Embracing renewable energy in the nation’s capital

 

Washington, D.C. (July 2023)

The United States has been a significant contributor to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions through energy production that continues to rely on fossil fuels. Starting in the 1970s, however, with the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the United States has become more aware of the importance of reducing pollution associated with energy production. 

The nation’s capital is a good example of how a key metropolitan area could benefit from the widespread adoption of renewable energy. Although Washington, D.C. covers a relatively small geographic area, its population is larger than the states of Vermont and Wyoming. Being a densely populated area, the nation’s capital “consumes about 70 times more energy than it produces,” according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 

As a global capital, the District would be an excellent model for the adoption of a renewable energy strategy. Developing affordable and abundant renewable energy is essential to improve both air quality and to help offset the increasing challenges of climate change. Global climate change has been exacerbated by the relentless increase in greenhouse gas emissions since the Industrial Revolution. 

The nation’s capital ranks second only to Los Angeles among major US cities for overall number of Energy Star certified buildings that are energy efficient. Last summer, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the “Clean Energy DC Building Code Act.” It requires that by 2026, “all new buildings in DC are net-zero energy and produce the energy they use on-site from renewable sources.”

Currently, solar energy and biomass account for 63% of the renewable energy that’s generated within the nation’s capital, according to the EIA. No other forms of commercial, renewable energy are available within Washington, D.C. Thus, 98% of the electricity used in the nation’s capital comes from power plants in surrounding states. 

By comparison, my Pepco power bill in Bethesda, Maryland, shows roughly 20% of electricity comes from the burning of coal; 40% comes from natural gas, 33% is generated by nuclear power; and the remaining 7% is from renewable energy sources. 

With the exception of the nuclear power plant in Lusby, Maryland, the majority of the electricity produced in the nation’s capital and the surrounding suburbs comes from nonrenewable energy sources. According to the EIA, the burning of fossil fuels still accounts for over 60% of the electricity in the United States. This underscores the need for the expansion of renewable energy sources. 

Weather Quiz

 

The Washington Monument (July 2023)

When was the last time triple-digit heat occurred in Washington, D.C. ?

A.  2020

B.  2016

C.  2012

D.  2006

DC's hottest weather in nearly seven years ?

 

The Washington Monument (Source: National Park Service)

The nation’s capital could experience its hottest weather in nearly seven years over the next few days.  Check out this story I wrote for the WUSA9 website to see when the last time triple-digit heat occurred in Washington, D.C.

DC’s warm and wet start to July

 

DC's 7-day forecast (Source: WUSA9)

Rain occurred on 15 of the first 21 days of July in the nation’s capital. Those 15 days saw as little as a trace (too little to measure) to 1.33” on July 14 and has added up to 5.22” at National Airport. It’s also been a warmer than average month-to-date at both National and Dulles Airports. While warmer than average, it hasn’t been exceptionally warm with the hottest temperature of the month having been 94° (July 13).

Warmer and wetter than average July weather isn’t unusual given DC’s tendency to see frequent summertime showers and thunderstorms. However, it is in contrast to the first half of last July that was 1.2° below average through July 16 when it was also wetter than average. The key difference between the start of this July and last July has been the amount of sunlight. Last July got off to rainier start and was commensurately cooler. 

By comparison, this month’s rain has occurred at night on several occasions. That’s allowed temperatures on those days to rebound as skies cleared early in the day without any significant impacts. Ironically, this has been DC’s wettest month since July 2022 (7.61”). That’s excellent news as the nation’s capital has been mired in chronic drought conditions in recent months.

While the 5.22” of rain so far this month is appreciably more than DC’s July average of 4.33”, the significant rainfall totals have been rather localized during scattered thunderstorms. Consequently, the beneficial rainfall hasn’t been widespread enough to put a significant dent in the ongoing drought conditions.

NOAA’s outlook for the rest of July is for warmer than average temperatures in the DC Metro Area. In fact, my colleagues and I on the WUSA9 weather team are tracking what will likely be the hottest weather of the summer later this week with highs in the mid to upper 90s. Aside from scattered showers in the forecast tomorrow, no widespread rainfall is expected during the upcoming week. That means the moderate to severe drought conditions will linger into August. 

It’s increasingly likely, absent a major shift in the weather pattern, that it will take a decaying tropical system to bring enough widespread, significant rainfall to alleviate the drought conditions.