Michael Healy: Solar can empower communities to help stop climate change
As we celebrate another Earth Day, it is clear that the District of Columbia is living up to its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
In December, Mayor Bowser signed the CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, setting off an ambitious effort to power our city with 100 percent renewable energy by 2032. The legislation is the result of months of collaboration among environmental groups, renewable and fossil energy companies, local businesses and many others. It was first introduced last summer by Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh with support from seven colleagues; Cheh’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment and Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie’s Committee on Business and Economic Development both helped shape the final legislation. New Columbia Solar and its leadership team are proud to have been a part of the efforts that helped produce and pass these bold policies. Both residents and businesses have benefited from the exciting opportunities the legislation makes possible.
The CleanEnergy DC law isn’t the first piece of standout energy legislation our city has passed, although it is by far the most widely recognized. Over the past 11 years, the District has passed landmark bills such as the Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008; the Community Renewable Energy Amendment Act of 2013; the Renewable Portfolio Standard Expansion Amendment Act of 2016; and the Green Finance Authority Establishment Act of 2018. The latest law has generated buzz among a wide variety of groups across the District, including those who typically haven’t been invested in energy policy in the past.
There is a growing sense of urgency nationwide on the need to transition to sustainable energy sources. With the passage of the CleanEnergy DC legislation, the District of Columbia is at the forefront of hundreds of U.S. cities that have pledged to reduce greenhouse emissions. What’s unique is the bold steps the District has taken to translate this pledge into tangible and progressive action.
Clean energy policies are most effective when the environmental benefits are coupled with sustainable economic benefits for the local community. Initiatives such as CleanEnergy DC and Solar for All are bridging the gap.
New Columbia Solar is a pending partner to the 2019 Solar for All Program operated by the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU). The program, which began in 2016 and is overseen by the District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE), provides the benefits of solar energy to 100,000 income-qualified households, reducing their residential energy bills by 50 percent through 2032. The program’s scope includes solar PV systems on single-family homes and community renewable energy facilities (CREFs) — often called “community solar.” Community solar allows DC residents who are unable to place solar panels on their roofs, such as renters, to benefit from solar energy.
Building owners also benefit through participation in the Solar for All Program. By leasing non-productive rooftops to solar developers, building owners can generate new revenues along with clean solar power for income-qualified residents. New community solar opportunities are helping a growing number of properties to finance needed maintenance and capital improvements.
Solar energy is also transforming our community by aiding in our city’s ongoing struggle to maintain affordable housing through a direct reduction in energy expenses for our most vulnerable residents. For example, New Columbia Solar’s project at Celestial Church of Christ in Ward 5 was installed at no cost to the church and now powers 29 homes in the community. Additionally, our team recently completed our 11th solar project in Ward 8, where the residents of Altamont Condominiums received a new roof completely paid for by New Columbia Solar as part of the solar installation. They will also benefit from the electricity the solar panels deliver for the next 20 years. This is a premier example of how electricity generated from local solar systems can benefit DC residents.
The passage of the CleanEnergy DC legislation solidifies the District’s commitment to solar energy. It’s a historic moment for DC, and our community should be aware of the benefits it’s already providing. The solar industry has produced over 1,500 District-based jobs and has attracted nearly $200 million of private capital investments into the city since 2016 alone. These kinds of benefits, which are all realized right here in our community, are a result of the visionary renewable energy policies our city leaders have implemented.
The CleanEnergy DC legislation not only puts the District on a sustainable path for future generations but also further solidifies renewable energy policies. What’s most important is that our city is doing its part to protect the planet by investing in a clean energy future for residents across all eight wards.
Michael Healy is CEO of New Columbia Solar.
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