Healthy Homes Bill Passed by DC Council

Today, the DC Council unanimously approved Councilmember Charles Allen’s Healthy Homes bill that sets DC on a course to replace fossil-fuel powered appliances and home heat with electric appliances in the homes of 30,000 low- and moderate-income DC residents by 2040. The bill marks an ambitious undertaking to address a key source of both carbon output and in-home air quality issues.

“The transition to a future that is all-electric, sourcing power from solar panels and wind and other renewables, is happening right in front of us. Powering your daily household activities with renewables is a great way to save money and breathe cleaner air. But for many residents, swapping out gas for electric is an expense they can’t take on even if it is an urgent change we need to make broadly,” said Councilmember Allen, who chairs the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment. “As we make that transition, which we must, this is how we do it without leaving anyone behind.”

Councilmember Allen added, “This is a voluntary program that would cover the cost of replacement and any needed construction costs associated with safe installation and operation. No one from the government is coming to take your gas stove unless you ask them to.”