More News

Carroll County this week became the latest Maryland jurisdiction to make available major discounts on property taxes for constructing or retrofitting buildings to save energy and reduce pollution and waste.

Seems the movement toward offering such measures isn't a red county/blue county thing.

Carroll's Board of Commissioners, which approved the green building credit Thursday, is all-Republican. Many of the other jurisdictions dishing out environmental incentives are dominated by Democrats.

Cities and counties in Maryland — and around the nation — are increasingly offering incentives to homeowners and businesses to advance ecological awareness and bolster the environment.

More so than politics, money and manpower seem to determine whether a jurisdiction will offer carrots to entice consumers to invest in greener heating and cooling systems and sources or building methods , said Missy Stults, regional program manager of the northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions for ICLEI — Local Governments for Sustainability.

"It's something local governments are keen to do, but it's challenging to get a system up and figure out how to navigate it," Stults said. "It seems to be larger local governments that have the capacity to move this forward and monitor it."

The 575 U.S. members of ICLEI (formerly known as the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives) include Annapolis, Baltimore, Bowie, Chestertown, Chevy Chase, College Park, Gaithersburg, Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, Rockville and Takoma Park as well as Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's and Queen Anne's counties.

"All have different barriers they are facing," Stults said.

Nevertheless, many are jumping on the green bandwagon.

Montgomery and Howard counties offer 10 percent to 75 percent off property taxes for three to five years on remodeled and new buildings that meet various levels of green building standards. The standards are aimed at increasing energy efficiency, using or reusing green materials and reducing runoff by planting vegetation on roofs and minimizing paved parking lots.

Baltimore County offers up to 80 percent off property taxes for five years for new buildings with the highest level of green certification and up to 50 percent off for three years for remodeled buildings.

Most local governments use the U.S. Green Building Council's (LEED) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification or similar standards.

Takers have been slow in coming, in part because the credits are relatively new and moving from building permit to completion takes time. But the struggling economy also has put the brakes on many construction plans.

Howard County has given green property tax credits for one building and is reviewing another, said Linda Watts, chief of the county's revenue bureau.

Montgomery County has received no new green building tax credit applications this year, said Stan Edwards, Montgomery County's chief of environmental policy and compliance.

But many homeowners have taken advantage of green energy credits offered by Montgomery and Howard counties.

Howard already has hit its $250,000 limit on property tax credits for installing solar or geothermal systems for electricity, hot water and heating and cooling.

Montgomery also has hit its $250,000 annual limit on tax credits for solar and geothermal heating, cooling and electric systems.

Yet, Montgomery has used only $18,000 of its $250,000 limit on tax credits to offset the costs of energy conservation measures such as installing energy-efficient windows, doors, furnaces, caulking and insulation.

Anne Arundel, Prince George's and Harford counties also offer solar electric and hot water system tax credits.

Meanwhile, clean-energy rebates are so popular in Montgomery that the county is on pace to use all $561,000 it has budgeted this fiscal year to pay residents and business owners who generate their own clean energy or get electricity from approved suppliers using clean sources, such as wind or solar energy.

Nearly 3,800 households and 200 businesses have signed up for the half-cent per kilowatt hour and they might use the entire annual allotment, so the county may have to close enrollment, Edwards said.

Restrained by a longstanding and strict property tax cap, Prince George's government has turned to its own conservation efforts and extensive education and information campaigns to meet many of its green goals.

Green building standards were used to remodel three county schools, and new county buildings must meet green building standards, said Jim Keary, a spokesman for Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D).

A steering committee is also looking at offering green building incentives to developers.

Beginning this year, much new construction in Baltimore city must meet green building standards.

Cash-strapped counties and cities that would like to do more are wary of mandates or committing to credits.

Nothing is on the table in Frederick County, said Robert Reilly, team leader in the county's finance department.

"Could be the times [and economy] aren't right," he said.

Cecil County is talking about green initiatives, but "nobody has money to give away," said Vicky R. Rinkerman, the county's executive office administrator.