[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16112]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2006

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to 
congratulate Montgomery County, Maryland, on being recognized for the 
third straight year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green 
Power Partnership as one of the Nation's top ten local government green 
power purchasers.
  For many years, Montgomery County has set a precedent for the 
consumption of renewable energy sources. Its buying group, which is now 
at the forefront of an innovative and unique wind energy purchase, was 
noted by the EPA as one of the top 25 largest national purchasers of 
green power. Its pioneering purchases have promoted a cleaner and more 
environmentally-safe approach to energy consumption in our community. 
Furthermore, this purchase also represents the Nation's first effort on 
the part of a local government to include renewable energy in the 
State's plan to implement air quality improvements under the federal 
Clean Air Act.
  Montgomery County has long been a leader in the field of clean 
energy. In 2004, under Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan's 
leadership, the County began purchasing five percent of its energy from 
wind. In April 2006, County Executive Duncan and the County Council 
committed to increasing the County's renewable energy purchase to 20 
percent of its total electricity use over the next 5 years. 
Significantly, Montgomery County has been actively encouraging 
residents to join these efforts by purchasing clean energy for their 
homes, businesses, and community organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in saluting Montgomery 
County, Maryland, for its groundbreaking commitment to increasing the 
overall consumption of renewable energy sources now and in the years to 
come.

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