D.C. Law 24-58. CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Technical Amendment Temporary Amendment Act of 2021.

AN ACT

To amend, on a temporary basis, the CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 to revise the timeline for phase-in of smaller buildings into the Building Energy Performance Standards Program implemented by the Department of Energy and Environment, to require the Department of Energy and Environment to establish new building energy performance standards every 6 years instead of every 5 years, to clarify language requiring buildings to comply with the building energy performance standards, to provide that the strategic energy management plan for District buildings shall be delivered by January 1, 2022, and to require that vehicle-for-hire companies submit greenhouse gas emission reduction plans to the Department of Energy and Environment; to amend the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925 to provide that changes to the vehicle excise tax shall be revenue neutral or revenue positive; and to amend the Retail Electric Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1999 to provide that a community renewable energy facility may update its subscribers no more frequently than once per month.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Technical Amendment Temporary Amendment Act of 2021".

Sec. 2. The CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, effective March 22, 2019 (D.C. Law 22-257; 66 DCR 1344), is amended as follows:

(a) Section 301 (D.C. Official Code § 8-1772.21) is amended as follows:

(1) Subsection (a) is amended as follows:

(A) Paragraph (2) is amended by striking the phrase "January 1, 2023" and inserting the phrase "January 1, 2027" in its place.

(B) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase "January 1, 2026" and inserting the phrase "January 1, 2033" in its place.

(2) Subsection (b)(1)(A) is amended to read as follows:

"(b)(1)(A) No later than January 1, 2021, and every 6 years thereafter, DOEE shall, by rulemaking or publication on the DOEE website, establish property types and building energy performance standards for each property type, or an equivalent metric for buildings that do not receive an ENERGY STAR score.".

(3) Subsection (c) is amended to read as follows:

"(c) All buildings below the energy performance standard for their property type, established pursuant to subsection (b)(1) and (2) of this section, shall have 5 years from the date the performance standards are established to meet the building energy performance requirements established by DOEE.".

(b) The lead-in language in section 303 (D.C. Official Code § 8-1772.22) is amended by striking the phrase "January 1, 2021" and inserting the phrase "January 1, 2022" in its place.

(c) Section 502(e)(2) (D.C. Official Code § 50-741(e)(2)) is amended by striking the phrase "Public Service Commission and to the chairperson of the Council committee with oversight of the Public Service Commission" and inserting the phrase "Department of Energy and Environment ("DOEE") and to the chairperson of the Council committee with oversight of DOEE" in its place.

Sec. 3. Section 6(j)(1A)(E) of the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925, approved March 3, 1925 (43 Stat. 1121; D.C. Official Code § 50-2201.03(j)(1A)(E)), is amended to read as follows:

"(E) Changes to the vehicle excise tax made pursuant to this paragraph shall be revenue neutral or revenue positive.".

Sec. 4. Section 118a(g) of the Retail Electric Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1999, effective December 13, 2013 (D.C. Law 20-47; D.C. Official Code § 34-1518.01(g)), is amended by striking the phrase "quarter. Each quarter" and inserting the phrase "month. Each month" in its place.

Sec. 5. Applicability.

This act shall apply as of January 25, 2022.

Sec. 6. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 7. Effective date.

(a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 23, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.

Law Information

Cites

  • D.C. Law 24-58 (PDF)
  • D.C. Act 24-223 (PDF)
  • 68 DCR 013211

Effective

Feb. 18, 2022

Legislative History (LIMS)

Law 24-58, the “CleanEnergy DC Omnibus Technical Amendment Temporary Amendment Act of 2021,” was introduced in the Council and assigned Bill No. 24-388 which was retained by the Council. The bill was adopted on first and second readings on Oct. 5, 2021, and Nov. 2, 2021, respectively. After mayoral review, it was assigned Act No. 24-223 on Dec. 13, 2021, and transmitted to Congress for its review. D.C. Law 24-58 became effective Feb. 18, 2022.