Executive Summary: August 22nd, 2024 AEG DMV 24Q3 Stakeholder Challenge on Grid Modernization

The AEG DMV 24Q3 Stakeholder Challenge on Grid Modernization brought together 48 industry leaders to address critical obstacles in achieving DMV’s climate, health, and equity goals. The challenge emphasized the importance of aligning comprehensive planning with utilities, government, and large campuses, particularly for implementing advanced grid technologies like thermal energy networks. Key themes that emerged included the need for capacity expansion to meet growing energy demands, strategic alignment among stakeholders, ensuring economic viability to maintain affordability, and addressing complex project development challenges. As the newly formed Task Force embarks on a 90-day sprint and 12-month objective, their collaborative efforts will be pivotal in driving equitable and sustainable grid modernization across the DMV area.

Author: Mariana Chissell, AEG Junior Fellow, Advanced Energy Group

On April 1, 2024, the Advanced Energy Group (AEG) DMV 23Q4 Mobility & Clean Transportation Task Force launched The DMV Ride for the Region Challenge. The challenge, inspired by the competitive spirit of March Madness, encouraged employers to promote public transit use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area.

Challenge participants include Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), The George Washington University, American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Gannett-Fleming, Sierra Club, American University, George Mason University, and Kimley Horn DC; the overall tournament resulted in an impressive 846.6 kg CO2 emissions reduction. Regarding the collective effort, Mobolade Olawale from The George Washington University, commented, “the team led with energy, optimism, and a can-do spirit that shows the project’s potential to spark long-term positive change in various other regions.”

Congratulations to APTA for winning the tournament!

Above: Ride for the Region final results

The challenge was established as an outcome of the November 8 2023 AEG DMV Stakeholder Challenge on Mobility & Clean Transportation. This event convened over 40 public and private leaders who identified critical obstacles to achieving regional climate goals. The consensus was to prioritize a mode shift to public transit as a primary strategy for reducing emissions.

Above: Caitlin Rogger, Deputy Executive Director, Greater Greater Washington, provides the selected critical obstacle that inspired the Ride for the Region Initiative.

Short-term goals included developing the framework for the challenge and conducting outreach to various organizations, while long-term goals focused on securing sustainability pledges and hosting ridership challenges.

Key members of the task force include Daniel Sheehan from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Kate Roetzer and Diane Sanchez from WMATA, and insights from Dennis Morgan’s Harlem CoLab at Columbia University. Their collective efforts have shaped the challenge to not only increase transit ridership but also promote a sustainable transportation shift in the long term.

Above: Task Force volunteers committed to overseeing Ride for the Region initiative

The challenge leveraged the incenTrip app to track and log participant transit trips. By fostering friendly competition, the challenge produced significant engagement from regional employers from universities, non-profits, and public and private sectors throughout the DMV.

This initiative is crucial as the transportation sector accounts for nearly 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in the DMV area. Increasing public transit use directly contributes to emission reductions and supports cleaner air and healthier communities

The challenge is set to continue with more organizations expected to join and pledge their commitment to sustainable transit. Future ridership competitions will be aligned with significant events like Earth Month to maximize participation and awareness. The ongoing collaboration with regional stakeholders aims to develop marketing and communication strategies to further boost participation and enthusiasm for public transit.

For more information, visit the Ride for the Region webpage.