Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018 Fact Sheet

August 30, 2018

Expanding the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which requires electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar

  • Establishes 100% RPS by 2032, an increase from the current 50% RPS by 2032

  • Limits the area from which Renewable Energy Credits may be purchased to the PJM wholesale market, which will add new renewable energy production

  • Requires electric utilities to buy renewable energy through long-term contracts, which provide stability to renewable energy markets and add additional renewable energy production

 

Sustainable Energy Trust Fund fee increase

  • Increases the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund fee by 100% for electricity and 200% for natural gas, and adds a new fee to fuel oil sales; Renewable energy is exempt from this increase in fees

    • For gas and fuel oil, the fee would stay the same over time

    • Allocates 100% of funds for green initiatives and low-income energy assistance

  • Fully funds the Green Finance Authority (Green Bank) providing $15 million per year in FY 2020 and FY 2021, and $10 million per year for the next 4 years

  • Requires 20% of funds generated from the fee increase to be used by DC’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to provide relief to low-income energy bills, either directly or through energy efficiency programs

  • Any additional funds would be used to implement other Clean Energy DC initiatives

 

Building Energy Performance Standard Program

  • Establishes a Building Energy Performance Standard program for privately-owned and DC government buildings to be implemented by DOEE

  • The program would initially apply to buildings 50,000 square feet and up, but would encompass buildings 25,000 square feet and up by 2023 and buildings 10,000 square feet and up by 2026

  • The standard would be based on Energy Star scores, but the bill would require DOEE to assess shifting the standard to be based on greenhouse-gas emissions

 

Transportation Sector Emissions Reduction Initiatives

  • Directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue rules that tie the vehicle excise tax to fuel efficiency, and exempts electric vehicles from the excise tax

  • Authorizes the District to join a regional transportation-sector greenhouse gas emissions limit initiative or agreement

Read the entire Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 (B22-0904).