6 minute read
Making Good on DC’s Climate and Renewable Energy Goals
If you had to pick a color for DC, what would it be?
While some US cities balk at action to mitigate global warming, other are embracing carbon reducing strategies - creating jobs and cleaner air for their residents. Often, residents aren’t aware of these changes that are improving the quality of life – for humans and wildlife. DC is a case in point. In January 2019, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, one of the most ambitious clean energy bills in the US today. The bill sets a mandate of 100% renewable electricity use by 2032.
The Sierra Club DC Chapter is just one group working to ensure that DC meets these goals. Lara Levison, the Chapter’s Clean Energy Committee Chair notes, “This groundbreaking law gives us an enormous boost toward achieving the District’s ambitious but essential climate and clean energy commitments. The Sierra Club DC Chapter is working with the Council and DC agencies to implement these policies and build upon them as we face up to the climate crisis.”
Specific bill goals include: • Mandating 100% of electricity sold in DC comes from renewable sources. • Doubling the required amount of solar energy deployed.
by Catherine Plume
• Making improvements to the energy efficiency of large (new and existing) buildings. • Providing energy efficiency, weatherization, and energy assistance to low/moderate-income residents. • Requiring all public transportation and privately owned fleet vehicles to be emissions-free by 2045. • Funding the DC Green Bank for private investment in clean energy projects.
Despite the pandemic and its economic set-back, DC is making progress on these goals.
Renewable Energy Options
Solar arrays can be installed on many DC roofs and have a payback period of only four-six years. A number of DC-based companies provide so- There’s solar everywhere in DC! Photo: C Plume lar array installation services. Improving Building Energy Efficiency While homeowners with these so- The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018 also relar arrays see an immediate reduction quires that large buildings that currently fall below mein their electricity bills, income-chal- dian energy efficiency increase their efficiency 20% by lenged residents often can’t afford the 2027. DC’s energy efficiency standards will be released upfront installation costs. DC’s Solar in early 2021, and these requirements could pose a chalfor All program covers these costs for lenge to affordable housing units as the energy savings lower income households. Meanwhile may not entirely cover the cost of the needed investthose DC residents who can’t install ments. To address this issue, the clean energy law sets solar arrays (due to shading or because aside $3 million per year starting in 2022 to assist afthey don’t own a house) can purchase fordable housing providers and rent-controlled buildrenewable energy through a renewable ing owners in making these upgrades. energy provider while Pepco continues to deliver electricity to their home. And Pepco itself is slowly getting into Greening the Fleet the game and will be adding a small DC is also making investments in a greener fleet. The percentage of renewable energy to its DC Circulator began purchasing electric buses in 2018. electricity sources by 2024.
The 3000 Series electric Proterra E2 Catalyst buses are US-manufactured and 100% battery powered. Each of these buses has zero emissions, eliminating thousands of gallons of diesel use while reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and noise pollution. Meanwhile, the District is adding hybrid and hybrid-electric vehicles to its eet while low/no-carbon transportation options such as Capital Bikeshare, scooters, and mopeds are ever more available in DC neighborhoods.
A Green Bank
Finally, DC’s Green Bank is a reality! This bank will leverage private investment, remove up-front costs, and accelerate energy e ciency improvements that will deploy clean energy in DC. An Executive Director has been hired, and the bank is now in its startup phase.
Tommy Wells, Director of DC’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) is pleased with the District’s progress on these goals, noting, “The Clean Energy DC Act was our down payment on achieving Mayor Bowser’s goal to make DC carbon free by 2050. As of 2018, we have already cut carbon pollution by 27% since 2006 and thanks to policies to save energy in our buildings and transition to cleaner sources of electricity, we are on track to achieve our goals while creating jobs, cutting air pollution, and improving the health of our residents.”
So what color is DC? There are many right answers, but it’s certainly getting greener.
Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a writer, and blogger for the DC Recycler: www.DCRecycler.blogspot. com; Twitter: @DC_Recycler. She is also the Chair of the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club, however, perspectives expressed are her own and do not necessarily represent the positions of that organization. ◆
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