“End Methane, Electrify DC” Demands Permeate DC Holiday Boat Parade

Rebels from Extinction Rebellion DC joined the festivities with warnings about methane gas and hope for DC’s all-electric future

Washington, DC – This evening, Extinction Rebellion DC (XRDC) disrupted DC’s Holiday Boat Parade to alert residents to Washington Gas’ dangerous methane gas projects and encourage learning about electrification alternatives. In particular, rebels warned the audience about Washington Gas’ multi-million-dollar Project Pipes program, an effort to lock DC into fossil fuels for decades to come by replacing all the methane gas pipelines in DC.

Shortly after the boat parade began, a canoe entered the scene with a lit-up banner reading, “STOP PROJECT PIPES.” On the boat, a rebel with a megaphone briefly described the harms of this deadly project to the audience on the pier, naming the dire health, financial, and climate impacts of the corporate utility’s Project Pipes. Simultaneously, rebels on shore dropped a banner across from the pier that read, “END METHANE ELECTRIFY DC.” Leading up to the boat parade, other rebels across the event venue sang climate carols, modified versions of popular holiday tunes that focus on the climate emergency, the harms of fossil fuels, and the transition to clean energy.

“Over the last few months, the corporate utility Washington Gas has been using sneakier and sneakier tactics to greenwash their toxic product and keep DC hooked on methane gas for decades to come. We were out here today to warn residents about the utility’s nefarious plans and spread the joy that solutions exist to create healthier, all-electric homes,” said Claire (she/her), organizer with Extinction Rebellion DC. “As we head into a season where many of us are inside more often, it is crucial people are aware of the toxic chemicals Washington Gas pipes into the indoor air they breathe—and that they don’t have to live with these risks. Together, we can help each other electrify and demand that the DC Public Service Commission and the DC Council take immediate action to ensure a just transition off methane gas.”

Just two weeks prior to this event, the Beyond Gas DC coalition released a new report on the indoor air pollution caused by gas stoves. After testing nearly 700 homes in D.C. and Maryland, citizen scientists found that 77% of homes tested in DC alone exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s health standard for safe outdoor exposure to nitrogen dioxide. The report was covered by only two local news sites, but in its latest act of corporate censorship, Washington Gas convinced TV station WUSA9 to take down and modify their stories about the report. As one outlet uncovered, the updated stories featured watered down versions of the original articles, revealing Washington Gas’ influence as a sponsor of the station.

In June, the DC Public Service Commission (PSC) rejected Washington Gas’ Project Pipes spending request and ordered the utility to submit a new, restructured Project Pipes plan. The PSC required the corporate utility to narrowly focus on the worst pipes, consider repairs over replacement, and incorporate stakeholder feedback and the realities of District electrification efforts. Despite this order, Washington Gas’ new plan, greenwashed as “District SAFE,” fails to adequately address these concerns and instead proposes more of the same wasteful, ineffective processes, ignoring both the PSC’s requirements and stakeholder input.

Regardless of billions in spending and a decade of work on Project Pipes, Washington Gas has failed to reduce the dangers posed by its aging pipelines. It is time for DC leaders to stop further investment into fossil fuels and jumpstart the transition to truly clean energy, ensuring residents can breathe clean air and live in safe, healthy communities, regardless of zip code.

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