Countywide Multi Issue Organizations
Montgomery County Civic Federation (MCCF) is an umbrella organization for neighborhood associations throughout the county. MCCF “addresses a wide range of concerns in transportation, land use, environment, education, budget and finance, health and human services, public safety, and ethics. With its strength of numbers and thoroughness of its deliberations, the Federation influences county policy and balances the activities of vested county pressure groups.”Coalition for Smarter Growth “is the Washington D.C. region’s leading organization helping communities plan for the future by offering solutions to the interconnected challenges of housing, transportation, energy and the environment.”
Conservation Montgomery is “a coalition of civic and environmental organizations as well as individual residents who address a broad spectrum of environmental and quality of life challenges facing Montgomery County.”
Local Community-based Organizations
Bethesda Green hosts numerous environmental education events throughout the year, such as the “Green Home Expo,” “Solar Bethesda,” “On the Farm; Around the Table” and others. The group brings together green businesses and nonprofits with individuals seeking to start a career at the “Green Internship Fair.” Working with the county government, Bethesda Green also operates an incubator that assists new, local green businesses.Poolesville Green “Our work focuses on promoting alternative energy sources, encouraging the conservation of energy and water, and on raising awareness about existing hazardous and non-hazardous waste recycling programs.”
Silver Spring Green “brings together diverse perspectives from businesses, residents, civic groups and government to catalyze the transition to a sustainable economy, facilitate environmentally responsible lifestyles, and strengthen our shared sense of community.” Facebook Page
Agriculture, Food and Native Plants
Montgomery Countryside Alliance Their mission “is to promote sound economic, land-use and transportation policies and programs that preserve the natural environment, open spaces, and rural lands in Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve for the benefit of all Washington Metropolitan area residents.”
Future Harvest – Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture “is a network of farmers, agricultural professionals, landowners and consumers living and working in the Chesapeake region. Future Harvest – CASA promotes profitable, environmentally sound and socially acceptable food and farming systems that work to sustain communities.”
Maryland Organic Food & Farming Association (MOFFA) is “a regional network of people, farms and suppliers of sustainable, organic & certified organic products and food. Educating & communicating with our sustainable friends.”
Metropolitan Washington Regional Agricultural Workgroup Their misson “is to help promote and support agriculture within an approximately 150 mile radius of the nation’s capital.”
Maryland Native Plant Society Their mission “is to promote awareness, appreciation, and conservation of Maryland’s native plants and their habitats….through education, research, advocacy, and service activities.”
Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Sustainable Building
Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) “mission is to educate and mobilize citizens of this region in a way that fosters a rapid societal switch to clean energy and energy-efficient products.”
Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light “Our Mission is to help hundreds of congregations of all faiths across the DC area to go green, save energy, and respond to climate change.”
Metro DC Tour of Solar Homes & Buildings The tour is an annual fall event and has included at least two dozen homes in Montgomery County in recent years. This is an excellent opportunity for homeowneers interested in solar to see various installations and ask questions of the homeowners and installers.
Potomac Region Solar Energy Association (PRSEA) is located in Ellicott City. Membership sppears to be open to anyone interested in solar energy as well as professionals in the field.
Maryland DC Virginia Solar Industries Association (MDV-SEIA) MDV-SEIA represents the interests of photovoltaic and solar thermal equipment manufacturers, installers, distributors, and component suppliers.
U.S. Green Building Council National Capital Region Chapter (USGBC-NCR) announced a new mission and vision in October, 2011. The New Mission: “Engage, educate and encourage our community to live within and advance a sustainable, ecologically restorative and economically prosperous built environment.” The New Vision: “…be a global model of a sustainable community and inspire all generations to create a healthy, vibrant, and prosperous built environment responsive to people and nature.
Green Building Institute and the Youth Environmental Coalition, or YouthEco are both located in Jessup at The Enviro-Center, a green executive office complex. GBI offers courses for green building professionals and aspiring professionals. YouthEco, a GBI program, is a hands-on, green education experience for school and college-age students.
Community Solar Coops
DC Solar United Neighborhoods A rapidly growing group of neighborhood solar coops in the District of Columbia.
Greenbelt Community Solar, LLC Greenbelt residents have replaced some of the electricity generated from fossil fuels with a solar installation on a neighborhood church, managing to lower Greenbelt’s carbon footprint.
Natural Resources Education and Conservation
Alice Ferguson Foundation Home of the Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Center and programs for cleanup of the Potomac River watershed, AFF “share[s] the wonder and excitement of the Potomac River, a working farm, woods and wetlands each year with more than 10,000 students from the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area.”
Audubon Naturalist Society “Connecting people with nature in the DC region.” ANS offers programs at the Woodend Sanctuary on Jones Mill Road in Chevy Chase, and elsewhere around the area.
Casey Trees “is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit…committed to restoring, enhancing and protecting the tree canopy of the nation’s capital. Casey Trees…engages…volunteers…in tree planting and care, provides year-round continuing education courses, monitors the city’s tree canopy, develops interactive online tree tools and works with elected officials, developers, community groups to protect and care for existing trees and to encourage them to add new ones.”
Equestrian Partners in Conservation (EPIC) “created to preserve the equestrian heritage and rural character of Montgomery County, Maryland by conserving and protecting our natural resources. EPIC supporters and affiliates…care about horses, farming, and conservation of trails and open space in Montgomery County.”
Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education“MAEOE encourages, educates, supports, and inspires Maryland educators to build a citizenry that understands and is responsibly engaged in advancing sustainability to address human needs and to conserve the Earth’s natural resources.”
Sierra Club Maryland Chapter Sierra Club is engaged in activities, education and legislation to reduce toxics and waste, protect natural places, provide green jobs, improve transportation and land use, promote smart energy and fight global warming.
Transportation
Action Committee for Transit “has a vision of a Montgomery County where it is easier to travel and more pleasant to live – a county built for people and not for automobiles.”
Purple Line Now advocates for the construction of a new light rail Purple Line from Bethesda to New Carrollton, with a pedestrian / bicycle trail from Silver Spring to Bethesda.
Electric Vehicle Association of Greater Washington, DC is an “organization of electric vehicle owners, hobbyists, educators and enthusiasts dedicated to promoting the use of electric vehicles (EV’s) as an environmental and energy alternative. EVA/DC was formed in 1980 as a chapter of the nationwide Electric Auto Association (EAA), and holds regular monthly meetings, public displays, car shows and “tech” sessions to exchange information.” According to their Website, every monthly meeting from June-December 2011 was held in the Silver Spring Library.
Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail “an all-volunteer organization, has spearheaded efforts since 1986 to develop this first-class shared use trail….a shared use off-road trail from Georgetown, D.C. to Silver Spring, MD suitable for walkers, joggers, bikers, and rollerbladers.”
CycleMoco fascinating blog site of the Montgomery Bicycle Advocates (MoBike) run by MoBike chairman, Jack Cochrane
BikeWashington.org “This site provides details about all the great recreational bicycle facilities around the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area.”
Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) “is the national capital region’s nonprofit bicycle advocacy and education membership association.”
Watershed Protection
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) “mission is to Save the Bay, and keep it saved, as defined by reaching a 70 on CBF’s Health Index”
Choose Clean Water is ”a Campaign for the Chesapeake and all of its Waters….brings together people and nearly 200 organizations from Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, working together to help everyone in the region choose clean water.”
Montgomery County Stormwater Partners Network advocates, educates and motivates local government and citizens to take steps that protect all waterways and watershed areas throughout the county. Their 26 partner groups include all the following watershed protection groups, as well as others on this page and some not yet listed here.
Potomac Riverkeeper ”Our mission is to stop pollution and to restore clean water in the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and tributaries through enforcement and community engagement.”
Potomac Conservancy engages in conservation, land protection and land restoration in the Potomac River Watershed.
Patuxent Riverkeeperendeavors “to protect, restore, and advocate for clean water in the Patuxent River and its connected ecosystem.”
Rock Creek Conservancy works “to protect and restore Rock Creek and its waters, parks, and lands.”
Friends of Sligo Creek ”is committed to restore to health the water quality, natural habitat, and ecological well-being of the Sligo Creek watershed by bringing neighbors together to build awareness, improve natural habitat, and protect our community’s heritage.”
Little Falls Watershed Alliance works “to protect the fragile natural environment in lower Montgomery County and adjacent DC neighborhoods and to ensure that the natural spaces in our area persist for generations to come.”
Muddy Branch Alliance ”Our goal is to protect the vulnerable natural environment that surrounds the Muddy Branch. From Gaithersburg, through North Potomac and eventually to the Potomac River, we want to ensure that the natural spaces in our area flourish into the future. As stewards of the Muddy Branch Watershed, we are committed to maintaining its water quality, natural habitat and ecological well-being.”
Neighbors of the Northwest Branch ”are committed to protecting, promoting and restoring the water quality, natural habitat, and ecological well-being of the Northwest Branch watershed.”