DC Council Votes to Transition the District Off Fossil Fuels, Electrify Buildings

The Sierra Club applauds the Council of the District of Columbia for voting unanimously to start transitioning DC off fossil fuels and toward clean and efficient electric systems in new buildings. 

The DC Council on Tuesday voted 13-0 for the Clean Energy DC Building Code Act, which will require that by 2026, new buildings in DC are net-zero energy, meaning the buildings are highly energy efficient and produce the energy they use on-site from renewable sources. The bill prohibits the combustion of dirty fuels in new buildings, which will reduce indoor air pollution and cut greenhouse gas emissions. 

Also on Tuesday, the Council voted 13-0 for the Climate Commitment Act, which accelerates and codifies DC’s climate commitments. In 2017, Mayor Muriel Bowser committed DC to carbon neutrality, and this legislation enshrines that commitment into law, guaranteeing DC will end carbon emissions by 2045. The legislation also commits the DC government to achieving carbon neutrality in its operations by 2040, ends DC government purchases of fossil fuel building heating equipment by 2025 and ensures the DC government purchases only zero-emissions vehicles by 2026. 

Mark Rodeffer, Co-Chair of the Sierra Club DC Chapter Beyond Gas Subcommittee, released the following statement:

“Mayor Bowser’s Clean Energy DC plan states that the District will end fossil fuel combustion in new buildings by 2026, and the DC Council has voted to codify this climate commitment into law. We are grateful to the DC Council for passing this important legislation and we look forward to the Mayor signing it. The Climate Commitment Act codifies and strengthens Mayor Bowser’s carbon neutrality commitment and moves DC closer to achieving it, ensuring that DC leads by example and commits to clean energy buildings and vehicles. Once signed into law, these measures will guarantee the District continues to be a national leader on climate action.”