The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) condemned Washington Gas in a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 27, for failing to fix cancer-causing gas leaks that have affected people and their animals. They also assert that the gas company is mismanaging its funds to meet the District of Columbia’s climate goals.
“Residents shouldn’t have to worry about safety in their homes or be on the hook for higher utility bills simply because Washington Gas is spending recklessly on its over-budget and ineffective pipeline replacement program,” Anne Havemann, the deputy director and general counsel of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and the CCAN Action Fund, said.
D.C. resident Fox, who only wants to be identified by her last name, said she experienced up to 10 gas leaks in 2022 that made her and her dog Vinnie sick.
“My dog started getting really sick, and then that’s when I started going to the doctors because I was having all these lower back pains, abdominal pains,” Fox said. “I was nauseous, my dog wasn’t eating, but nobody could figure out what was going on.”
Later, Fox added she found out it was a gas leak and called Washington Gas for assistance, only to learn homeowners are responsible for repairing pipes, not the company. She added that she received limited help from Washington Gas, which solely consisted of a line test to detect leaks.
According to Fox, the line test conducted by a contractor on behalf of Washington Gas did not indicate the presence of harmful chemicals. However, the plumber she hired to perform the test uncovered a deadly substance.
Fox recalled her plumber’s chilling words: “’You should be dead. This is carbon monoxide. This is Black soot. And the fact that the gas company didn’t just see this and notice it was a real lack of training on their part.'”
Harmful Chemicals in the Home
Chesapeake Climate Action Network is on a mission to continue to advocate for individuals like Fox, who said she nearly died due to what she describes as “negligence” by the Washington Gas company.
The network also raised concerns that gas stoves emit harmful chemicals like benzene. This chemical, the organization highlighted, is linked to leukemia and poses a threat to “the health of vulnerable residents like children and seniors at risk.”
According to a study by Stanford University, lighting gas stoves in households introduces a chemical known to be linked to a higher incidence of leukemia and other blood cell cancers. Additionally, the report indicated that gas and propane burners and ovens emitted benzene levels that were 10 to 50 times higher than those of electric stoves.
In response to the allegations of environmental harm caused by gas in homes and exorbitant billing, among other issues CCAN raised against Washington Gas, director of strategic communications Andre Francis did not dispute the claims. However, he emphasized the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and cleaner fuels.
“Washington Gas supports the District of Columbia’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and believes residents will be best served by a fuel-neutral approach to future decarbonization efforts that leverages our infrastructure to deliver lower to no carbon fuels of the future,” he said.
The District of Columbia’s Department of Energy and Environment (DDOE), set climate goals to reduce emissions by 60% by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2045. In compliance, Washington Gas filed its climate business plan program application on Aug. 5.
Still, CCAN argues that residents should not be burdened with safety concerns and that the company is putting off the costs to customers to meet its goals, particularly with Washingtonians facing other challenges.
They added: “Many D.C. residents are already struggling to afford basic needs like housing and groceries.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), even at low levels, nitrogen dioxide, a cancer-causing chemical, can affect individuals with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The agency also confirms that nitrogen dioxide can come from gas stoves.
As for Fox’s desired outcome from her story, she hopes that the gas company will demonstrate consistency in its responsiveness, ability to diagnose leaks and establish a cohesive system where contractors and full-time employees are aligned in understanding their responsibilities.
The Washington Gas company is actively developing plans to support District residents through environmentally conscious efforts, according to its statement.
But despite the utility company’s pledge to work toward D.C.’s climate goals, Chesapeake Climate Action Network still asserts: “There’s no way around it: Washington Gas is a bad neighbor.”