Today, Councilmember Robert White introduced legislation to accelerate the District of Columbia’s efforts to meet its energy conservation and emission reduction goals. The Greener Government Buildings Amendment Act of 2022 would require all major new or substantially improved government buildings to comply with net zero energy design principles. Each building project will be designed to generate at least as much energy from renewable sources as it consumes each year.

This legislation would also direct the Department of General Services (DGS) to train employees in relevant green technologies and open those trainings up to the local construction industry, ensuring the District has the skilled labor needed to achieve this effort, and empowering builders to deliver more net zero energy projects to interested private customers.

Finally, the bill would collect information on both Certified Business Enterprises’ and District residents’ share of the economic opportunity generated by this acceleration in government building technology so that the Council can adjust support in future years as needed.

“This legislation ensures the District government is a leader in net zero emissions construction as soon as possible,” said Councilmember Robert White. “The city has fallen behind on efforts to meet the CleanEnergyDC requirements to remediate our most pollutive buildings, and unfortunately the majority of construction projects in the Mayor’s proposed Capital Improvement Plan will involve more pollution.”

In putting forward this new legislation, Councilmember White believes that DC can and must act with urgency to address the impact of climate change. This bill also ensures that the District’s climate goals and equity goals can be met together, providing opportunities for residents and small businesses to be trained to enter the growing field of construction and retrofitting.  

Co-introducers are Councilmembers Allen, Nadeau, Pinto, and Lewis George. Councilmember Robert White’s office is grateful for the support and counsel of The Washington Interfaith Network, Interfaith Power and Light, and the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club in the development of this bill.  

For immediate release April 22, 2022