Mayor Muriel Bowser’s proposed budget prioritizes billionaire pet projects over implementation of critical climate laws and delivering relief to struggling low- and middle-income households

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As D.C. residents face rising energy bills and potential continued rate hikes driven by the high cost of fossil fuels, Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled a budget yesterday that pares back programs to improve energy efficiency and help residents upgrade to efficient electric equipment. Instead of supporting essential programs that can provide utility bill relief and cleaner air, the mayor’s proposed budget allocates $972 million to develop the RFK stadium site as well as $343 million for Capital One Arena over the next five years.

The proposed budget raids approximately $70 million from the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund (SETF) to the general fund and pauses the District’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) and Net Zero requirements, critical climate policies meant to clean up health-harming air pollution in D.C. by upgrading buildings with energy-efficient equipment. The budget likewise eliminates the Department of Energy & Environment’s energy efficiency program as well as cuts to benchmarking, conservation, and utility assistance. 

Thanks to the Healthy Homes Act of 2024, the SETF provides funding to help low- and moderate-income households upgrade to highly efficient heat pumps. Programs like the Healthy Homes Act and DOEE’s energy efficiency program are critical to keeping monthly utility bills affordable. Emergency rental and homeowner assistance programs that help preserve affordable housing, such as the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) and the Home Purchase Assistance Program, are also targeted to be cut under Mayor Bowser’s proposal.

In reaction to today’s budget release, advocates released the following statements: 

Claire Mills, D.C. Campaigns Manager, Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund: 

“At a time when many D.C. residents are struggling to make ends meet, Mayor Bowser has decided to back billionaires instead of the low- and middle-income households that are the backbone of this region’s economy. If the mayor’s budget goes through, essential programs that help lower energy bills for families and residents in the District will be cut. We can’t allow struggling households to face higher costs while billionaires continue to pad their profits. Instead of favoring the wealthy few, our elected officials must reverse course and champion a budget that provides immediate financial relief to everyday residents and creates a more affordable, prosperous D.C. for all.”

André Greene, pastor of Varick Memorial AME Zion Church and a member of Washington Interfaith Network’s Strategy Team:

“Longtime D.C. residents are already struggling with a high cost of living and staring down higher energy bills that could force them to choose between putting food on the table and staying safe and comfortable in their own homes. Mayor Bowser’s budget seeks to erode what little funding exists to help these residents preserve their homes. The D.C. Council must reject these cuts and put affordability and housing preservation back in the budget.”  

Mark Rodeffer, co-chair of the Beyond Gas Subcommittee of the Sierra Club DC Chapter:

“The Sierra Club and our partners worked hard for passage of the Healthy Homes Act, which will help low-income DC residents cut utility bills and improve indoor air quality through home energy efficiency and electrification upgrades. Mayor Bowser is proposing to gut funding for important energy and health programs for vulnerable residents while handing nearly a billion dollars of taxpayer money to billionaire football team owners. DC has been a national leader on fighting climate change at the local level, and this budget sets us behind. We call on the DC Council to reverse the mayor’s budget raid and put taxpayer money where it belongs — into clean energy and healthy homes for DC families.”

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund is dedicated to driving change in public policies at the local, state, and national levels to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance our country’s leadership in the global movement toward clean energy solutions, focusing our efforts primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We know that a vibrant democracy is central to our success, so we work to defend democratic integrity wherever we can.