D.C. is well on its way to an all-electric future

As the Trump administration pushes to take us backward, the future of clean energy keeps moving forward. For years, it’s been clear that electrification can deliver clean air and healthier buildings — and city leaders, policymakers, and communities are backing it over dirty methane gas.

Two years ago, a landmark study showed that electrification could cut 100% of building and transportation emissions in Washington, D.C. — the only real path to meeting the city’s climate goals. The D.C. Department of Energy and Environment came to the same conclusion. Their Carbon Free D.C. roadmap clarifies that phasing out methane gas in buildings is essential. If D.C. is serious about fighting pollution and protecting the climate, electrification isn’t optional — it’s the way forward. The gas industry knows its days are numbered — and it’s doing everything it can to stall progress. Last June, D.C. blocked Washington Gas (WGL) from charging ratepayers $672 million to replace old, leaking methane pipes. This project would keep D.C. tethered to gas, resulting in worse indoor air quality, hike utility bills, and undermine DC’s pledge to cut methane emissions. While other states are planning their transition off gas, WGL wants D.C. residents to bankroll new pipes that will be obsolete within decades. Every mile of pipe replaced keeps WGL’s profits flowing, pushing D.C. further from its goal of eliminating methane emissions by 2032.

Methane gas is a major driver of climate pollution, and Washington Gas is behind nearly a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions in D.C. Its leaky system pollutes our homes, fouls our air, and fuels the climate crisis. Instead of changing course, Washington Gas clings to a business model that serves its profits, not the public. Electrification is the way forward — cutting pollution, making buildings more efficient, and protecting the climate for the future DC deserves.

The good news is that D.C. is already moving toward this better future. In 2023, the D.C. Solar for All program, which runs the city’s rebates and electrification programs, reported significant progress. Through Solar for All, more than 1,700 families got rooftop solar to make clean energy more affordable. In its second year, the Affordable Housing Retrofit Accelerator delivered energy efficiency upgrades and new equipment to 2,800 tenants. D.C. is proving that electrification works — and that it’s for everyone.

D.C. leaders must step up if the city is serious about meeting its climate commitments. The Public Service Commission (PSC) must reject Washington Gas’s latest pipeline replacement proposal, misleadingly branded as District SAFE. This is just a rebranded version of the wasteful, polluting PROJECTPipes initiative, seeking $215 million to keep the gas system alive — at the expense of ratepayers. Every dollar spent on new gas infrastructure moves D.C. further from a clean energy future.

Beyond rejecting this plan, the PSC must start preparing for a future without gas, ensuring an affordable and reliable transition to electrification. In response to advocacy from groups like the Sierra Club and Earthjustice, the Commission is now considering how to regulate gas in the years ahead. On April 28, we will submit comments urging the PSC to create a process that prioritizes equity, justice, and a healthier future for D.C. residents.

Finally, the D.C. Council must act to ensure no resident is left behind as the city moves off methane gas. It was a big step forward when the Council unanimously passed the Healthy Homes Act last year — legislation that will help 30,000 low-income residents upgrade their homes with efficient electric equipment like heat pumps. But passing the bill isn’t enough. The program must stay fully funded and move quickly to deliver actual results.

The Council has also twice urged the Public Service Commission to stop Washington Gas’s wasteful pipeline replacement scheme — first in February 2024 and again this year. D.C. has led where other states have stalled, and leadership needs to continue.

While D.C. pushes forward, the gas industry keeps fighting to drag us backward. Washington Gas and its allies are now suing in federal court to block the Clean Energy D.C. Building Code Amendment Act, which requires a net-zero energy building code that phases out polluting combustion appliances in new buildings by 2026. Rather than helping D.C. meet its climate goals, Washington Gas — beholden to its parent company, AltaGas, and its shareholders — would instead sue its customers to protect profits.

D.C. residents deserve the benefits of electrification: cleaner air, healthier homes, and long-term savings. While it’s time for city leaders to double down and lead D.C. into a healthier, safer future, there are actions D.C. residents can take to electrify today. On May 10, our partner Electrify D.C. is hosting the second annual Healthy Homes Fair — a free expo and interactive experience for homeowners, renters, home renovation professionals, and career seekers to learn about all aspects of electrification. Register to attend and learn how you can take steps to improve your health, increase your comfort, lower your utility bill, and reduce emissions.