August 2022
Photo Credit: WTOP News
Extreme weather has been intensifying in the District and is a direct result of three main ingredients: moisture, instability, and lift. Washington, DC is a humid area, and we are experiencing more instability and lift due to increasingly hot temperatures caused by climate change. As a result, we are seeing more thunderstorms and flooding in the District.
What should you do if you find yourself under a brewing storm? Immediately, seek shelter in a building with electricity and plumbing, or an enclosed metal vehicle, as they can both absorb lightning. To prepare for the storms ahead, stay informed through District government social media and communication channels, download the free Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) app, sign up for AlertDC, create a family emergency plan, or build and re-stock your emergency kit. HSEMA has additional preparedness information for thunderstorms and flooding. The Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking has resources on flood insurance.
At the District level, Mayor Bowser’s Climate Ready DC Plan is the city’s plan to adapt to a changing climate. It includes goals to make neighborhoods and communities better prepared for climate-related events and the whole city climate resilient by 2050. While you’re thinking about how to be better prepared at the individual level, check out the District’s latest achievements through the recently published Climate Ready DC 2022 Progress Report.
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Anacostia River Corridor Restoration Plan Website is Live
The Anacostia River Corridor Restoration Plan is a two-year restoration planning project for the Anacostia River corridor 500-year floodplain within the District of Columbia. The plan will identify and prioritize specific strategies for restoring the fish and wildlife habitat, improving water quality, adapting to climate change, and increasing equitable public access to the river corridor. The project website includes information on how to provide input and a link to sign up to receive project updates.
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Building Innovation Hub Announces First Cohort of Hub Ambassadors Trained in Building Energy Performance Standards
To help provide the local building industry with accurate and up-to-date information relating to DC’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS), the Building Innovation Hub is excited to announce its first cohort of Hub Ambassadors! These experts have been equipped with information and presentations to help you navigate the BEPS regulations and they're prepared to discuss the details, nuances, and long-term considerations when planning for compliance with BEPS. Sign up here to schedule a presentation by a Hub Ambassador!
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Multi-State Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Action Plan Released
The District of Columbia joined seventeen U.S. states and the Canadian province of Quebec as part of a coalition facilitated by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), to produce a bold action plan for accelerating a transition to zero-emission trucks and buses. The action plan, available on the NESCAUM website, is the culmination of two years of work identifying barriers and opportunities for rapid and equitable truck and bus electrification and actionable policy and program recommendations for state policymakers, utilities, and utility regulators.
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 Get to Know Washington Spirit Player and Sustainable DC Ambassador Anna Heilferty
Hello everyone! My name is Anna Heilferty and in May I was named the Sustainable DC Ambassador at the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE)! I am excited to formally introduce myself and share my path to DOEE.
The District has always been a special place to me and that is why this work feels especially close to home. Growing up just outside the District in Falls Church, VA, I had a keen understanding of the environmental changes the District has experienced over the past two decades. Leading to my time in college, I knew I wanted to learn how to quantify this knowledge and make an impact in my hometown. At Boston University, I studied Biology with a minor in Environmental Science, giving me a greater understanding of the interconnectedness and importance of sustainability in both our everyday lives and for the vitality of future generations. That same understanding and holistic approach in addressing problems drew me to DOEE. Heading into my second year in the National Women's Soccer League with the Washington Spirit, I was eager to find ways to get involved and apply my interests in sustainability in the community that I am proud to call home. I have been incredibly impressed by the diversity of DOEE’s work and their thoughtful, community-based approach. DOEE’s ambitions means there is a lot to get done, and it’s been exciting to jump on board!
I will be working across the agency to amplify DOEE’s messaging, participate in community outreach, set up volunteer opportunities for local professional sports teams, and organize events for YOU. I am excited to get to know you all, and I look forward to hearing what you are looking for in your community to make DC an even greener and more sustainable city.
You can keep up to date on my journey through this newsletter and on social media @DOEE_DC and @anna_heilferty on Twitter and Instagram).
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GRANTS & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Notice of Funding Availability – Technical Assistance for Stormwater Management and Related Regulations
DOEE seeks eligible entities to provide training workshops and educate stakeholders on compliance with the District of Columbia’s Stormwater Management (SWM) regulations and SWM Best Management Practices, now often called Green Infrastructure. The amount available for the first two years of the project is $900,000. For more information on applying, please visit this webpage. The deadline for applications is September 6 at 11:59 p.m.
Request for Proposals for The Environmental Justice Data Fund
The Environmental Justice Data Fund aims to help frontline communities that have been historically underserved and disproportionately impacted by climate change and environmental injustice. The Fund will enable frontline communities in the United States to use data to unlock resources, increase their access to Justice40 benefits and federal infrastructure funding, and advocate for new policies that empower communities to address past environmental harm and pave the way to a more sustainable, climate-resilient future. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will close on September 16. For more information and to apply, visit this webpage.
JOBS
Department of Energy and Environment – Environmental Protection Specialist
DOEE is seeking to fill an Environmental Protection Specialist position within the Natural Resources Administration. The incumbent will act as the lead industrial stormwater inspector for DOEE’s Industrial Stormwater Inspection and Compliance program. The incumbent’s primary responsibilities include directing the development and implementation of procedures for the inspection, compliance, and enforcement activities of industrial stormwater facilities within the District’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System area. The deadline to apply is August 24. For more information, visit this webpage and search for the role using this job ID: 18339.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority – Senior Program Coordinator
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is seeking to fill a Senior Program Coordinator position within the Office of Sustainability. The incumbent provides strategic support, guidance, and management for a broad range of projects to include program and policy assignments pertinent to the mission of WMATA and departmental goals. The Senior Program Coordinator is responsible for assisting the management team in program planning and development activities that include policy development, technical analysis, as well as capital and operational data management. The deadline to apply is August 30. For more information, visit this webpage.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority – Project Manager (Non-Technical)
WMATA is seeking to fill a Project Manager position within the Office of Sustainability. The incumbent conducts research and gathers data from various sources in response to inquiries from internal and external entities and keeps department leadership apprised on matters that may have an impact on the delivery of the department’s mission. The incumbent provides strategic support, guidance, and management for a broad range of projects to include program and policy assignments pertinent to the mission of the department. The deadline to apply is August 30. For more information, visit this webpage.
Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning – Employer Outreach Coordinator, Sustainable Transportation
The Employer Outreach Coordinator will engage with employers using motivational engagement strategies to encourage participation in the goDCgo program. goDCgo is the District Department of Transportation’s transportation demand management program operated by Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning. goDCgo aims to reduce drive-alone trips by encouraging commuters, residents, and visitors to bike, walk, scoot, carpool, telework, and use public transit through a coordinated multi-layered program. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled with candidates reviewed on a rolling basis. For more information, visit this webpage.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
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DC Flood Task Force Releases Plans to Increase Resilience of more than 1,000 District Homes
The Flood Task Force for the District of Columbia has released its first five draft action plans to help make the city and its residents more flood resilient. The plans include recommended projects to protect more than 1,000 homes in low-lying District neighborhoods from flooding. The plans are available for review at https://dcfloodtaskforce.org/action-plans/ and comments will be accepted through Monday, August 22.
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Join the DC Zoning Commission Racial Equity Tool Roundtable
The Zoning Commission for the District of Columbia is working on its first-ever racial equity tool and wants to hear from DC residents. The Commission will be hosting a roundtable on September 22 at 4 p.m. The Commission asks that community members who would like to testify please register at least 24 hours in advance. For instructions on how to testify, visit this webpage. For more information, visit this webpage and search for the case number: 22-RT1.
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Help Supercharge the District’s Electronics Recycling Program
Help improve the District’s electronics recycling program by filling out the survey at bit.ly/ecyclesurvey. You must be 18+ to respond to the survey. The survey should only take about five minutes to complete and all questions are voluntary and all responses will be anonymous.
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Department of Public Works Seeks Public Input on Upcoming Zero Waste DC Plan
The Department of Public Works (DPW) Office of Waste Diversion has begun developing the Zero Waste DC Plan in pursuit of the Mayor’s Zero Waste goal of diverting 80 percent of the District’s waste away from landfills and incineration by 2032. To help shape the plan, DPW is facilitating a robust public engagement cycle throughout the summer and fall. Community members across the city are invited to voice their concerns, share their ideas, and help build a zero waste future. Engagement opportunities include community meetings, public comment periods, and a public survey.
To learn more about the Zero Waste DC Plan and to access all upcoming engagement opportunities, visit zero waste.dc.gov/zwdcplan.
EVENTS
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Ward 5 Open Streets Event on 12th Street NE
Open Streets in Your Neighborhood is coming to Ward 5’s 12th Street NE on Saturday, August 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event will close half a mile of 12th Street NE to cars and open it up to people to ride, bike, walk, socialize, and participate in fun programming, just in time for school! The day will feature educational programming specifically geared towards children of all ages and abilities.
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Upcoming Fix-It DC Event
Let’s celebrate repair! Come and learn to disassemble and troubleshoot your broken objects at the next Fix-It DC event. Fix-It DC is a program which includes all-ages community events where people bring their broken household items and learn how to assess, disassemble, and repair them instead of sending them to the landfill.
Attend the upcoming Fix-It event at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library Labs on Saturday, September 17, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Anacostia Green Boats Sessions
Each weekend this summer and fall, DOEE and Living Classrooms will host free boating sessions at Kingman Island as part of a citizen science program focused on collecting marine debris (typically plastic bottles) from the Anacostia River. Each session includes an orientation, 60-90 minutes of paddling time, and a short trash sorting and weighing period at the end. You’ll be assisted and guided by staff certified in paddling education and CPR/First Aid. Reservation slots are released monthly and they fill up quickly, so you can sign up to get notifications of openings at https://www.kingmanisland.com/green-boats.
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eCYCLE Collection Events
By recycling used electronics, individuals can help recover valuable resources and properly manage potentially hazardous materials. eCYCLE DC, through manufacturers’ collection and recycling plans, is bringing District residents more options for recycling their electronics.
The following items are banned from the trash and are collected at the eCYCLE DC collection events: computers and monitors, tablet, e-readers, mice, keyboards, DVD or VCR players, printers, televisions, game consoles, and portable music players. For more information, check out this fact sheet.
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Saturday, August 27, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Near 1800 Good Hope Rd SE (Ward 8, Near Anacostia Library)
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Saturday, September 17, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Near 1922 Frederick Douglass Court SE (Ward 8, Near Douglass Community Center)
Please visit the eCYCLE DC website to check for any updates closer to the event date.
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The District is fortunate to have organizations and individuals doing outstanding work on sustainability. Each month for the next few months, we will highlight one of the winners of the 2022 District Sustainability Awards. This month we are featuring the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation (WTEF). WTEF empowers Ward 7 youth with its tennis and education programming efforts. WTEF also just took a big step to benefit the local community by installing a 749-kW solar array on its roof as part of the DOEE Solar for All program. The installation at WTEF is the 11th largest solar project in the District and is the 8th largest Solar for All project to date.
Over the 15-year lifetime of the solar array, WTEF will receive revenue that will directly benefit its after school academic, tennis, and wellness programs for the Ward 7 community. The system will also allow more than 214 income-qualified families to cut their electricity bills in half through Solar for All, which allows equal access to energy and reduces residents’ electrical utility burdens while addressing climate change. Congrats to WTEF for being a 2022 District Sustainability Award Winner!
To learn more about all the winners, check out this short film.
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