There may be snow on the ground now, but in just a few months, the hot sun will be back. Parents will sweat while keeping their kids from getting sunburnt at the playground, people will crowd to the few shaded seats at a park, and many public spaces will go underused because there is too little or no shade.

Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6) is introducing a bill to solve two problems at once in a warming world by pushing DC government to begin installing solar panels that can provide shade and increase the amount of renewably sourced clean energy generated right here in the District.

“We have solutions to adapt to a warmer world – we don’t have to overthink it,” Councilmember Allen said. “Ask any parent, and they’ll tell you it’s hard to use our playgrounds for weeks on end in the summer – a little shade goes a long way. This true across all of our outdoor spaces for residents of all ages. We simply need to build more shade. At the same time, the more clean energy we generate with renewables right here in the District, the more money we keep in our communities.”

Councilmember Allen is also introducing a bill to create a Youth Climate Council because we need more young people thinking about and pushing for their solutions to our climate crisis.

“I’m introducing the solar shade bill together with the Youth Climate Council bill because we need to give a formal platform to young people on climate policy,” Councilmember Allen added. “Young people will live with the damage done to the environment the longest. They’ve got skin in the game, but too often we aren’t asking them to speak up in a meaningful way.”

Creating Needed Shade While Generating Made-in-DC Clean Energy

The Solar Shade Expansion Amendment Act of 2025 would require the District government to identify 20 sites – ranging from playgrounds and parks to sidewalks, bike lanes, and roads – that could benefit from solar canopies.

A solar canopy is simply a structure that supports solar panels that also provide shade. This is a common-sense solution to provide shade, reduce heat exposure, and provide clean energy to our power grid all at once.

The bill also requires funding in the District’s Capital Improvements Plan for five capital projects to include solar shade in the FY27 budget and all 20 projects that begin in FY28. It also permits the Department of Energy and Environment to issue grants to private entities that pursue solar shade projects.

Giving Youth a Voice in DC’s Climate Fight

The Youth Advisory Council on Climate Change and Environmental Conservation Establishment Act of 2025 would create a new government council with wide discretion to weigh in on legislation before the Council and actions by the Executive, and be part of the work of the District’s Commission on Climate Change and Resiliency (also created by Councilmember Allen).

Nominations would be split between the Mayor and the DC Council. The Mayor’s nominees would need to include college, high school, and middle school students. The nominees from the Council would need to represent each Ward. It would meet quarterly.

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