Actions > Support the GRID Act: Expand access to plug-in solar in D.C.

Support the GRID Act: Expand access to plug-in solar in D.C.

Energy democracy & policy

Help the GRID Act pass by submitting a comment!

Why should solar advocates support the GRID Act?

Electricity costs in the District have gone up 93% since 2020, outpacing all other states in that time frame. More and more families are being forced to choose between keeping food on the table or keeping the lights on.

Solar, storage, and other community-oriented energy resources can meet our energy needs and reduce costs for all.

Plug-in solar, in particular, could save local households $100 to more than $320 per year.

Councilmember Allen’s Guiding Renewable Interconnection and Distribution (GRID) Act streamlines and strengthens D.C.’s solar interconnection process and expands Washingtonians’ access to the benefits of solar energy!

The GRID Act includes two reforms:

The bill increases access to plug-in solar – portable panels that plug into any outlet – by removing outdated interconnection and permitting requirements. This will allow more Washingtonians, particularly income-qualified residents and renters, to harness the power of the sun.
The bill streamlines the District’s solar interconnection process to increase transparency, avoid delays, lower costs for customers, and keep us on track to meet our nation-leading solar deployment and climate goals.

How to help the GRID Act pass

Submit your written testimony

Public comments are taken into consideration at the hearing and can make a big impact. In your testimony, let your council members know why increasing access to solar is important to you.

Take it one step further: Attend the first public hearing on March 26 in support of this bill. The hearing will be at 10am in Room 505 at the Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW). Register here.

Plug-in solar panels, which could save D.C. households $100-$320 per year. Photo credit: Bright Source

Talking points for testimony

You can use our talking points below to support your in-person or written testimony. Be sure to add personal reasons about why you’re supportive of this bill, such as sacrifices you made to afford your energy bill, any obstacles you’ve faced when trying to go solar, how rooftop, community, or plug-in solar would help you etc. The more unique and sincere your testimony is, the more likely you are to sway Councilmembers who may be against this bill or on the fence.

Strengthen your testimony with these talking points

Pepco’s unpredictable and costly interconnection process is slowing down local solar deployment and limiting our energy freedom
- Solar customers and developers have seen project costs soar due to unexpectedly high distribution system upgrade fees and unjustified interconnection delays. DC urgently needs a transparent, well-enforced, and fair interconnection process for distributed solar and other customer-sited resources
Plug-in solar expands access to the resource for renters, income eligible households, and many others
- Plug in solar is easy to set up, portable, and can be placed on any accessible flat surface, like yards or balconies. This allows renters, low income households, and homeowners with shaded or unsuitable roofs to enjoy some of the financial benefits of going solar. 185,000 households in DC are renters, more than half of all households in the District.
Increasing the deployment of distributed solar and storage in the District would lower energy costs for all households, not just participating customers
- A smoother and more transparent interconnection process would boost solar and storage deployment. This would allow more electricity demand to be met and lowered with privately funded, clean, and local generation. As a result, the our grid would be less overwhelmed, we can counteract projected spikes in load growth due to hyperscale data centers, and save all ratepayers money as Pepco wouldn’t need to invest as much capital into large transmission lines, gas-fired power plants, or other expensive energy infrastructure in our region.
Distributed solar and storage, including plug in solar, are better suited to improve energy equity than traditional utility scaled resources.
- These small, modular resources can be localized in the communities that need them the most—particularly Black, Brown, and income eligible communities. Historically, these households are the last to benefit from modern household energy appliances and upgrades. Reversing this trend concentrates financial, resiliency, and household comfort benefits in income eligible households and neighborhoods with high energy burdens and disproportionate exposure to pollution. These resources can transform the lives of the 64% of low-income families in the District that are energy burdened and the nearly 45% of households that are rent burdened.

Help the GRID Act pass!

Submit your public comment

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