Category: DC_KEY

The District of Columbia, commonly known as Washington, DC, is located on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia. The nation’s capital was created by an Act of Congress in July 1790, and it is not part of any state. The city’s center is mostly flat and rises from the banks of the Potomac River to low hills in the north. The Potomac’s tributary—the Anacostia River—runs through the District’s eastern side. There are no fossil energy reserves in the District, but there are some renewable resources.

The searchable Energy Storage Legislation Database displays information in interactive maps and charts, tracking state activity from 2017 to the present.

The National Conference of State Legislatures tracks environment and natural resources bills that have been introduced in the 50 states, territories and Washington, D.C.

On July 8, 2019, a month’s worth of rain—4 inches—was unleashed over just one hour in Washington, D.C. The flood was one of the most extreme weather events in years and required the National Weather Service to activate its first-ever flash flood emergency for the district. The event was likely intensified by climate change-induced rising temperatures.

The District of Columbia’s climate is changing. The region has warmed by more than two degrees (F) in the last century, hot days and heavy rainstorms are more frequent, and the tidal Potomac is rising about one inch every eight years. In the coming decades, changing climate is likely to increase tidal flooding, cause more heavy rainstorms and sewer overflows, and increase some risks to human health.

The District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility helps DC residents and businesses use less energy and save money. Since 2011, the DCSEU has delivered financial incentives, technical assistance, and information to tens of thousands of District residents and businesses, helping them to save millions of dollars on their energy costs. Led by the Sustainable Energy Partnership and under contract to DOEE, the DCSEU is committed to environmental preservation, community engagement, and economic development.