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Frisco, Colorado

Representative Joe Neguse Introduces Green Government Resolution to Turn the U.S. Capitol Complex Green

November 14, 2019

Resolution Expresses Congress's Responsibility to Lead by Example While the Trump Administration Stalls Action on Climate Change

Washington D.C.— Today, Representatives Joe Neguse, a member of House Leadership and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, launched a freshman-led initiative to begin transitioning the United States Capitol complex to the exclusive use of renewable energy sources. On January 18, 2019, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act, which set a mandate of a 100% renewable electricity in DC by the year 2032. The Green Government resolution, introduced today by Congressman Neguse, considers the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the energy plan set by Washington D.C. and recommends the Capitol complex align with D.C.’s goal to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2032. Under the Trump Administration’s efforts to ignore the science and stall any federal action on the climate crisis, the Green Government resolution expresses Congress’s responsibility to lead by example, following the initiative of communities, cities and states across the nation, in combating the climate crisis.

“Climate action starts with us, in our communities, in our states. While this President and this Administration refuse to take action to protect our environment, we will take significant action to fight climate change,” said Representative Joe Neguse (CO-02). “In Colorado 14 cities and counties, including 7 cities and counties in my district have stepped up to set ambitious renewable energy goals. This resolution follows the example they have set, as well as the example of local communities and cities across America, including Washington, D.C., to address the climate crisis. We must be the generation that solves this crisis.”

“In Washington, DC, we have said all along that we will continue to honor the goals of the Paris Agreement. Already, we have positioned the District as the nation’s preeminent leader in green energy by mandating 100% clean electricity by 2032 and committing DC to become carbon neutral by 2050,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. “There is more work to do, though, and we are proud to work with leaders who are stepping up to protect our environment for generations to come. Together, we will build a stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable nation and planet.”

“Washington, D.C. and states across the country are leading on the transition to 100% clean energy while the Trump administration tries to take the country in the opposite direction,” said Matthew Davis, Legislative Director for the League of Conservation Voters. “Communities of color and low-income communities have borne the disproportionate burden of fossil fuel pollution for too long and are also being hit first and worse by climate change’s effects, so these local-level clean energy commitments can help provide much needed relief. We applaud Rep. Neguse and his first-term colleagues as original cosponsors for leading by example and promoting clean renewable electricity for the Capitol complex and recognizing DC’s contribution in the fight against climate change.”

“We know what it will take to solve the climate crisis. Shifting to renewable sources of energy is a no-brainer and it makes sense for the Capitol to lead by example,” said Jamie Consuegra, Climate & Clean Energy Program, NRDC. “This initiative also underscores the vital role that cities and localities must play, especially in the absence of an aggressive national policy. We are grateful for Representative Neguse and his colleagues for leading this initiative.”

According to the 2018 National Climate Assessment, without substantial and sustained global mitigation and regional adaption efforts, climate change is expected to cause growing losses to American infrastructure and property and impede the rate of economic growth over this century. Additionally, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world must limit the warming of the global average temperature to 1.5 Celsius to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change. To address the urgent need to limit warming to 1.5. Celsius, the IPCC has recommended increasing installation of renewable energy systems and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Read the resolution here.