Climate Activists Score Major Win In Campaign To Electrify DC

An inside look at the vision and strategy behind Extinction Rebellion D.C.’s campaign that is blocking $12 billion in new fossil fuel infrastructure.

By Abby Shepard, Z Network

Last month, Extinction Rebellion D.C. scored a major victory for the End Methane, Electrify D.C. campaign: the D.C. Public Service Commission dismissed corporate utility provider Washington Gas’ application for the third phase of their $12 billion fossil fuel pipeline replacement project dubbed Project Pipes. The commission also partially approved a petition to investigate Washington Gas’ leak reduction practices.

This victory is a major milestone in the fight to shut down a fossil fuel project that would lock D.C. into decades of planet-warming emissions while poisoning the city’s residents, especially the communities that are most marginalized and underserved.

The fight to stop Project Pipes is not over, but last month’s victory marks a major shift in the Public Service Commission’s approach to the regulation of utilities in D.C. and their alignment with D.C.’s climate goals.

While this was the work of many groups across D.C., Extinction Rebellion D.C. played a crucial role through our core strategy of nonviolent direct action, or NVDA.