The Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia, the statutory advocate for DC utility consumers, is excited to recognize Earth Day 2026 under this year’s theme, “Our Power, Our Planet.”
For OPC, that theme is local, personal, and rooted in the belief that the future of energy in the District should be shaped by the communities we serve. OPC takes that commitment seriously and has developed an Adopt-a-School partnership with Anacostia High School in Southeast Washington to exemplify that belief.
Throughout this academic year, OPC has been working directly with high school students to demystify the utilities, empower environmental advocacy in communities, and highlight career paths that can drive change. These efforts are grounded in the basic premise that the next generation of advocates, leaders, and activists are already here in our neighborhoods; they only need education, access, and opportunity to rise to the occasion.
Over the past year, OPC has hosted two interactive sessions with Anacostia students, each designed to meet the youth where they are, while connecting everyday experiences to larger societal scenarios. In one session, students participated in a “Generation Simulation,” an exercise that simulated real-life situations involving income, essential expenses, and unexpected costs. This exercise was not solely about budgeting; it also was about understanding how utility bills, early adult obligations, and the realities of the cost-of-living after high school mesh.
In a second session, OPC introduced students to the fundamentals of the electric system: how power is generated, delivered, and regulated, and how those processes relate directly to climate change and the environment. Rather than presenting this as a distant or overly technical issue, staff focused close to home, teaching students how to read a Pepco bill and engage in utility regulatory matters before the Public Service Commission and legislative action before the DC Council that affect their bottom lines.
To bring these concepts to life, students also participated in a hands-on exercise by building a miniature solar-powered model home and car. This allowed students to see, quite literally, how renewable energy works, how it is installed, how it can be deployed locally, and what the real limitations of solar energy can be. It was their first time connecting the abstract idea of renewable energy with something they could build, understand, and potentially pursue further in real life.
Equally important has been our conversations around careers. OPC informed students about a wide range of opportunities in the utility and environmental sectors, including engineering, law, and technical trades. These are careers that may offer not only personal and professional stability, but also the chance to shape the future of energy in a way that is more just, more sustainable, and more responsive to community needs.
The Anacostia program continues OPC’s efforts to educate the District’s youth on the nexus between utility service and the environment. This follows OPC’s April 2023 Youth Climate Summit hosted at Catholic University, which saw hundreds of young adults come to learn from community leaders and advocates; and our October 2024 2-day Youth Advocacy Workshop, where OPC hosted high school students from across the District to learn about utilities and community advocacy.
Our goal is not just to inform our youth but also to empower them. The District is already transitioning to a cleaner energy system, but it should be guided by voices that reflect the full breadth of the city’s lived experience. By engaging students at Anacostia High School, OPC is investing in a future where local voices are not only heard, but lead.
This Earth Day, we are reminded that power is not just something distributed through electrical lines; it can be a valuable tool in the hands of our own communities, even from early ages. When young people are equipped with the right tools, knowledge, and opportunities, they become powerful agents of change for decades to come. At the Office of the People’s Counsel, we are committed to ensuring that the next generation is ready to lead when given that opportunity.