News, Action Alert, and Save-the-Dates

Montgomery County’s plans to overhaul its waste disposal and recycling systems over the next decade are in limbo. At risk is the shuttering of the Dickerson trash incinerator this year or in 2027 rather than years from now.

Our colleagues at the Montgomery County Climate Coalition have set up a “take action page” on this issue. The County is holding three open discussion sessions: Monday, March 2, 6 to 8:30 pm at the Sidney Kramer Upcounty Regional Services Center (12900 Middlebrook Rd, Germantown); Wednesday, March 4, 6 to 8:30 pm at the Ike Leggett Executive Office Building Auditorium, 101 Monroe St, Rockville); and Thursday, March 5, 6 to 8:30 pm. (Virtual only). We urge you to let county officials know your thoughts.

We oppose spending millions of dollars more to prop up a polluting incinerator that is 30 years old, and due to its age recently had a major dioxin leak.

See SCA’s media release on this issue here. The release underscores our concerns that a delay into 2027 or beyond on the county’s waste management overhaul plans would be irresponsible and cost taxpayers more money.

New Data Center Rules Proposed

The County Council is considering new rules governing where data centers in Montgomery County could go, and how they would operate. We urge a moratorium on approval of the proposed data center campus in Dickerson until the new regulations become law. The proposed facility—five buildings on 110 acres—would be on the site of the decommissioned coal-fired power plant near the Potomac River.

Read our updated web post, which has a history of the Dickerson project. A public hearing on the county’s proposed rules is being held Tuesday, February 24. Read about that here, where you can also sign up to testify. It’s not too late.

Save these Dates

SCA Annual Meeting: SCA’s annual member meeting is Saturday, April 4, from 9:00am to 11:00am, at the Gothic Barn at Linden Farm, 20900 Martinsburg Rd in Dickerson. An open discussion and Q&A on the data center issue will be a featured event. Breakfast will be served.

Candidate Forum: The candidates for the Democratic nomination for County Executive will join us at a candidate forum on April 23 at 7:00pm at Clarksburg High School, 22500 Wims Rd in Clarksburg. They’ll discuss their positions on the Ag Reserve, farming, data centers and everything else affecting the Ag Reserve. The moderator is Nick Iannelli of WTOP, a Montgomery County resident. They’ll be time for audience questions. SCA is co-hosting the event with Montgomery Farm Bureau and Montgomery Countryside Alliance (MCA). More to come in March on this event.