Contact: David Whitehead, david.whitehead@sierraclub.org, 202-417-6752
The DC Council today approved legislation providing more than $1 billion in taxpayer subsidies to the billionaire owners of the Washington Commanders for a new stadium at the RFK site. Though Councilmember Charles Allen was able to secure some resources for transit improvements, a pause on a third parking garage, and energy efficiency standards for the stadium, the Sierra Club DC Chapter opposes the deal because it prioritizes a handout to wealthy team owners over protecting residents, the climate, and the Anacostia River.
“DC families deserve investments in clean energy, affordable housing, public transit, and clean rivers, not giveaways to billionaires that saddle DC residents with air, water, and climate pollution,” said Sierra Club DC Chapter Chair Mike Litt. “Instead of protections for neighbors and nearby nature, the deal brings DC residents more traffic, more trash, and more pollution.”
The Sierra Club’s Sustainability Platform for RFK calls for commonsense standards to protect residents, the river, and the climate. The Council passed the bill with few environmental safeguards.
Clean energy: The legislation fails to prohibit fossil fuel use in all buildings on the site, potentially locking in decades of climate and air pollution, ignoring DC law committing that new buildings must be all-electric, highly energy efficient, and maximize renewable energy generation.
Flood protection: Despite the increased likelihood of flooding due to climate change, the deal calls for commercial and residential development on the floodplain along the Anacostia River, rather than preserving the area for recreation and natural habitat.
Transportation and land use: The bill lacks plans to move a majority of stadium visitors by Metrorail, fails to dedicate revenue from District-funded parking on stadium event days to the District, and offers insignificant penalties if the Commanders delay or never build affordable housing.
Zero waste: The Commanders were unwilling to accept any binding waste prevention measures. The legislation does not ensure the stadium will be a state-of-the-art model of effective waste prevention measures, like requiring all drinks to be sold in reusable cups and allowing fans to bring their own refillable water bottles. Instead, the team agreed to some waste reduction measures in an updated “commitment letter.”
The Sierra Club will seek to improve the environmental protections in the deal and monitor implementation of the RFK law to ensure its limited environmental protections are carried out.
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with about 10,000 members and supporters in DC. We work to promote clean energy, expand sustainable transportation, reduce waste, and safeguard our rivers and drinking water. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org/dc.
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