The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland announced that 17 Maryland municipalities were honored at the Sustainable Maryland Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual Fall Conference last week.
“The 17 towns achieving certification this year represent the leading edge of Maryland’s sustainability initiatives at the local level,” said Mike Hunninghake, Director of the Sustainable Maryland program. “Their efforts, and those of many towns and cities across the state, collectively move the needle in the right direction as we grapple with making communities climate-resilient, healthy and economically viable places to live for current and future generations. Sustainable Maryland is proud to support their vital work, which serves as a beacon of inspiration for other communities.”
To date, 90 municipalities, or 57% of the state's 157 towns and cities, participate in the program, and 51 municipalities, or 32%, have achieved the "Sustainable Maryland Certified" designation.
The complete list of newly certified (denoted by *) and re-certified communities includes:
- Berlin (first certified in 2012, re-certified in 2015, 2021, and 2024)
- Bladensburg (first certified in 2013, re-certified in 2016, 2019 and 2024)
- Brunswick (first certified in 2015, re-certified in 2021 and 2024)
- Cheverly (first certified in 2013, re-certified in 2017, 2021 and 2024)
- Cottage City (first certified in 2018, recertified in 2021 and 2024)
- Emmitsburg (first certified in 2015, re-certified in 2018, 2021 and 2024)
- *Fairmount Heights (NEW)
- *Forest Heights (NEW)
- Glen Echo (first certified in 2021, re-certified in 2024)
- Laurel (first certified in 2015, re-certified in 2018, 2021 and 2024)
- La Plata (first certified in 2021, re-certified in 2021)
- Mount Rainier (first certified in 2012, re-certified in 2015, 2018, 2012 and 2024)
- North Beach (first certified in 2017, re-certified in 2021 and 2024)
- Poolesville (first certified in 2015, re-certified in 2018, 2021 and 2024)
- Rockville (first certified in 2012, re-certified in 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024)
- *Somerset (NEW)
- Takoma Park (2024 Sustainability Champion; first certified in 2014, re-certified in 2017, 2020 and 2024)