Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                                           AN ACT

                                         ___________

                   IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                   _____________________

To amend the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Act of 2004 to increase the renewable

      portfolio standard for local solar from 10% to 15% by 2041, to adjust the phasedown of

      the alternative compliance payment for local solar, to direct a portion of the funds

      collected from the alternative compliance payment each year to provide supplemental

      funding to the Districts low-income ratepayer relief fund and programming to increase

      the number of low-income ratepayers participating in the Districts energy affordability

      programs, and to require the Office of Peoples Counsel to commission a study of the

      benefits and costs of the Districts local solar policies every 3 years.

       BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this

act may be cited as the Local Solar Expansion Amendment Act of 2022.

       Sec. 2. The Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Act of 2004, effective April 12, 2005

(D.C. Law 15-340; D.C. Official Code  34-1431 et seq.), is amended as follows:

       (a) Section 4(c) (D.C. Official Code  34-1432(c)) is amended as follows:

                (1) Paragraph (13) is amended by striking the phrase 2.85% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 3.0% from solar energy in its place.

                (2) Paragraph (14) is amended by striking the phrase 3.15% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 3.65% from solar energy in its place.

                (3) Paragraph (15) is amended by striking the phrase 3.45% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 4.3% from solar energy in its place.

                (4) Paragraph (16) is amended by striking the phrase 3.75% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 5.0% from solar energy in its place.

                (5) Paragraph (17) is amended by striking the phrase 4.1% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 5.65% from solar energy in its place.

                (6) Paragraph (18) is amended by striking the phrase 4.5% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 6.3% from solar energy in its place.

                (7) Paragraph (19) is amended by striking the phrase 4.75% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 7.0% from solar energy in its place.

                (8) Paragraph (20) is amended by striking the phrase 5.0% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 7.65% from solar energy in its place.

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                                                                     ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                (9) Paragraph (21) is amended by striking the phrase 5.25% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 8.3% from solar energy in its place.

                (10) Paragraph (22) is amended by striking the phrase 5.5% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 9.0% from solar energy in its place.

                (11) Paragraph (23) is amended by striking the phrase 6.0% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 9.65% from solar energy in its place.

                (12) Paragraph (24) is amended by striking the phrase 6.5% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 10.3% from solar energy in its place.

                (13) Paragraph (25) is amended by striking the phrase 7.0% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 11.0% from solar energy in its place.

                (14) Paragraph (26) is amended by striking the phrase 7.5% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 11.65% from solar energy in its place.

                (15) Paragraph (27) is amended by striking the phrase 8.0% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 12.3% from solar energy in its place.

                (16) Paragraph (28) is amended by striking the phrase 8.5% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 13.0% from solar energy in its place.

                (17) Paragraph (29) is amended by striking the phrase 9.0% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 13.65% from solar energy in its place.

                (18) Paragraph (30) is amended by striking the phrase 9.5% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 14.3% from solar energy in its place.

                (19) Paragraph (31) is amended by striking the phrase 10.0% from solar energy

and inserting the phrase 15.0% from solar energy in its place.

       (b) Section 6(c)(3) (D.C. Official Code  34-1434(c)(3)) is amended to read as follows:

                (3) For each kilowatt-hour of shortfall from required solar energy sources, the

following amounts:

                        (A) Fifty cents in 2016 through 2023;

                        (B) Forty-eight cents in 2024;

                        (C) Forty-six cents in 2025;

                        (D) Forty-four cents in 2026;

                        (E) Forty-two cents in 2027;

                        (F) Forty cents in 2028;

                        (G) Thirty-eight cents in 2029;

                        (H) Thirty-six cents in 2030;

                        (I) Thirty-four cents in 2031;

                        (J) Thirty-two cents in 2032;

                        (K) Thirty cents in 2033 through 2041; and

                        (L) Ten cents in 2042 and thereafter..

       (c) Section 8(c)(1) (D.C. Official Code  34-1436(c)(1)) is amended as follows:

                (1) Subparagraph (I) is amended by striking the phrase ; and and inserting a

semicolon in its place.

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                                                                       ENROLLED ORIGINAL

                (2) Subparagraph (J) is amended by striking the period and inserting a semicolon

in its place.

                (3) New subparagraphs (K), (L), (M), and (N) are added to read as follows:

                        (K) Covering any costs to the District associated with implementing the

Local Solar Expansion Amendment Act of 2022, passed on 2nd reading on December 20, 2022

(Enrolled version of Bill 24-950);

                        (L) Beginning in fiscal year 2026, transferring funding, in an amount to

be determined by DOEE in its discretion, to the Energy Assistance Trust Fund for the purpose of

expanding access to the Districts low-income utility assistance programs;

                        (M) Beginning in fiscal year 2025, supporting programming to increase

awareness of the Solar for All program and to increase the number of residents enrolled in the

Districts low-income utility assistance programs, in an amount no greater than $150,000 per

year; and

                        (N) Beginning in fiscal year 2025, providing up to $100,000 per year to

fund the triennial study of local solar policy benefits and costs required under section 8a, which

may be used by the contractor selected pursuant to section 8a at any time during the 3-year

period of the study..

        (d) A new section 8a is added to read as follows:

        Sec. 8a. Triennial study of local solar policy benefits and costs.

        (a)(1) The Peoples Counsel shall commission a recurring study to assess the benefits

and costs of the solar requirements in this act as well as the technical and economic potential of

solar energy generation in the District. The study shall address, at a minimum, the:

                        (A) Benefits of locally produced solar energy to the Districts electrical

grid and the Districts clean energy goals (including the Solar for All program);

                        (B) Need for and potential costs of system upgrades and programs by

ward; and

                        (C) Costs to ratepayers of the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards

solar energy requirements.

                (2) The study shall also compare the Districts local solar energy policies to

policies supporting the expansion of solar resources in other jurisdictions.

        (b)(1) By no later than October 1, 2027, the Peoples Counsel shall submit a complete

copy of the study, and, based on the results of the study, offer recommendations regarding

legislative and regulatory changes to ensure that ratepayers are not unduly impacted (initial

submission).

                (2) The Peoples Counsel shall submit updated findings and recommendations

every 3 years after the initial submission..

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                                                                         ENROLLED ORIGINAL

        Sec. 3. Applicability for certain contracts.

        For 3 years after the date described in section 4, section 2(a) shall not apply to any

contract entered into before the date described in subsection (a) of this section; except, that

section 2(a) shall apply to an extension or renewal of such a contract.

        Sec. 4. Applicability.

        This act shall apply as of March 1, 2023, or as of the effective date of this act, whichever

occurs later.

        Sec. 5. Fiscal impact statement.

        The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report 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. 6. Effective date.

       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)(l) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December

24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code  1-206.02(c)(l)), and publication in the District of

Columbia Register.

               ______________________________

               Chairman

               Council of the District of Columbia

_________________________________

Mayor

District of Columbia

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