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(a) In the interest of maintaining an adequate and reliable energy supply at reasonable cost, the County government recognizes the need to institutionalize through legislation an energy policy and energy planning program. In addition, the efficient use of energy directly benefits air quality and climate, demonstrating the linkages necessary to achieve essential environmental goals. For this reason, the responsibilities of the Advisory Committee on Climate, Energy, and Air Quality includes an advisory function with respect to air quality and climate change.
(b) The intent of this Article is to provide the initiative for County government to address energy issues and plan for a future which may be energy resource-constrained. It establishes the means to formulate ongoing policies, plans, programs and activities designed to foster energy conservation and to promote cost-effective alternatives to existing sources of energy and patterns of energy consumption while maintaining efforts to meet environmental goals.
(c) This Article is intended to serve as a vehicle for the promotion of energy consciousness throughout all segments of the community and for the development and implementation of immediate and long-range cooperative energy planning efforts in both the public and private sectors. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1; 1995 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1; 2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 1; 2008 L.M.C., ch. 9; § 1; 2020 L.M.C., ch. 21, §1.)
(a) The County Executive must develop and submit to the County Council for approval an energy policy which establishes both short and long-term energy efficiency objectives, promotes immediate and long-range energy consciousness, identifies potential strategies for leadership at the County level to help secure the County's energy future, and stresses the link between energy and the environment. The Executive must review the energy policy annually and report to the Council by October 31 on its continuing appropriateness, and may with Council approval amend it from time to time.
(b) To further the objectives of the energy policy, the Executive must annually develop an energy work program of activities which can be accomplished in 12 to 24 months. The Executive must review the work program each year, may add new initiatives when action is completed on previous years' activities, and may modify or end existing activities as appropriate. The Executive must also propose a long-range plan of public and private actions to accomplish those objectives. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1; 1995 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1.)
(a) After receiving a proposed energy policy from the County Executive, the County Council must, after not less than 30 days notice to the public, conduct a public hearing on the energy policy at which all interested persons, firms, organizations and groups must have an opportunity to comment on the policy.
(b) After the record of the public hearing on the policy closes, the County Council by resolution must either:
(1) Approve the policy as submitted by the County Executive; or
(2) Modify the policy and approve it as so modified; or
(3) Reject the policy and resubmit it to the County Executive for further consideration, revision and resubmission, addressing issues raised by the Council.
(c) If the County Council modifies the policy as submitted by the County Executive, the Council must, within 3 working days after taking action thereon, transmit the policy as modified to the County Executive, who must, within 10 days after receipt of the modified policy, indicate in writing to the Council concurrence or nonconcurrence with the modifications. If the Executive does not indicate nonconcurrence within 10 days, the policy takes effect as modified by the Council. If within 10 days the Executive does not concur with the modifications made by the Council and states reasons therefor, the Council must either:
(1) Further revise the policy to take into account any or all of the objections and recommendations of the County Executive and then approve the policy as further revised; or
(2) By an affirmative vote of a simple majority of its members, approve the policy as previously sent to the Executive.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the policy takes effect on the date it is approved by the County Council and continues in effect until amended in accordance with Section 18A-4. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1; 1995 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1.)
(a) Amendments to the energy policy may be initiated at any time by the County Executive or by the County Council.
(b) Amendments to the policy which are initiated by the County Executive must be prepared and processed in accordance with Sections 18A-2 and 18A-3.
(c) Amendments to the policy which are initiated by the County Council must be prepared in accordance with Section 18A-2 and then submitted to the County Executive for review and comment. The County Executive must have 30 days in which to submit comments in writing to the County Council, after which the Council must proceed to public hearing and processing of the policy in accordance with Section 18A-3. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1; 1995 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1.)
(a) There is hereby established an Advisory Committee on Climate, Energy, and Air Quality to assist the County Council and the County Executive in carrying out the purposes of this Chapter and Chapter 3. The Committee consists of 15 members appointed by the Executive, subject to confirmation by the Council. One member must be designated by the Executive and confirmed by the Council to serve as chair of the Committee. Each appointee must be a resident of the County who is technically knowledgeable and interested in climate change, energy and air quality.
(b) Appointments, terms of office, and attendance requirements are governed by Section 2-148. The initial appointments must be staggered. Members appointed to fill vacancies serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
(c) Members of the Committee serve without compensation.
(d) In addition to the chair appointed under subsection (a), the Committee may elect other officers necessary to carry out its duties.
(e) In addition to the 15 voting members of the Committee, the County Executive and the County Council may each appoint an ex-officio, non-voting member to serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 13, § 1; 1977 L.M.C., ch. 5, § 1; FY 1991 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1; 1995 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1; 2008 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 1; 2008 L.M.C., ch. 9, § 1; 2020 L.M.C., ch. 21, §1.)
Editor’s note—22020 L.M.C., ch. 21, § 2, states: Transition. A member of the Committee serving when this Act takes effect continues as a member for the remainder of his or her term of office.
Cross reference-Boards and commissions generally, § 2-141 et seq.
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