Report suggests how D.C. can expand renewable energy

The District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) released a draft report earlier this month examining steps the city should take to expand renewable energy adoption. This report should serve as a roadmap for policies we should fight for to ensure all District residents can benefit from renewable energy sources like solar.

The report’s first recommendation is to expand the District’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to require 100% renewable energy by 2050. This year, at the urging of renewable energy advocates, the D.C. Council passed an RPS that sets a target of 50% by 2032. The report also recommends that building codes should be updated to require new buildings to accommodate renewable energy or connect to a community solar project.

Requiring more renewable energy production is only one step. The report also describes several steps the District should take to make it easier for District residents to benefit from renewable energy. It recommends engaging in a public education campaign to increase solar adoption. This includes the development of a centralized solar information platform. The platform would make it easy for potential customers to learn about the technology and how to finance it.

On the technical side, the report highlights the importance of modernizing the District’s electric grid so that it can physically handle increased renewable energy load efficiently. D.C.’s Public Service Commission is undergoing this process as well in a formal proceeding (FC 1130).

To read the full report and learn more about the District’s plans for clean energy expansion, visit: www.cleanenergydc.org