March 31, 2025
The Honorable Muriel Bowser
Mayor
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Mayor Bowser:
The Sierra Club applauds your leadership on climate change, demonstrated by the commitment you’ve made to carbon neutrality by 2045—which will require the end of fossil fuel combustion in the District—and the robust plans you’ve made to meet that commitment, such as Clean Energy DC and Carbon Free DC.
Despite DC’s progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, further measures are needed to move us closer to the District’s commitment of carbon neutrality by 2045. One cost-effective measure to further reduce carbon pollution is the timely updating of DC’s Construction Codes. Updating our building codes will increase building energy efficiency, reduce energy use and cut greenhouse gas emissions while saving money for businesses, homeowners and tenants.
Unfortunately, DC is already severely delayed in updating the building code. While the Construction Codes Coordinating Board completed its work of updating the codes in November 2023—nearly a year and a half ago—the draft code still has not been released for the first round of public comment. It is still under review by the Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs (OPLA). The Sierra Club asks that your administration release the new building code for public comment by May 1 or as soon as possible.
Another measure that is vital to the District’s goal of carbon neutrality is the Clean Energy DC 2.0 (CEDC 2.0) plan.The Clean Energy DC plan was meant to be updated every five years. Under your leadership, the District in 2022 advanced its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality to 2045 from 2050. But nearly three years later, we do not have an updated clean energy plan. Public comment on the plan ended in November 2023, nearly a year and a half ago, and we ask that the final version of the plan be published with no further delay.
Decarbonizing the District is necessary for the survival of our residents. Building codes and comprehensive energy planning for a clean economy future play a central role in that effort. The Sierra Club asks that your administration move expeditiously to update DC’s building codes, publish the Clean Energy DC 2.0 plan, and protect our city and our residents from the perils of climate change.
Sincerely,
Lara Levison
Energy Committee Chair
Sierra Club District of Columbia Chapter
CC:
Nina Albert, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
Brian J. Hanlon, Director Department of Buildings
Richard Jackson, Director, Department of Energy & Environment