Mid-Atlantic Carbon League

Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia (DMV)

Ongoing Projects

DMV RFI to Advance Scalable Thermal Energy Networks

The DMV 24Q3 Grid Modernization Task Force is driving a regional effort to deploy Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) by bringing together leaders from GWU, Joint Base Andrews, and industry partners. During its recent 90-day sprint, the Task Force developed a six-page Request for Information (RFI), informed by subteams focused on data, funding, developer interest, and stakeholder outreach. The draft RFI has been reviewed by groups including HEET, HEETLabs, Pepco, and FedGeo. As it nears public release, the Task Force seeks input from developers, utilities, and technology providers to inform a potential Design-Finance-Build-Operate-Maintain (DFBOM) project. The goal is to pilot scalable, district-level TENs aligned with energy efficiency goals, with stakeholders encouraged to respond and shape the DMV’s clean energy future.

DMV Task Force to Reframe Building Electrification as a Strategic Investment

The DMV 25Q2 Building Conversion & Electrification Task Force was formed following the May 15, 2025 AEG Stakeholder Challenge to address a critical obstacle: shifting building owners’ views of electrification from a cost burden to a strategic investment that reduces obsolescence risk and creates new value. Over the next 90 days, the Task Force will engage 20 key stakeholders to develop pilot projects and case studies that highlight the benefits of electrification. These efforts will inform a 12-month campaign aimed at demonstrating ROI and reframing building electrification as a smart, future-proof asset. The 17-member Task Force brings together leaders from government, private industry, and academia committed to accelerating decarbonization in the DMV region.

DMV Task Force Elevates Rider Voices for Bus Priority

The DMV 24Q4 Mobility & Clean Transportation Task Force focused its mission on building public support for expanding bus priority lanes in Washington, D.C. To achieve this, the Task Force launched a 90-day sprint to engage directly with bus riders, residents, and local business owners along potential corridors—such as 16th or 11th Street. By setting up a feedback stand, collecting survey data, and recording rider and business testimonials, the team is compiling a finished outreach product for WMATA. This multimedia package—including video interviews and an ArcGIS Story Map—will help WMATA illustrate how bus lanes benefit diverse communities and build momentum for its next transit priority project.

Completed Projects

Ride for the Region: DMV’s Transit Challenge Takes Off

The DMV 23Q4 Mobility & Clean Transportation Task Force set out to shift commuter behavior toward public transit to reduce transportation-related emissions—the largest contributor to GHGs in the region. To achieve this, the Task Force launched the Ride for the Region Challenge, a friendly, March Madness-style competition encouraging regional employers to promote sustainable commuting. The challenge engaged universities, nonprofits, and private firms—including APTA, RMI, GWU, and Sierra Club—and resulted in 846.6 kg of CO₂ reductions tracked via the incenTrip app. Guided by task force members from MWCOG, WMATA, and Columbia University’s Harlem CoLab, the initiative was born out of the AEG November 2023 Stakeholder Challenge and built around short- and long-term goals: raising awareness, fostering competition, and securing sustainability pledges. With APTA winning the inaugural tournament, the Task Force now aims to expand the challenge during Earth Month and beyond to spark long-term commitment to public transit across the DMV.

Advancing Scalable Electrification Retrofits for the Golden Triangle

The DMV 24Q2 Building Electrification Task Force focused on unlocking retrofit opportunities in Washington DC’s Golden Triangle BID to support electrification and decarbonization goals. Through stakeholder sessions—including an August 22 Roundtable—the Task Force identified key barriers: permitting delays, infrastructure constraints, and financing gaps. To address these, subteams were formed around regulatory challenges, case studies, and financing models. The team also engaged developers utilizing PACE financing for office-to-residential conversions, including Douglas Development, Community Three, and Valor Development. Building on this momentum, the Task Force will launch a Q2 2025 challenge centered on scalable retrofit models to accelerate electrification across the region.

Meet the Team - Fellows and Support Staff

Prior Fellows

  • Benedict Vergara

    Prior DMV Lead Fellow

    George Washington University - PhD Graduate

  • Mobolade Olawale

    Prior DMV Fellow

    George Washington University - Masters Student

    LinkedIn

  • Kevin Ebinum

    Prior DMV Fellow

    George Washington University - Masters Graduate

    LinkedIn