustainability Success

Frederick County Government is proud to reflect on a year of environmental achievements, showcasing a commitment to energy conservation, watershed stewardship, ecological health, and equitable community resiliency. From implementing innovative programs to empowering residents to act, 2024 marked a year of progress toward a more sustainable future for all. A significant portion of these projects was supported by the $9,995,950 in recent grant funding obtained by the County's Division of Energy and Environment.

Highlights of Recent Accomplishments:

• Building Public-Private Partnerships: Access to programs and services was expanded through the formation of 50 "Green Partnerships" with individuals and organizations across the community. These collaborations make sustainability initiatives more affordable, accessible, and engaging for all. To see the list of current partners, please visit: www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/GreenPartners
• Empowering Individual Action: The County’s Green Homes Challenge website was relaunched in 2024 with an updated, easy-to-use interface. To date, 2,600 households have participated in this program that shares eco-friendly practices and helps track their environmental impact using online tools. Participating households achieve remarkable results! Annually, they conserve 45,838,681 gallons of water, use 175,547 fewer gallons of gasoline, and reduce local carbon emissions by 17,325 tons.
• Supporting Energy Efficiency in Low- and Moderate-Income Households: This year, the County’s grant-funded Energy Star Appliance Rebate initiative began providing low- to moderate-income households with up to 65% of the cost of new appliances to help lower utility bills and reduce our community’s energy consumption.
• Providing No-Cost Energy-Saving Home Improvements: The success of the Power Saver Retrofits Program continued with renovations of 60 more low- to moderate-income homes provided entirely through grant funding. These households now save an average of $780 annually in energy costs while helping decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
• Advancing Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: The Department of Climate and Energy released the Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan and secured grants from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Maryland Clean Energy Center that will support the installation of 16 new publicly accessible EV chargers to be located at County facilities.
• Reducing Energy Use in Government Operations: New methods for tracking and reducing the energy consumption of county facilities were combined with grant-funded energy-efficient lighting upgrades to conserve 588,000 kilowatt hours of energy. Additionally, Frederick County's Fleet Services retired nine vehicles and replaced them with electric models, resulting in 4,372 gallons of gasoline saved.
• Reducing Pollution: The Department of Stormwater provided 667 households with septic pump-out rebates to encourage tank maintenance that reduces pollution. In addition to this, litter control efforts resulted in removing 90.58 tons of trash from the environment.
• Preserving and Protecting the Watershed: This year, over 125 acres were planted with native tree species and preserved in conservation easements through the Creek ReLeaf program. Another 45 restoration or stormwater retrofit projects in design or construction support the long-term ecological health of our waterways.

Stakeholder support was critical to the success of these environmental initiatives in 2024. From the leadership of local businesses and organizations that are Green Partners to individual efforts made by residents, Frederick County is grateful for the community's commitment to sustainability and encourages everyone to join in the resolution to keep up the great, green work in the new year!

Empowering Frederick County with resilient, equitable solutions to environmental challenges, the Division of Energy and Environment partners with our community to mitigate climate risks, enhance watershed quality, modernize energy systems, and ensure that sustainability is for everyone. To get involved or learn more, visit: www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/DEE. To stay up-to-date on sustainability news, follow the Division of Energy and Environment at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/DEEdocs.

Health Department Launches ERPO Liaison Program to Strengthen Gun Violence Prevention Effort

The Frederick County Health Department (FCHD) is excited to introduce a new Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Liaison Program to improve the use and impact of ERPOs in Frederick and Washington Counties. This program is made possible by a two-year grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy.

ERPOs, commonly known as "red flag laws," are a civil legal tool used to reduce the risk of gun violence by temporarily removing firearms from individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others. These orders rely on evidence-based evaluations to help prevent tragedies and protect communities. According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, extreme risk laws allow law enforcement, family members, and health professionals to act when someone is behaving dangerously, temporarily removing firearms to reduce the risk of harm.

"Maryland implemented the ERPO law in 2017," said Andrea Walker, Director of the Local Behavioral Health Authority and Behavioral Health Division at FCHD. "Over the past two years, the Local Behavioral Health Authority has studied how ERPOs are used in Frederick County. This included gathering input from law enforcement, crisis providers, and academic partners. The research showed a clear need for an ERPO Liaison position and a collaborative coalition to make the law even more effective."

Sheriff Chuck Jenkins of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office also supports the initiative. "Our office processes all ERPOs in Frederick County, and we’re pleased to partner with local stakeholders through a Memorandum of Understanding to support this program," said Jenkins. "This collaboration will strengthen education, improve safety in our community, and help reduce the number of suicides by firearm."

Expanding Awareness and Training

For extreme risk laws like ERPOs to be effective, it’s crucial that those who can use them understand how and when to do so. ERPOs are a vital tool for suicide prevention, and FCHD plans to distribute tailored educational materials to key groups, including:

• Physicians, mental health professionals, and social workers in hospital emergency departments, crisis stabilization centers, and hotline call centers.
• Domestic violence service providers, veterans’ organizations, and other agencies supporting individuals in crisis.
• Educators and school administrators, who can guide families to use ERPOs when necessary.

The ERPO Liaison will work closely with law enforcement, legal professionals, and community organizations to expand understanding of the ERPO process. This includes developing specialized training for first responders and sharing resources with community partners to increase awareness and accessibility.

Addressing Local Challenges

Data from the Frederick County Local Behavioral Health Authority highlights the urgent need for violence and injury prevention efforts:

• Between January 2010 and August 2023, 355 suicides occurred in Frederick County, 51% involving firearms.
• Rural areas in the region experience especially high rates of firearm suicides.
• From 2018 to 2023, 42 homicides were reported in Frederick County, with firearms responsible for 52%.

"This data shows the pressing need for comprehensive violence and injury prevention strategies that prioritize health equity," said Andrea Walker. "While ERPOs are a proven tool for intervention, our goal is to go further. We will continue to build a coalition that strengthens community resilience, addresses the root causes of violence, and creates positive community experiences to break cycles of harm."

Building a Healthier Future

The ERPO Liaison Program represents a step forward in Frederick County’s efforts to reduce violence and save lives. By strengthening partnerships, improving access to lifesaving tools, and promoting long-term prevention strategies, this initiative reflects the county’s dedication to creating a safer, healthier community for everyone.