The Washington D.C. Council unanimously approved the “Clean Energy D.C. Omnibus Act of 2018,” a bold climate bill that includes a commitment to achieve 100% renewable electricity supply across the district by 2032.
The legislation establishes a goal to use 100% renewable electricity across the district, meaning all municipal operations, residences, and businesses within D.C. will be powered entirely by renewable sources – including the White House.
The legislation establishes a goal to use 100% renewable electricity across the district, meaning all municipal operations, residences, and businesses within D.C. will be powered entirely by renewable sources – including the White House.
“The nation’s capital is a model for the rest of the nation on climate action, leading the way to reducing greenhouse emissions through smart investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency,” stated Mark Rodeffer, Chair of the Sierra Club D.C. Chapter. “The Sierra Club and our environmental allies have spent incalculable time and energy working on this bill and we could not be more gratified by its passage today.
Rodeffer added: “D.C. has ambitious carbon reduction and climate targets, which we were not on track to meet before passage of this bill. But we’ll be on the path to substantial reductions of climate pollution once Mayor Bowser signs this bill.”
The Sierra Club D.C. Chapter worked with the D.C. Climate Coalition to gain support for ambitious climate action from lawmakers, build a diverse coalition of local community groups, and demonstrate broad public support for this bill. The coalition gathered over 10,000 petition signatures over the course of this three-year campaign.
In addition to the requirement for electric utilities to source their supply from 100% renewable sources, the bill also:
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Increases fees on energy from dirty sources like coal and gas and uses the revenue to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy programs
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Sets up one of the nation’s strongest energy performance standards for existing buildings to maximize energy efficiency
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Encourages drivers to purchase electric vehicles, expands electric vehicle charging stations and requires buses and other large fleets to transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable electric power
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has previously pledged to make D.C. carbon neutral by 2050, has 10 days to take action and sign the bill.
Filed Under: News, Policy
