By bringing more renewable energy to the District, we can fight climate change, help low-income residents, and clean up the air we breathe. That’s why we are working with allies across DC to pass a 50% clean power bill in the DC Council in 2016.
Legislation introduced this spring would raise the District’s current Renewable Portfolio Standard to require that 50% of our electricity come from renewable sources by 2032. Right now, over half of DC’s electricity still comes from fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas that harm our health, our economy, and our climate. This bill would turn the tables, ensuring that at least half of DC’s electricity comes from clean energy like solar and wind power within the next 15 years. As a key way to achieve this goal, the bill also creates a new “Solar for All” program to help low-income families access the benefits of solar energy.
As extreme heat, flooding, and storms take off, it’s time to speed up our transition to clean energy in a way that benefits all District residents.
Renewable Energy is Ready to Grow in DC
DC has a first-step renewable energy law and it’s working. Solar power, for example, has grown in the District by 3200% since 2009. Right now DC law requires that only 20% of our city’s electricity come from renewable power by 2020, and that’s a target we’re going to beat. As other states like Maryland, New York, and California move quickly to expand renewable energy, DC can’t afford to fall behind — and we huge renewable resources to tap.
- Nationally, wind and solar are now the fastest growing source of power in the United States and their prices are plummeting: wind and solar are now often cheaper than fossil fuels and other forms of energy.
- In DC, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory says we have enough available rooftop space to generate 2 Gigawatts (GW) of solar energy, enough to surpass the solar power goals in the 50% RPS bill nearly four times over.
- DC could meet the new wind power goals in this bill using just 11% of the wind capacity that is already in the queue to be built in our region.
More Clean Energy Will Help Low-Income Families
The “Solar For All” program aims to extend the benefits of affordable, solar energy to every low-income household in the District, helping families significantly reduce their electricity bills. This is a critical need. Low-income households spend an average of 15 to 20 percent of their income on energy bills, making them more susceptible to volatile energy costs. Helping households connect to solar, and save money on electricity, directly translates into a family’s ability to better cover other basic needs. The “Solar For All” program will help families save money, reduce air pollution, and fight climate change.
More Clean Energy Will Help DC’s Economy
Already, DC has over 250 companies and 1,000 workers employed by the clean energy sector. These companies are ready to hire more workers — but they need room to grow.
Clean energy jobs are family-sustaining jobs. By passing this legislation, D.C. can double its number of solar jobs, and create career pathways that have a median starting salary of $17 – $21 per hour. That’s money earned and spent here in the District.
Investments in renewable energy create more jobs compared to investments in coal or natural gas, and they provide a buffer from price spikes that come with dirty energy. This is why the DC Government recently signed a 20-year power purchase agreement for 46 MW of wind energy: “directly sourcing renewable power costs 30 percent less than fossil fuel-based sources, reduces greenhouse-gas emissions by 100,000 tons, and protects our city from volatile energy price increases.”
More Clean Energy Will Help Protect our Health & Climate
A 50% clean electricity standard will create incentives for roughly 1,500 megawatts of new clean energy in our region and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 2.4 million metric tons per year. That’s the carbon equivalent of taking 500,000 passenger vehicles off the road every year, which will also deliver improved public health outcomes, cleaner air and cleaner water.
Washington D.C. has an “F” air quality grade from the American Lung Association, and the health impacts of dirty air disproportionately harm low-income people and people of color. More clean energy will significantly improve the District’s air quality while preventing 27 to 60 premature deaths per year.
Renewable Energy Has Growing Support
DC’s 50% renewable power bill, called the “Renewable Portfolio Standard Expansion Amendment Act of 2016” (B21-0650), was introduced by Councilmember Mary Cheh on March 1st, 2016 with strong support. Chairman Mendelson and Councilmembers Allen (Ward 6), Alexander (Ward 7), Bonds (At Large), Grosso (At Large), and Silverman (At Large) are all cosponsors.
On May 23rd, business and faith leaders, low-income advocates, and climate, and social justice activists from across the District are testifying in support of the bill at its first Council hearing.
Learn more
See the full text of the bill and updates on the Council website: http://lims.dccouncil.us/Legislation/B21-0650
Read the testimony delivered by CCAN’s DC/MD Policy Director James McGarry.
If you are part of an organization interested in supporting the campaign, contact James McGarry at james@chesapeakeclimate.org.
If you are a DC resident interested in taking action to help pass this bill, contact CCAN’s Field Director, Monique Sullivan at monique@chesapeakeclimate.org.