Posts by Mark Rodeffer — Editorial Board
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Energy costs can imperil Black homeownership. DC legislation could help
DC’s Healthy Homes Act is designed to help 30,000 low-income households upgrade their homes with clean energy, cutting utility bills and making housing more affordable. Keep reading…
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Meet the Ward 2 DC Council candidates in the November 2020 election
After winning the hotly contested Ward 2 Democratic primary and the special election to fill out the remainder of the former Ward 2 councilmember’s term, Brooke Pinto joined the DC Council in late June. She faces another election in November for a full four-year term representing Ward 2 on the DC Council. The general election is a four-way race between Pinto, the Democratic nominee, independents Randy Downs and Martín Miguel Fernández, and Statehood Green Party nominee Peter Bolton. Keep reading…
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DC has committed to stop burning fossil fuels by 2050. Washington Gas has another plan.
In March, Washington Gas unveiled its “climate business plan” purporting to explain how the utility will comply with DC’s commitment of carbon neutrality by 2050. But instead of laying out a vision of renewable energy from sources like wind and solar, the utility’s plan calls for continued burning of fossil fuels. Keep reading…
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Workers and business owners rally for late-night Metrorail service to be restored
Local business owners, workers, unions, and officials rallied Wednesday for Metro to extend its late-night rail service. The rally, led by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, came hours after her office released a report detailing the District’s economic dependency on its nightlife, and how it has been hindered by curtailed Metro hours. Keep reading…
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Pledge not to take fossil fuel funds, an environmental group urges DC Council candidates
Four DC Council candidates on Friday morning signed a pledge not to take campaign contributions from Pepco, Washington Gas, and fossil fuel companies. Ward 2 candidate Daniel Hernandez, Ward 4 candidate Janeese Lewis George, and Ward 7 candidates Kelvin Brown and Anthony Lorenzo Green signed a poster listing the three provisions of the pledge. Keep reading…
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What would DC look like without methane gas?
DC’s gas utility has promised to transition its business model away from selling gas, a necessary step if the District is to achieve its commitment of carbon neutrality by 2050. Keep reading…
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DC & Washington Gas both agree we need to stop burning gas. What’s next?
The clean energy law going into effect this year in DC requires the District’s electricity mix to be 100% clean by 2032, it sets strong energy efficiency requirements for buildings and calls for DC to transition away from gasoline-fueled transportation. But the law is silent on the source of nearly one-fifth of DC’s greenhouse gas emissions: methane gas. Keep reading…
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The DC Council may cut property taxes, but many want higher taxes to pay for affordable housing
The DC Council votes Tuesday on legislation to cut residential property taxes, barely a week after Mayor Muriel Bowser publicly tested support for tax increases on expensive properties. Both proposals were presented as options to expand housing affordability. Keep reading…
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DC’s mayor signed an ambitious clean energy law on Friday. Here’s what it does.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the most ambitious clean energy law in the nation on Friday. It requires all of DC’s electricity to come from renewable sources like wind and solar by 2032, 13 years earlier than California and Hawaii transition to 100% green electricity. Keep reading…
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DC gave initial approval to weakened clean energy legislation
The DC Council gave preliminary approval to landmark clean energy legislation last Tuesday that would make DC a leader in the fight against climate change. Keep reading…