Chesapeake Climate Action Network • DC Environmental Network • GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic • Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA) • Solar United Neighbors • Sierra Club • Sunrise DC • US Climate Action Network
April 6, 2018
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Councilmember Mendelson,
As the Council considers the Solar Expansion for Cooperative Associations Act of 2018 (B22-229), to lift barriers to solar installation, reduce global warming pollution, and create more local solar jobs, we urge you to support the ability of DC residents to install solar on their roofs by voting for this legislation.
This bill will allow DC to meet our own renewable energy goals, which are set in law by the Council. Thanks to your leadership, DC has continued to strengthen our Renewable Portfolio Standard over time, including a modest increase in the amount of energy we get from local, clean, solar electricity. This existing solar energy target will be hard to meet if DC continues to allow Homeowners Associations, Condo Associations and Housing Cooperatives to ban solar in their communities. The Solar Expansion for Cooperative Associations Act is a part of enabling our city to meet our own solar goals.
This bill is consistent with what is happening in the region. For many years, Maryland and Virginia have prevented Homeowners Associations from banning solar because of disagreements about the aesthetics of clean energy. The Maryland Real Property Code “prohibits any restrictions that (1) significantly increase the cost of a solar system, and/or (2) significantly decrease the system’s efficiency.” Similarly, during the 2014 Virginia General Assembly session, a law was passed (Senate Bill 222) which removed the grandfathering clause that had previously allowed HOAs in Virginia to restrict solar installation. With the passage of this law, community associations are no longer allowed to prohibit solar installations in Virginia. The same should be true in DC.
This bill is consistent with DC’s commitment to tackling climate change. The Council and the Mayor have expressed support for the Paris Climate Agreement targets. Those targets will be more difficult to meet if we restrict solar panels on roofs in our city. DC is one of the most vulnerable cities to the impacts of climate change. Along our rivers, there is flooding risk. In our communities, we have increasing exposure to deadly heatwaves. In our schools, we have an asthma epidemic that is exacerbated by climate change and is causing kids to miss school. Solar benefits everyone in our city.
Solar Panels bring value to our communities and increase property values. Electricity from the sun not only reduces pollution; it also creates jobs and results in lower utility bills. A number of studies have shown that solar panels increase property values because the next owner will have lower electricity bills. DC law already requires extensive review and permitting for solar panels to ensure safety. More solar means safer, healthier and more prosperous communities.
Now is the time for the District to take every action possible to tackle climate change and protect our community. We thank you for your ongoing leadership on this critical issue for our local economy and our environment, and we ask for your continued support in implementing DC’s renewable energy targets. We ask that you vote for and that the DC Council pass the Solar Expansion for Cooperative Associations Act of 2018.
Sincerely,
Mark Rodeffer
Chair, DC Sierra Club
Keya Chatterjee
Executive Director, US Climate Action Network
Chris Weiss
Executive Director, DC Environmental Network
Nicole Steele
Executive Director, GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic
Mike Tidwell
Executive Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Anya Schoolman
Executive Director, Solar United Neighbors
Joelle Novey
Executive Director, Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVA)
Evan Weber
Executive Director, Sunrise DC