MARC KORMAN
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LATEST NEWS

Expanding Energy Storage in Maryland

2/28/2017

 
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One of my major initiatives since being elected to the legislature has been expanding energy storage in the state of Maryland.  Energy storage, which includes technology such as batteries, has many beneficial uses including serving as back-up power, providing frequency regulation to the electric grid, and allowing for micro-grids totally disconnected from our legacy electric system.  But the most exciting benefit of electric storage to me is pairing storage with intermittent renewables, which will allow us to use more wind and solar for electricity generation.  Last week, the Economic Matters Committee held a hearing on my legislation, the Energy Storage Study Act.  ​
The legislation is the fruition of significant work with stakeholders including energy storage industry participants, electric utilities, government agencies, and environmental organizations.  If passed, the study would examine what regulatory barriers need to be removed to increase the deployment of storage devices in Maryland and what market incentives are necessary to encourage energy storage.  Several other states, including California, Oregon, and Massachusetts, are ahead of us in energy storage, but Maryland is uniquely positioned to benefit from this technology because of the research being done in the state already.  You can watch the hearing online.  I also had the opportunity to address the Maryland Clean Energy Center summit regarding energy storage.

You can always keep up with what I am doing by following me at @mkorman on Twitter or clicking "Like" on Delegate Marc Korman on Facebook.

Legislative News

A legislative initiative I have not previously discussed in my updates is compensating our state employees in leap years.  Because of the manner by which the state calculates pay, our employees appear to receive a pay reduction in leap years.  In several other states a pay adjustment is applied to avoid the same problem.  I introduced legislation to address this issue in Maryland.  The fiscal analysis of the legislation demonstrated that a pay adjustment is not currently affordable, so the legislation has been amended to provide an extra personal leave day for state employee sin leap years.  Our state employees currently have their cost of living adjustments (" COLAs") on the budgetary chopping block after years of foregoing COLAs, increment increases, and contributing more to their retirement since the Great Recession.  An extra personal leave day is a small giveback the state can provide.  The legislation will be considered on the House floor this week.
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Prior to my election, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Firearm Safety Act, one of the most expansive gun safety laws in the country.  The Act included limitations on assault weapons and high capacity magazines.  Last week, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law and found that such weapons and magazines were outside the ambit of Second Amendment protection.

Administration News

Maryland had retained its AAA bond rating from all three major ratings agencies.  The AAA bond rating is valuable because it allows the state to borrow money at a low rate of interest, which we use for construction programs such as schools.  You can read the rating agency reports on the State Treasurer's website. The reports provide a lot of information about the state of Maryland's economy, risk factors, and fiscal management practices.
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The Maryland State Highway Administration will begin work this week that will extend until mid-April on Old Georgetown Road (MD 187) between Beech Avenue and Oakmont Avenue. To safely complete this work, crews are permitted to close one lane in either direction of MD 187, weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Crews will close the sidewalk on southbound MD 187 within the one-half mile project phase limits and direct sidewalk users to use the safest crossings within the work zone on the opposite side of the road. This portion of sidewalk will remain closed until all work during this work phase is complete and it is safe for all sidewalk users. The sidewalk on southbound MD 187 from Oakmont Avenue to Center Drive will close weekdays at 7 a.m. and reopen daily at 3 p.m. where the telecommunication relocation work will take place.

Metro

As I mentioned last week, Congressman Delaney has introduced legislation to reform Metro.  The Congressman came to discuss his proposal with the WMATA-Metro Work Group last week.

Community News
  • My district-mate and office-mate Delegate Ariana Kelly has recently been named chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health Occupations and Long Term Care.  Congratulations Ariana "Tornado" Kelly!
  • The Friends of White Flint recently made Dr. Gridlock's column in the Washington Post because of their advocacy on Metro issues.  You can read the column here.
  • Deepest condolences to the family of District 16's Carmen Delgado Votaw, who recently passed away.
Thank you to these individuals for serving our community in this capacity.
​
If you know of a District 16 resident who merits recognition or condolences, please email [email protected].

Community Events
  • The Flying V Theater, which performs at the Writer's Center in Bethesda, is premiering a new show, Brother Mario, on Saturday, February 25 and running until Sunday, March 12.​  In this existential mashup of the worlds of Anton Chekhov and The Super Mario Brothers, Mario begins to wonder if there is more to life than jumping, go-karts, and princesses in other castles. Come visit the Mushroom Kingdom to battle Bowser and mid-life ennui in equal measure.  Tickets start at $20 and may be purchased online athttp://www.brownpapertickets.com/ or at the door.
  • The Bernard Ebb Songwriting Awards, presented by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, will occur on March 3 at 7:30pm at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club.  More information is available on the Bethesda Urban Partnership website.
  • The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Democratic Breakfast Club will host Councilwoman Nancy Floreen on Monday, March 6 at 7:30am at the Original Pancake House in Bethesda.
  • The B-CC High School’s annual used book sale is coming up on Saturday, March 11 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday, March 12 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.  Shop more than 45,000 gently used hardcover and paperback books, carefully sorted into over 60 categories, including children's, science fiction/fantasy, fiction, mystery, biography, history, art, travel, self-help, religion, gender studies, holidays, and "vintage and collectibles.” Everytime I have been able to stop by, I have left with a full load of books.
  • The Fifth Annual Bethesda Film Fest, hosted by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, will take place on March 17 and 18 at Imagination Stage.  Visithere for more information.
  • On Sunday, March 26, from 1pm to 5pm, the All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp and Oyster Feast Fundraiser will take place at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Tickets cost $50 per person ($45 if purchased in advance) for all-you-can-eat oysters and clams on the half shell, spiced shrimp, fried oyster, sliced ham, potato salad, baked beans, apple sauce, rolls, beer, and soda.  For tickets or further information, call 301-442-4136.  The Rescue Squad is located at 5020 Battery Lane (at Old Georgetown Road), Bethesda, Maryland 20814.  The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad is a community-supportednonprofit organization that provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area, as well as Upper Northwest Washington, D.C.  With 150 active volunteers and a daytime staff, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad has evolved into one of the nation's most advanced rescue squads, providing compassionate, life-saving services to the community.  For more information, visit www.bccrs.org
  • Adventure Theatre is holding its 65th season gala on Thursday, April 20.  More information is available at http://www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org/givetoatmtc/gala.html.

​If you know of an upcoming community event, please email [email protected].

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