Green Housing Coordination Amendment Act of 2025

COMMITTEE ON HOUSING
ROBERT C. WHITE, JR., CHAIR
COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
T
he John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 114
Washington, DC 20004
December 12, 2025
Nyasha Howard, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Secretary Howard,
District residents deserve access to quality, affordable homes in every Ward. In the District and
across the country, affordable housing development projects receive generous government subsidies,
but also face unique regulatory burdens. 1 Today I’m introducing my Housing Acceleration bill
package to help increase the supply of affordable housing by speeding up construction and
preservation.
Please find details below regarding the Green Housing Coordination Amendment Act of 2025, the
Housing Permit Streamlining Amendment Act of 2025, and the Powering Local Utility Guidance in
Housing Act of 2025 (also known as the PLUG in Housing Act).
The Green Housing Coordination Amendment Act of 2025, which I am introducing with
Councilmembers Trayon White, Sr., Brooke Pinto, and Matthew Frumin, builds on my Greener
Government Buildings Amendment A ct of 2022 (GGBA). It ensures that net zero energy (NZE)
requirements for subsidized housing stay aligned with best practices , striking a balance between
tomorrow’s energy standards and today’s economy.
NZE standards require building s to produce as much energy as they consume, using renewable
technologies and minimizing fossil fuel use. As Mayor Bowser has said, “we must do much more to
reduce, and ultimately eliminate, our greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring access to clean
energy is equitable and affordable.”2 However, applying NZE requirements to renovated housing
can be costly due to things like upgrading the entire electrical system . Since the GGBA took effect,
the Council has passed temporary bills to give affordable housing providers, especially those doing
renovation projects, a clear and practical path to sustainability. Today’s bill is a longer-term version
of our temporary compromise legislation that the Council passed on October 7. The bill would:
1 See Chris Cunningham and Anthony W Orlando, “How Long Does It Take to Build Multifamily Housing?”
at 11 (June 2024), Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Policy Hub, https://www.atlantafed.org/-
/media/documents/research/publications/policy-hub/2024/06/18/04--how-long-does-it-take-to-build-
multifamily-housing.pdf; see also Steve Thompson, “These publicly funded homes for the poor cost $1.2
million each to build,” WASH. POST (June 7, 2025), https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-
va/2025/06/06/these-publicly-funded-homes-poor-cost-12-million-each-develop/ (citing, inter alia, complexity
of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit financing, multi-bedroom unit needs, and special amenities).
2 See D.C. Dep’t of Energy & Envt., “Clean Energy DC: the District of Columbia Climate and Energy Action
Plan,” Letter from Mayor Muriel Bowser (2018), https://doee.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/-
ddoe/page_content/attachments/Clean Energy DC - Full Report_0.pdf.
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 Require developers who want Housing Production Trust Fund dollars for new construction
to design to Enterprise Green Communities Certification Plus standards, which incorporate
net zero readiness features.
 Push developers of both new construction and substantial rehabilitation projects to add
rooftop renewables wherever feasi ble, since builders can typically finance solar systems at
little to no cost.
 Require the Executive to push toward final NZE rules that will apply to private as well as
public and subsidized housing.
This version also addresses some concerns that Council colleagues raised in October by restoring
net zero requirements for District government shelter facilities and delegating more of the rooftop
solar feasibility determinations to administrative agency experts.
The Permit Streamlining Amendment Act of 2025, which I am introducing with
Councilmembers Brianne K. Nadeau, Charles Allen, Trayon White, Sr., Brooke Pinto, and Matthew
Frumin, gives affordable housing projects in high-cost areas discounted access to the Department of
Buildings’ (DOB) Accelerated Plan Review program, speeding up permit approvals.
Affordable housing operates on razor-thin margins. People of all incomes should be able to afford to
live throughout the city , but it’s harder to build income -restricted housing in neighborhoods with
higher property values.3 Although DC has met the Mayor’s housing production goal of 36,000 units
by 2025, the Capitol Hill, Near Northwest, and Rock Creek West Planning Areas have produced less
than half the affordable units necessary to stay on track for 15% affordability in every area by 2050.4
Meanwhile, 54% of all affordable units built since 2015 are in just 3 Wards: 5, 7, and 8.5
We must do more to build affordable housing development in high-cost areas. Navigating
government processes shouldn’t be for the very projects we need most . Our bill helps level the
playing field and open more of the District to affordable projects.
The Powering Local Utility Guidance in Housing Act of 2025 (PLUG in Housing Act), which
I am introducing with Councilmembers Brianne K. Nadeau, Charles Allen, Trayon White, Sr.,
Brooke Pinto, and Matthew Frumin, will help affordable housing development projects navigate the
utility approval portion of the permitting process . Both affordable housing providers and our
executive branch partners have shared that one of the most challenging parts of building affordable
housing is getting clearance from utility companies. They cite inspection scheduling challenges and
unexpected adverse findings that lead to costly pauses or even redesigns.

3 See Patrick McAnaney, “DC struggles to build affordable housing in wealthy neighborhoods. Here’s one
reason why.” GREATER GREATER WASH. (Apr. 24, 2024), https://ggwash.org/view/93410/dc-struggles-to-build-
affordable-housing-in-wealthy-neighborhoods-heres-one-reason-why.
4 See Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development (DMPED) 36,000 by 2025 Dashboard, “New
Affordable Housing Units Since 2019 by Planning Area” https://open.dc.gov/36000by2025/ (last visited
December 3, 2025); DMPED, “Housing Equity Report: Creating Goals for Areas of Our City” (Oct. 2019),
https://housing.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/housingdc/page_content/-
attachments/Housing%20Equity%20Report%2010-15-19.pdf.
5 See DMPED 36,000 by 2025 Dashboard, “Affordable Units Produced Since 2015 by Ward.”
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To address this, our bill will task the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
with 3 important responsibilities. First, DHCD will offer administrative assistance such as
appointment coordination to affordable housing development projects to make sure they get prompt
attention from utility partners in the permitting process. Second, DHCD will make technical expert
consultants available to these same projects to reduce how often utility connection design issues
catch them off guard. And finally, DHCD staff will spearhead a coordinated effort between
government agencies and utilities to integrate the utilities’ permitting updates into existing
government data systems for tracking permit issues.
With the help of this new housing utility readiness team at DHCD, the housing projects that we rely
on to meet our affordability needs will be on the fast track to move-in.
I appreciate the collaboration from executive branch agency experts, Council colleagues, and public
stakeholders that has already gone into these bills, and I look forward to the Council’s prompt
consideration to move them forward. Together we’ll eliminate roadblocks to an abundance of energy-
efficient housing that residents can afford.
Please contact the Committee on Housing staff at housing@dccouncil.gov with any questions.
Sincerely,
Ro
bert C. White, Jr.
Councilmember At-Large

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Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 2
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Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Brooke Pinto 7
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A BILL 11
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 14
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To amend the Housing Production Trust Fund Act of 1988 to establish energy efficiency and 17
electrification requirements for new construction projects receiving assistance from the 18
Housing Production Trust Fund; to amend the Clean Energy DC Building Code 19
Amendment Act of 2022 to require periodic reporting on the development of universal 20
net zero energy building code regulations that will apply to residential and mixed-use 21
construction; and to amend the Green Building Act of 2006 to limit net zero energy 22
compliance provisions inserted by the Greener Government Buildings Amendment Act of 23
2022 that apply to residential and mixed-use projects and add a requirement for adding 24
renewable energy systems when half or more of a rooftop is being replaced for residential 25
projects. 26
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 28
act may be cited as the “Green Housing Coordination Amendment Act of 2025”. 29
Sec. 2. Energy standards for subsidized affordable housing. 30
The Housing Production Trust Fund Act of 1988, effective March 16, 1989 (D.C. Law 7-31
202; D.C. Official Code §§ 42-2801 et seq.), is amended by adding a new section 6 to read as 32
follows: 33
“Sec. 6. Net zero energy requirements for subsidized projects. 34
“(a) Any request, excluding substantial rehabilitation as that term is defined in section 35
103(34) of the Rental Housing Act of 1985, effective July 17, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-10; D.C. 36
Official Code § 42–3501.03(34)), for housing proposals involving the Fund shall include a 37

requirement that proposals for new construction receiving Fund support must be designed with 38
the intent to obtain “Enterprise Green Communities Certification Plus” as defined in the EGCC 39
or an equivalent standard as determined by the Department in consultation with the Department 40
of Buildings. 41
“(b) Any request, excluding substantial rehabilitation as that term is defined in section 42
103(34) of the Rental Housing Act of 1985, effective July 17, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-10; D.C. 43
Official Code § 42–3501.03(34)), for housing proposals involving the Fund shall include a 44
requirement that proposals for new construction receiving Fund support be all-electric. 45
“(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the applicability of any other 46
environmental standards, including the Green Building Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 47
(D.C. Law 16-234; D.C. Official Code § 6-1451.01 et seq.). 48
“(d) This section shall expire upon the effective date of final regulations promulgated 49
pursuant to section 2(b)(1) of the Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022, 50
effective September 21, 2022 (D.C. Law 24-177; D.C. Official Code § 6-1453.01(b)(1)). 51
“(e) For purposes of this section, the term: 52
“(1) “All-electric” means that no combustion equipment is included in the 53
building project, except for emergency backup power. 54
(2) “EGCC” means the current Enterprise Green Communities Criteria issued by 55
Enterprise Community Partners.”. 56
Sec. 3. Coordination and transparency in residential net zero energy rulemaking. 57
The Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022, effective September 21, 58
2022 (D.C. Law 24-177; D.C. Official Code § 6-1453.01 et seq.), is amended by adding a new 59
section 2a to read as follows: 60
“Sec. 2a. Report on barriers to net zero energy ready affordable housing development. 61
“(a)(1) No later than March 1, 2026, and every 6 months thereafter, the Department shall 62
submit to the Council a report detailing its progress toward developing the regulations required 63
by section 2. 64
“(2) Each report must include a discussion of major questions that the Department 65
needs to resolve before it can issue the regulations, plans to resolve those questions, and 66
comments on any existing laws that pose significant challenges to successful development and 67
implementation of the regulations. The Department may also include recommended changes to 68
existing laws that would allow substantial affordable housing development and preservation to 69
continue while still securing meaningful, immediate reductions in energy waste, greenhouse gas 70
emissions, and onsite fossil fuel combustion. 71
“(b) In preparing each report required under this section, the Department shall hold at 72
least one public meeting with the Department of Energy and Environment, local climate 73
advocacy organizations, and housing development and preservation professionals with 74
substantial experience delivering high-efficiency projects in the District. 75
“(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to establish a new cause of action to 76
challenge the validity of any regulations issued pursuant to section 2(b)(1). 77
“(d) This section shall expire upon the effective date of final regulations promulgated 78
pursuant to section 2(b)(1).”. 79
Sec. 4. Energy standards for subsidized housing. 80
Section 3(a) of the Green Building Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-81
234; D.C. Official Code § 6-1451.02(a)), is amended as follows: 82
(a) Paragraph (3)(C) is amended to read as follows: 83
“ (C)(i) In the case of new construction or substantial rehabilitation, as that 84
term is defined in section 103(34) of the Rental Housing Act of 1985, effective July 17, 1985 85
(D.C. Law 6-10; D.C. Official Code § 42–3501.03(34)), in which a roof replacement or repair of 86
50% or more of the roof area is within the scope of the project in accordance with the District of 87
Columbia Building Code (Title 12A of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations), the 88
developer shall incorporate rooftop renewable energy systems on-site wherever feasible; 89
provided, that the Mayor, pursuant to Title I of the District of Columbia Administrative 90
Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-501 et seq.), 91
shall issue rules identifying common circumstances where it is infeasible to incorporate rooftop 92
renewable energy systems pursuant to this subparagraph; provided further, that any delay or 93
failure by the Mayor in issuing such rules shall not limit the applicability of this sub-94
subparagraph. 95
“(ii) In the case of shelter facilities, maintain net zero energy 96
compliance.”. 97
(b) Paragraph (6) is amended by striking the phrase “shall maintain net zero energy98
compliance and fulfill” and inserting the phrase “shall fulfill” in its place. 99
Sec. 5. Fiscal impact statement. 100
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 101
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 102
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 103
Sec. 6. Effective date. 104
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 105
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 106
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 107
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 108
Columbia Register. 109