Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund says Councilmember McDuffie’s failure to properly oversee the DC Public Service Commission has greatly harmed ratepayers and the environment. 

WASHINGTON, DC – Ten years ago, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network joined the D.C. Environmental Network in giving former D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie an award for his environmental leadership on solar power and other forms of renewable energy. At the time, in 2015, the award was deserved. But since 2015, Mr. McDuffie has been a consistent impediment to sound clean energy policy in the city. He would no longer even make the shortlist for such an award. 

As Chair of the Committee on Business and Economic Development from 2017 to 2025, then-Councilmember McDuffie consistently failed to hold the DC Public Service Commission accountable for a pattern of rulings that harmed ratepayers and the environment. Under McDuffie’s oversight, the PSC has approved hundreds of millions of dollars for reckless pro-gas programs, allowing Washington Gas to needlessly dig up expensive pipelines throughout the city. Since 2014, the average cost for pipeline replacement is up 407%, meanwhile gas leaks are as prevalent as ever. Gas distribution rates are up over 50% in just two years, and the courts had to throw out the PSC’s approval of Pepco’s most recent deeply flawed rate hike. And McDuffie sat by as the Commission allowed Pepco to charge solar interconnection fees as much as $100,000 – undermining the very solar legislation that inspired our original award over a decade ago. 

Bottom line: DC ratepayers have wildly overpaid for gas and electricity for years due to McDuffie’s pattern of siding with polluting monopoly utilities who consistently get their way before a PSC McDuffie was supposed to oversee. It’s no surprise that records show McDuffie has met with utility lobbyists 27 times since 2018, five times more than any other Councilmember. 

Kenyan McDuffie is no longer a trusted advocate for ratepayers and the environment. Today, we recognize him only as a leader who backtracks on the city’s climate goals, not advances them. 

Paid for by Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund, 6930 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912. 

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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.