Press release content from PR Newswire. The AP news staff was not involved in its creation. Blackstar moves Washington, DC residents towards a net-zero carbon footprint May 7, 2021 GMT What is Renewable Energy? According to NRDC, renewable energy comes from natural resources or processes that are constantly replenished. Renewable energy, particularly electrical, is how “net-zero” can be accomplished because it’s where the most appropriate emission-balancing technologies exist. Essentially, net-zero means any emissions are balanced by absorbing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere. Community Solar at Oxon Run Among other benefits, community solar projects enable residents, especially renters, to reduce energy consumption costs by sharing solar power without having to invest in solar panels themselves. With this in mind, Mayor Bowser in partnership with the Department of Energy and Environment created the 2017 Clean Energy Plan (CEP), which includes a 50% increase in the use of renewable energy in DC by 2032. The Clean EnergyAct of 2018 picks up where the CEP leaves off and ups the ante, mandating 100% renewable energy by 2032 and a 10% local solar generation requirement by 2041.