On December 18th, the District of Columbia City Council unanimously approved the CleanEnergy Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, which among a number of other environmental initiatives, mandates the District be powered by 100% renewable energy resources by 2032. While a number of other states, including California and New York, have approved similar 100% clean energy mandates, the Act requires the District to meet its 100% target nearly a decade earlier than any other state. This puts the District at the forefront of a growing wave of local and state initiatives, nationwide, working to implement robust and resolute clean energy programs.

In addition to doubling the RPS mandate, the Act pulls forward the solar RPS schedule by two years and extends the solar requirement to 10% of electricity sales by 2041. Notably, the Act extends the useful lifetime of an SREC from three to five years, providing more price stability within the SREC market and stimulating investor confidence. The Act also includes provisions to provide further transparency with respect to load exemptions, requiring EDCs and LSEs to publish their electricity sales exempt from compliance obligations in their annual RPS compliance reports.

Mayor Muriel Bowser has 10 business days to sign the Act, veto it, or let it pass without her signature. While the Mayor is expected to sign the measure, a unanimous vote from the Council would override any veto from the Mayor.

Once the Act goes into law, SRECTrade will release a full analysis outlining the effects this change will have on the District’s SREC market.

On Tuesday November 27th, the District of Columbia City Council voted unanimously to advance the CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 to a second reading. Most notably, this bill increases the District’s renewable energy mandate to 100% by 2032 and solar energy mandate to 10% by 2041.

In summary the bill addresses the following:

1. Increases the lifetime eligibility of SRECs from three to five years
2. Requires electricity suppliers to submit annual compliance reports which include the number of exempt load contracts from the Renewable Energy Portfolio Expansion Amendment Act of 2016 and the CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, respectively, in calendar years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
3. Draws forward the solar carve out requirement schedule by two years and extends the Alternative Compliance Penalty (ACP) schedule as follows:

The second reading is scheduled for December 18th. If the Council votes on confirming the bill, it will be sent to the Mayor’s desk, who will have 10 business days to sign, disapprove, or let the bill pass without her signature. Further amendments could be made to the bill over the next three weeks. SRECTrade will continue to update participants on any updates made to the bill and progress on any significant legislative proceedings.