About Us
D.E.E.'s Mission
Empowering Frederick County with resilient, equitable solutions to environmental challenges, the Division of Energy and Environment partners with our community to mitigate climate risks, enhance watershed quality, modernize energy systems, and ensure that sustainability is for everyone.
The Division of Energy & Environment's work is based on three main pillars. Please explore our website to learn more about what we do for our community!
Climate & Energy
Leads County Government's response to the climate crisis and ensures alignment with regional goals and state regulations. Provides interagency support, data-driven strategies, and equitable programs to build adaptable operations, a resilient community, and a decreased impact on the environment.
Stormwater
Provides ecologically responsible management of the County's portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Structured by Maryland's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, this work includes water quality monitoring, watershed restoration, pollutant reduction, and stormwater infrastructure enhancement.
Environmental Equity
Recognizes that the impacts of climate change and environmental hazards are not distributed equally and works to ensure that our programs and services understand and meet the needs of everyone in our community. Builds partnerships and leverages grant funding to increase participation in local sustainability initiatives.
- 2008: The STart of Sustainability
- 2020: Climate Emergency Resolution
- 2022: EXPANSIVE ACTION
- 2025-2031: A STRATEGIC VISION
In 2008, the Board of County Commissioners created the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources (OSER) in order to prioritize sustainability principles in County plans and policies, coordinate Frederick County's sustainability efforts, and foster community partnerships and provide outreach. Much of the early work was in support of the environmental objectives within the County's Strategic Plan and structured to meet the regulatory requirements of the State of Maryland.
As the County's strategic planning evolved, so did OSER and its focus. New programs were developed to help achieve the goals of the Livable Frederick Master Plan. Efforts were expanded to address reforestation, reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, collect data and develop metrics for measuring sustainability initiatives, and pursue LEED Community Certification (formerly STAR Communities certification).
In 2020, the Frederick County Council adopted a Climate Emergency Resolution and resolved to “commit to equitable climate emergency mobilization efforts to address global warming, reduce County-wide greenhouse gas emissions 50% from 2010 levels by 2030 and 100% no later than 2050, and employ efforts to safely drawdown carbon from the atmosphere.”
As a key part of this effort, the Council established an independent citizen-based Climate Emergency Mobilization Workgroup (CEMWG) to make recommendations to achieve emission reduction goals. They produced a Climate Response and Resilience Report (CRRR) as the culmination of 18,500 hours of volunteer work by more than 70 volunteers over the space of a year. The CRRR makes recommendations for transparent, accountable government action and citizen engagement to secure a sustainable and prosperous future with equitable opportunities for all.
In 2022, OSER was moved out of the Office of the County Executive and reorganized to form the independent Division of Energy and Environment (DEE). The new Division was tasked with operationalizing the recommendations of the Climate Response and Resilience Report in order to reduce our community's greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously adapting and preparing for the challenges of an altered climate. Increased staffing also enabled the Division to meet expanded requirements of the State-issued Municipal Stormwater Permit and continue to perform robust work to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution from our watershed.
To accomplish these tasks, the new Division is comprised of the Department of Climate and Energy and the Department of Stormwater.