District of Columbia's energy consumption
The energy consumption landscape of the District of Columbia is characterized by its heavy reliance on external sources, with 98% of its electricity coming from power plants in neighboring states. Despite having one of the lowest energy consumption rates in the U.S. due to its small population and limited industry, DC consumes sixty times more energy than it produces. The primary energy sources include fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewables, with coal and nuclear energy playing significant roles in electricity generation, while natural gas dominates residential heating.
Commercial use accounts for about two-thirds of overall energy consumption, and the district's energy market has historically been dominated by two main utility companies: Pepco for electricity and Washington Gas for natural gas. Energy generation within DC is minimal, with the last operating power plants shutting down in 2012. Unique pricing structures exist, where residential electricity rates are lower than commercial rates, contrary to national trends.
In recent years, DC has made efforts to transition toward renewable energy, with initiatives targeting efficiency and sustainability, including the use of solar energy. By 2022, solar power accounted for 76% of locally produced electricity, primarily from small-scale installations. DC has ambitious carbon neutrality goals set for 2045 and actively participates in regional initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating a commitment to fostering a more sustainable energy future.
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District of Columbia's energy consumption
Summary: District of Columbia (DC) energy sources include fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewables. DC receives 98 percent of its electricity from power plants in neighboring states and consumes sixty times more energy than it produces. However, it has taken small steps toward transitioning to renewable energy.
The District of Columbia (DC) was created to house the federal government of the United States. DC’s small population and lack of major industry compared with most US states give it one of the nation’s lowest energy consumption rates. Little energy is produced in DC, however, the federal government is an exception. Regional energy resources include the fossil fuelscoal, natural gas, and oil; nuclear power; and renewables such as biomass, hydro, wind, solar, and geothermal. Coal and nuclear energy dominate the electricity generation market, while natural gas dominates the residential heating market. The commercial sector dominates overall energy consumption with approximately two-thirds of the market share, followed by the residential sector. Most electricity and natural gas consumed within DC originates from neighboring states such as Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Most natural gas and petroleum resources are brought to DC via pipelines. Natural gas suppliers include Gateway Energy Services, NOVEC Energy Solutions, Washington Gas Energy Services, and Washington Gas.
Two main commercial utility companies once dominated the DC energy market. Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, provided electricity to more than 770,000 customers in DC, as well as to neighboring Maryland. The Washington Gas Light Company, a subsidiary of WGI Holdings, provided natural gas to more than 1 million customers. Little energy is generated within DC boundaries. The Benning Road and Buzzard Point power plants generated electricity, using distillate fuel oil as their energy source. These plants were known as peaking plants, meaning that they only operated during times of peak energy demand. Both plants were permanently shut down in 2012.
DC is unique in that its electricity prices are lower for residential than commercial consumers, opposite the trend found among most states and US average prices as a whole. DC ranks among the highest in the United States for prices in terms of natural gas and gasoline, as well as for overall energy. Other concerns include energy reliability and security, brought on in part by the District of Columbia’s lack of energy generation, making it vulnerable to regional transmission grids and supplies.
As of 2024, DC was a member of the not-for-profit North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) ReliabilityFirst Corporation (RFC) region. NERC was founded in 2006 and is certified as the United States’ Electric Reliability Organization under the Federal Power Act of 2005. The RFC is designed to promote the reliability and security of bulk electric generation power systems in the District of Columbia and 13 states through standard establishment and enforcement. DC is also a member of the regional PJM Interconnection, a nonprofit independent entity that oversees daily operations and long-term planning for the wholesale electricity market and manages the regional high-voltage electric grid in all or parts of DC, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Many of the buildings comprising the US Capitol Complex are served by their own facility, the Capitol power plant. The plant has been operational since 1910, formerly supplying Capitol buildings with electricity. The plant currently provides more than 20 Capitol buildings with heating and cooling through the use of steam and chilled water, respectively. The plant utilizes coal as its energy source. The US General Service Administration (GSA) oversees the National Capital Region’s Heating Operation and Transmission Division, which provides heat for more than 80 federal buildings, including the White House.
The District of Columbia has taken several energy initiatives under provisions of the federal Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008. The District Department of the Environment has designated a single, privately contracted Sustainable Energy Utility to provide DC with sustainable energy programs and services centered on energy efficiency and renewable energy resources. DC has also utilized the Energy Star® Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool to benchmark many of its buildings.
Of the electricity DC produces, 76 percent was derived from solar energy and biomass. As of 2022, DC did not have hydroelectric, wind, or geothermal energy production. More than half of the electricity generated came from small-scale solar installations, such as rooftop solar panels.
Green Energy DC is a government initiative housed within the District Department of the Environment that provides a variety of programs, products, and services based on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Resources for residents include home weatherization assistance for low-income residents, free and do-it-yourself home energy audits, rebates on the purchase of Energy Star appliances, additional energy efficiency resources for residents, energy efficiency workshops and kits, and a renewable energy incentive program.
As of 2023, the federal government was also exploring the implementation of new energy technologies to improve efficiency and promote clean energy usage. One such technology was recycling waste heat through combined heat and power (cogeneration) technology. The Heating Operation and Transmission Division already operates a cogeneration power plant, while the architect of the Capitol is researching possible implementation of cogeneration technology within the Capitol power plant.
The greater DC Metropolitan Area has been a member of the US Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program since 1993. The program advocates petroleum usage reductions, alternative fuels usage increases, and the use of hybrid and other alternatively fueled vehicles. Several alternative fuel service stations are located within the District of Columbia. DC also joined states in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions in a commitment to reduce power plant greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 percent by 2018 through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. After achieving this milestone, DC set an ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2045.
Bibliography
District Department of the Environment. http://ddoe.dc.gov. Accessed 30 July 2024.
“District of Columbia.” Energy Information Administration, 2023, www.eia.gov/state/?sid=DC. Accessed 30 July 2024.
"EPA in the District of Columbia." US Environmental Protection Agency, 7 June 2024, www.epa.gov/dc. Accessed 30 July 2024.