Washington DC Bans Gas in New Buildings after XRDC Campaign

In early 2022, CEF provided funding for the Washington DC chapter of Extinction Rebellion. XRDC was responsible for some of the most exciting US climate protests in the surge of momentum before the pandemic, including its blockade of congressional tunnels in July 2019 and its leadership of the coalition action that blocked traffic across the DC metro in September 2019.

But after reflecting on the limitations of these types of one-off actions, the group decided to pivot to a more concrete campaign: eliminating gas infrastructure from buildings in Washington DC. Working alongside other locally-focused DC groups, XRDC group began a steady drumbeat of pressure against Washington Gas, the DC gas utility, painting it as a climate villain. They demanded that the city of Washington DC cease investing in gas infrastructure and begin a transition to full electrification.

In July 2022, their pressure paid off when the DC CIty Council voted to ban gas in all newly constructed buildings. Although this action fell short of their ultimate demand, it is another sign that direct action and public pressure generate policy results.