There's an old gambling adage that goes, “Eat the money you bet, but don't gamble the money you eat.” Across Washington, D.C. and the DMV, Washington Gas is betting on climate change at the expense of the health and safety of its customers, draining their customers of their hard-earned funds. Washington Gas has asked regulators in Washington, D.C., to significantly increase gas prices and completely replace gas lines because toxic emissions from burning gas exacerbate deadly weather events such as floods and heat waves. seeking approval for a utility surcharge to fund the. The company will eventually have to abandon it as DC moves to meet regional climate goals.
Last April, Washington Gas Light asked the D.C. Public Service Commission to increase customer rates by 20%. This is the largest rate increase ever for a power company. Washington Gas wants to spend $53 million of customer money as residents struggle with rising food prices. On top of that, Washington Gas requires authorization for an additional fee on your bill to fund something called “Project Pipe.” This is a program to bury new gas pipes underground that will last for 22 years.n.d. The cost of Washington Gas' project pipes alone is expected to exceed $4.5 billion, and customers will pay Washington Gas shareholders for these pipes far beyond the region's 2045 climate change goals. It turns out.
We understand that gas use is causing climate change, and that we must stop using gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the levels needed to avoid the worst of temperature increases and extreme and dangerous weather events. It is scientifically clear that this is the most reliable method. In this regard, advocates in the region are urging regulators to stop further investment in gas systems and that alternatives such as clean energy and appliances are needed to ensure our health and safety. He points out that the writing is on the wall. But Washington Gas continues to ask customers to support the struggling methane gas industry in ways that make little financial sense and only continue to expose customers to risks associated with gas equipment.
Spending a lot of money on gas systems only locks us into unhealthy gas stoves, furnaces, and water heaters. It has been known for decades that gas stoves emit pollution directly into homes, businesses, and places of worship, leading to the onset and worsening of lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive impairment. is known. , cancer, and premature death. Using a gas stove is like idling your car in your kitchen, emitting toxic air pollution while cooking, even when you're not using it. In particular, gas stoves are known sources of nitrogen dioxide in indoor environments. The EPA recognizes the link between nitrogen dioxide exposure and respiratory problems. Other health effects may include shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, and fluid buildup in the lungs. Exposure to gas is also estimated to increase the burden of asthma in children living in homes with gas stoves, and the impact of living in a home with a gas stove on children with asthma may be greater than living with a smoker. It is compared to Gas stoves and ovens can produce levels of nitrogen oxides that exceed the legal outdoor limit within minutes, but even low levels of nitrogen dioxide can worsen asthma in children. It has been known for decades that symptoms can worsen as concentrations increase. . A recent study estimates that having a gas stove in your home increases your child's risk of developing asthma by 42%.
Burning methane indoors also increases exposure to particulate matter, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and benzene. All of these are increasingly associated with negative human health outcomes, including increased rates of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, childhood asthma, decreased lung function, and premature death. . Proper ventilation measures, such as stovetop exhaust fans and flues attached to appliances such as water heaters, can reduce, but cannot completely eliminate, exposure to hazardous substances from combustion.
There is also little point in continuously using a gas system for heating. If you need it during the winter months, electric options like heat pumps can provide cleaner, more efficient, and healthier warmth. And while states are considering geothermal networks, or underground pipelines, to capture and share thermal energy underground, Washington Gas has rejected such innovations in the interest of its customers. . Instead, despite the health risks from continued gas use, Washington Gas Co. wants to spend $4.5 billion to replace nearly every gas line in the District, whether it's needed or not. I believe. According to current estimates, this equates to a whopping $27,000 per customer. Washington Gas is also proposing other expensive projects to shore up its gas infrastructure, while recklessly investing in misguided efforts to combat climate change. These include experiments pumping hydrogen, a more flammable and concentrated greenhouse gas, into customers' homes, which would require more money to upgrade pipes and buy new equipment, and which also costs the customer.
The District understands that the costs of extracting, transporting, and combusting methane gas exceed the potential benefits. Impressively, the district plans to require new buildings to burn less gas and become net-zero energy by 2027. The district aims to become carbon neutral by 2045 and frees methane gas infrastructure from government buildings. In stark contrast, Washington Gas wants to spend its customers' hard-earned money on technology that is neither economically viable nor environmentally sound. PROJECTpipes puts new pipes underground, paid for by today's ratepayers, that become increasingly useless and expensive as districts move away from gas. The only parties to benefit from this program are Washington Gas, its Canadian parent company AltaGas, and its shareholders.
Ultimately, the future is electric. This means more efficient and healthier appliances that are powered by clean energy rather than gas. The government is leading the way with new building standards and funding for home electrification, such as the Healthy Homes Act, which is currently being considered by the DC Council. It's time for gas companies to get the memo and stop bombarding customers with false information and exorbitant rate increases.
The company's rate increase and PROJECTpipes case are pending with the Public Service Commission, which could approve or reject Washington Gas's proposal at any time. We are asking the PSC commissioners to reject this expensive proposal that would take DC back decades. Bring Washington Gas back to the drawing board to phase out gas and develop an actual climate change plan that protects DC ratepayers. This will put D.C. back on track to combating climate change, protecting the health of ratepayers, and stopping Washington Gas from reaching into customers' wallets for dirty, bogus climate solutions.
Dr. Phoenix serves on key federal advisory committees and manages the National Lead Information Center and direct health education efforts. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Phoenix)
