Recent scientific assessments indicate that to avoid the most serious consequences of climate change, efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases need to be more extensive and occur faster. Ten years ago, area officials at COG set out to take on the challenge of climate change by adopting the National Capital Region Climate Change Report, which set a long-term goal for the region to reduce its carbon footprint by 80 percent by 2050 – currently we are halfway to reaching our 2020 goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent. Since that time, the region has adopted and implemented an array of policies and actions to deploy renewable energy, enhance economic productivity and efficiency of the built environment, and set the foundations for lower emissions in transportation mobility.

On November 14, COG’s Climate Energy and Environment Policy Committee (CEEPC) met to celebrate 10 years of local, regional, and state successes toward attaining climate and energy goals. During the meeting, members discussed the history and accomplishments of CEEPC, heard from George Mason University Professor Jim Kinter and former CEEPC Chairs Jay Fisette, Roger Berliner, and Penny Gross about what will be needed to address climate change in the future, and discussed new goals, strategies, and actions to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases for the next 10 years.

Below are some of the region’s accomplishments and ideas to meet future goals that were discussed:

Solar energy systems are one of the best ways that residents, businesses, and governments can promote sustainable solutions to climate change.

The region has already surpassed the goal of 30,000 solar rooftops by 2020, with more than 33,000 systems installed as of 2017, according to COG’s Climate and Energy Dashboard. Local governments are finding great success in deploying solar systems on schools and other municipal buildings. As part of the region’s involvement in the national Rooftop Solar Challenge and Solar Market Pathways teams, COG partnered with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission to develop the northern Virginia solar mapping tool and to support Solarize campaigns.

Hybrid and electric vehicles are another way that all in the region can promote lower emissions in transportation mobility and cleaner air. 

COG continues to partner with the Greater Washington Regional Clean Cities Coalition and others to foster adoption of electric vehicles, including holding a special session on mobility at the Washington Auto Show in January. Government and private vehicle owners are rapidly adopting electric vehicles and deploying charging infrastructure to meet their transportation needs. The number of electric vehicle charging stations has increased from just 124 stations in 2012 to 635 stations in 2018, according to the COG dashboard. As of 2016, there were more than 120,000 hybrid and electric vehicles owners registered across the region. Additionally, transit agencies, including Frederick County and the D.C. Circulator Bus, are finding great success in their deployment of electric buses. 

Solutions like microgrids help bolster the region’s energy security and resilience. 

In collaboration with the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, National Laboratories, and the private sector, COG has been investigating and supporting activities that improve energy productivity, infrastructure security, and continuity of operations through deployment of advanced integrated energy solutions such as combined heat/power, district energy, and microgrid solutions. Such systems can often operate at more than double the energy efficiency of the electric grid and critical infrastructure can be isolated from the grid during an emergency. Montgomery County recently celebrated the completion of such energy systems to power their Public Safety Headquarters and Correctional facility. The system is anticipated to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by nearly 7,000 metric tons per year.

These success stories give regional leaders great hope for future progress as we move toward increasing the region’s resiliency and meeting our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. By the end of 2020, CEEPC will develop its next Climate and Energy Action Plan to help further guide regional efforts toward meeting these goals.

Jeffrey King is Chief of Energy and Climate Programs at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.