Clean Energy Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018

By: Maggie Fechtman

On December 19, 2018, the City Council of the District of Columbia passed The Clean Energy Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, which will implement a goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2032. Not only is the bill cutting done on the use of nonrenewable energy, it also calls for a 10 percent solar energy carve-out by 2041, and commands zero-emissions public transportation by 2045. 

Reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions is one of the most important things to help reduce the amount of climate change currently occurring. How will this bill be enforced? The Department of Energy and the Environment included new building emissions standards to ensure that both government-owned and privately owned buildings are energy efficient as well as an initiative to fund local sustainability initiations.

“To fund the Green Finance Authority, commonly known as the District’s Green Bank, and strengthen the funding available for low-incoming energy assistance, this bill will increase the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund fee for electricity and natural gas consumption. It does so in a way that will result in less than a $1 increase to residents’ average monthly electric bills and about a $2.10 increase to residents’ average monthly gas bills. 20 percent of the generated funds will be used by Department of Energy and the Environment to provide relief to low-income residents struggling to pay energy bills.”  - The Bill

On December 19, 2018, the the City Council of the District of Columbia, which will implement a goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2032. Not only is the bill cutting done on the use of nonrenewable energy, it also calls for a 10 percent solar energy carve-out by 2041, and commands zero-emissions public transportation by 2045. 

Source: https://www.greenmatters.com/renewables/2019/01/04/JMrfUIm/washington-dc-renewable-energy-goal

Connection and Personal Thoughts

Environmental protection relates to human rights because everyone depends on a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment in order to practice human rights, such as the rights to life, health, food, water and sanitation. In Environmental Systems and Societies we discussed the idea that the Earth has a tipping point and that can be passed if we continue producing carbon emission. The creation of new laws to regulate the amount of carbon emissions is ensuring that we have a healthy planet in the future.