Washington Gas Reveals How It Bribes Its Way to Political Influence, Blocking DC Climate Policy

Photo shows blue poster on the left naming “Washington Gas Bill” and the extra charges that are put on the bill in addition to methane gas including Project Pipes adjustment, extra 20% to give you asthma, extra 10% to burn your future, and CEO Golden toilet fund for a total of climate collapse. There is a yellow poster on the right that reads, “Washington Gas: Raising gas prices and asthma rates in the DMV.” There is a black Earth with an inhaler on the right of the text on the yellow poster.

Washington Gas’ donations are strategic political moves to influence decision makers and create a false “community-oriented” image at the expense of DC residents

Washington, DC – New documents reveal that Washington Gas is leveraging its financial donations to stop the District of Columbia from tackling the climate crisis, torpedoing efforts to transition the city from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy. These documents are released at the same time as multiple states, including Maryland and Virginia, are cracking down on corporations leveraging money to delay necessary political action on climate change.

Last month, Washington Gas submitted a public list of their 2023 financial donations to DC area organizations to the Public Service Commission docket. While these donations are required as part of the merger agreement between Washington Gas and AltaGas, research reveals that Washington Gas twists this requirement for their own profit, prolonging the era of fossil fuel pollution at a devastating cost to DC residents’ health and wellbeing. 

The money that Washington Gas gives to each organization provides striking insight into its ulterior motives. Four out of the top five recipients are business- and policy-oriented organizations with heavy influence on or direct relationships with local elected officials, demonstrating a clear political strategy to the financial contributions.

Additionally, there are several donations on the list, like those to the D.C. Public Library Foundation and Building Bridges Across the River, that are PR-driven rather than politically-driven. By donating to organizations like these, Washington Gas can cast themselves as a “community-oriented” company while destroying the health and futures of that very same community.

Other key donation recipients include the D.C. Police Foundation, the same entity that represses marginalized communities who are most impacted by Washington Gas’ deadly business practices and those who stand up to Washington Gas’ projects; the Capital Pride Alliance, which adds rainbow washing to their long list of dirty PR tactics; and the Washington Informer Charities, which creates a pathway for greenwashing that targets the Black community in DC, one of the communities facing the most dire consequences from Washington Gas’ fossil fuels.

The top recipient, Greater Washington Partnership, received $125,000 total – $75,000 more than any other organization. Greater Washington Partnership brings DMV employers together to address inclusive economic growth, workforce development, and regional mobility and infrastructure. Washington Gas’ president and AltaGas’ Executive Vice President and President of Utilities, Donald “Blue” Jenkins, serves as a Board Partner on the Regional Mobility and Infrastructure committee, a position that allows Washington Gas to insert methane gas into so-called “solutions” for the DMV region’s infrastructure and transportation.

Greater Washington Partnership is one example of interlocking directorates, where Washington Gas places senior staff on the boards of organizations it funds. 

Eleven out of the top 15 recipients of Washington Gas’ payments have interlocking directorates (see end of release for full list). 

While technically legal, interlocking directorates allow Washington Gas to insert their agenda – making as much money off of methane gas as possible – into other organizations’ work. This is particularly nefarious in organizations like the Greater Washington Partnership that claim to provide “solutions” for infrastructure, the climate crisis, and economic growth. Washington Gas can leverage their Board membership and monetary donations to entrench methane gas into our infrastructure and future.

Other notable organizations with which Washington Gas has interlocking directorates include:

  • D.C. Policy Center (received $50,000): Karen M. Harwick, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Washington Gas and WGL Holdings, is on their Board of Directors.

  • Washington DC Economic Partnership (received $30,000): Jennifer Eugene, Senior Manager of Account Sales and Emerging Technologies for Washington Gas, sits on their Board of Directors.

  • Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (received $16,250): Tracye Funn, Manager of Corporate Contributions and Supplier Diversity at Washington Gas, sits on the Board of Directors for the Clean Air Partners, one of the committees housed under this organization. Washington Gas is also a corporate sponsor of the Clean Air Partners.

“Washington Gas’ donations list is revealing, but it’s certainly not a surprise. We know fossil fuel corporations like Washington Gas throw money at every possible organization, elected official, and media outlet in order to control the narrative and manipulate their way to higher profits, and this list plainly substantiates this strategy. It’s not uncommon, but it’s still extremely devious,” said Claire Hacker, press spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion DC. “We absolutely support the redistribution of wealthy corporations’ funds, but that redistribution must happen in a way that forefronts equity and justice rather than corporate interests. Washington Gas prioritizes donations that ultimately protect their bottom line and ensnare DC’s social, political, and economic system with methane gas. All of this happens at the expense of DC residents who end up suffering the consequences of methane gas and the prioritization of profit over the needs of the people.”

Washington Gas’ interlocking directorates:

  • Greater Washington Partnership (received $75,000): brings DMV employers together to address inclusive economic growth, workforce development, and regional mobility and infrastructure

  • D.C. Policy Center (received $50,000): develops and tests policy ideas, disseminates its findings, actively promotes policy solutions (including climate solutions), and engages in constructive dialogue and debate with local decision makers

    • Karen M. Harwick, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Washington Gas and WGL Holdings, is on their Board of Directors.

  • Washington DC Economic Partnership (received $30,000): public-private partnership working to advance sustainable and inclusive economic development in DC

    • Jennifer Eugene, Senior Manager of Account Sales and Emerging Technologies for Washington Gas, sits on their Board of Directors.

  • Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (received $16,250): membership of 300 elected officials from governments in the DC area to help address the region’s major challenges including air quality, climate change, transportation, and housing

    • Tracye Funn, Manager of Corporate Contributions and Supplier Diversity at Washington Gas, sits on the Board of Directors for the Clean Air Partners, one of the committees housed under this organization. 

  • Business Council for Sustainable Energy Foundation (received $15,000): clean energy trade association representing the broad portfolio of energy efficiency, natural gas, and renewable energy industries, as well as energy storage, sustainable transportation, and emerging decarbonization technology providers. They erroneously define so-called “natural” gas as clean.

    • Melissa Adams, Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer at WGL (Washington Gas’ parent company), is on their Board of Directors.

  • Washington DC Police Foundation (received $13,000): manages programming to support the DC Police, the same entity that represses marginalized communities who are most impacted by Washington Gas’ deadly business practices and those who stand up to Washington Gas’ projects

    • Donald “Blue” Jenkins, Executive Vice President & President of Utilities at AltaGas and President at Washington Gas, serves on their Board of Directors.

  • Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington (received $12,500): serves kids and teens to ensure Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles

    • Mallikarjun “Mallik” Angalakudati, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Innovation at Washington Gas, is on their Board of Directors.

  • Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts (received $11,666): presents and creates excellent and innovative performing arts programs for the enrichment, education, and enjoyment of diverse audiences and participants

    • Donald “Blue” Jenkins, Executive Vice President & President of Utilities at AltaGas and President at Washington Gas, serves on their Board of Directors.

  • Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (received $10,500): trade association representing restaurant and food service industry in metropolitan Washington area. Gas utilities are known to use the restaurant industry to fight local electrification efforts.

    • Brandon Todd, Senior Director of Corporate Public Policy at Washington Gas, is one of their allied directors.

  • Step Afrika! USA Incorporated (received $10,000): the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping; promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people

    • Brandon Todd, Senior Director of Corporate Public Policy at Washington Gas, sits on their Board of Directors.

  • D.C. Public Education Fund (received $10,000): helps DC Public Schools address its most pressing challenges through organized philanthropy. Washington Gas sponsors school-specific environmental challenges as part of their greenwashing strategy.

    • Debbi Jarvis, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at AltaGas, sits on their Board of Directors.

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Abby Shepard2024