The following statement is from DC Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6), chair of the DC Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment, following today’s release of the Mayor’s proposed FY26 budget:

“While I appreciate that the District’s citywide composting program is getting expanded to a few more households, a first read of this proposed budget shows DC is walking away from our commitments to lower utility bills and reduce our largest sources of carbon output and pollution from our buildings.

The DC Green Bank has been effectively zeroed out, withdrawing millions in private and public financing for green infrastructure that annually delivers new housing and lower utility bills by upgrading some of our oldest homes. Around $70 million will be cut from the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund meant to deliver cheap, renewable energy and clean indoor air to low-income families, instead paying DC government’s electric bills.

If we want to pivot and build a new “growth economy” here in DC, we should be investing in the creation of renewable energy right here in DC instead of having District residents spend tens of millions of dollars annually burning coal and natural gas in other states.”

The Committee on Transportation and the Environment will hold two public hearings on the proposed budgets for the Department of Energy and the Environment, the DC Green Bank, and the Sustainable Energy Utility, with government witnesses on June 6 at noon and public witnesses on June 13 at noon (link to come, see all hearings here). Both will be streamed live.