Sustainability Series 2021

Bethesda Green’s Sustainability Series encourages the local Bethesda Community to learn about sustainability efforts in the area and adopt more sustainable practices. We update this page regularly with new sessions. All Sustainability Series Sessions are free and open to the public. Check out the 2021 sessions and register below. 

New sessions TBA

Session #1 – New Compost Legislation for Montgomery County Farms

When: Thu, Jan 28, 2021 4:00 PM
View a recording of the session on Youtube.

Food waste is the largest contributing factor to Montgomery County’s waste stream. The county currently produces 147,000 tons of food waste per year. How is the county expanding composting in Montgomery County? Join us to learn about new legislation in the county aimed to increase composting on farms. Local environmental entrepreneurs, small business owners, farms, and residents are invited to learn how to take advantage of this new legislation.

Guest speakers:

• Councilmember Evan Glass
• Councilmember Andrew Friedson

Session #2: Choosing Renewables with Clean Choice Energy

When: Monday, Apr 19, 2021 12:00 PM
View a recording of the session on Youtube.

In the US, most electricity comes from burning polluting fossil fuels. In 2019, only 11% of Maryland’s total electricity generation came from renewable sources. But did you know that residents in Maryland and D.C. can choose where their energy comes from? Clean Choice Energy is one company that’s helping residents switch to renewable energy. They replenish all the electricity you use to the grid with 100% wind and solar from your region. Join us to learn how you can switch to renewable energy and help reduce your carbon footprint.

Guest speakers:

• Kathleen Wojowicz, Field Marketing Manager, Clean Choice Energy
  Kathleen is a passionate environmental and animal rights activist based out of Washington, D.C. Since 2018, Kathleen has been working with CleanChoice Energy to educate the community about their electricity choice to reduce their reliance on polluting fossil fuels. She has helped hundreds of households easily make the switch to 100% wind + solar power.

Session #3: City Nature Challenge, iNaturalist Training

When: Mon, Apr 26, 2021 5:00 PM

The City Nature Challenge is an annual friendly worldwide competition among metro areas for residents to spot and identify local wildlife. Participants’ observations help scientists collect valuable information on urban biodiversity. Learn how to participate in the challenge, including how to use the iNaturalist app to submit observations  

Guest speakers:

• Jacqueline Raiford, Naturalist, Locust Grove Nature Center
  Kathleen is a passionate environmental and animal rights activist based out of Washington, D.C. Since 2018, Kathleen has been working with CleanChoice Energy to educate the community about their electricity choice to reduce their reliance on polluting fossil fuels. She has helped hundreds of households easily make the switch to 100% wind + solar power.

Session #4: Biking in Bethesda

When: Tuesday, May 4, 2021 5:00 PM
View a recording of the session on Youtube.

Biking options are growing in Bethesda. Have you seen the new bike lanes and other restriping projects happening around town? Join us for an evening discussion on alternative transportation, solutions, and tools to promote accessible streetscapes to all users. We’ll hear from:

• Kristen Blackmon, Bethesda Transportation Solutions
  Kristen Blackmon is the Director of the downtown Bethesda Transportation Management District which is a division of Bethesda Urban Partnership and operates under a contract with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. Kristen has worked in the field of transportation demand management for sixteen years, creating marketing strategies and brochures, planning events like Bike to Work Day, organizing bike safety classes, working to install bicycle infrastructure and developing local partnerships.
• Patricia Shepherd, Capital Projects Manager/Bikeways Coordinator, MCDOT
  AICP has 39 years of experience as an urban designer, transportation planner and bikeways program manager in both the private and public sector. She has spent the last thirty years in Montgomery County implementing streetscape and commercial revitalization projects with the last ten years managing the Countywide Bikeways Program. She is responsible for the planning, design and construction of bikeway projects such as shared use paths, separated bike lanes and bicycle wayfinding signage. The most exciting aspect of the work is delivering transformative projects that improve communities and allow for safe pedestrian and bicycle access making them better places to live, work and play for years to come.
  
• Matt Johnson, BiPPA Project Manager, MCDOT
  Matt Johnson is a project manager at the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. His work includes guiding pedestrian and bicycle safety projects through the planning, design, and construction process. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Community Planning from the University of Maryland at College Park.
• Garrett Hennigan, Community Organizer, Washington Area Bicycle Association
  Garrett Hennigan is a Community Organizer with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association where he works to empower people to ride bikes, build connections and transform places. A native to Washington DC, he works closely with volunteer advocates from around the region to build support for building protected bike lane networks, safe streets that encourage convenient and low-stress biking and walking, and policies that support people who bike.

Session #5: Stormwater in Montgomery County

When: Wed, September 29, 2021, 4:30 PM

View a recording of the session on Youtube.

It’s stormwater awareness week! Join us on Wednesday September 29th at 4:30 PM ET to learn about stormwater management in Montgomery County, Maryland. As the climate warms, extreme weather and flooding are only becoming more commonplace. Just this month, Hurricane Ida created deadly flash floods throughout the region. What is being done in Montgomery County, Maryland to mitigate stormwater runoff? What resources are available for residents to prepare for future flooding? Join us for a virtual discussion with local leaders and officials to discuss the issue of Stormwater in Montgomery County.

Speaker

• Ryan Zerbe, Watershed Outreach Planner for the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
  Ryan Zerbe has over 20 yrs of experience in the Delaware and Chesapeake Bay Watersheds working on a variety of conservation efforts and water quality improvement projects. For the past 12 years, he has created community outreach and watershed stewardship initiatives for the County. This entails developing new and innovative programs, forging community partnerships with the public, non-profits, watershed groups and homeowners to encourage them to adopt stormwater prevention practices and promote the health of our local streams. Projects he has worked on include the County’s Watershed restoration and outreach grant program which has provided nearly $3 million to local nonprofits, the Green Streets program, Montgomery County GreenFest, H2O Summit, and Salt Wise Campaign. He received his B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science with a Forest Science Minor from the Pennsylvania State University, and a Certificate in Environmental Education from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.

Session #6: Let’s Talk Nuclear

When: Wednesday, October 13th at 4:30 pm

Watch a recording of the session on Youtube.

Let’s talk nuclear! As countries grapple with ways to adapt their energy infrastructure to address climate change, nuclear energy is a growing part of the debate. What is nuclear energy? What are the pros and cons of nuclear energy? Is nuclear energy sustainable? Join us for a discussion with Victor Ibarra Jr. of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance and John Kotek of the Nuclear Energy Institute to learn more! This event will be focused on educating participants about nuclear energy and is not designed to lobby for or against a side.

Speakers:

• Victor Ibarra Jr, Nuclear Innovation Alliance
  Victor Ibarra Jr. is an Analyst for the Nuclear Innovation Alliance. Mr. Ibarra received his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M University and brings in experience from NASA, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant. Before joining the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, Mr. Ibarra spent his time working as a Health Physicist for the UT Health Science Center in Houston, TX where he focused on using his background in radiological science to protect people and the environment from the potential hazards of radiation. He also brings in nuclear science and technology policy experience by having previously served as Chair for the Texas Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation and as a Delegate for the U.S. Nuclear Engineering Student Delegation.
• John Kotek, Nuclear Energy Institute
  John Kotek is the Senior Vice President for Policy Development and Public Affairs at the Nuclear Energy Institute. He’s responsible for providing policy and public affairs leadership on economic, electricity market and environmental issues related to the nuclear energy industry. John was appointed in January 2015 to the position of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, and was nominated by President Obama in October 2015 to serve as Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. In that role he was responsible for DOE’s research efforts on current and future nuclear energy systems, maintaining the government’s nuclear energy research infrastructure, establishing a path forward for the nation’s spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste management program, and a host of other national priorities. Prior to his appointment, John was the Managing Partner of the Boise office of Gallatin Public Affairs.  John advised energy, natural resources and other clients facing complex communication and government relations challenges. From 2010-2012, John served as Staff Director to the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, which recommended a new strategy for managing nuclear waste in the United States.  John led the development of the Commission’s final report to the Secretary of Energy, engaged in regular communications with Congressional and White House staff, and served as media spokesperson. From 2003-2006, John was Deputy Manager of the DOE’s Idaho Operations Office.  In that role he was responsible for development and management of the Idaho National Laboratory contract and interface with the INL cleanup effort.  Before joining DOE in July 2003, John worked for Argonne National Laboratory where he directed Argonne’s participation in the Generation IV technology roadmapping project, an international effort focused on evaluating and developing a next-generation of nuclear energy systems. In 2002, John was the American Nuclear Society’s Glenn T. Seaborg Congressional Fellow.  John served in the Office of Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. John started his career with DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.  He held several positions during his nine years with DOE-NE, including Associate Director for Technology, Associate Director for Management and Administration, and Chief of Staff. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland.