Environmental and Energy Study Institute

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> <rss version="2.0"> <channel> <title>Environmental and Energy Study Institute</title> <link>https://www.eesi.org</link> <description>Environmental and Energy Study Institute's Articles, Briefings, White Papers, Press Releases, and Newsletters.</description> <item> <title> “Small But Mighty” Rivers </title> <location> Online only @ eesi.org/livecast. </location> <pubDate>Wed, 21 May 2025 14:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing showcasing four “small but mighty” rivers in the United States and the unique ways their communities are rising to meet environmental and climate challenges. Although much attention is paid to America’s largest rivers, smaller rivers across the country are also excellent case studies in adapting and responding to acute and long-term environmental challenges. At this briefing, panelists working with communities along these crucial rivers will discuss best practices for river health and resilience. The Eel River in California, designated as Wild and Scenic by federal authorities, has seen its stakeholders push for dam removal to restore river health and safety, while stewards of the Carolinas’ Catawba River are working to limit dangerous runoff from concentrated animal feeding operations. Meanwhile, Vermonters along the Winooski River face flooding challenges that demand resilience strategies, and D.C. is working to limit sewage overflow into the Anacostia River to make it swimmable. Small and medium-sized rivers like these are the lifeblood of many communities, and federal policymakers can play an essential role in enabling and invigorating local solutions. Speakers to be announced. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/052125rivers</link> </item> <item> <title> The Ohio River </title> <location> Online only @ eesi.org/livecast. </location> <pubDate>Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing discussing how policymakers and community stakeholders can help restore the health of the Ohio River. The Ohio spans Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, and is considered one of the most heavily polluted rivers in the country due to high levels of industrial discharge. Nitrates, heavy metals, forever chemicals, and the butyl acrylate leaked by the derailed train in New Palestine —all these pollutants continue to jeopardize the Ohio River’s health. Given the disproportionally frequent location of manufacturing near economically disadvantaged areas, remediating the health of the Ohio River has essential environmental justice implications for the surrounding communities. This briefing will highlight ways that collaboration between federal and state government, industry, and local stakeholders can prevent and mitigate pollution on the Ohio River. Speakers to be announced. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/041625rivers</link> </item> <item> <title> The Hudson River </title> <location> Online only @ eesi.org/livecast. </location> <pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2025 14:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing to spotlight policies and strategies to build a healthier, cleaner Hudson River. As the river spans both rural and hyper-urban areas across New York and part of New Jersey, it requires a wide range of solutions to address issues ranging from flood prevention and invasive species management to pharmaceutical contamination and plastic pollution. Given the range of pollutants impacting the Hudson, the steps and strategies being adopted to improve its water quality are instructive for efforts to reduce pollution in rivers across the country. The Hudson River basin’s role in helping supply water to over 19 million people in the New York City metro area underscores the national importance of federal agency involvement in regulating the river’s water quality and supporting its clean-up efforts. The briefing will discuss the future of a fishable and swimmable Hudson River, and how federal policies and practices can help safeguard the river for generations to come. Speakers to be announced. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/031925rivers</link> </item> <item> <title> The Colorado River </title> <location> Online only @ eesi.org/livecast. </location> <pubDate>Wed, 19 Feb 2025 14:00:00 -0500</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing highlighting strategies for improving the resilience and restoring the health of the Colorado River and its tributaries. The Colorado River basin serves as an essential source of agricultural, residential, and commercial water for communities and tribes in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and California as well as our neighbors across the border in Mexico. However, the river faces severe water stress, resulting in dwindling reservoirs. This water stress, exacerbated by climate change, threatens to degrade the river and jeopardize the ecosystems dependent on it. This briefing will focus on the role of federal policy in supporting stakeholders across the West as they address the impacts of drought and water stress through effective water conservation, measurement, and allocation. Panelists will discuss the importance of collaboration between tribes, industry, communities, and local and federal government to restore river vitality and ensure equitable water availability for generations to come. Speakers to be announced. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/021925rivers</link> </item> <item> <title> The Columbia River </title> <location> Online only @ eesi.org/livecast. </location> <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jan 2025 14:00:00 -0500</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing about climate adaptation, resilience, and mitigation strategies in the Columbia River basin. The Columbia, which winds through British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington state, is an important source of food, drinking water, irrigation, recreation, and clean energy for the Pacific Northwest. However, the effects of climate change have created and exacerbated problems like estuarine habitat loss, toxic algal blooms, low water levels, and diminished fish populations, highlighting the importance of finding science-based solutions to these issues. This briefing will also discuss the outcomes of the Uncommon Dialogue, which brought together tribes, national and local government, the hydropower industry, and river conservation stakeholders to identify shared approaches to steward river health and safety while ensuring hydropower operations provide clean, affordable energy. Panelists will also discuss the role of federal investments in the Columbia River’s resilience and health, including Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding. Speakers to be announced. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/011525rivers</link> </item> <item> <title> The Tennessee River </title> <location> Online only @ eesi.org/livecast </location> <pubDate>Wed, 11 Dec 2024 14:00:00 -0500</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing about strategies to decrease pollution and increase resilience along the Tennessee River, which winds through Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky. The Tennessee River, one of the most biodiverse rivers in North America, experiences damaging issues ranging from coal ash contamination to chemical pollution from landfills and manufacturing. These issues threaten both water quality and the health and well-being of the many communities in the river’s watershed. This briefing will explore ongoing efforts to address the impacts of water pollution on environmental justice communities situated along the Tennessee. It will also highlight the importance of effective enforcement of local, state, and federal clean water laws and regulations. Panelists will discuss the role of federal policy-making in preventing and mitigating pollution in the region, as well as opportunities to support biodiversity and overall river health.  ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/121124rivers</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Dispatch - November 25, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Mon, 25 Nov 2024 21:17:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/cop29-dispatch-november-25-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> U.S. Climate Leadership Enters a New Phase as U.N. Climate Summit Concludes with an Updated Finance Commitment to the Developing World </title> <pubDate>Mon, 25 Nov 2024 20:01:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ EESI press release on the 2024 UN climate summit (COP29) outcomes. ]]> </description> <pdfs> <pdf>https://www.eesi.org/files/EESI-Press-Release-COP29-Outcomes.pdf</pdf> </pdfs> <link>https://www.eesi.org/press-releases/view/u.s-climate-leadership-enters-a-new-phase-as-u.n-climate-summit-concludes-with-an-updated-finance-commitment-to-the-developing-world</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Dispatch - November 21, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Thu, 21 Nov 2024 22:07:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/cop29-dispatch-november-21-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Dispatch - November 20, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:25:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/cop29-dispatch-november-20-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> November 20 Press Conference at COP29: U.S. Perspectives from the U.N. Climate Summit </title> <pubDate>Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:39:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) will hold a press conference on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, during the U.N. climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29) at 1:30 p.m. local time in Baku (4:30 a.m. EST). Speakers will share observations of the negotiations and other key happenings at COP29 and what it means for climate action in the United States. ]]> </description> <pdfs> <pdf>https://www.eesi.org/files/EESI-Media-Advisory-COP29-Press-Conference-Nov-20.pdf</pdf> </pdfs> <topics> <topic>Climate Diplomacy</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/press-releases/view/november-20-press-conference-at-cop29-u.s-perspectives-from-the-u.n-climate-summit</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Dispatch - November 19, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 19 Nov 2024 22:26:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/cop29-dispatch-november-19-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Impacts of Growing Wildfire-Related Emissions on the Global Carbon Budget, the +1.5 Limit, and the Next NDCs </title> <location> Side Event Room 6, COP29 Center, Baku, Azerbaijan </location> <pubDate>Tue, 19 Nov 2024 07:45:00 -0500</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ 4:45 —6:15 pm Baku local time Side Event Room 6, COP29 Center, Baku, Azerbaijan The Environmental and Energy Study Institute and the Woodwell Climate Research Center invite you to a U.N. climate summit (COP29) Side Event on how growing emissions from global wildfires and the resulting feedback loops threaten to undermine our ability to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The panelists will present the latest science behind wildfire emissions as well as their impact on the global carbon budget, and discuss the viability of the 1.5°C limit and the preparation of the next nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in light of those impacts. The panelists will first introduce the latest research on increasing wildfire emissions, which are mostly due to more frequent and intense fires in the Arctic region. Panelists will highlight the latest scientific findings on Arctic wildfires and wildfire-permafrost interactions that are accelerating the release of greenhouse gas emissions. The panelists will show how these wildfire-related emissions affect the carbon budget that remains for limiting global warming to 1.5°C and consider how wildfire mitigation efforts, like those championed by the Arctic Council, may help achieve the Paris Agreement goals. Finally, the panel will discuss the ongoing work to align the global climate effort with the 1.5°C limit, the preparation of the next NDCs due in February 2025, and what the research introduced at this event means for the already diminished remaining carbon budget. The panelists will be invited to discuss what is needed—both in terms of scientific advances, but also policy ambition—to keep the Paris process on track. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/111924cop</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Dispatch - November 18, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Mon, 18 Nov 2024 22:08:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/cop29-dispatch-november-18-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Dispatch - November 15, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Fri, 15 Nov 2024 21:27:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/cop29-dispatch-november-15-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> November 15 Press Conference at COP29: U.S. Perspectives from the U.N. Climate Summit </title> <pubDate>Fri, 15 Nov 2024 14:51:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) will hold a press conference on Friday, November 15, during the U.N. climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29) at 3:30 p.m. local time in Baku (6:30 a.m. EST). Speakers will share observations of the negotiations and other key happenings at COP29 and what it means for climate action in the United States. ]]> </description> <pdfs> <pdf>https://www.eesi.org/files/EESI-Media-Advisory-COP29-Press-Conference-Nov-15.pdf</pdf> </pdfs> <link>https://www.eesi.org/press-releases/view/november-15-press-conference-at-cop29-u.s-perspectives-from-the-u.n-climate-summit</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Dispatch - November 14, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:39:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/cop29-dispatch-november-14-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Dispatch - November 13, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:52:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/cop29-dispatch-november-13-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Dispatch - November 12, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 12 Nov 2024 22:10:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/cop29-dispatch-november-12-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Dispatch - November 11, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Mon, 11 Nov 2024 19:51:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/cop29-dispatch-november-11-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Dispatch - November 8, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Fri, 08 Nov 2024 19:02:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/cop29-dispatch-november-8-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> U.S. Leaders at COP29: Updates on Members of Congress and Other U.S. Officials at the 2024 UN Climate Summit </title> <pubDate>Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:05:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ This list compiles the U.S. federal and elected officials who attended the UN climate summit, COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan. ]]> </description> <contacts> <contact> <name>Anna McGinn</name> <email>amcginn@eesi.org</email> </contact> </contacts> <topics> <topic>Climate Change</topic> <topic>Climate Diplomacy</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/u.s-leaders-at-cop29-updates-on-members-of-congress-and-other-u.s-officials-at-the-2024-un-climate-summit</link> </item> <item> <title> COP29 Announcement Tracker: Key Announcements from the 2024 UN Climate Summit </title> <pubDate>Thu, 07 Nov 2024 20:54:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Throughout the UN climate summit (COP29)—which officially runs from November 11 to November 22, 2024—a number of agreements, declarations, and collaborations will be announced on a range of climate, environmental, and energy topics. EESI is tracking the happenings of COP29 through our daily newsletter, COP29 Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from Baku. This article provides a compilation of the announcements included in COP29 Dispatch. ]]> </description> <contacts> <contact> <name>Anna McGinn</name> <email>amcginn@eesi.org</email> </contact> </contacts> <topics> <topic>Climate Change</topic> <topic>Climate Diplomacy</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/cop29-announcement-tracker-key-announcements-from-the-2024-un-climate-summit</link> </item> <item> <title> Climate Change Solutions - November 5, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:49:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>Climate Change Solutions</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/climate-change-solutions-november-5-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | October 28 - November 1, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Mon, 04 Nov 2024 19:28:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The House Committee on Natural Resources passed the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2024 (H.R.8446). Led by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), the bill would consolidate the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS’s) and Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) respective lists of critical minerals and materials— including those essential to the clean energy transition. This would ensure that DOE-listed materials are afforded the same clean energy tax credits and other federal support as their USGS-listed counterparts. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced a Senate companion bill (S.5274) in September.  The House Committee on Natural Resources also passed the Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act (H.R.7409). Reps. Young Kim (R-Calif.), John Duarte (R-Calif.), and Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) lead the bill, which would decrease permit requirements to accelerate geothermal energy production. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-october-28-november-1-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> On the Hill in September and October 2024: A Breakdown of Climate, Energy, and Environmental Hearings </title> <pubDate>Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:11:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Congress held a total of 14 hearings on climate, energy, and environmental topics across September and October of 2024. The Republican-led House of Representatives held 10 of these hearings, while the Democrat-led Senate held four. Eight different committees across the House and Senate covered environmental, energy, or climate legislation. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/on-the-hill-in-september-and-october-2024-a-breakdown-of-climate-energy-and-environmental-hearings</link> </item> <item> <title> Looking to COP29, Here’s Where Key Past COP Announcements Stand </title> <pubDate>Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:42:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ This year’s United Nations climate change summit, formally known as the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), runs from November 11 to 22, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The theme of COP29, according to the Azerbaijan presidency, is “in solidarity for a green world.” This year, the annual meeting is intended “to enhance ambition and enable action,” according to COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s minister of ecology and natural resources. Countries, along with companies, nonprofits, and subnational governments, will discuss numerous climate change related topics—inside and outside the formal negotiating process—to assess progress in climate adaptation and mitigation and set new goals. This article examines initiatives announced at previous COPs to track their progress going into COP29. ]]> </description> <contacts> <contact> <name>Anna McGinn</name> <email>amcginn@eesi.org</email> </contact> </contacts> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/looking-to-cop29-heres-where-key-past-cop-announcements-stand</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | October 21 - October 25, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The House Committee on Natural Resources passed the Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act (H.R.7872). Conceived by Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) with bipartisan support, the bill would enhance the existing Salinity Control Program to better tackle detrimentally high salinity levels in the Colorado River. Recently, excess salinity in the river has threatened biodiversity and decreased the amount of water available for household and agricultural use. EESI’s ongoing Resilient and Healthy Rivers briefing series discusses environmental, economic, and health impacts of this and other riverine issues across the country’s most consequential river basins. The House Committee on Natural Resources passed Reps. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) and Robert Wittman’s (R-Va.) Get Rewarding Outdoor Work for our Veterans (GROW) Act (H.R.1786). The bill would establish a pilot program to place U.S. veterans in conservation, resource management, and environmental protection jobs under the Department of Interior. The program could address backlogs in wildlife conservation and management projects while lowering the veteran unemployment rate. Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) and Del. James Moylan (R-Guam) introduced the Invasive Species Response Act (H.R.10037) to expand federal efforts to combat the spread of invasive species. Specifically, this bill would codify and fund the Invasive Species Strike Teams program under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to focus on prevention, early detection, and rapid response measures tailored to regional conditions. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-october-21-october-25-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> EESI Impact 22 - October 2024 </title> <pubDate>Sat, 26 Oct 2024 16:18:00 +0000</pubDate> <pdf>https://www.eesi.org/files/EESI_Impact_October_2024_%288.5_x_11%29_.pdf</pdf> <topics> <topic>EESI Impact</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/eesi-impact-22-october-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> U.S.-China Engagement and International Climate Diplomacy </title> <location> Online only @ eesi.org/livecast </location> <pubDate>Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing about the role of United States-China climate engagement in shaping the progress and outcomes of international climate governance. From critical mineral supply chains to clean energy and transportation technology, dynamics between the two countries are complex and sometimes fraught. This briefing will explore how the countries’ relations across broader climate and environmental issues have influenced and will continue to influence the annual U.N. climate change negotiations. In 2023, the United States and China produced the Sunnylands Statement ahead of the U.N. climate change negotiations (COP28), following a tradition of publishing similar joint positions in prior years. The statement covered topics related to the energy transition, forest conservation, and non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions, including methane. It also kicked off a working group focused on “climate action in the 2020s,” which started meeting in the first half of 2024.   During the briefing, panelists will explain how these bilateral interactions play into the international negotiations on climate change, outline what to expect during COP29 and its lead up, and discuss the effectiveness of diplomatic efforts in curbing greenhouse gas emissions.  ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/102524cop</link> </item> <item> <title> Methane Mitigation on the Global Stage </title> <location> Online only @ eesi.org/livecast </location> <pubDate>Thu, 24 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing discussing how nations can collaborate to monitor and mitigate methane emissions to improve air quality and meet emission reduction targets. Methane accounts for 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution and has 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide, making it a key lever in addressing the climate crisis.  Ahead of the United Nations annual conference on climate change (COP29), this briefing will cover policies nations are implementing to effectively reduce their domestic methane emissions in the energy, agriculture, and waste sectors. Panelists will discuss the implementation of the Global Methane Pledge, which 155 countries have signed, and highlight the role of technology in improving methane monitoring, compliance, and reduction. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/102424cop</link> </item> <item> <title> Investigative Reporting Film Festival Features Three Movies with Environmental Theme </title> <pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2024 21:48:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Double Exposure is the United States’ first and only film festival dedicated to investigative reporting on film. The festival will feature four days of film screenings and a professional symposium from November 7 to 10 in Washington, D.C. EESI is a Double Exposure Film Festival Partner. ]]> </description> <contacts> <contact> <name>Amaury Laporte</name> <email>alaporte@eesi.org</email> </contact> </contacts> <topics> <topic>Climate Change</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/investigative-reporting-film-festival-features-three-movies-with-environmental-theme</link> </item> <item> <title> What’s on the Table for the Negotiations </title> <location> Online only @ eesi.org/livecast </location> <pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing about what Congress can expect during the upcoming United Nations climate negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29). From the opening World Climate Action Summit to the intense negotiations of the conference’s final days, thousands of events will take place over the course of the two-week U.N. session. Whether traveling to Baku or observing COP29 from D.C., this briefing will guide policymakers on how to engage effectively. Panelists will preview key issues on the negotiating agenda, from setting the new global climate finance goal and determining metrics for climate adaptation to updating national climate goals. The briefing will also unpack the complex process of international climate negotiations, review possible policy outcomes, and explore pathways for subsequent Congressional action. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Climate Diplomacy</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/102324cop</link> </item> <item> <title> Climate Change Solutions - October 22, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:24:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>Climate Change Solutions</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/climate-change-solutions-october-22-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | October 14 - October 18, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 22 Oct 2024 13:29:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) introduced the Flood Loss Offset and Affordability Tax (FLOAT) Credit Act (H.R.10004) to address the increasing frequency and magnitude of extreme storms and flooding. Specifically, the bill would aim to improve flood insurance affordability for homeowners by providing buyers with a $1,000 annual tax credit. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-october-14-october-18-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> EESI’s United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Glossary of Terms </title> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2024 20:44:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ There is a lot of specific language and jargon used in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations and related activities. This list of terms, which originated from the UNFCCC’s now-retired glossary with additional entries from the International Institute for Sustainable Development’s (IISD’s) glossary, is designed to help you follow along with the UNFCCC’s annual Conference of the Parties (COP). Language in the glossary below originated from the UNFCCC or IISD as indicated by the parenthesis after each definition unless otherwise noted. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Climate Diplomacy</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesis-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change-glossary-of-terms</link> </item> <item> <title> Transforming Communities Through Elective Pay for Nonprofits </title> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2024 19:55:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Nonprofits can for the first time take advantage of tax credits for clean energy installations that were previously limited to organizations with a tax liability. Churches, schools, hospitals, food banks, community centers, state and local governments, rural electric cooperatives, and tribes that were previously locked out of accessing tax credits—like the investment tax credit (ITC)—can now access them. With “elective pay” (a.k.a. “direct pay”) and thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) (P.L. 117-169), these entities can claim tax incentives when investing in clean energy projects, such as solar energy, ground-source heat pumps, and battery storage devices. These small-scale renewable energy projects enable lower energy bills and increased resilience and can help create quality contractor and installation jobs, generating local wealth and spurring further demand for these distributed technologies. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Buildings and Infrastructure</topic> <topic>Renewable Energy</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/transforming-communities-through-elective-pay-for-nonprofits</link> </item> <item> <title> Tracking Transportation Investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act </title> <pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2024 18:18:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Described by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as “historic investment” in public transit, the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (P.L. 117-58) aims to support transportation emission reductions and modernize transit systems across the United States. The law provides $590 billion in transportation funding, $91.9 billion of which has been dedicated to public transit. Meanwhile, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) (P.L. 117-169), enacted in August 2022, invests $369 billion in the “most significant action Congress has taken on clean energy and climate change.” Of the $12.3 billion the IRA dedicates to transportation, $5.21 billion funds transportation pilot programs with an emphasis on emission reductions and transportation equity, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 initiative. Revitalizing public transportation, particularly following COVID-19 related ridership declines, is a key component of achieving a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Although transitioning from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) is important for achieving climate goals, mass EV adoption would still be insufficient to meet net-zero emission targets by 2050. Alongside beneficial electrification, public transit will need to be supported and scaled up in order to meet climate goals and stave off future warming. Estimates suggest that global transit usage must double by 2030 to meet the critical climate goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Transportation</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/tracking-transportation-investments-in-the-infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act-and-inflation-reduction-act</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | October 7 - October 11, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 16 Oct 2024 20:49:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) introduced the North American Grasslands Conservation Act (H.R.9945). If enacted, the bill would mandate a grasslands conservation plan and create a grant program for grasslands management and restoration efforts, including a regenerative grazing program.  Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) introduced the Urban Bird Treaty Act (H.R.9964). The bill would authorize $1 million annually for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Urban Bird Treaty program, which supports community-level bird conservation and works to reduce urban hazards to bird migration, such as toxins, building collisions, and invasive species. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-october-7-october-11-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> EESI at 40: The Origins of the Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum </title> <pubDate>Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:35:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A lot has changed since April 1996 when the first Renewable Energy EXPO was held in the Caucus Room of the Cannon House Office Building. The massive success of the first EXPO made the case for the event to continue as an annual opportunity for members of Congress and their staff to learn about the expanding biomass, geothermal, hydrogen, hydropower, solar, and wind industries. The organizers decided to add a Policy Forum to the annual EXPO in 2004 to encourage additional substantive discussions about energy efficiency and renewable energy as climate solutions. EESI assumed the lead role in organizing the Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum in 2014. A decade later, the event is going strong. The House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses reprise their roles as honorary co-hosts each year and help set panel topics, identify speakers, and curate the exhibition space. ]]> </description> <contacts> <contact> <name>Amaury Laporte</name> <email>alaporte@eesi.org</email> </contact> </contacts> <topics> <topic>Energy Efficiency</topic> <topic>Renewable Energy</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesi-at-40-the-origins-of-the-congressional-renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency-expo-and-policy-forum</link> </item> <item> <title> Climate Change Solutions - October 8, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 09 Oct 2024 20:31:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>Climate Change Solutions</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/climate-change-solutions-october-8-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> The Mississippi River </title> <location> Dirksen Senate Office Building SD-G11 50 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 </location> <pubDate>Tue, 08 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to the kickoff briefing of our Resilient and Healthy Rivers briefing series. This first briefing examines the environmental challenges facing the Mississippi River and solutions to address them. Spanning 10 states, the Mississippi plays a key role in tourism, commerce, biodiversity, and recreation in the United States. In particular, the river system moves hundreds of millions of tons of freight each year, serves as a home to hundreds of different fish, mammal, and amphibian species, and supports 1.3 million jobs. However, like many other river systems to be featured in this briefing series, the Mississippi River and the communities that depend on it face challenges such as nitrate pollution, saltwater intrusion, flooding, and low water levels—many of which are exacerbated by climate change. At this briefing, Mississippi River experts will discuss the role of federal policy in advancing strategies to improve both the health and climate resilience of the river system.  Lunch will be provided. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Adaptation and Resilience</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/100824rivers</link> </item> <item> <title> Europe’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: A New Age of Sustainable Trade </title> <pubDate>Mon, 07 Oct 2024 17:15:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ “Climate change is a global crisis, and to tackle it, emissions have to go down all across the world, not just move from one place to the next.” These were the remarks of European Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra, describing the need for the European Union’s (EU’s) recently-enacted Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). CBAM is a regulation that aims to limit “carbon leakage” by placing a fee on carbon-intensive products imported from non-EU nations. Carbon leakage occurs when companies migrate their manufacturing operations—and the emissions associated with them—to another country to skirt carbon emissions regulations. The CBAM transitional phase began in October 2023 and will run through 2025, marking a new step for global carbon policy. The EU CBAM emerged from the European Green Deal, a policy roadmap introduced by the European Council in 2019 to help Europe become “the world's first climate neutral continent by 2050.” After the release of the Green Deal, the EU followed up with Fit for 55, a set of policy proposals aiming to reduce EU emissions by 55% by 2030. This policy package incorporated CBAM to ensure that regulations on EU industry are not negated by overseas migration of production. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Climate Diplomacy</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/europes-carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism-a-new-age-of-sustainable-trade</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | September 30 - October 4, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:44:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Bill Posey (R-Fla.), and Donald Beyer (D-Va.) introduced the Coastal Restoration Act (H.R.9912) to expand coastal ecosystem conservation efforts through research and coordination between federal, state, local, and Tribal governments. Specifically, the bill would establish a federal interagency blue carbon research initiative, as well as a national inventory of coastal ecosystems that could help sequester carbon, among other initiatives.  Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) and democratic cosponsors introduced the Cool Roof Rebate Act of 2024 (H.R.9894). If enacted, the bill would establish a rebate program under the Department of Energy for “cool roof” products— reflective rooftop devices that could lower household temperatures, effectively lowering home electricity consumption and energy bills. EESI’s Living with Climate Change briefing on extreme heat discusses other ways built and natural infrastructure can reduce home temperatures. Reps. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.) and Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) introduced the Strengthening Wildfire Resiliency Through Satellites Act (H.R.9908), which would create a grant program under the U.S. Geological Survey to leverage satellite technology to monitor wildfires.  ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-september-30-october-4-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | September 23 - September 27, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:41:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The House passed the Innovative Mitigation Partnerships for Asphalt and Concrete Technologies (IMPACT) Act (H.R.7685). Reps. Max Miller (R-Ohio) and Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) introduced the bill to accelerate research and development within the U.S. Department of Energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cement, concrete, and asphalt production. Check out EESI’s explainer on how these embodied emissions come to be and how policies can boost climate mitigation within the building materials industry.  The Senate passed the Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Driver Reauthorization (WILD) Act (S.2395/H.R.5009), led by Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Reps. David Joyce (R-Ohio) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.). The bill would reauthorize U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs that carry out wildlife and habitat conservation in all 50 U.S. states. The bill, which originated in the House, will return there for a vote following changes made by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.  The House passed the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2023 (H.R.2950). Reps. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-P.R.) lead the bill, which reauthorizes federal programming to bolster the health of coastal habitats through 2028. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed its companion bill (S.1381) in July.  The Senate passed the Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2024 (S.275) to ensure that federal funding for expanding broadband internet connectivity is more intentionally and precisely funneled to historically underserved rural communities. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced the original bill, which the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation then advanced with  unanimous consent. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-september-23-september-27-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Opportunities in the Federal Crop Insurance Program to Bolster Soil Health for Climate Adaptation </title> <pubDate>Mon, 07 Oct 2024 14:22:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The federal crop insurance program (FCIP) offers subsidized crop insurance authorized by the Farm Bill to protect producers from the financial risks inherent to agriculture. In recent years, the cost of the program has increased substantially, drawing concern from federal spending watchdogs and nonprofit groups alike. The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts that under a scenario with continuing emission trends (and subsequent warming), the cost of the program could increase by an average of 22%.  Although federal spending on these subsidies continues to increase, insurance is still outside the grasp of many farmers with small and diversified operations that grow a combination of different crops.  Federal crop insurance is a crucial component of the farm safety net that keeps farmers planting year after year. But many groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and American Farmland Trust, contend that policy reforms, such as the COVER Act and Save Our Small Farms Act of 2024, are necessary to help farmers adapt to changing temperatures and worsening natural disasters, improve soil health, and reduce federal costs. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Agriculture and Forestry</topic> <topic>Rural Development</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/opportunities-in-the-federal-crop-insurance-program-to-bolster-soil-health-for-climate-adaptation</link> </item> <item> <title> Optimizing Data Center Energy Demand for an Efficient U.S. Electric Grid </title> <pubDate>Fri, 04 Oct 2024 15:11:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Global electricity demand from data centers, artificial intelligence (AI), and cryptocurrency is projected to double by 2026 compared to 2022 consumption—with an average annual growth rate of 3.4%—according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).  Domestically, the rapid expansion of data centers—propelled in large part by the growth of AI—has been the most prominent driver of recent energy consumption, alongside burgeoning domestic energy production and increased electrification of buildings and industries. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) projects that data centers could grow to consume up to 9% of annual domestic electricity generation by 2030—more than double the amount of electricity they consume today. The projected growth in electric power demand from data centers—coupled with concerns around noise pollution, water stress, and land use—has seized the attention of state and federal lawmakers alike, prompting new questions about how the U.S. electric grid can adapt. Despite investments from the Biden-Harris Administration to upgrade the grid, some experts warn that these investments alone are not enough to meet growing demand, and that comprehensive energy transmission permitting reform will also be needed. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Energy Transmission and Storage</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/wired-for-resilience-optimizing-data-center-energy-demand-for-an-efficient-u.s-electric-grid</link> </item> <item> <title> Celebrate DAF Day This October 10 by Giving for Climate Solutions from Your Donor-Advised Fund! </title> <pubDate>Wed, 02 Oct 2024 18:13:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Join EESI for DAF Day, a new giving day to promote giving from donor-advised funds. Along with fellow nonprofits, fundraising platforms, and donor-advised fund providers, EESI is encouraging millions of donors to come together for a day of giving. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/celebrate-daf-day-this-october-10-by-giving-for-climate-solutions-from-your-donor-advised-fund</link> </item> <item> <title> EESI Earns 15th Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator </title> <pubDate>Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:06:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is proud to announce it earned its 15th Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator. Charity Navigator is America’s largest and most trusted independent charity evaluator. A Four-Star rating is the highest possible rating an organization can achieve. EESI earned a notable 98% score and was deemed a “Give with Confidence” charity. ]]> </description> <pdfs> <pdf>https://www.eesi.org/files/EESI-Press-Release-Charity-Navigator-Award_v6.pdf</pdf> </pdfs> <link>https://www.eesi.org/press-releases/view/eesi-earns-15th-four-star-rating-from-charity-navigator</link> </item> <item> <title> Funding Opportunities for Nonprofits, Municipalities, and Communities </title> <location> Dirksen Senate Office Building SD-G11, 50 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 </location> <pubDate>Thu, 26 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing to explore Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding dedicated to nonprofit organizations and municipalities. For example, the introduction of “direct pay” is allowing tax-exempt entities to access the benefits of federal tax credits for the first time. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency are hard at work rolling out new programs specifically tailored to these entities. The IRA and IIJA are opening new doors for nonprofits and local governments working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate.  These opportunities also bring questions: What capacities do varying organizations and municipalities have to apply for, manage, and monitor funding? What reporting requirements could pose challenges for grantees? What does equity look like across these different programs?  Panelists will address these questions and describe the status of IRA and IIJA programs that increase the technical and financial capacity of public sector groups. They will also share case studies from across the country where funding is making a difference in communities, and discuss what lessons can be learned to bolster these federal efforts going forward. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Buildings and Infrastructure</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/092624ira</link> </item> <item> <title> Advance Climate Solutions All Year Long Through Your Paycheck! </title> <pubDate>Wed, 25 Sep 2024 15:24:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Do you want the coming year to bring about advances in clean energy and climate policy? You can encourage effective, equitable implementation of recent climate laws  by giving at work through easy, budget-friendly payroll-based contributions. Make your pledge now and rest assured all year long, knowing that you are advancing climate solutions with every paycheck! ]]> </description> <contacts> <contact> <name>Susan Williams</name> <email>swilliams@eesi.org</email> </contact> </contacts> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/advance-clean-energy-by-giving-at-the-office</link> </item> <item> <title> Climate Change Solutions - September 24, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 25 Sep 2024 14:50:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>Climate Change Solutions</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/climate-change-solutions-september-24-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | September 16 - September 20, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 24 Sep 2024 13:36:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The Senate passed the Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act (S.1871) by unanimous consent. The bill would establish an intergovernmental task force to identify and coordinate new avenues for domestic critical minerals production and recycling. Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced the original bill, which will move to the House for consideration.  The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation passed the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2023 (S.3348). Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) penned the bill, which reauthorizes and strengthens federal programs that improve forecasting, monitoring, and mitigation of harmful algal blooms. The House companion bill (H.R.6235), introduced by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and David Joyce (R-Ohio), passed the House Natural Resources Committee in March.  The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation also passed the Fire Ready Nation Act of 2024 (S.4343), led by Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas). The bill would both codify the Incident Meteorologist Service under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and establish new programming to improve wildfire forecasting and risk communication. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-september-16-september-20-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> On the Hill in July and August 2024: A Breakdown of Climate, Energy, and Environmental Hearings </title> <pubDate>Mon, 23 Sep 2024 18:36:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Congress held a total of 17 environmental, energy, and climate-related hearings in July before breaking for August recess. The Republican-led House of Representatives held 11 of those hearings, while the Senate, with a Democratic majority, held six. With climate issues being so far reaching, five different committees in both the House and Senate each covered environmental, energy, or climate legislation. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Climate Change</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/on-the-hill-in-july-and-august-2024-a-breakdown-of-climate-energy-and-environmental-hearings</link> </item> <item> <title> EESI Impact 21 - September 2024 </title> <pubDate>Mon, 23 Sep 2024 15:14:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>EESI Impact</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/eesi-impact-21-september-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | September 9 - September 13, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 18 Sep 2024 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The House Natural Resources Committee advanced the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2023 (H.R.2950) to the House floor. Reps. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-P.R.) lead the bill, which reauthorizes federal programming to bolster the health and resilience of coastal habitats. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed its companion bill (S.1381) in July.  The House Natural Resources Committee passed the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R.8790) to increase wildfire resilience of federally managed forests, among other initiatives. Introduced by Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), the bill will progress to the House floor for a vote.  Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) and Reps. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.) and Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) introduced the Water Project Navigators Act (S.4995/H.R.9506) to connect drought-impacted communities with federal resources to boost resilience and recovery.  Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), alongside Democratic cosponsors, introduced the American Energy Worker Opportunity Act (S.5034/H.R.9557). The bill would establish a workforce transition program to provide wage replacement, healthcare, education, and training benefits to fossil fuel workers impacted by the clean energy transition. For a closer look at the clean energy jobs picking up steam across the United States, check out EESI’s latest edition of the Climate Jobs Fact Sheet.  ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-september-9-september-13-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Exploring the Policy Landscape of Carbon Dioxide Removal </title> <location> Russell Senate Office Building (SR-385) 2 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC </location> <pubDate>Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) invite you to a briefing about effective policy-making for carbon dioxide removal (CDR). CDR—the practice of removing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and ocean—comes in many forms, including direct air capture, soil carbon sequestration, ocean CDR, and forest restoration. These methods have garnered increasing scientific, governmental, and private sector interest, but expanded policy development is needed to bring them to the scale needed to meet national climate goals. Leveraging key findings from recent reports, panelists from NGOs, academia, and the private sector will explore existing policies supporting different stages of CDR development, the level of CDR we expect to need, the potential for CDR in the United States, policy options to enable scaling to that level, and private sector perspectives on the policy landscape. Panelists will also pinpoint key takeaways relevant for federal policymakers.   Fireside chat with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) A conversation on carbon dioxide removal and its potential to deliver benefits for Colorado and the country    ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/091224cdr</link> </item> <item> <title> Investments in Rural Clean Energy Are Putting People to Work </title> <pubDate>Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:36:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ According to a new economic analysis, the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) has created almost 700 net jobs in rural areas through 2023 and is on track to sustain more than 15,000 by 2040. Almost half of all RESP awards to date (about $200 million out of a total of more than $500 million) were approved in 2023, and the application pipeline could support $100 million or more per year—and thousands of net jobs—in the near term. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Energy Efficiency</topic> <topic>Rural Development</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/investments-in-rural-clean-energy-are-putting-people-to-work</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | August 5 - September 6, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 10 Sep 2024 15:47:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Reps. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) and Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) reintroduced the American Energy Efficiency Act (H.R.9467) in the House. The bill would establish a national energy efficiency resource standard that would lower energy costs for American families and small businesses and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. The Senate introduced its own version (S.4615) of the bill in June of this year. For the latest  energy efficiency solutions from across the country, check out the Energy Efficiency panel from EESI’s 2024 Clean Energy EXPO.  Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), alongside Democratic co-sponsors, introduced the Empowering Women in Agriculture Act (H.R.9363). The bill would amend the Farm Bill by increasing funding, outreach, and assistance to women farmers and ranchers, and adding women to the legal definition of “socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher.” For more policy solutions to the barriers faced by socially disadvantaged agricultural workers, check out EESI’s article, Growing Career Opportunities for Young People in Agriculture. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-august-5-september-6-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Climate Change Solutions - September 10, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 10 Sep 2024 12:31:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>Climate Change Solutions</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/climate-change-solutions-september-10-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Issue Brief | The State of PFAS Forever Chemicals in America (2024) </title> <pubDate>Fri, 06 Sep 2024 21:31:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The term “perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances” (PFAS) refers to a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals with specific heat-, grease-, and water-resistant characteristics. PFAS entered the homes of everyday Americans in the 1940s, and can be found in at least 200 different use categories and applications, including firefighting foam, food wrappers, cosmetics, clothing, cookware, and household products. Often referred to as “forever chemicals,” PFAS possess a chemical structure that makes them extremely difficult to break down. Wide usage over many decades has led to the presence of PFAS in soil and water, thus leading to the contamination of fertilizer, livestock, and drinking water. Furthermore, studies have found that at least 97% of Americans tested had PFAS compounds in their body fluids. While the health effects of PFAS are still being explored, evidence suggests that forever chemicals can cause health issues, including reduced fertility, childhood development problems, and increased cancer risk. This white paper reviews the current extent of PFAS contamination, its effects on humans, the federal, state, and local landscape for regulating PFAS, and options for further remediation and mitigation. ]]> </description> <downloads> <pdf>https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_PFAS_Forever_Chemicals.pdf</pdf> </downloads> <topics> <topic>Industry and Manufacturing</topic> <topic>Public Health</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/issue-brief-the-state-of-pfas-forever-chemicals-in-america-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | July 29 - August 2, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 06 Aug 2024 18:37:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The Senate passed the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 (S.2781). Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) reintroduced the bill in September 2023 to allow qualified environmental and community groups to remediate polluted, abandoned hardrock mines. Reps. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah) and Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) reintroduced a companion bill in the House in March. EESI’s article on clean energy development on reclaimed mine lands discusses some of the benefits of remediating these sites.  The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 also passed out of the Senate (S.4367) with unanimous approval. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), alongside bipartisan cosponsors, penned the legislative package, which reauthorizes flood control, ecosystem restoration, and other water resource projects every two years. The House passed its version of the bill at the end of July. The two versions will now undergo reconciliation before a final version is presented to the president.  The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025 (S.4927). The bill will move on to the Senate floor for amendment and debate, while the House continues to debate its own version of the bill. As the fiscal year 2025 budget process continues, follow along with the help of EESI’s briefing, Understanding the Budget and Appropriations Process. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2023 (S.2086). Reintroduced by Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), the bill establishes a grant program to fund the recovery of stranded marine turtles and bolster research and monitoring. The House passed its version of the bill, introduced by Rep. William Keating (D-Mass.), in April. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-july-29-august-2-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> EESI at 40: Q&A with Carol Werner, EESI’s Executive Director from 1998 to 2019 </title> <pubDate>Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:40:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ To mark EESI’s 40th Anniversary, Carol Werner reflects on her time in the organization, where she served as executive director from 1998 to 2019. She remains on the team as a senior policy fellow with more than 35 years of public policy experience on energy and environmental issues. ]]> </description> <contacts> <contact> <name>Amaury Laporte</name> <email>alaporte@eesi.org</email> </contact> </contacts> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesi-at-40-qa-with-carol-werner-eesis-executive-director-from-1998-to-2019</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | July 22 - July 26, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 31 Jul 2024 20:23:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The House passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (H.R.8812), first introduced by Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and bipartisan cosponsors. Every two years, the legislative package reauthorizes flood control, ecosystem restoration, and other water resource projects under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved its version of the bill in May. As appropriations season progresses, the House passed the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025 (H.R.8998), while the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its appropriations bill for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (S.4802) in a 28 to 1 vote. Reps. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) and Max Miller (R-Ohio) introduced the Innovative Mitigation Partnerships for Asphalt and Concrete Technologies (IMPACT) Act (H.R.9136), which would accelerate research and development to increase the manufacturing of low-emission building materials such as cement, concrete, and asphalt mixes. EESI’s article, Achieving Sustainability in the Built Environment, Brick by Brick, highlights the outsized role tackling these “embodied” emissions plays in addressing the climate crisis.  Reps. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) introduced H.R.9092, which would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to support state and local governments in responding to extreme heat. Learn about other policy solutions to extreme heat on EESI’s podcast, The Climate Conversation. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-july-22-july-26-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> 2024 Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum </title> <location> Rayburn House Office Building Foyer and Gold Room (Room 2168) Independence Ave and South Capitol Street SE </location> <pubDate>Tue, 30 Jul 2024 10:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[   When Where Schedule Participants Attend the EXPO Host Honorary Co-Hosts More information RSVP   The EXPO will be in-person and free to attend. Policy Forum panels will be streamed live. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (REEE) Caucuses invite you to join us for the 27th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum (EXPO 2024). Top-level speakers will showcase technologies and solutions that reduce carbon emissions, save households money, improve the economy, build resilience, and protect our security interests. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Energy Efficiency</topic> <topic>Renewable Energy</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/expo2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | July 15 - July 19, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:36:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (H.R.8812), led by Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and bipartisan cosponsors. Congress passes this legislative package every two years to reauthorize flood control, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources projects under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed its version of the bill in May.  Reps. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-P.R.) introduced the Energy Storage for Resilient Homes Act (H.R.9064) to provide Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for homeowners to install energy storage batteries to power their homes during natural disasters. EESI’s article, Turning On Batteries for Resilient Homes and a Cleaner Grid, explains how battery storage can boost resilience to natural disasters. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), alongside Democratic cosponsors, introduced the Environmental Health in Prisons Act (H.R.9073). The bill would require the Federal Bureau of Prisons to publish data on air quality, water quality, temperatures, mold, disease, and other hazards in federal prisons, and establish a grant program to address environmental harms. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Democratic cosponsors introduced a Senate counterpart to the bill.  ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-july-15-july-19-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Three Microgrid Projects in Rural Areas Showcase New DOE Program </title> <pubDate>Tue, 23 Jul 2024 17:18:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Hidden within the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law in November 2021, is a $1 billion allocation for the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program. Created by the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), the ERA program prioritizes investments in solar energy, microgrids, battery energy storage systems, heat pumps, and hydroelectric power facilities in rural areas with populations of 10,000 or fewer. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Buildings and Infrastructure</topic> <topic>Rural Development</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/three-microgrid-projects-in-rural-areas-showcase-new-doe-program</link> </item> <item> <title> Climate Change Solutions - July 16, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jul 2024 14:49:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>Climate Change Solutions</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/climate-change-solutions-july-16-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> 2023 EESI Impact Report (Published July 2024) </title> <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jul 2024 21:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>EESI Impact</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/2023-eesi-impact-report-published-july-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | July 8 - July 12, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jul 2024 13:22:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The House Committee on Appropriations passed appropriations bills for agriculture, rural development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies (H.R.9027), energy and water development and related agencies (H.R.8997), and the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies (H.R.8998). Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Appropriations passed its appropriations bill for agriculture, rural development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies (S.4690). These bills will now progress to the House and Senate floors, respectively, for consideration.  Both the House and Senate passed water restoration reauthorization legislation last week. The House passed the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R.5441), which Reps. Nick Lalota (R-N.Y.) and Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) reintroduced to reauthorize conservation programs under the Environmental Protection Agency for the next five years. The Senate passed the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act (S.612), which Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) reintroduced to extend authorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act for the next 10 years. The bill supports forest health, wildfire protections, water quality initiatives, invasive species control, and other projects throughout the Lake Tahoe watershed.  The House passed the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act (H.R.897), introduced by Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) and bipartisan cosponsors. The bill would protect an ancient underwater cypress forest off Alabama’s coast by designating it as a national marine sanctuary.  Reps. John Curtis (R-Utah) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced the Providing Reliable, Objective, Verifiable Emissions Intensity and Transparency (PROVE IT) Act (H.R. 8957). The bill would require the Department of Energy to conduct a comparative study of carbon emissions from certain U.S.-manufactured products versus those of other countries, ultimately boosting accountability for emission reductions. Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced similar legislation in the Senate, and passed it through the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-july-8-july-12-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> On the Hill in May and June 2024: A Breakdown of Climate, Energy, and Environmental Hearings </title> <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jul 2024 17:50:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ In May and June of 2024, Congress held a total of 57 environmental, energy, and climate-related hearings. The Republican-led House of Representatives held 34 of those hearings, while the Senate, with a Democratic majority, held 23. Reflecting the increasingly cross-cutting nature of climate, energy, and environmental issues, 16 different committees in both chambers held hearings on these topics, including nine of the 26 House committees and seven of the 24 Senate committees. The hearings spanned subjects ranging from disaster mitigation and improving state reuse and recycling programs to ushering in beginning farmers. However, fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations, which provide budget authority for federal agencies, was the most popular topic, with 22 hearings discussing the Biden-Harris Administration’s proposed budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Climate Change</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/on-the-hill-in-may-and-june-2024-a-breakdown-of-climate-energy-and-environmental-hearings</link> </item> <item> <title> Your Legacy Could Include Progress on Climate Change </title> <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jul 2024 19:13:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ I know how much action on science-based climate solutions means to you, since you are on EESI’s website.  Have you thought about what your legacy will be? Have you included the Environmental and Energy Study Institute in your will or made EESI a beneficiary of your IRA or 401K?  When you include EESI in your will or name EESI as a beneficiary of your retirement accounts, you can help make sure that the work that EESI has done for the past 40 years continues on for 40 more: Congressional staff will be able to rely on EESI for science-based actionable information rather than on special interests.    Interns will receive invaluable professional development and opportunities to understand environmental policy.    Rural areas will benefit from assistance to access federal environmental and energy resources.  In a world where climate change is intensifying, your commitment is crucial.  ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/your-legacy-could-include-progress-on-climate-change</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | July 1 - July 5, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:12:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ No major environmental or energy solutions in Congress this week. Check back next week for updates! ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-july-1-july-5-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | June 24 - June 28, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jul 2024 17:29:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The House Committee on Natural Resources advanced the Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts Act (H.R.5443) to the House floor for consideration. Reps. Susie Lee (D-Nev.) and David Joyce (R-Ohio) penned the bill, which would reduce the red tape hindering land sales and exchanges between private lands and federal public lands, ultimately paving the way for conservation efforts. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining took up their own version of the bill for debate in May. The House Committee on Natural Resources also passed the Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources (WATER) Data Improvement Act (H.R.5770), introduced by Reps. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), and Dina Titus (D-Nev.). The bill would support water scarcity and monitoring programs under the U.S. Geological Survey.  Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and bipartisan cosponsors introduced the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (H.R.8812), a legislative package that reauthorizes flood control, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources projects under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers every two years. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed its version of the bill in May.  Reps. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) and Don Beyer (D-Va.) introduced the Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act (H.R.8836). The bill would codify the Wildlife Movement and Migration Corridor Grant Program, establish the State and Tribal Migration Research Program, and direct the U.S. Geological Survey to provide technical assistance to states for mapping wildlife migration, among other initiatives. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced a companion bill in the Senate. Check out EESI’s article, Making Space for Migratory Mammals on the Move, for other federal and state actions supporting mammal migration. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-june-24-june-28-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Rejection of the Chevron Doctrine Casts Uncertainty on Future Climate Action </title> <pubDate>Fri, 28 Jun 2024 20:06:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision today to overturn the Chevron doctrine, which gave agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reasonable deference when interpreting statutes. ]]> </description> <pdfs> <pdf>https://www.eesi.org/files/EESI-Press-Release-Template-Supreme-Court-Chevron-Doctrine-Decision.pdf</pdf> </pdfs> <topics> <topic>Climate Change</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/press-releases/view/rejection-of-the-chevron-doctrine-casts-uncertainty-on-future-climate-action</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | June 17 - June 21, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 26 Jun 2024 19:14:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The Senate passed the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S.870), led by Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). In addition to reauthorizing fire and emergency response programs, the bill includes the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act, which would accelerate the development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. Reps. Tom Kean (R-N.J.) and Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) introduced the companion bill (H.R.4090) to the Fire Grants and Safety Act last year. Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced the Fix Our Forest Act (H.R.8790), which would expedite regulatory review processes for forest management projects that curtail wildfire risk, such as forest thinning and prescribed burns. EESI’s wildfire-focused Living with Climate Change briefing discusses policy solutions for reducing wildfire risk in forests. Reps. Robert Wittman (R-Va.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) introduced the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act (H.R.8811). The bill reauthorizes wildlife conservation efforts across the country and increases protections from new and emerging threats, such as from invasive species and disease. EESI’s podcast, The Climate Conversation, discusses how Congress can leverage scientific research to bolster legislative conservation solutions. The Senate passed their version of the bill (S.3791) in May, led by Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and bipartisan cosponsors introduced the Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act (S.4576) to extend the life of the System Conservation Pilot Program to 2026. The program tests water conservation strategies in the Colorado River Basin to alleviate the impacts of severe drought. For more on Colorado River conservation, check out EESI’s article on how farmers in the region are responding to water shortages.  ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-june-17-june-21-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Is Addressing the Climate Crisis Just as Important to You as a Pizza or a Burrito Bowl? </title> <pubDate>Tue, 25 Jun 2024 14:31:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Is fighting climate change at least as important to you as a take-out pizza or a burrito bowl? With the $20 or $30 it might cost you for a fast-casual dinner, you could make a positive impact on the climate crisis.  In the face of this overwhelming crisis, it can feel impossible to drive change. But you won’t be alone! You can do your part by setting up a monthly gift to EESI to advance climate solutions. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/is-addressing-the-climate-crisis-just-as-important-to-you-as-a-pizza-or-a-burrito-bowl</link> </item> <item> <title> EESI Earns Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the 15th Time! </title> <pubDate>Fri, 21 Jun 2024 18:30:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Charity Navigator, the nation’s top evaluator of non-profit charity organizations, reaffirmed the Environmental and Energy Study Institute’s (EESI’s) outstanding achievements with yet another coveted Four Star Charity rating and an impressive 98 percent score, an increase over recent years! This latest award represents the 15th time EESI has earned the Four Star Charity designation. Charity Navigator says that this is an indication that the public can “give with confidence” to EESI. ]]> </description> <contacts> <contact> <name>Susan Williams</name> <email>hello@eesi.org</email> </contact> </contacts> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/eesi-earns-four-star-rating-from-charity-navigator-for-the-15th-time</link> </item> <item> <title> Climate Change Solutions - June 18, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2024 20:34:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>Climate Change Solutions</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/climate-change-solutions-june-18-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | June 10 - June 14, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:41:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The House passed the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (H.R.8070), known as the NDAA. This annual “must-pass” legislation—reintroduced this year by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and bipartisan cosponsors—sets defense policy and authorizes national security spending, including spending on energy security, climate resilience, and pollution cleanup. The Senate Committee on Armed Services subsequently considered and passed its version of the bill, which will now move to the Senate floor for debate. The House also passed the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act (H.R.2964/S.1350), which the Senate subsequently took up. Reps. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), and Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) reintroduced the bill, which would improve labeling for non-flushable products, preventing expensive damage to sewage systems and reducing trash flow into rivers and oceans. The Rural Small Business Resilience Act (H.R.7984), penned by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and bipartisan cosponsors, passed the House. The bill aims to ensure that rural small businesses have access to emergency assistance following natural disasters. EESI’s Congressional briefing, Living with Climate Change: Integrating Equity into Emergency Management, explores more ways to ensure that disaster funding reaches those who need it most.  Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) and Marcus Molinaro (R-N.Y.) introduced the Enteric Methane Innovation Tools for Lower Emissions and Sustainable Stock (EMIT LESS) Act (H.R.8676), which would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to study methane-reducing conservation standards for agricultural practices, create programs to train farmers and ranchers on methane-reducing practices, create incentives for these practices through the USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and more. The bill’s sponsors expect the bill to be included in the upcoming Farm Bill. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-june-10-june-14-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> EESI at 40: How EESI Started Helping Rural Communities Save Energy </title> <pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2024 13:33:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ For over a decade, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) has run an on-bill financing (OBF) program to help households and small businesses access and afford clean energy upgrades to cut their energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EESI offers no-cost technical assistance to rural electric cooperatives (co-ops), public power utilities, green banks, and state energy offices nationwide to implement inclusive OBF programs for energy efficiency, beneficial electrification, and clean energy upgrades.  ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Renewable Energy</topic> <topic>Rural Development</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/how-eesi-started-helping-rural-communities-save-energy</link> </item> <item> <title> Farm Bill Climate Side-by-Sides (2024) </title> <pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2024 13:32:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ These legislative side-by-sides highlight the key 2024 Farm Bill programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. These resources are intended to compare the House and the Senate versions of the bill, and will be updated as the legislative texts are published. ]]> </description> <contacts> <contact> <name>Nicole Pouy</name> <email>npouy@eesi.org</email> </contact> </contacts> <topics> <topic>Agriculture and Forestry</topic> <topic>Conservation</topic> <topic>Rural Development</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/farm-bill-side-by-sides-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | June 3 - June 7, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:27:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Reps. Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.), Alma Adams (D-N.C.), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) introduced the Capital for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act (S.4441/H.R.8598), which would provide new farmers and ranchers immediate access to start-up funds as they break ground on their operations. EESI’s article, "Growing Career Opportunities for Young People in Agriculture", addresses the financial barriers faced by first-generation farmers, young farmers, and farmers of color. Reps. Gregory Murphy (R-N.C.) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) introduced the Prevent Environmental Hazards Act (H.R.8637) to give coastal homeowners greater capacity within the National Flood Insurance Program to prepare for the impacts of climate change, from coastal erosion to hurricanes and storm surges. Jeff Peterson, co-facilitator at the Coastal Flood Resilience Project, discussed more policy solutions for coastal resilience on EESI’s podcast, The Climate Conversation. Listen to the episode here. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced a bill (S.4458) to reauthorize the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006. This reauthorization would provide a blanket authorization for the Bureau of Reclamation to undertake projects that deliver potable water to rural communities in the western United States — as opposed to the current system of authorizing projects individually— effectively streamlining and accelerating access to clean water in rural areas. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-june-3-june-7-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Maximizing the Impact of Natural Climate Solutions </title> <location> Capitol Visitor Center - South Congressional Meeting Room (CVC 217) East Capitol St NE and First St NE, Washington, DC 20515 </location> <pubDate>Tue, 11 Jun 2024 13:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), U.S. Nature4Climate, and the Bipartisan Policy Center invite you to a briefing on natural climate solutions, which leverage natural processes—like those in forests, grasslands, soils, and wetlands—to reduce carbon emissions, sequester carbon, and bring new income and employment opportunities to rural America. Natural climate solutions as a whole are a widely popular strategy to address climate change, with 92% of people across the political spectrum in support of their implementation. This briefing will explore the federal role in maximizing the benefits of natural climate solutions. The panel will convene experts studying natural climate solutions and practitioners implementing programs supported by federal agencies. These panelists will discuss what is working, what we are still learning, and what the next phase of natural climate solutions policy and implementation looks like to support the long-term productivity and resilience of America’s natural and working lands and the prosperity of rural communities.   ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Adaptation and Resilience</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/061124nature</link> </item> <item> <title> Catawba College Sets Record as First College in the Southeast to Achieve Carbon Neutrality </title> <pubDate>Mon, 10 Jun 2024 18:01:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Catawba College, established in 1851 in Salisbury, North Carolina, is the first college in the Southeast and the 13th in the country to achieve carbon neutrality, seven years ahead of its 2030 goal. This significant milestone means that the college is offsetting the emissions from the fossil fuels burned on campus by producing on-site renewable energy, improving the efficiency of building operations, and purchasing carbon offsetting credits (a.k.a. carbon emission reduction units or carbon credits, they are tradable certificates representing carbon reductions). The goal is to eventually eliminate all fossil fuel consumption within the campus—a concerted effort involving all parts of the college community. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Buildings and Infrastructure</topic> <topic>Renewable Energy</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/catawba-college-sets-record-as-first-college-in-the-southeast-to-achieve-carbon-neutrality</link> </item> <item> <title> Unleash Your Donor-Advised Fund to Advance Climate Solutions! </title> <pubDate>Wed, 05 Jun 2024 21:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Do you have a donor-advised fund (DAF) or charitable giving account? Put it to work for climate change action!  DAFs can be a great way to advance urgently-needed equitable climate solutions–and potentially unlock matching funds to help your grant go further! We are almost halfway through the decisive decade for climate action—so please consider a DAF gift right now. ]]> </description> <contacts> <contact> <name>Susan Williams</name> <email>swilliams@eesi.org</email> </contact> </contacts> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/put-your-donor-advised-fund-to-work-for-climate-solutions</link> </item> <item> <title> Climate Change Solutions - June 4, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:10:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>Climate Change Solutions</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/climate-change-solutions-june-4-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Washington State Leads the Way in Cutting Emissions from Existing Buildings </title> <pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:48:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Building performance standards (BPS) are state- and local-level policies that establish progressively higher decarbonization targets for existing structures. The benefits of BPS adoption include climate resilience, lower utility bills, improved air quality, and job creation. Washington adopted its Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS) with the passage of the Clean Buildings Act in May 2019, making it the first state to establish a BPS policy. The Washington State Department of Commerce offers financial incentives for early adoption. In December 2023, the City of Seattle also adopted its own BPS policy. In January 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration launched the National BPS Coalition to support jurisdictions committed to BPS adoption. The coalition is managed by the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to improving buildings across the country. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Buildings and Infrastructure</topic> <topic>Energy Efficiency</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/washington-state-leads-the-way-in-cutting-emissions-from-existing-buildings</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | May 27 - May 31, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2024 13:37:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ No key environmental or energy related legislative activity in Congress this week. Check back next week for new highlights of Congressional climate solutions. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-may-27-may-31-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Federal Resilience Programs: Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program </title> <pubDate>Fri, 31 May 2024 15:08:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program supports a range of adaptation initiatives while keeping focus on Indigenous knowledge and languages. In 2023 alone, 146 grants worth $121 million were awarded. The program supported 17 projects focused specifically on relocation, managed retreat, or protect-in-place coordination—a recognition that tribes are on the frontlines of climate impacts. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Adaptation and Resilience</topic> <topic>Environmental Justice</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/federal-resilience-programs-tribal-climate-resilience-annual-awards-program</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | May 20 - May 24, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Wed, 29 May 2024 19:39:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Chair Tom Carper (D-Del.), alongside Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and other bipartisan cosponsors, advanced the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (S.4367) to the Senate floor. Every two years, the bill reauthorizes water conservation and development initiatives—such as flood control and ecosystem restoration—across the country. The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology unanimously passed the Innovative Mitigation Partnerships for Asphalt and Concrete Technologies (IMPACT) Act (H.R.7685). Reps. Max Miller (R-Ohio) and Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) introduced the original bill which, if codified, would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cement, concrete, and asphalt production. Check out EESI’s explainer on how these embodied emissions come to be and how policies can boost climate mitigation within the building materials industry.  The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works reported out the National Dam Safety Program Reauthorization Act (S.4359), which will move to the Senate floor for debate. Penned by Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), the bill reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program, which supports states with training, emergency planning, inspection, and monitoring for the country’s nearly 92,000 dams. EESI’s briefing, Dams in Every District, explores the opportunities and challenges surrounding the nation’s dams.  House Committee on Agriculture Chair Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) introduced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (H.R.8467), or the 2024 Farm Bill, which the Committee subsequently considered and amended . EESI’s legislative side-by-sides illustrate the differences between current law and the House’s amended Farm Bill text. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-may-20-may-24-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Cities Leading the Way on Nature-Based Solutions </title> <location> North Congressional Meeting Room (CVC 268) East Capitol St NE and First St NE, Washington, DC 20515 </location> <pubDate>Thu, 23 May 2024 14:00:00 -0400</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing about climate solutions from small- and medium-sized cities. Cities around the country are taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. Many cities and community partners are doing this work with support from federal agencies, while others can share key learnings from project implementation to help inform federal decision-making.  During this briefing, speakers will focus on nature-based solutions in cities—from parks that help manage stormwater to urban trees that can reduce summer temperatures across entire neighborhoods. Panelists, including city government officials, community leaders, and federal agency partners, will highlight equitable and community-designed climate solutions from the places they live and work in and describe the intersection points with federal policy and programs. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Adaptation and Resilience</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/052324cities</link> </item> <item> <title> Climate Change Solutions - May 21, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2024 19:49:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>Climate Change Solutions</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/climate-change-solutions-may-21-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | May 13 - May 17, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2024 14:43:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The House passed the Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act of 2023 (H.R.6571). Reps. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) introduced the bill, which would strengthen domestic supply chains through improved mapping and monitoring—including for the critical minerals required for clean energy technologies. Critical materials for clean energy were discussed during EESI’s briefing on the 2024 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act (S.594/H.R.1317). The bill, introduced by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Reps. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), would expedite completion of the scenic Continental Divide Trail, simultaneously increasing outdoor recreational opportunities, improving public trail access, and creating economic opportunities for local communities.  Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and seven bipartisan cosponsors reintroduced the Fire Ready Nation Act (S.4343). The bill would establish a program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve forecasting, detection, modeling, and monitoring of wildfires, fire-inducing weather, and associated risks. EESI’s podcast, the Climate Conversation, explores how increased wildfire modeling and risk assessment can improve wildfire mitigation. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-may-13-may-17-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> New Inclusive Financing Program Puts Energy Efficiency and Beneficial Electrification within Reach for More Households in Rural Colorado </title> <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2024 16:05:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The Colorado Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), in partnership with the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, officially launched Electrify and Save, a new program to deliver low-cost financing to rural Colorado. Tri-State, a generation and transmission (G&T) electric cooperative, which provides power to 20 rural electric cooperatives in Colorado, secured a zero-interest loan for $75 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP). The first two distribution cooperatives to offer Electrify and Save to their members are the San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative in southern Colorado and Sangre de Cristo Electric Association in the south-central part of the state. Electrify and Save is designed to grow and expand to more Tri-State-served cooperatives in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Nebraska. About a dozen Colorado and New Mexico cooperatives are expected to sign up in the next few months. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Electrification</topic> <topic>Energy Efficiency</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/new-inclusive-financing-program-puts-energy-efficiency-and-beneficial-electrification-within-reach-for-more-households-in-rural-colorado</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | May 6 - May 10, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2024 14:37:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The Senate passed the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) of 2023 (S.2195/H.R.5444). The bill, led by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), reauthorizes $100 million annually for the DERA program, which finances the replacement and retrofitting of older diesel engines with lower-emission technologies.  The Senate passed the America's Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024 (S.3791). Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) co-authored the bill, which reauthorizes wildlife conservation efforts across the country and increases protections from new and emerging threats, such as from invasive species and disease.  The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations advanced the United States Foundation for International Conservation Act of 2023 (S.618/H.R.6727) to the Senate floor for debate. If enacted, the bill would support both federal and private financing for biodiversity conservation around the world, with a focus on supporting local communities’ capacity to manage biodiversity. Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced the bill in the Senate, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) introduced the bill in the House. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) reintroduced the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development and Generating Renewable Energy to Electrify the Nation’s (BUILD GREEN) Infrastructure and Jobs Act (S.4277/H.R.8253). The bill would authorize $500 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act over 10 years to electrify existing public transportation and expand electric transportation infrastructure across the country. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-may-6-may-10-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> How the EXPLORE Act is Promoting Accessibility on Public Lands </title> <pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2024 18:01:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ America’s public lands, including national parks, forests, recreation areas, and more, have long been considered one of the nation’s treasures, full of stunning vistas and breathtaking recreational opportunities. However, navigating federal public lands is not always an easy task—especially for families and people with disabilities. Visitors and employees struggle with limited restrooms, spotty cell service, and parking shortages. Many trails and activities are entirely inaccessible to those with limited mobility. Meanwhile, the communities surrounding parks and public lands struggle to manage their role as gateways while dealing with issues like housing shortages and overtourism. The bipartisan Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act (H.R. 6492) aims to change that. The bill, which would make outdoor recreation of all kinds available and accessible to all, passed the House of Representatives in April 2024. As the bill works its way through the Senate, it is inching closer to becoming law. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Conservation</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/how-the-explore-act-is-promoting-accessibility-on-public-lands</link> </item> <item> <title> DOE Blows New Energy into Offshore Wind Workforce Development </title> <pubDate>Wed, 08 May 2024 13:47:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ Despite the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to achieving 30,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind energy production by 2030, the offshore wind industry has struggled to find its footing. Last year was a particularly turbulent one for the industry, marked by project cancellations, rising inflation, and unstable supply chains. Following these setbacks, some experts believe that the Administration’s goal will not be attainable. This year, however, has brought a fresh outpouring of investment and attention from the administration. One result of that increased gust of activity is the Academic Center for Reliability and Resilience of Offshore Wind (ARROW), an $11.9 million investment in the offshore wind workforce that was launched by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office in February. ARROW, together with other recent actions from lawmakers and industry alike, signals that the United States is still taking offshore wind seriously. ]]> </description> <topics> <topic>Renewable Energy</topic> <topic>Workforce</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/doe-blows-new-energy-into-offshore-wind-workforce-development</link> </item> <item> <title> Climate Change Solutions - May 7, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 07 May 2024 19:17:00 +0000</pubDate> <topics> <topic>Climate Change Solutions</topic> </topics> <link>https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/view/climate-change-solutions-may-7-2024</link> </item> <item> <title> Environment & Energy Congressional Round-Up | April 29 - May 3, 2024 </title> <pubDate>Tue, 07 May 2024 15:33:00 +0000</pubDate> <description> <![CDATA[ The House passed the Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act (H.R.4877/S.429). Reps. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) and Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) and Sens. Ben Lujan (D-N.M.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.Dak.) introduced the bill, which would accelerate research to plug abandoned and hazardous oil and gas wells.  House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) passed their Weather Act Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R.6093) in the House. The bill reauthorizes weather modeling and forecasting research programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The reauthorization also creates new programs to improve forecasting, increase public-private partnerships, and bolster hazardous weather preparedness. Rep. Sorensen discussed the Weather Act in his introduction of EESI’s briefing, Innovations in Weather Forecasting for a Changing Climate. The Fire Weather Development Act of 2023 (H.R.4866), introduced by Reps. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.), Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.), and Young Kim (R-Calif.), passed the House The bill would improve NOAA’s capacity to accurately forecast and detect wildfires and communicate risk to susceptible communities.  The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024 (S.3738/H.R.7257). Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Reps. David Joyce (R-Ohio), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) introduced the bill, which reauthorizes and increases funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to address ongoing and emerging threats to the Great Lakes system. ]]> </description> <link>https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/environment-energy-congressional-round-up-april-29-may-3-2024</link> </item> </channel> </rss>

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