COLLEGE PARK, Md. — In April 2021, Darryll Pines, University of Maryland (UMD) president, announced the college’s vision for a net-zero carbon emission campus by 2025. Coined the Climate Action Plan, the goals set by Pines, which include reducing water usage and securing funding for continual improvements, are steadily coming to fruition.��

Since introducing the plan, the University has transitioned to 100-percent renewable electricity, solar panels have made their way onto campus, air travel by staff and students has been deemed carbon neutral and officials have made certain that new buildings achieve the highest environmental standards, according to a University statement. ��

Prior to the Climate Action Plan, UMD joined America’s Pledge in 2018, an initiative supporting efforts to meet the goals within the Paris Accord, alongside numerous private and public sector leaders. The campus also joined the University Climate Coalition, a program connecting 23 of the world’s leading research universities��committed to accelerating climate action.

The Next Step��

The campus is advancing another significant initiative that began with brainstorming efforts in 2018: the NextGen Energy Program, a $390 million investment in campus infrastructure. The transformative project aims to help the University achieve fossil fuel-free energy use by 2035 while prioritizing efficient, affordable energy and advancing sustainability goals. According to a University statement, the program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Central Energy Plant by 23% and cut its annual water usage by 50%.��

“A carbon-neutral campus is a significant step, but now it’s time to set our sights on reducing UMD’s dependency on fossil fuels,” said Pines in a statement. “We are committed to a fossil fuel-free power plant under the NextGen Energy Program.”��

Program Implementation��

Following years of discussions with University stakeholders and approvals from the Maryland Board of Public Works between 2018 and 2024, the University began implementing the NextGen Energy Program by performing maintenance upgrades on existing infrastructure and continuing construction of new energy systems. The program is set to play a vital role in ensuring efficient energy use on campus while delivering clean energy solutions for future generations.��

The University of Maryland currently operates a “tri-generation” energy system, which efficiently provides heating, cooling and electricity while minimizing energy loss and waste by producing all three simultaneously. However, the University announced that its existing energy system partnership is coming to an end, and the current system is nearing the end of its lifespan. To address this, the new NextGen Energy Program will ensure reliable power for the campus’s more than 250 buildings, including dormitories, dining halls, laboratories, classrooms and sports facilities. By shifting to on-campus production of heating, cooling, and electricity, University leaders aim to gain better control over energy costs and reduce environmental impact, remaining consistent with core values.��

UMD conducted extensive research on various options to further achieve its goal of generating heat and power directly on campus. During the evaluation, and while preparing a Request for Proposal, University leaders gathered criteria to support their vision. Factors for the new energy system included maintaining consistency with UMD’s carbon reduction and sustainability goals, flexibility to incorporate both renewable technologies and energy efficient programs, ensuring responsible spending, possibilities for future campus expansion and improving the energy system’s dependability. ��

The campus has previously struggled with power outages affecting heating systems, air conditioning, water and steam. The new energy system addresses the aging system’s incapability of performance and utilizes a modern maintenance program to prevent potential equipment failures.��

The University’s Facilities Management team will oversee the groups involved with the NextGen Energy Program projects and will be responsible for day-to-day management. The Division of Administration will handle the governance and oversight through the management of the Program Implementation Council, while the Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk will assure project safety and the ongoing advancement of carbon-reduction efforts.��

Reaching Sustainability Goals��

In addition to on-campus partnerships, the NextGen Energy Program has leveraged public-private partnerships to further promise innovative and financially sound methods of reaching University goals. UMD has joined Maryland Energy Impact Partners (MEIP), which includes Plenary Americas US Holdings Inc., Kiewit Development Company, Kiewit Power Constructors Co., and Honeywell International Inc., a group of experienced operators, to guide the NextGen Energy Program. In partnership with MEIP, the NextGen Energy Program will modernize the aging distribution system, enhance energy efficiency, incorporate renewable technologies and fund upgrades using the existing utility budget. MEIP will also welcome academic collaboration for undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and researchers by offering scholarships, internships and new academic programs.��

In a University statement, Carlo Colella, UMD vice president and chief administrative officer, expressed his excitement of the partnership. “With MEIP’s collaboration, we look forward to designing, engineering, and installing a sustainable energy system the university can depend on for decades to come,” he said. ��

As the project progresses, UMD has kept stakeholders and community involved in the plan. The NextGen Advisory group, a group of members representing key constituencies across campus, was formed to ensure student, staff and community engagement. The group will continue to provide insight and input on developments as the plan progresses. Those interested in information on university progress can sign up for updates at NextGen.umd.edu. UMD will also make public submittals during various stages of the process.����

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Gov. Larry Hogan recently announced an initiative to make a historic investment in school construction projects across the state. Gov. Hogan unveiled plans for a Building Opportunity Fund and will submit legislation during the 2019 session of the Maryland General Assembly to provide $1.9 billion in new school construction funding over five years. This proposed new funding is in addition to the $1.6 billion in public school construction funding currently included in the state’s five-year Capital Improvement Program, bringing the total proposed state investment to more than $3.5 billion over five years.

“Education has always been our administration’s top priority and today’s announcement represents the largest investment in school construction – ever – in Maryland history,” said Gov. Hogan. “I believe very strongly that every single child in Maryland deserves access to a world-class education regardless of what neighborhood they happen to grow up in, and an important part of that is making sure that all of our students are educated in facilities that are modern, safe, and efficient which provide them with an environment that encourages growth and learning.”

The new funding will come from revenue bonds funded by casino gaming revenues. The ballot referendum was approved by nearly 90 percent of Maryland voters in the November election, and will result in an additional $4.4 billion in school funding. The referendum specifies “public school construction and public school capital improvement” as one of the targeted uses for this additional funding.

Gov. Hogan will submit the Building Opportunity Act early in the 2019 legislative session, which will provide funding to cover more than 90 percent of the projects requested by local school systems from 2020 to 2024 if enacted. The legislation will give the Maryland Stadium Authority oversight of these additional school construction funds and include accountability measures.

The new construction projects are estimated to create more than 27,000 new jobs over the five-year construction period.

The Building Opportunity Act will be closely modeled after the 21st Century School Buildings Program currently underway in Baltimore City, that is aimed at providing students with the healthy, efficient, and modern school buildings.

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BALTIMORE — State Democratic Sen.����revealed a new proposal on June 12 to use $5 billion of lottery revenue to fund Maryland’s largest school districts for construction projects, making him the first gubernatorial candidate to address this issue in depth.

The��plan, known as the BEACONS Act (Building Educational Achievement through Construction Of New Schools), focuses on the extensive backlogs of crucial construction projects needed in Maryland’s densely populated school districts. Madaleno Jr. claims this proposal is a long time coming — emphasizing the aging facilities and outdated education programs across school districts, according to the

The proposal would extend its aid to jurisdictions with more than 75,000 students, which grants Montgomery, Prince George’s, Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties, as well as Baltimore City, qualification to receive funding.

Madaleno Jr. co-sponsored a bill in 2013 that funded a similar construction plan for Baltimore City public schools and said $1 billion from that bill is currently rebuilding 26 Baltimore schools, pushing the program as “a model for the other jurisdictions of the state.”

One critic of the new plan said the spare funds should be stretched across all school districts, not only the largest. While Madaleno Jr.’s Democratic opponents haven’t unveiled their education infrastructure plans, many have endorsed similar funding and have been outspoken on other education issues. This topic of education emerges as a dominant issue in the gubernatorial race, as Democratic candidates have taken aim at current Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. A ��from June 6 found that 40 percent of likely voters disapprove of the way Gov. Hogan has handled education, while 43 percent approve.

In a��, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III said he would raise state spending on school infrastructure and renovate or replace schools that are over 50 years old.

Baltimore lawyer James L. Shea said in a statement that Madaleno Jr.’s plan was “a good idea,” but also concluded that funds should not only be limited to the state’s five largest school districts, saying that kids everywhere deserve to learn in 21^st century schools.

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According to the Maryland State Department of Education, there is an estimated $23.3 billion in statewide school construction needed through year 2023 and educators want that to be for up-to-date, efficient and innovative spaces, according to the .

“Facilities are one thing — we need them. I don’t see us educating in cornfields. They’re just as important as the programs taught,” said Martin G. Knott Jr., chair of the 21st Century School Facilities Commission, which was formed to help alleviate overcrowding in Maryland schools.

The main goal is to alleviate overcrowding and repair antiquated buildings, thus ending an over reliance on portable classrooms. Lawmakers are also keen to invest in modern construction methods.

To address the issues, Maryland Sen. Jim Rosapepe, D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties, proposed a revision of an earlier bill, the Maryland Overcrowding Reduction Act of 2018, which the legislation did not pass last spring. The lawmaker explained to the commission that the $23.3 billion construction estimate — though unaffordable — in not insurmountable. He believes that all 24 jurisdictions in the state should have the ability to build and repair schools at lower costs if the average cost per student was reduced.

Presently, the Maryland Department of Legislative Services, which provides nonpartisan staff support to the Maryland General Assembly as well as other resources regarding public policy issues and the state budget, reports that the average cost for a new public school is $46,000 per student. However, due to changing construction costs in the state, recent estimates per student ranged from $19,000 all the way to $87,000 per student.

Despite the extreme range in costs, Rosapepe contends savings could be achieved by striking services like computer labs from school budgets since students often have their own devices. Rosapepe, however, did not address the possibility that underprivileged students may not have access to such devices and may rely on the computer labs he earmarked for cuts. Regardless, he suggested that removing an entire room (and presumably the technology in it) is one way that schools can be more cost-effective.

The commission also explored how existing structures could be retrofitted as a means of conserving cash and pointed to a former Coca Cola Bottling Plant that is now Baltimore’s Monarch Academy with 990 students on its roster. In addition, the proposed, revised Maryland Overcrowding Reduction Act of 2018 would not require local school systems and governments to opt into lawmakers’ recommendations, including conducting statewide facility assessments as well as streamlining the review process for projects.

Meanwhile, Maryland’s Board of Public Works recently approved $426 million for the construction and rehabilitation of Baltimore City public schools as part of a 21st Century Schools project.

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