Metro vs Washington Gas:
Who does a better job of reducing D.C.’s climate pollution?
Ten years ago, D.C.’s sole for-profit gas company embarked on a multi-billion dollar spending spree to replace thousands of miles of methane gas pipes, paid for by gas customers through higher rates on our energy bills. As the project evolved, Washington Gas has begun to tout the supposed climate benefits of this spending, arguing that efforts to reduce methane leaks would likewise reduce climate-warming emissions.
Yet amid $12 billion in projected spending, not only are dangerous gas leaks up 40% from 2014 to 2022, it seems these emissions reduction claims should be laughed out of the room.
But don’t take our word for it – see how it compares against another District-wide organizations we know and love.
WMATA is running laps around Washington Gas when it comes to climate.
When big corporations brag about climate emissions reductions without adding necessary context, it’s easy to assume a big number means actual progress. Take Washington Gas’s latest statements: from 2014 to 2023, the gas company claims it reduced climate-warming emissions by 30,515 MT CO2e, or 3,051 MT CO2e per year.
Since public transit has long been seen as a great way to both improve quality of life and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, we decided to compare Washington Gas against Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMTA), which runs the regional Metro subway system. What we found was embarrassing, to say the least.
In just five weeks of Metro ridership, WMATA helps avoid the same amount of climate-warming pollution as Washington Gas does in 10 years via its pipeline replacement program. Alternatively, it only takes three days of Metro weekday ridership to achieve the same emissions reductions as Washington Gas does in a year – and that’s looking at 2024 Metro ridership totals.
This begs the question: is it really worth billions of dollars of gas customer funding to achieve the same climate benefit that Metro can achieve in its sleep?
The fact is, methane leaks from both old and new pipes. This potent greenhouse gas is over 80 times more powerful at warming our atmosphere in its first 20 years than carbon dioxide, meaning every unaddressed gas leak in D.C. is fueling our climate crisis, making longer, hotter summers a reality and drowning hundreds of cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin, including the beloved cherry tree named Stumpy.
It’s time for D.C.’s utility regulators to hold Washington Gas accountable.
For these reasons and more, we joined a coalition of interfaith, climate, and consumer advocates to launch an ad campaign exposing Washington Gas for its poor track record on climate, our health, and our bills. For years, D.C.’s utility regulators at the Public Service Commission have stood by while the for-profit gas company has plowed ahead with reckless fossil fuel spending to prop up its methane gas pipes, but if the PSC’s action earlier this summer was any indication, the time of rubber stamping may soon come to a close.
But it’s not just Washington Gas’ $12 billion pipeline replacement project that’s the problem. During that same 10-year period, burning methane supplied by Washington Gas in DC has resulted in millions of MT of global warming emissions, and Washington Gas has shown no signs of slowing down.
Where the overwhelming consensus is that we need to stop using methane to avoid the worst effects of climate change, it’s time for regulators to stop Washington Gas and put us on track to a greener and cleaner future. Establishing a comprehensive framework to achieve this, starting with a Future of Gas proceeding, is a critical first step toward building a healthier, more affordable D.C. – and investing in real solutions like the Metro that aren’t just good for our climate, but our quality of life as well.