With passage of the Clean Energy DC Act, the city of Washington, DC now has the strongest clean energy law in the nation, with mechanisms to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030 and to run on 100% clean energy by 2032. The law also provides incentives for fuel-efficient vehicles; puts a small price on carbon; and pushes buildings to go green. Advocates Jamie DeMarco and Chelsea Hodgkins take a celebratory lap, sharing the bill’s nuts and bolts and inviting listeners to step into climate activism themselves.
Councilmember Mary Cheh and her office did something extraordinary. They brought in all the progressive groups and environmentally minded groups, and we sat down on one side of the table. And on the other side of the table you had Pepco, Exelon, Washington Gas, the hospital people, universities, all the major energy users and stakeholders. We had very firm disagreements. And we met for two hours every Friday for three months locked in the room with people who were not our friends. Yet we reached a kind of consensus. I think it’s the strongest bill that could have passed. It’s kind of miraculous. – Jamie DeMarco
PRODUCER AND HOST:
Julie Hantman
GUESTS:
1) Jamie DeMarco, Citizens’ Climate Lobby
2) Chelsea Hodgkins, DC Climate Coalition
RESOURCES:
• Clean Energy DC Act of 2018 (summary)
“100% by 2032” broadcast on January 30th, 2019 over Takoma Radio WOWD-LP 94.3FM with live-streaming at www.takomaradio.org. This is the 4th episode of the Climate Seasons radio series, produced and hosted by Julie Hantman.
