Testimony of
Marchant Wentworth
on behalf of
Sierra Club DC Chapter
Concerning Oversight of the Department of Energy and Environment
Before the
Committee on Transportation and Environment
Madam Chair and members of the Committee:
I am Marchant Wentworth, representing the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club is the nation’s oldest and largest environmental advocacy group. We have more than 3,000 active, dues-paying members here in the District of Columbia and more than 10,000 supporters in DC. Our top priority is combating climate change. We work to shift away from dirty fossil fuels and move towards a clean energy economy.
We appreciate the opportunity to present our views on the oversight of the Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE). Today, we limit today’s testimony to four major issues: the Solar for All Program, our electric grid, an expanded water quality monitoring and reporting network, the Renewable Energy Development Fund and the need to take bold action on the Department’s Zero Waste goal.
The Solar for All Program
The Department’s Solar for All Program has the potential to be the most progressive solar program in the country providing benefits for 100,000 low-income residents. Program progress has been slow but steady. We continue to believe that an Administrator would be helpful to supply needed coordination.
The Smart Grid
Sierra Club appreciates the Department’s leadership in shaping the discussion on advancing smart grid in DC. Their testimony to the DC Public Service Commission (PSC) has consistently pointed toward best practices in distributed energy resources, energy efficiency, and improved distribution grid load management. Moreover, the Department’s comments to the docket on PSC formal case 1130 presented an alternative strategy to Pepco's proposal to build a new substation (announced in formal case 1144) and brought a new level of sophistication from DOEE. The DOEE "no-wires" alternative to a new sub-station presents a brilliant and well-informed strategy to use $10M of the Exelon settlement funds to demonstrate how the different smart grid tools such as load management, distributed energy resource and energy efficiency can be effectively showcased -- tools that can save DC ratepayers serious money. This is exactly how the District can take the lead in reducing CO2 emissions, planning for a smart grid in DC, conserving resources, and saving ratepayer’s money.
Water Quality Monitoring
The DOEE needs to dramatically expand its water quality monitoring program and provide the public with easy access to that data. More comprehensive water quality monitoring data can help DC Water, DOEE and other agencies best prioritize their work. More detailed data can also provide the general public with the news they need to evaluate whether casual contact with their waterway poses a threat to their health. To the kids playing in Rock Creek at Milkhouse Ford just upstream of Military Road, their mom has a right to know if that water is safe. At present, the main stem of Rock Creek appears to be sampled once a month and the tributaries quarterly. The Department has informed me that during the summer months they may sample as often as weekly, which is a great improvement. We urge the Department to consider undertaking an expanded water quality monitoring program and providing that data to the public in a timely and easily comprehensible fashion.
Protect the Renewable Energy Development Fund
We believe the DOEE needs a strategic plan on how it plans to spend the Renewable Energy Development Fund in the years ahead. Money has been swept from the Fund by some members of the Council —an action the Sierra Club notes that is contrary to the law in which the Fund was created. A Plan may offer some modicum of protection. We also encourage the Council to exercise greater oversight over the DC Sustainable Energy Utility to ensure that funds from the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund are fully utilized. We believe the SEU should consider funding battery storage and grid modernization pilot programs.
Implement the Zero Waste Program
Finally, we applaud DC’s Zero Waste goals and the recent commitment for DC to be a Net Zero City by 2050. We urge DOEE to work closely with other Departments to take bold action and create innovative programs to make this goal a reality.
This concludes my testimony. I would glad to answer any questions you might have.
Marchant Wentworth
202-526-3389