Environment Committee
Somerset – A Town Striving to be Sustainable
The Town of Somerset is focused on creating a sustainable town and becoming carbon neutral, aligning itself with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, by reducing 50% of CO2 emissions by 2030 and 100% by 2050. Toward this goal, Somerset has “Declared a Climate Emergency,” has signed the Maryland Mayor’s 100% Clean Energy Pledge and has signed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
To date, the Town’s accomplishments include planting native trees and plants and using sustainable practices at our Town parks and lawns (2013), offering a free composting program for its residents (2015), opting into Montgomery County’s ban of lawn pesticides (2021), banning the use of gas-powered blowers (2022), using up to 60% less salt on streets during snowstorms (2022), creating a town apiary in its forest (2023), purchasing an electric truck (2023), banning the use of plastics for all Town events (2023), installing solar panels for the Town Hall (2024) and installing LED streetlights for the entire town (2024).
Committee Meeting Minutes & RecordingsCommittee Achievements and Committee-Led Initiatives and Legislation
- Ban on Certain Pesticides
- Resolution Declaring Climate Emergency
- Sierra Club Maryland Mayors for 100% Clean Energy Pledge
- Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
- Ban on Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
- Installing an Apiary in the Town Forest
- Ban the use of plastics for all Town events
- Adding Solar Panels to the Town Hall
- LED Street Lights