MAKING NEWS

Councilmember Ervin, DC Councilmember Mendelson Speak Out on the Plight of Area Service Workers

A recent Washington Post editorial talks about �A measure of security for some of Montgomery�s lowest-paid workers.� It highlights measures that the neighboring jurisdictions of the District and Montgomery County have taken � or are about to take � to help afford some security for the many service workers in our community.

Read the entire Local Opinion piece.

DEP�s Eric Coffman Receives Maryland Clean Energy Award

Each year, the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) recognizes a few individuals, who have done outstanding work to advance clean energy and energy efficiency in Maryland, for their leadership, partnership, advocacy and overall championship of the sector.

Eric Coffman, senior energy planner with the Department of Envidronmental Protection (DEP), has been selected by the Maryland Clean Energy Center to receive the 2012 Maryland Clean Energy Bright Light Award.  The award recognizes an individual or group that shines for their contribution in support of MCEC efforts to remove barriers to success, promote the MCEC mission and bridge gaps between industry and policy.

MCEC�s �Current� (newsletter), cites Eric as ��a beacon in the clean energy and energy efficiency field in Maryland for more than half a decade, helping to make Montgomery County and the state of Maryland one of the leading clean energy areas in the entire country.�

Read Eric�s award-winning accomplishments.

This year, nine individuals and one organization have been honored in 10 categories.  The awards will be presented at the Maryland Clean Energy Summit, September 17-19 at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Located at the Universities at Shady Grove, the Maryland Clean Energy Center was created in 2008 to encourage the transformation of the energy economy with programs that catalyze the growth of business, increase related �green collar� jobs and make clean energy technologies, products and services affordable, accessible and easy to implement for Maryland residents.