DC Council Unanimously Votes For 100 Percent Renewable Energy

A bill that mandates all of Washington, D.C.’s electricity originate from renewable energy sources sailed through a preliminary vote on Tuesday, all but assuring the bill’s final passage.

The D.C. City Council voted unanimously in favor of an initial approval for the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Act of 2018, a bill that would require the nation’s capital transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2032.

The bill calls for a number of other climate change-related reforms, such as toughening energy standards on buildings; promoting electric car use through vehicle excise taxes; and adding millions to a “Green Bank” that will fund various environmental projects.

The Green Bank initiative would be funded through higher utility bills. D.C. residents can expect to pay about $2.10 more per month on their gas bill and around $1 dollar more on their electricity rates. These fees are forecasted to add $15 million to the city’s Green Bank.

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