For Immediate Release
October 15, 2018
DC chapter of nation’s largest environmental organization applauds incumbent’s work to expand clean energy
WASHINGTON, DC – The Sierra Club endorses Phil Mendelson for a second full term as chairman of the DC Council.
The Sierra Club DC chapter has long worked with Mendelson on legislation ranging from the Urban Forest Preservation Act of 2002 to the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Act of 2004. The Sierra Club has collaborated with Mendelson since 2004 to strengthen DC’s requirements for electricity from renewable sources.
Earlier this year, Mendelson introduced legislation to expand DC’s Renewable Portfolio Standard to mandate that DC’s electricity mix come from 100% renewable sources, such as wind and solar, by 2050. The Sierra Club suggested improvements to the legislation to further lessen DC’s reliance on dirty fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the District. Mendelson, along with Councilmember Mary Cheh, later introduced a stronger bill, the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018, which included the suggestions from the Sierra Club.
“The Sierra Club is happy that Chairman Mendelson is working with Councilmember Cheh and other environmental champions in the DC Council to pass a strong clean energy bill to cut greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mark Rodeffer, chair of the Sierra Club DC chapter. “The recent report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change demonstrates that we must act now to eliminate dirty fossil fuels from our energy mix if we have any hope of mitigating the catastrophic effects of climate change. We look forward to working with Chairman Mendelson and other environmental allies on the Council to pass this important bill this year.”
Earlier this year, the Sierra Club endorsed Mayor Muriel Bowser and Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, Attorney General Karl Racine, and Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau, Mary Cheh and Charles Allen.
“The Sierra Club’s top priority in the District of Columbia is passing the Clean Energy DC Act this year, and we are excited about working with our endorsed candidates and environmental allies on the Council to make that happen,” Rodeffer said.
Contact: Mark Rodeffer, mark.rodeffer@sierraclub.org