DC ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK:
The DC Environmental Network (DCEN) has been busy working to finish a legislative campaign designed to make changes to the District's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that will result in increasing opportunities for wind and solar, and decreasing, and ultimately eliminating rate payer dollars that end up supporting dirty and inefficient black liquor and related biomass energy sources.
We are also currently gearing up to oppose the Pepco-Exelon merger.
The following are quick updates that will share the latest but also let you know about opportunities to show support for renewable energy.
- DCEN LOOKING FOR A RENEWABLE ENERGY VICTORY THIS WEDNESDAY:
We are in the final week of a campaign that started on July 10, 2013, when DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmember Mary Cheh, introduced Bill 20-0418, the "Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Amendment Act of 2013' to eliminate black liquor from the District's RPS laws and create efficiency standards on the use of the remaining qualifying biomass energy sources. SEE COMMITTEE REPORT HERE!
DCEN, CCAN, SIERRA CLUB (DC CHAPTER), DC DIVEST and many others have participated in hearings, DC Council meetings, climate rally's and numerous other educational and advocacy opportunities. In the end we have succeeded in defending the intent of a bill that will help move the District and region forward. This would be a nice way to end the year.
OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR CLEAN ENERGY RPS BILL: This WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH AT 10:00 AM, the DC Council will be holding the last legislative meeting of the year and will include the FINAL reading of the RPS bill we have all worked so hard to pass. DCEN and others will be at the legislative session showing support. IF YOU WANT TO JOIN US SEND US AN EMAIL AND WE WILL SEND YOU MORE INFORMATION.
- DCEN Opposes Proposed Pepco-Exelon Merger!
A growing number of DC activists and organizations are coming to the realization that giving the keys to our clean energy future to Chicago based Exelon would be a major mistake and working to stop the merger could be the most important thing we all do in 2015.
DCEN invites all to join DC activists DECEMBER 17TH AT 5PM AT 1333 H ST. NW, WASHINGTON, DC for a rally to oppose Exelon's takeover of Pepco and a holiday party. We'll be demonstrating our opposition to the Exelon-Pepco merger and celebrating a great year of citizen action in DC. This will also be an opportunity for anyone who wants to testify in opposition to the merger.
More details can be found here.
DCEN believes the proposed Pepco-Exelon merger threatens DC residents and local businesses with higher energy bills and lower reliability. The merger reverses the District's progress on local renewable energy and energy efficiency, and it moves decision making for the District's grid from here in DC to a powerful corporation's headquarters in Chicago. Exelon's corporate interests are not aligned with the policy objectives of the District of Columbia, and Exelon's acquisition of Pepco is not in the public interest.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO OPPOSE THE PEPCO-EXELON MERGER. HERE ARE SOME THAT ARE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO THE DC ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK (DCEN):
1. The Pepco-Exelon Merger Would Hurt the District's Poor & Middle Class Residents!
Pepco-Exelon merger would mean higher electricity bills. Exelon's own regulators have told the Public Service Commission (PSC) the merger will result in higher electricity bills. Exelon could not have picked a worse time. According to a Survey from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, hunger and homelessness has continued to increase in U.S. cities. The District of Columbia led all cities with both the largest increase in the number of requests for emergency food assistance and largest increase in homelessness. Approving the merger would mean increased energy costs for the poor and middle class and would make this bad situation even worse. Our city cannot afford to increase the burden placed on the poorest District residents.
2. The Pepco-Exelon Merger Would Hurt the District's Progress and Targets for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency!
Exelon's track record has made it clear that they do not support the vision of organizations like DC SUN, DCEN and others who want to grow solar (and other renewables) in every neighborhood in the District. Exelon's track record shows that District residents should expect little or no support for the stated goals of the District's Sustainable DC plan of increasing use of renewables up to 50% and cutting citywide energy use by 2032. Exelon has fought against renewables and energy efficiency in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois and Ohiowe should expect nothing less should a merger be approved by the Public Service Commission.
One only has to look at Exelon's large portfolio of 23 expensive (some aging) nuclear power plants and its business model to expand its ratepayer base to pay for its nuclear portfolio, to understand it does not spend much of each day trying to build a clean energy future. Exelon, through its actions, have shown they want to create a "Nuclear Renaissance" and continue to put our communities at risk. Unlike countries like Germany, who have shut down ALL their nuclear power plants, Exelon chooses to ignore the lessons of Fukushima, Chernobyl and Three Mile Island and continue to anchor their energy portfolio with this archaic and costly energy source. They do this at great financial risk to all of their current and future ratepayers.
3. The Pepco-Exelon Merger Would Dramatically Decrease Local Control of Our Electricity!
Exelon's corporate headquarters is about 700 miles away! Pepco's headquarters are right in the middle of the District. DC has benefited from having key utility decision makers from Pepco living in the same neighborhoods that have been impacted by reliability problems like the Derecho storm. Our Public Service Commission, Mayor, Council, NGO's and District residents have all benefited from having folks from all levels of Pepco corporate decision making circulating amongst us. Pepco has been far from perfect but at least they are from here. Exelon does not have a stake in District residents, local issues or our priorities. It is extremely likely that much of the decision making about our own energy future will be made in Chicago by folks with little connection with our interests.
These are just some of the many problems a Pepco-Exelon merger could bring to the District and surrounding jurisdictions.
We will be holding a DCEN brown-bag in January to give organizations an opportunity to join the campaign and help fight what could be the most important issue of the year.
Sincerely,
Chris Weiss
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