Some of the participants of the February 19th meeting with DC Water General Manager David Gadis. (L to R) Nancy Stoner (PRK), Jeanne Braha (Rock Creek Conservancy), Philip Musegaas (PRK), Dean Naujoks (the “Potomac Riverkeeper”), Vincent Morris (DC Water), and Trey Sherard (Anacostia Riverkeeper). On the roof of the new DC Water headquarters. Photo by Chris Weiss, DC Environmental Network. 

The DC Environmental Network has been working hard for decades in support of District efforts to make our waterways fishable and swimmable.

DC water plays a major role in implementing the Clean Rivers project to keep billions of gallons of raw sewage and polluted stormwater from entering the Anacostia River, Potomac River, and Rock Creek.

Our goal is to support their efforts and advocate as needed.



On February 27th of this year, the DC Auditor, Kathy Patterson (ODCA), released a report, the "2008 Clean Energy Law Spurs Progress but District Can Do More to Cut Emissions", that was requested by DC Councilmember Mary Cheh. This report was an attempt to evaluate one of the District's earliest laws to reduce the carbon emissions that cause climate change.

The DC Environmental Network, and other climate focused organizations, helped pass this 2008 law, and have been advocating for steady implementation the last 12 years. This is as much a report about our efforts, our successes and challenges, as much as it is a report about our government. Looks like we have done alright, but probably should work harder and do better.

As reported by WAMU 88.5: “The law has been implemented, it’s been implemented pretty faithfully,” says D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson. But, she adds, “there are a couple of big issues that we haven’t quite come to grips with yet.”

The District's Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), created by this legislation, was credited with progress meeting performance targets, but the report left open the possibility that more ambitious targets might be worth considering.

This report includes a lot of interesting information and graphics, and over 30 pages of responses to ODCA's recommendations by the District Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE). DCEN found DOEE's responses particularly interesting and appreciated the attempted transparency this reflected.

DCEN believes it's important to make sure our climate policies are working. This report helped start a conversation that can help us improve our efforts to deal with the climate crisis our city and planet face.

Committee on the Judiciary members (L to R), Charles Allen, Mary Cheh, and Anita Bonds, all voted to send the ivory ban legislation to the full Council for consideration. Concilmember Bonds showed her commitment by pausing a hearing she was chairing to participate in the mark-up. Photo by Chris Weiss, DC Environmental Network.

First full DC Council vote Tuesday!

On February 25th , the DC Environmental Network witnessed the mark-up, by the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, of B23-0034, the Elephant Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Trafficking Prohibition Act of 2019.

The bill would prohibit the import, sale, offer for sale, purchase, barter, or possession with intent to sell of ivory from several species or the horn of any species of rhinoceros, in DC. Find ivory ban factsheet here.

You can read more about this important legislation by looking at the committee report. This bill will get two more votes before it is sent to Mayor Muriel Bowser for signature.

The first vote of the full DC Council is tomorrow, Tuesday, March 3rd.

On Tuesday, February 25th, the People's Counsel, Sandra Mattavous-Frye convened a meeting with key environmental stakeholders to discuss a new staff position that will anchor the establishment of a Climate Change Section at the Office of People's Counsel (OPC).

The DC Environmental Network helped organize this conversation along with OPC Consumer Affairs Liaison, Alya Solomon.

Participants from the environmental community included the Center for Biological Diversity, DC Environmental Network, DC Climate Action, Audubon Naturalist Society, Institute for Market Transformation, Sierra Club - DC Chapter, and others. OPC had representatives from their Consumer Services Division, Litigation Services Division, and other sections, many who had extensive expertise on energy policy.

Ultimately the goals of these conversations are to work hard together to find common ground, and make sure we are helping each other to both protect ratepayers and protect our city and planet. DCEN believes the establishment of a Climate Change Section is a big step in the right direction.

OPC chooses a plug-in electric vehicle! The People's Counsel takes it for a spin! (see picture)

From the OPC site: “When the opportunity arose to purchase a vehicle to get the staff of our new Water Services Division to community events, I thought it would be a good idea to choose a plug-in electric vehicle. As a zero-emission vehicle, this Chevrolet Bolt helps us meet the environmental goals of our new mandate to include climate change in our policies and practices," states People's Counsel Sandra Mattavous-Frye.” Carbon dioxide from gasoline and diesel engine emissions is a major factor in climate change. This vehicle allows OPC to eliminate an estimated 4.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, compared to a standard vehicle.

 “This is good for the District’s environment and allows OPC staff to learn the realities of energy-saving firsthand, even as we work to help consumers make their own renewable energy choices."

Some of the participants of our climate advocacy day after our meeting with Brianne Nadeau. (L to R) Ari Eisenstadt (Audubon Naturalist Society), Eliza Cava (Audubon Naturalist Society), Brianne Nadeau (DC Council, Ward 1), Barbara Briggs (CCAN), Elizabeth Brandt (Mom's Clean Air Force), Stephanie Klein (Moms Clean Air Force), and Aykut Yilmaz (Sierra Club, DC Chapter). Photo by Chris Weiss, DC Environmental Network.

On February 24th , led by Mom's Clean Air Force and the Audubon Naturalist Society , the DC Environmental Network , Chesapeake Climate Action Network , and Sierra Club, DC Chapter , participated in briefing the offices of Councilmember's Charles Allen, Brandon Todd, David Grosso, Brianne Nadeau, Mary Cheh, and Vince Gray, on some of the climate crisis priorities of the local DC environmental advocacy community.

Our priority recommendations included:

It was truly gratifying for the DC Environmental Network to spend the day with some of the most committed climate advocates in the region. We also appreciated the time and interest that each Council office demonstrated in meetings that often went well over the allotted 30 minutes, as we shared our ideas and expertise with each other.

Advocacy and education at its best!