Internal D.C. government numbers have revealed that D.C. could halve its emissions of greenhouse gases if the City Council passes the clean energy legislation that was introduced in July.
If the new legislation is adopted, DC’s annual greenhouse gas emissions can drop down by 5.3 million metric tons by 2032, the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) estimates show. It is the equivalent of 49.4 percent reduction from 2006 levels.
“I am thrilled that DOEE’s evaluation has confirmed how dramatically this law will help to achieve our cutting edge, progressive goals for greenhouse gas reductions,” Councilmember Mary Cheh, who chairs the Transportation and Environment Committee, said.
“It confirms that the path that we’re on puts the District of Columbia at the forefront of the nation in responding to climate change and also directly aligns us with the mayor’s even more aggressive goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050,” Cheh, who introduced the bill on July 10, added.
DOEE Director Tommy Wells called the plan a roadmap for meeting sustainability goals.
“Mary Cheh’s legislation is a major implementation vehicle for the plan,” he noted.
The Clean Energy DC plan also envisages electrifying Metrobus and the D.C. Circulator bus fleet which, as per DOEE, would cut emissions by 230,000 metric tons, or 2.6 percent.
#CleanEnergyDC is @MayorBowser's plan for achieving the District's greenhouse gas reduction goals #Cities4Climate #DCValues https://t.co/c4zinOoGdY pic.twitter.com/8I02RQahP0
— Department of Energy & Environment (@DOEE_DC) September 14, 2018
Mayor Muriel Bowser had earlier issued an order and a resolution from the D.C. Council pledging that the city will uphold its share of the Paris climate agreement. The mayor has also made a commitment that D.C. will be carbon neutral by 2050.
Clean Energy DC Plan is targeting 50 percent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2032.