Recording in progress.

Good afternoon.

I'm Charles Allen, Wardsix Council Member and Chair of the Council's Committee on Transportation and the Environment.

Today is Monday, June 22nd, 2026, and we're meeting in both room 120 of the John A.

Wilson building as well as over the Zoom virtual platform.

The time is now 1212 p.m.

and I'm calling to order this public round table of the committee.

Today the committee will consider one measure, PR 26-598, which is the Green Finance Authority Board Jennifer Wade confirmation resolution of 2026.

Chairman Middles introduced PR 26-598 at the request of the mayor on March 20th, 2026.

PR 26-598 would appoint Jennifer Wade to the Green Finance Authority Board to fulfill the remainder of Brandy Kohlander's term to end July 9, 2028 in a seat reserved for a voting member with experience in financial, project development, or legal expertise in clean energy, clean infrastructure, clean transportation, stormwater management, or green infrastructure.

Ms.

Wade is currently an employee at the U.S.

Department of Energy and has strong understanding of our energy markets, infrastructure developments, and excited to learn more about her qualifications and interest in the position today.

For some quick background, the DC Green Finance Authority, oftentimes we are referred to as DC Green Bank, was established in 2018.

This made DC the first city in the United States to establish a green bank with the mission of providing access to capital to grow the DC clean economy and develop a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable district.

The bank offers innovative financing solutions for this purpose and focuses its investments on solar energy, greener and more efficient buildings, infrastructure resilience, and transportation electrification.

Within that area, the DC Green Bank has leveraged 84 million dollars in local funding into $884 million in unlocked investment since its inception.

This reflects a ratio of more than 8.5 times the capital invested by the district.

Just in the last year reported, DC Green Bank has created thousands of jobs, increased annual solar energy production, and reduced annual emissions in the district by 21,000 metric tons or around the annual energy usage of 3,000 homes.

The DC Green Bank is governed by the D by the Green Finance Authority Board, which consists of 11 members.

Of those members, four are non-voting and include representatives from various relevant agencies and the executive's office of the mayor.

The seven voting members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council.

We don't have any public witnesses register for today's round table, so we'll turn directly to our nominee.

For anyone who is interested in submitting written testimony for the record, the committee will accept written testimony through the council's hearing management system at LIMS.dc council.govs backslash hearings until the close of business tomorrow, June 23rd.

With that housekeeping out of the way, let me turn to our nominee.

So, Ms.

Wade, we'll go ahead and call you up now.

If you'll come up, grab a seat.

All right.

What I'll do is I'll turn to you for your opening statement, and then we'll turn to some questions after that.

And if you'll push the button so the red light comes on, and then the mic will pick you up from there.

Good afternoon and welcome.

Good afternoon, Chairperson Allen, and I don't think any other members of the committee are present.

Um, but thank you so much.

It is my pleasure to receive your consideration for my nomination to serve on the board of directors for the Green Finance Authority.

I am very grateful to the mayor's office for nominating me and honored to have this opportunity to serve the residents of our district.

I am a proud district resident and public servant of more than 15 years.

My professional background has been focused in the energy sector and in federal public service.

I spent over a decade at the U.S.

Energy Information Administration, where I was focused on natural gas and petroleum market data.

I led multiple initiatives to improve data quality, modernize collection methods, and enhance transparency in how information was presented to the public.

Currently, I serve at the U.S.

Department of Energy and the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office as the director of the Division of Regulation.

In this role, I oversee the regulatory program for natural gas.

This experience has given me a stronger understanding of energy markets, infrastructure development, and the regulatory frameworks that shape them.

Throughout my entire professional career, I've developed a practical understanding of how energy systems are financed, regulated, and deployed, as well as how policy decisions can turn into real outcomes.

While my professional experience has been focused on fossil energy, I think that experience does provide a helpful perspective to the work of the Green Finance Authority.

The transition to a clean energy economy doesn't occur in isolation.

It should be understood in the context of existing energy systems, market dynamics, and consumer impacts.

I think my experience analyzing energy data and helping decision makers understand complex energy issues through data analysis and transparent communication has prepared me to contribute meaningfully.

For my academic background, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Towson University.

My educational experience has reinforced my commitment to data-driven decision making, fiscal responsibility, and equitable outcomes.

All are principles that I think align closely with the Green Authority, Green Finance Authority's mission.

Beyond my professional and educational background, I've been a committed member of the district community for over 15 years.

I currently live and own a home in Ward 8, and prior to that, I lived in Ward 5, where I own a condo that I still currently rent out.

Over the years, I've volunteered my time with organizations, like so others might eat, food and friends, and Martha's table, which has helped my understanding of the challenges that many district residents face.

I'm aware of the urgency of our climate goals and also the importance of ensuring that the benefits of climate investments reach all residents, especially those who've historically been underserved.

My interest in serving on this board comes from not only my professional experience, but my personal commitment to the city's long-term sustainability and economic resilience.

If confirmed, my vision for serving on the board would focus on strengthening and accelerating the district's existing clean energy and climate framework.

I'm particularly interested in supporting the Green Finance Authority's efforts to increase access to clean energy investments for residents and communities that have historically faced barriers to participation.

Programs like Solar for All demonstrate how thoughtful financing can produce meaningful benefits, and I would be excited to welcome opportunities to help build upon that.

I'd also be interested in supporting efforts to expand financing for energy efficiency, electrification, and resilient infrastructure, particularly in affordable housing and underserved communities.

I'd encourage exploring tools like credit enhancements and partnerships with community-based organizations to help reduce barriers to participation.

In line with my professional experience, of course, I'd also encourage an emphasis on transparency, data, and accountability.

I think clear metrics and accessible information can be critical to building public trust.

So I would certainly support efforts to continue to strengthen how the Green Finance Authority measures and communicates its tremendous impact.

Most importantly, I would approach this role with humility and a desire to learn from existing board members and community stakeholders.

I'm eager to engage, ask questions, and bring an open mind and support the already tremendous work of the Green Finance Authority to support its continued growth and impact.

Thank you so much for this opportunity, and I look forward to any questions you may have.

Great.

Thank you very much.

First off, I appreciate your willingness to serve and being forward for this position.

So thank you very much for doing that.

I'm going to walk through a couple of questions.

When looking through your resume and your background, you talked a lot about managing federal regulations for gas at the Department of Energy.

Can you talk a little about the experience you have with the federal government and in what ways has that given you insight or experience with energy markets?

And how does that professional experience you think help you as you look at different projects or activities that we brought before you at the board?

Well, I think I think having a good foundation of just understanding energy markets and how energy systems work is important.

I think my experience at the Energy Information Administration, I was for a good portion of the time a data analyst.

So I was responsible for managing data collections and analyzing that data and producing thoughtful outputs, and we had weekly, monthly, and annual reports that we would present to leadership as well as to the public to summarize, synthesize, and aggregate that data.

And so I think that's an important foundation before you move forward with any decision making is to understand, you know, the current um the current situation.

And so I think having that, the ability to understand data, synthesize that data, and present it in a meaningful way to decision makers um will translate to to this role on the board, whether regardless of the the type of of data, but would translate um very well to to this role on the board and being able to present that information to the decision makers at the Green Finance Authority as well as to the general public.

And being on the board, you'll be one of those decision makers now so have you had a chance to take a look at either the annual reports or information that the Green Finance Authority publishes externally like are and I guess since you had uh a lot of that experience are there any areas you highlight as strengths in the reporting and analysis or areas where you believe that expertise you're gonna bring could help strengthen um that type of report analysis yeah I certainly have been already very impressed with the work of the green finance with the work of the green finance authority and I think there is a lot of valuable information.

I think some potential opportunities would just be in in how that information is is displayed and presented to to the public.

I think one thing that I've learned over my professional experience is being able to translate sometimes more complex energy issues into something that is relatable and understandable to the general public so I think having things that are very accessible and kind of broken down in in plain language terms that the general person can understand would be something that I would I would want to encourage or or help I think help progress the Green Finance Authority to make it a little bit even easier for the average person to really understand and see how the the programs may impact their direct community or their direct neighborhood.

Okay thanks.

Can you talk a little bit about your familiarity with the green bank's work in the last couple of years for example are there any specific projects you've seen that particularly get you excited or feel like you're seeing their kind of leadership and innovation in certain spaces have you had any experience yet around kind of what current or past projects you've seen the green bank and green finance authority board work on I don't have like personal experience but I I have I've saw the the project that was at the St.

Elizabeth's campus and just because that is close closest to where I live that is something that I I was familiar with and very excited about.

And particularly I think living in in Ward 8 I have had a focus on on the projects that are particularly impact the the underserved communities and so that St.

St.

Elizabeth's project was something that I was I was particularly excited about.

As well as the Solar for all I think that is something that my just in my community and friendships and personal relationships people have been pursuing or looking into you know how to how to modernize their homes and incorporate that into their home.

So I think the solar for all program is also something that I've had particular interest and excitement around because I think that is something that would provide something that in the past has not been accessible to the broader community but I think I've had neighbors who would have never even considered that actually being open you know to to considering it and having those conversations and so I think that is very exciting for for DC residents.

Yeah.

When you looking at your experience in gas regulation but we also look at a lot of what Green Finance Authority projects they've been moving forward are very significant solar projects, geothermal, we we don't do that many gas projects because in general we're trying to move away from and the district law requires us to move away from gas infrastructure.

Can you help share a little more about your how does that experience in the regulatory kind of framework around gas lead you to have the experience with solar projects, geothermal other kind of energy clean and green energy innovations.

Well I think having a a general basis of like how how policy can influence and actually influence actual real outcomes is where would I think that's like the biggest the biggest place where I would I would feel like I have experience or expertise is understanding how you can take an idea translate that into a policy statement and then if that needs to if that eventually needs to go into a potential rulemaking or how you and how you communicate that that starting with that idea, how you communicate that and implement that to the public and what that would roll into with as far as press releases, communication, getting notice and comment from the public.

And so I think those kind of the process and the program elements of a regulatory framework would apply whether it's natural gas or or clean energy or or any type of of renewable energy.

And being able to take and understand how a policy statement would then move through the process and how you get buy-in and input from the public.

I've managed, um, as a part of my my role, we had a a study that we rely on to make regulatory decisions in natural gas.

Um, and so we put that study out for notice and comment.

Um and the most recent study we did, we got hundreds of thousands of comments from the public.

And so it was part of my role to um engage with the public on on the feedback on on the study that we did, um, synthesize and and analyze the the feedback that we got through those hundreds of thousands of comments and actually provide um substantive responses to to those comments.

And so, although the the technical area was specifically on LNG trade, liquefied natural gas trade.

Um, I think the process of engaging with the cup the the public understanding your stakeholder concerns and then providing thoughtful responses and modifying the the analysis and the ultimate implementation of that analysis um to address public concerns is something that would be applicable to the solar projects as well.

Um and I think also understanding that said, I think there's also um there's currently a role for natural gas, not necessarily in the district, but in the surrounding community, and so I think that there's also an importance with with DC, understanding like the regional energy uses, particularly because I know some of the you know the electricities imported from you know from the regional um area.

So I think still even if it's not a direct impact or directly produced in DC, I think understanding the the regional impact um and the energy use of our the entire region will be important to the green finance authorities' work as well.

Okay, thanks.

Um when we look at this position, um did how did you find out about the vacancy?

Did had you applied to MODA?

Uh we have too many acronyms in our government, but um did you had you applied to MODA to look for this specific in particular?

Were there other things where you recruited into it?

Can you talk more about how you kind of found this vacancy or the recruitment for it?

Yeah, I was I was aware of the you know the Green Finance Authority's work and had um through you know personal connections was aware of the mayor's Office of Talent and Acquisition, and so um reached out to inquire about you know about potential opportunities to serve the the district and then was you know was then ultimately um responded back to by by the the MOTA office.

Okay.

I guess was it this position in particular that you reached out to MOTA about or you just were able to do that?

I was just looking in general to opportunities to serve, yes.

Got it, okay.

Um, are there any conflicts you have with your current federal profession with the Green Finance Authority?

Like in other words, would there be any projects or actions that you would need to think through potential conflicts from your federal responsibility and roles to these actions?

I don't think so.

Nothing that comes to mind or that I'm aware of, you know, because my my regulatory role is focused on on natural gas um and and particularly like the import and export of natural gas.

I don't see I don't perceive having any any conflicts, but certainly if something were to arise, I would I would address it immediately.

Yeah.

Okay, got it.

Um and then are there have you worked with the green finance authority or the board in a professional or personal capacity at any point?

No, no, okay.

All right.

Um, all right, so no formal comment.

Um are there any additional parts of your background or working relationships that demonstrate you feel like you kind of your expertise in clean energy, clean infrastructure, clean transportation, stormwater management, or green infrastructure, since those are our statutory requirements for the seat?

Um not specifically, you know, clean energy, but again, I would I would think my background just speaks to overall, you know, energy regulatory frameworks and and regulatory and and energy infrastructure in general.

Um but I can't speak to anything about like the stormwater infrastructure or or yeah, I I don't think I have any examples for for those things.

Okay.

Um all right.

So you would, if if approved, you'd be moving on to the board for uh the remainder of a terms about two years, give or take.

Okay.

Um what would be help define success uh two years from now, if you've been on the board, what is success look type look like to you to evaluate the time that you'd be putting into this?

Um I think I do think the work that the Green Finance Authority has already done has been is is excellent so I would I would really be looking to build upon that success um and potentially expanding expanding existing existing programs um and seeing and I think I would I would look to be able to to be able to point to either programs where we've been able to expand access in additional communities or additional neighborhoods um and or um expanded that that reach where I could point to um whether it be like a dashboard or another communication mechanism where we have been able to amplify and emphasize the the work of the green finance authority because I think another opportunity would be to make sure that the the public and community is aware of all of the all of the great work so I would I would love to be able to contribute towards having something to point to whether it be a dashboard or some other communication mechanism that really amplifies the great work that's already being done.

Got it okay.

And then it one of the things that we have in this committee in particular I will often have community members who come in who really want to advocate for the district moving as aggressively as possible away from gas and into solar other renewables I think this is a space where the green bank has uh got a really strong track record in terms of investments and I would argue not just around a switch to renewable sources but also the green bank does a great job I think of helping facilitate um affordable housing creation of office to residential and really at a time when the district is trying really hard to help incentivize and bring in new construction or new development of housing the green bank pretty much kind of can point to a flag in almost every major project you see going on right now in one way or another which is I think a really great story to tell.

But specifically on the the with your experience being so much around gas how would you respond to uh commuters who may say I I don't know if that experience is as relevant for renewable energy or clean energy sources how do you help kind of counter that for your own nomination and how you'd approach the job on the green finance authority and the board well I think I I understand that concern and and I think that um I think there's an importance to understand like the existing the existing framework that we're already living in and even if we're trying to transition away from from hydrocarbons they still are a part of our current energy makeup and our current energy mix as it is today.

And so I don't think it's something that we can just flip a switch you know necessarily I think we need to understand you know kind of the the existing energy mix in order to be able to effectively transition away from front and and be move into a fully um renewable you know energy sources I think we have to understand our our current our current energy mix and our current energy structure and I'm fully supportive of of that transition.

I just think that the the current experience of um or the current role that natural gas plays it is it is currently in in the current energy mix and so we've got to we've got to acknowledge that um and I think where I would offer value is in understanding data and transparency and analysis and so I think that would apply to whatever whatever we're looking at is understanding um the understanding the the data and analysis behind and and doing making data decision data driven decision making um to be able to understand um and use the current analysis and and current data that we have before we actually just move forward with something and so I I think my experience would would more so be important for for that and not necessarily um not necessarily having like the the expertise of developing a clean energy project, but I do have the expertise of looking at looking at data, analyzing, um, and aggregating and synthesizing that data and then making a valuable recommendation based on that information.

Um, and I think doing that tends to lead to longstanding um and long lasting decisions as opposed to um relying on, you know, just relying on on non fact-based or non-science-based, you know, information in order to in order to move forward.

Got it.

Okay.

Um I don't think I don't think I have anything else.

I just I am as a DC resident and as someone who is personally um invested and concerned about the environment and about this community.

I think that is that is where the majority of my passion lies in my own like personal um personal commitment.

Um I have family members, um, that that live in in the district as well as live in in the region.

Um, and I plan on continuing to be a district resident for for the long future.

Um, and so I think I would be honored to to be able to contribute in in whatever way possible to to move the work of the green finance authority forward.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Um, I don't think I have any other questions at this time.

Um, so we have um the record will stay open through tomorrow.

So if we have additional feedback or questions, we can reach out to you to get that.

And if we get any other uh submitted testimony, we'll make sure it gets included in the record.

Um, but at this point, I don't have any other further questions.

So I appreciate your time and I appreciate your willingness again to put yourself forward and to serve.

So thank you very much.

All right, this is going to conclude the committee's public round table on proposed resolution PR 26-598.

Again, I want to thank our nominee for your testimony.

The record for today's round table will close tomorrow on June 23rd, the close of business, and anyone could submit written testimony through the council's hearing management system at LIMS.dc council.gov backslash hearings until then.

The next scheduled meeting of the committee will be tomorrow at June 23rd, 2026 to mark up PR 26-598, the Green Finance Authority Board Jennifer Wade confirmation resolution of 2026.

And there being no further business for the committee, the time is now 12 36 p.m.

and this meeting is now adjourned.

Thank you.