At the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Board of Directors meeting, area leaders presented the 2026 Climate and Energy Leadership Awards to the City of College Park’s Municipal Food Scrap Collection, Arlington County’s E-Bike Voucher Program, the Center for Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health INpowering Communities (CEEJH INC)’s Mid-Atlantic Climate Action Hub 2.0, Prince William County Public Schools’ Bel Air Elementary School Geothermal HVAC Renovation, and Neighborhood Sun Benefit Corp.’s Enterprise Community Development Portfolio of Low- and Moderate-Income Community Solar Farms.
The awardees implemented a broad range of climate solutions, which have contributed to the COG regional goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and supporting environmental efforts to advance equity in traditionally disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The awards were announced by City of Takoma Park Councilmember and COG Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee Chair Cindy Dyballa and Workplace Management Solutions Expert at JLL and Air and Climate Public Advisory Committee Chair Ian Marcus.
Small Government Sector Award: City of College Park’s Municipal Food Scrap Collection
Food scraps make up approximately 24 percent of residential waste and contribute to methane emissions when placed in the trash, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. To address this, the City of College Park began a drop-off food scrap composting program in 2019 that allows residents 24-hour access to dispose of food scraps and food-soiled paper products. This program was expanded in 2022 to include Curbside Food Scrap Collection, free of charge to residents after they purchased the cost-share container. Currently, there are almost 500 participants in the program, approximately 11 percent of the City’s population. Through December 2025, the City has diverted 330 tons of food scraps from the landfill, reduced an estimated 227 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), and prevented $18,000 in future economic damage.
Large Government Sector Award: Arlington County’s E-Bike Voucher Program
Arlington County’s E-Bike Voucher Program, implemented in the fall and winter of 2025, financially assisted 244 residents in purchasing an electric bike. The program supported the County’s goals of reducing single-occupancy vehicles, reducing transportation-related emissions, and providing equitable access to sustainable transportation options. In addition, the program targeted income disparities by providing additional support to low-income residents who typically have less access to affordable, sustainable transportation options. Collected data and survey responses showed that, on average, participants traveled 12 miles per week on their e-bike and that more than half replaced solo car drives with their e-bike. An average participant is believed to have reduced their annual on-road transportation emissions by 5 percent, or 0.13 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
Non-governmental Organization Sector Award: Center for Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health INpowering Communities’ Mid-Atlantic Climate Action Hub 2.0
CEEJH INC began the Mid-Atlantic Climate Action Hub 2.0 (MATCH 2.0) initiative in January 2026 to build an interconnected ecosystem of environmental and climate justice work in the region. By organizing community science, GIS and data infrastructure, policy advocacy, education and leadership development, community engagement, and strategic communication, CEEJH INC helps communities utilize data to create impactful stories and policy changes that reduce pollution. CEEJH INC places sensors with community hosts, trains residents to interpret their own air quality data, and provides frontline advocates with GIS mapping tools. They also utilize the Community of Practice (COP), a regional network of environmental justice organizations, community-based groups, research institutions, and policy advocates. One example of CEEJH INC in action is its partnership with Prince George’s County Public Schools to monitor particulate matter at 25 high schools, training students to collect, analyze, and present environmental data using mobile sensors. Findings showed the highest concentrations near the I-495 Beltway and now inform curriculum development and policy advocacy.
Educational Institution Sector Award: Prince William County Public Schools’ Bel Air Elementary School Geothermal HVAC Renovation
Bel Air Elementary School in Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) received an HVAC geothermal renovation, transforming the school into one of the division’s most energy-efficient buildings. PWCS worked with engineering firm CMTA to create the new system that uses the earth’s natural underground temperature through underground wells to help heat and cool the school more efficiently. Since the renovation, energy usage at Bel Air Elementary is down 70%, saving PWCS $125,000 per year in utility costs while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the project, PWCS also connected Bel Air students to hands-on STEM learning through field trips, behind-the-scenes tours of school building systems, classroom energy demonstrations, and participation in the PWCS Student Environmental Action Showcase. PWCS will continue to see annual utility savings and expect a strong lifecycle return—supporting the school division's energy strategy.
Business/For-profit Sector Award: Neighborhood Sun Benefit Corp.’s Enterprise Community Development Portfolio of Low- and Moderate-Income Community Solar Farms
Neighborhood Sun, a community solar company, partnered with Enterprise Community Development, a nonprofit organization focused on sustainable affordable housing throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Through this partnership, low- and moderate-income (MLI) residents living in four affordable housing communities—Arbor View, Edgewood Commons, the Overlook, and Randle Hill—where Neighborhood Sun’s solar farms are located, are eligible to receive a 50 percent discount on the solar credits generated by those farms. Each participating household receives a portion of the solar credits generated by the solar farm, which appear as a credit on their monthly utility bill. Collectively, the four properties have a total solar capacity of 2.2 megawatts and are expected to generate enough electricity to serve approximately 321 LMI households. Over the next 25 years, subscribers across the four properties are estimated to save a combined $2 million and prevent over 18,000 metric tons of CO2.
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