PRESS RELEASE
Mayor Gavin Buckley
160 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Media Contact: Mitchelle Stephenson, 410-972-7724 or mwstephenson@annapolis.gov
City of Annapolis Receives “Silver” Award
Certification from Sustainable Maryland
Annapolis, MD (October 14, 2022) – On October 11, 2022, the City of Annapolis received “Silver” certification from Sustainable Maryland, a program that recognizes municipalities in Maryland that have taken steps to create environmentally sustainable practices. Annapolis was elevated from previous “Bronze” certification status, awarded in 2013, to “Silver” this year.
Specific Silver certification requirements include implementing four of eight priority actions in six of 10 categories. In addition, municipalities must achieve a total of 400 points to become eligible for Silver certification. Annapolis earned 520 points for the 2022 certification cycle.
Annapolis’ new priority actions consisted of: transitioning to renewable energy, advancing recommendations from municipal energy audits, implementing a watershed plan, maintaining a storm water management program, and supporting community gardens.
“It is important to think about how we leave this City for our next generation,” said Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley. “The Sustainable Maryland awards help us focus on issue areas where we can make concrete improvements alongside other jurisdictions in the state and across the country. I thank Jackie Guild, our Deputy City Manager/Resilience and Sustainability, for prioritizing this work across all City departments and being results focused.”
Annapolis received its award during the Maryland Municipal League Fall Conference in Annapolis. Sustainable Maryland is a collaborative effort between the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of Maryland and the Maryland Municipal League, and supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
According to Mike Hunninghake, Director of the Sustainable Maryland program, “we are pleased to be awarding a record number of certifications this year. These certifications show a commitment to sustainability by Maryland’s municipalities that is truly impressive in both depth and breadth. The commitments and associated actions are a critical investment for a future where local governments will increasingly be at the forefront in the fight against climate change. Sustainable Maryland stands ready to support and celebrate these communities, elected officials, and Green Teams.”
The 18 municipalities that received awards were honored by the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland during Tuesday’s (October 11, 2022) Sustainable Maryland Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual Fall Conference in Annapolis. For a full listing of awardees and projects, visit: https://sustainablemaryland.com/certification/participating-communities.
For detailed information about Annapolis’s sustainability initiatives, please contact Raycine Hodo, Environmental Programs Coordinator, rmhodo@annapolis.gov, 410-260-2200 ext 7887.
At the Maryland Municipal League conference, Environmental Programs Coordinator Raycine Hodo (left) and Senior Advisor to the Mayor William Rowel with the Sustainable Maryland Certified award.
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