Sierra Club's DC Council Scorecard, 2020-2025

Janeese Lewis George

Environmental Champion

Councilmember Janeese Lewis George

Ward 4 Councilmember

76%

  • Only councilmember with 100% clean energy voting and co-sponsorship record

  • Lead sponsor of Shine Safely Act

  • Ensured implementation of the Greener Government Buildings Act by restoring funding after Mayor Bowser attempted to cut it

Clean Energy

Clean Energy DC Building Code Act of 2021

  • Requires newly constructed buildings to meet net zero energy standards and not burn fossil fuels
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-sponsored and was awarded 2 points

Climate Commitment Act of 2021

  • Codifies DC’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2045 and requires DC government operations to be carbon neutral by 2040
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-sponsored and was awarded 2 points

Greener Government Buildings Act of 2022

  • Requires newly constructed DC government buildings to meet net zero energy standards and not burn fossil fuels
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-sponsored and was awarded 2 points

Local Solar Expansion Act of 2022

  • Significantly increases subsidies for existing solar panels, raising utility bills
  • Sierra Club opposed
  • Lewis George voted "no" and was awarded 2 points

Healthy Homes and Residential Electrification Amendment Act of 2024

  • Creates a program to give low and moderate income DC families electrification and energy upgrades at no cost
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-sponsored and was awarded 3 points

2023 Construction Codes Coordinating Board (CCCB) letter on all-electric commercial code

  • Reminded body setting DC building code that current law requires all newly constructed buildings to be net zero by 2027
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-signed and was awarded 1 point

2024 Public Service Commission (PSC) letter on Project Pipes Phase 3

  • Asked utility regulators to oppose Washington Gas proposal to charge DC residents $700 million for wasteful fossil fuel pipelines
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-signed and was awarded 1 point

2025 Public Service Commission (PSC) letter on District Safe

  • Asked utility regulators to oppose new Washington Gas proposal to charge DC residents hundreds of millions of dollars for wasteful fossil fuel pipelines
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-signed and was awarded 1 point

Shine Safely Act

  • Would prohibit the sale of fluorescent lights, which contain the neurotoxin mercury, in favor LED lights, which use up to half as much electricity
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George was the lead sponsor and was awarded 4 points (including 2 bonus points)

Sensible Pool Building Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

  • Would have allowed Ward 8 rec centers with pools to burn fossil fuels despite the health impacts of indoor fossil fuel combustion
  • Sierra Club opposed
  • Lewis George voted "yes" and was awarded no points

 

Zero Waste

Bottle bill (Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Amendment Act of 2025)

  • Puts a refundable 10¢ deposit on beverage containers to boost recycling and reduce litter
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-sponsored and was awarded 3 points

 

Sustainable Transportation

Electric Bicycle Rebate Program Amendment Act of 2023

  • Created an e-bike rebate program providing up to $1,500 for a standard e-bike, depending on income
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-sponsored and was awarded 1 point

Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (“STEER”) Act of 2023

  • Empowers DC to sue out-of-state drivers with repeated safety violations that endangered people
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-sponsored and was awarded 1 point

Public Life and Activity Zones Act (“PLAZA”) Act of 2023

  • Creates pedestrian-priority street corridors by closing selected streets to car traffic for set time periods
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George did not co-sponsor and was awarded no points

 

Clean Water

Accelerating a Lead-Free DC Amendment Act of 2025

  • Creates a program for DC Water and the Department of Energy and Environment replace all lead water service lines by 2030
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-sponsored and was awarded 1 point

Lead-Free DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2025

  • Establishes workforce training, funding, and implementation policies to speed the replacement of lead pipes
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George co-sponsored and was awarded 1 point

District Waterways Management Authority Establishment Act of 2022

  • Creates a District Waterways Management Authority and Commission to improve public access to DC's rivers
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George did not co-sponsor and was awarded no points

 

Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice Cumulative Impact Bill

  • Establishes a compounding health impact review for environmentally harmful projects in overburdened communities
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George did not co-sponsor and was awarded no points


Ivy City Resilience Hub Eminent Domain Authority Act of 2025

  • Authorizes eminent domain to buy a toxic chemical plant in Ivy City and build a resilience hub on the site instead
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George did not co-sponsor and was awarded no points

 

Democracy

FY 2026 Local Budget Act - Henderson and Nadeau amendment to fund Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) 

  • Provided funding to implement ranked choice voting, which voters approved by ballot initiative in 2024
  • Sierra Club supported
  • Lewis George voted "yes" and was awarded 1 point

Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) Implementation Clarification Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

  • Would have prevented implementation of ranked choice voting for 2026 election (Councilmember Bonds' legislation to delay RCV)
  • Sierra Club opposed
  • Lewis George voted "no" and was awarded 1 point

 

RFK Stadium

RFK Redevelopment Act

  • Provides subsidy over $1 billion to billionaire NFL team owners to build a stadium without adequate environmental protections in law
  • Sierra Club opposed
  • Lewis George voted "yes" and was awarded no points

 

 

 

ScorecardEnvironmental Champions & OpponentMethodologyLegislation Scored