Energy Update: Week of February 11

Friends,

I hope you were able to catch the Grammys last night.  A Star is Born scored big, along with Drake and rising star Brandi Carlile, among others.  Michelle Obama dropped in on the event with host Alicia Keys and delivered a powerful message.  There was a star-studded tribute to the incredible Dolly Parton (which she starred in), who you have to love even if you don’t like country music. 

Of course, this week starts on a sad note with the loss of Michigan Congressional legend John Dingell, who had some much impact in our energy and environment space, as well as many others.  As a young Congressional staffer in the Michigan delegation, I saw first-hand his expertise, toughness and humor, as well as his personal investment in all staff (even those that worked for others) that he guided. Ironically, he passed away one year to the day after Rep. Joe Knollenberg, who I worked for and who Dingell often teamed up with for bipartisan efforts to protect auto workers.  And as usual, just like Dingell always did, he got the last word on all of us.  He dictated a wonderful last word that the Washington Post ran as an op-ed yesterday.   His funeral will be on Tuesday and will delay some action in DC, including the tomorrow’s House Energy hearing on energy efficiency rules featuring AHRI President Steve Yurek. 

If you followed last week’s action on the Green New Deal, one of the few roadmaps or reality checks on how we use energy will be released Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. when The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) and BloombergNEF (BNEF) host a briefing on their 7^th annual Sustainable Energy in America Factbook.  Each year, the Factbook provides comprehensive information and analysis on major sustainable energy facts and trends from the previous year. I am hoping you can attend as you will have access to a number of key trade association heads to ask about the GND, including SEIA’s Abby Hopper, AGA’s Dave McCurdy and AWEA’s Tom Kiernan. 

Back to the Hill, shutdown talks drift toward another deadline on Friday that threatens EPA, Interior and other Commerce Science funding.  And we will also see lots more climate hearings tomorrow and Wednesday.  Most importantly, House Science moves its climate science hearing to Wednesday from tomorrow because of the Dingell funeral.  House Resources has three climate hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday and Senate Energy has FERC Chair Chatterjee and others on Thursday to discuss energy cybersecurity.  Also, EPA holds a public hearings Thursday on its rule to revise the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for GHG emissions from new, modified and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired power plants. 

In town, NARUC officials are here and I suspect one of the major items of discussion will be the next FERC Commissioner. EPA head Any Wheeler spoke this morning and election expert Stuart Rothenberg, EPA’s Bill Wehrum and FERC Commissioner McNamee speak tomorrow.  Senate Energy Chair Murkowski, FERC Chair Chatterjee and DOE Undersecretary Menezes speak Wednesday.  Meanwhile, out of town, our friends in the ethanol industry hold their annual conference in Orlando.  If you are covering, we are happy to help provide context for anything that may come out of the meeting.  As a present for the conference, pro-ethanol Ag economist Scott Irwin for the fourth time hit the reasons for the bottomed-out ethanol price and it is NOT small refinery waivers (as our ethanol friends continue to claim).  Irwin: “Ethanol production in the U.S. looks to have topped 16 billion gallons for the first time in 2018 and this has simply been too much for the domestic (and export) fuel markets to absorb.”

Finally, as you know last week I refereed the Congressional Hockey game.  The lawmakers – with 8 members playing – won 4-3, but more importantly, the Caps TV network (Monumental Sports) enlisted Caps announcers Joe Beninati and Alan May to actually call the game.  It is worth watching the link.

Have a GREAT Valentine’s Day and don’t forget the FLOWERS…Please feel free to call with questions.  

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

 

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“Ethanol production in the U.S. looks to have topped 16 billion gallons for the first time in 2018 and this has simply been too much for the domestic (and export) fuel markets to absorb.”

U of Illinois Ag Economist Scott Irwin in his new paper on why ethanol Prices are so low.  

“Rep. John Dingell was one of a kind. We may not be so lucky or blessed to see his likeness again.”

Georgia Democratic Rep. John Lewis, paying tribute to his longtime House colleague.

ON THE POD

Cap Crude Experts Discuss Latest Venezuela Impacts – On this week's Platts Capitol Crude podcast, Paul Sheldon, chief geopolitical advisor with S&P Global Platts Analytics, and Risa Grais-Targow, the Eurasia Group's director for Latin America, break down the market impacts of the US sanctions on PDVSA.

FUN OPINIONS

Ag Econ Expert Highlights Reasons For Ethanol Woes – As a present for the ethanol conference this week, pro-ethanol Ag economist Scott Irwin for the fourth time hit the reasons for the bottomed-out ethanol price and it is NOT small refinery waivers (as our ethanol friends continue to claim).  In a new paper just released as the national ethanol confab launches in Orlando, Irwin once again deviates from ethanol group-think using actual data to examine the repeated claim that EPA’s issuance of SRE waivers is the root cause of ethanol price weakness. Irwin’s conclusion?  As he says on Twitter, “Analysis points to increasing supply of ethanol as the main culprit in explaining low ethanol prices.”  Message to conference attendees: there’s still time to convene a working group to try out the next specious anti-refinery claim.

IN THE NEWS

CCS Legislation Reintroduced – The Senators Thursday introduced two bipartisan plans to bolster carbon capture technologies. Senate Environment Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) led the reintroduction of the USE IT Act, which aims to make carbon dioxide pipelines and other infrastructure projects eligible for streamlined permitting.  Other cosponsors are Republicans Shelley Moore Capito (WV), Kevin Cramer (ND) and Mike Enzi (WY), EPW Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE), Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Joe Manchin (D-WV) and fellow Democrats Tina Smith (MN) and Tammy Duckworth (IL). Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Smith Thursday also led the introduction of the Carbon Capture Modernization Act, which would modify the 48A tax credit to encourage more carbon capture at coal facilities.  The bill is also cosponsored by Cramer, Manchin, Barrasso and Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Steve Daines (R-MT).

Utility Group: Green New Deal Points – There has been a lot of ink spilled on the Green New Deal. But, ERCC’s Scott Segal wanted to offer a few key points:

1. Power generators have already been engaged in tangible efforts aimed at the greening of our generating assets, achieving deep strides by investing in clean energy including renewables, nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass and other sources as well as reducing the net carbon foot print of fossil fuel assets.  This green transition is reflected both in power industry goals and in individual targets set by producers across the country.
2. The key to meeting environmental goals while ensuring reliable and affordable power for consumers like families, schools, and hospitals remains a commitment to diverse and balanced portfolios of generating assets and a grid that can safely and efficiently transmit power from a variety of sources.
3. Power producers have lead the way in assisting family households, business, and industry in managing energy demand in order to enhance energy efficiency while strengthening the grid through proper management.
4. Power producers are on the front line of addressing the concerns that motivate the Green New Deal (GND).  GND advocates have acknowledged that any plan for GND must be developed through a consultative process with industry leaders and others.  We look forward to sharing our real and practical thinking with advocates, including the reality of technological assumptions upon which any legislation might be based.
5. Any resulting GND legislation must maintain the reliability and resilience of the power supply; must not result in regressive impacts on those in society least able to afford it, such as energy rationing or cost spikes; must not undermine energy security; must not undermine the economy of the United States or hamstring its international competitiveness; and must be based on realistic goals premised on energy diversity and actual environmental performance projections.

GND Groups Outline Their Vision – Hundreds of progressive groups recently outlined their vision for the GND in an open letter to Congress demanding a rapid transition to 100 percent renewable energy and explicitly rejecting virtually all forms of emissions-free power except solar and wind. The letter (notably lacking the signatures of six of the major national environmental groups) is one of several competing efforts to define a Green New Deal. 

Energy Experts Tackle GND Issues – Former MIT Energy Researcher and current Harvard environmental fellow Dr. Jesse Jenkins and EIRP head Sam Thernstrom wrote an op-ed in the NYTimes that looks at deep decarbonization and what may need to be in any Green New Deal to be effective and politically realistic. They argued since the early days of the modern environmental movement, activists have embraced solar and wind power. A “small is beautiful” mantra guided a “soft path” to the renewables revolution. Finally, Thernstrom and Jenkins say a breakthrough on climate will depend on a willingness by Democrats and others to harness the well-intended ambition of activists while focusing on practical ways to take carbon out of our power system. Otherwise, Republicans won’t go along, and it won’t be feasible for the electric power grid.

Top EPA Air Adviser Departs to Start Advocacy Group– Mandy Gunasekara, senior policy adviser and principal deputy assistant administrator in EPA's Office of Air and Radiation, sent a letter to President Trump today saying she was leaving the agency.  She had been with the EPA since November 2017. Gunasekara will start a new 501c(4) group's focus will be "to defend the president and our many energy, environment and economic successes."  Prior to EPA, Gunasekara served as majority counsel for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which was led first by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and then by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY). She's also held various other Capitol Hill positions.

NOPEC Legislation approved by House Judiciary: The House Judiciary Committee, now led by Democrats, advanced the “No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act" Thursday. That sets the bipartisan "NOPEC" bill, which would subject the cartel to possible antitrust action by the Department of Justice, up for a possible House vote. A similar bill targeting OPEC was introduced in the Senate on Thursday.  

DOE Rolls Out New Energy Efficiency Process Rule: This is a little wonky but really important.  In fact, I suspect this will come up next week at the House Energy Panel hearing on energy efficiency. DOE has issued a pre-publication proposed rule to streamline and modernize the so-called “Process Rule.” The proposal would substantially improve the agency’s process for setting energy efficiency standards and test procedures for residential appliances and commercial equipment, enhancing transparency, accountability, and regulatory certainty for stakeholders. Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) President Stephen Yurek said the rule is critical to making the efficiency rulemaking process transparent, predictable, and timely.  AHRI is a trade association representing manufacturers of HVACR and water heating equipment and works closely with DOE as it fulfills its Congressionally mandated duty to set America’s appliance energy efficiency standards. 

Interior Announce $1 Billion in Lease Sales in 2018: Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) state offices generated $1.1 billion from oil and gas lease sales in calendar year 2018, an amount nearly equal to the BLM’s budget for Fiscal Year 2018, and the highest-grossing year on record, nearly tripling what had been the agency’s highest year ever in 2008, which generated approximately $408 million. Bonus bids from the 28 oil and gas lease sales held in calendar year 2018 came to $1,151,109,064 in preliminary figures released today by the BLM. Among these, a total of 1,412 parcels, covering almost 1.5 million acres, were leased.   The Chamber’s Global Energy Institute President Karen Harbert said the sales are further evidence that America is now a global energy superpower.  “Last year’s sales set a new record, tripling the previous year—a remarkable accomplishment from a Department that is determined to put America’s bountiful natural energy resources to work for all Americans.  This accomplishment undoubtedly makes America stronger by generating new jobs and new revenue to fund priority programs.  With 28 oil and gas lease sales scheduled in 2019, we look forward to even more to come.”

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Wheeler, Murkowski, Chatterjee, Others Headline NARUC Winter Meeting – The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ (NARUC) Winter Policy Summit will be held at the Renaissance Washington DC hotel today through Wednesday. The Summit will convene an array of speakers from federal agencies, industry, advocacy organizations, and more.  This morning, EPA head Andy Wheeler addressed the groups while election expert Stuart Rothenberg, EPA’s Bill Wehrum, FERC Commissioner McNamee speak tomorrow and Senate Energy Chair Murkowski, FERC Chair Chatterjee and DOE Undersecretary Menezes speak Wednesday. The committee meetings and general sessions will provide the latest policy updates related to utility regulation. Key resolutions will be discussed and approved by the board of directors at the conclusion of the meeting.

Ethanol Conference Set – The RFA’s National Ethanol Conference is set for the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando from Today through Wednesday.   Speakers include former Senate Leader Tom Daschle, analyst Philip Verleger, The Circus co-Hosts John Heilemann and Mark McKinnon, among others.

POSTPONED -- HVACR Experts to Testify at House Energy on Efficiency – The House Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee will postpone its hearing tomorrow on the Energy Department's efficiency standards and its Impact on consumers and the climate.  AHRI President Steve Yurek will testify.  It is being delayed by the funeral of Rep. John Dingell.

LNG Conference Set – S&P Global Platts holds its 18^th annual LNG Conference in Houston tomorrow and Wednesday at The Houstonian. The conference covers the state of the international LNG market, as well as its competitive environment, supply, demand, markets, price, and shipping.

House Resources Look at Climate, Energy Transition, Tribal Communities – The House Natural Resources Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on climate change and the energy transition.  Then at 2:00 p.m., the Indigenous Peoples Subcommittee discusses the impacts of climate change on tribal communities.

Approps Panel to Look at DOE Weatherization – The House Appropriations Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program. Witnesses include Washington State Department of Commerce Energy Director Michael Furze, DOE Weatherization office director Annamaria Garcia, Terry Jacobs of the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership and National Association for State Community Services Program Weatherization Assistance Program Director Amy Klusmeier.

Forum to Look at Battery Storage – Battery Council International holds a briefing on energy storage and battery research.

Forum to Look at IMO Shipping Diesel Rules – Citigroup hosts forum tomorrow night in New York on International Maritime Organization rules to require a steep cut in sulfur oxide emissions from ships. The session explores the implications of the new IMO rules for the different stakeholders and the broader oil and gas markets. Speakers will share perspectives from the shipping, refinery and fuel demand side and discuss developments and challenges to comply with these rules. AFPM’s Susan Grissom and Stephen Jones is Global Head of Oil Products at Argus are among the speakers.

Esty Headlines Latin American Energy Discussion – Atlantic Council Global Energy Center holds a discussion tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. on corporate sustainability in Latin America featuring prizewinning author and Yale Professor Daniel C. Esty.  The 21^st century has seen the rise of a new focus on corporate sustainability around the world, and forward-thinking business leaders in Latin America are paying close attention. Across the region, companies large and small have sought to increase profitability, win customer loyalty, and outperform competitors through incorporating sustainability principles into their business strategy and operations.  Global Energy Center Deputy Director for Climate and Advanced Energy David Livingston discusses the topic with Professor Esty, who has just published The Labyrinth of Sustainability: Green Business Lessons from Latin American Corporate Leaders (Anthem Press, 2019), featuring case studies written by leading academics and practitioners that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, water sustainability, recycling, and other corporate sustainability initiatives.

BCSE, Bloomberg to Release 2019 Sustainable Energy Factbook – The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) and Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) will release the 2019 edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook on Wednesday morning at BNEF offices in DC.  The Factbook provides up-to-date, accurate market information about the broad range of industries — energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy— that are contributing to the country’s move towards cleaner energy production and more efficient energy usage.

MOVED – House Science Looks at Climate Science – The House Science, Space and Technology Committee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on climate science. Witnesses will include Cornell’s Natalie Mahowald, Rutgers’ Robert Kopp, Jennifer Francis of the Woods Hole Research Center, Joseph Majkut of the Niskanen Center and Kristie Ebi from the University of Washington.

House Resources to Look at Climate, Public Lands – The House Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands will hold an oversight hearing Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on climate change and public lands that will examine impacts and consider adaptation opportunities.

Senate Enviro Hearing set for Invasive Species – The Senate Environment Committee holds a hearing Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on invasive species threats, protecting wildlife, public health, and infrastructure. 

Senate Commerce to Look at Infrastructure – The Senate Commerce Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday around 10:15 a.m. looking at America's infrastructure needs.  The hearing will focus on opportunities for infrastructure improvement, including federal funding, financing programs, and permitting and regulatory streamlining. Witnesses will include Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority CEO Bill Friedman, Association of American Railroads CEO Ian Jefferies, American Cable Association CEO Matthew Polka, American Trucking Association CEO Chris Spear and Larry Willis of the Transportation Trades Department.

Forum to Look at Central American Power Markets – The US Energy Assn holds a forum on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the key policies and lessons learned from Central American Power Markets. The authors, Juan A.B. Belt and Silvia Alvarado de Córdoba, will present their analysis of the power sector reforms that have taken place in Central America countries and will identify measures to increase the efficiency of the region’s power markets. The paper focuses on the use of competitive bidding (auctions) for power and discusses the issues around the functioning of the Regional Central American Interconnected Market (Mercado Eléctrico Regional or MER). The authors argue that given the size of the Central American markets, their level of development, and the socioeconomic environment they face, lessons from those countries can be applicable to a wide range of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa.

ClearPath, DOE Nuclear Event to Discuss Advanced Nuclear – The Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, ClearPath and the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council hold a forum on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center’s Senate SVC 208-9 on the value proposition for advanced nuclear.  The event will focus on clean energy, economics and safety.

2019 Energy Storage Policy Forum Set – The Energy Storage Association is hosting its 2019 Energy Storage Policy Forum at the National Press Club on Wednesday. The policy forum will bring together a diverse set of stakeholders – from federal regulators to policy makers and utility executives to storage industry members – to discuss the policy changes driving energy storage deployment in the U.S.  Speakers include FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commissioner Ann Rendahl, Michigan PSC Chair Sally Talberg, and ESA CCEO and former Maryland PSC Chair Kelly Speakes-Backman.

AAAS Meeting Set – The American Association for the Advancement of Science holds 2019 Annual Meeting on Thursday and Friday.

EPA Holds NSR Hearing – The EPA rescheduled its public hearing on the proposal to revise the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for greenhouse gas emissions from new, modified, and reconstructed fossil fuel-fired power plants. 

Senate Energy to Look Energy Cyber Security – The Senate Energy Committee will hold a hearing Thursday at 10:00 a.m. to consider the status and outlook for cybersecurity efforts in the energy industry.  Witnessed include FERC Chair Neil Chatterjee, DOE Cyber Assistant Secretary Karen Evans, Major William Keber of the West Virginia National Guard NERC CEO James Robb and David Edward Whitehead of Schweitzer Engineering Labs.

Forum to Look at Carbon Emissions – The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment will hold a panel discussion on Thursday at Noon at the National Press Club focused on recent evidence showing that carbon dioxide emissions are surging after a period of slowed growth. Stanford University researchers, including a lead author of the Global Carbon Project’s CO2 emissions report, will join other energy experts to discuss the major causes behind the shift in the global emissions trajectory; implications for reaching the target in the Paris Agreement; and where efforts should be concentrated to generate future emissions reductions. Please view our website for more information.

WRI to Look at Sustainable Cities – The World Resources Institute holds an event on Thursday at Noon designing sustainable cities and whether urban planning and design make cities more resilient.  WRI’s Robin King and University of Oxford’s Cathy Baldwin will discuss their new book, Social Sustainability, Climate Resilience and Community-Based Urban Development: What About the People?  King and Baldwin explore the relationship between urban built environments and pro-community behaviors and psychological responses, which include positive acts and states of mind that are beneficial to communities and their residents.

Forum to Look at Climate Science, Technology, Policy – On Thursday at 4:00 p.m. in the Capitol Visitor Center Room North 268, Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, and Resources for the Future are joining together to provide Congressional offices with updates on the latest climate science and policy research. Led by Woods Director, Chris Field, a panel of experts from the three organizations will participate in a moderated discussion on emissions trends, technology developments and solutions, and developments on the science and politics of climate change policy. The moderated discussion will be followed by an off-the-record question and answer session addressing areas of interest identified by attendees.

GWU To Host Book on Climate – On Thursday at 4:00 p.m., the Environmental and Energy Law Program at GW is bringing Professor Randall S. Abate from Monmouth University to discuss his book, Climate Change and the Voiceless: Protecting Future Generations, Wildlife, and Natural Resources. The presentation first identifies the common vulnerabilities of the voiceless in the Anthropocene era. It then proposes how the law can evolve to protect their interests more effectively through a stewardship-focused and rights-based system derived from the mandate inherent in the concept of sustainable development.

Clean Energy Forum Set – The Association of Energy Engineers- National Capital Chapter (AEE NCC) and Leaders in Energy (LE) will hold its 5^th annual Energy & Sustainability Extravaganza at The George Washington University Marvin Center on Friday at 11:00 a.m.  The theme this year is “Getting to Net Zero Emissions in Energy, Carbon, Water, and Waste.” This event will highlight innovative concepts, technologies, policies, products, and services in the university and business communities which are advancing ways to utilize clean energy, achieve zero waste, and use water efficiently.  

Nuclear Experts to Discuss Technology Opportunities – On Friday at Noon, the Foundation for Nuclear Studies holds a lunch briefing where Craig Piercy, Washington Representative for the American Nuclear Society and Harlan Bowers, President or X-Energy will give an overview of the past, present, and future of nuclear technology
 

IN THE FUTURE

OSW Events Planned For Region Updates – The Business Network for Offshore wind is holding three events to expand membership and provide regional OSW updates.  The event start in NYC next Monday when they hold a happy hour at 5:00 p.m. at Penn Plaza.  Then, Wednesday, they will provide update on the states of New Jersey and New York in Princeton at 4:00 p.m. Finally, on February 26^th, Network CEO Liz Burdock will make a presentation on offshore wind in California at 5:30 p.m. at the Prohibition Lounge in San Diego.

Forum to Look at Climate, Migration – Next Tuesday at 2:00 p.m., the American Security Project holds a discussion on the future of climate change, migration, and security and how we can begin to build resiliency both from the ground up and top down.  How will the world prepare for the anticipated influx of people on the move? What does that mean for the communities that hold them? And what security consequences could arise?  Speakers include Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney (Ret.) and Major General Muniruzzaman (Ret.) is a former career military officer in Bangladesh who spent over 38 years on active duty.

Forum to Look at RGGI – On Wednesday, February 20^th at 12:30 p.m. Georgetown’s Mortara Center for International Studies Energy and Climate Policy Seminar will host RFF’s Dallas Burtraw for a discussion of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Burtraw is a Senior Fellow at Resources for the Future, an American nonprofit organization that conducts research regarding the environment, energy, and natural resources.

Forum to Look at Oil, Saudi Arabia, OPEC – On Wednesday, February 20^th at 5:00 p.m., Johns Hopkins University’s ERE program will discuss OPEC production issues along with the status of domestic reforms in Saudi Arabia in the wake of the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.  Speakers will include SAIS Adjunct Professor Jean-François Seznec and Fareed Mohamedi, Managing Director of SIA-Energy International and formerly PFC Energy and Saudi Aramco.

CSIS Forum to Look at Global Oil Challenges – On Thursday, February 21^st between 8:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Center for Strategic & International Studies will host a group of experts to discuss the outlook for global oil markets. Looming questions on the weakening of the global economy, the impacts of trade disputes, prospects for continued U.S. production growth given volatile prices, productivity challenges, cash flow constraints, evolving bottlenecks and export capacity, crude quality and regulatory challenges (RFS and IMO), and renewed call for a green energy transformation continue to plague investors and strategic planners alike.  Speakers will include ClearView’s Kevin Book, analyst Rusty Braziel, Wood-MacKenzie’s Ann-Louise Hittle and Michael Wittner of Société Générale, among others.

Wilson Forum to Look at New Energy Vehicle in China – The Woodrow Wilson Center hosts a forum on Thursday. February 21^st at 9:30 a.m. China’s effort to promote the development of new-energy vehicles (NEVs) - plug-in hybrids, pure-battery electrics, and fuel-cell autos. The event will examine China's NEV initiative. Feng An (Innovation Center for Energy and Technology, iCET) will cruise through China's NEV roadmap, as well as the economic, environmental, and energy security implications of the initiative. Scott Kennedy (CSIS) sees systemic economic roadblocks that could lead the initiative to fall far short of its goals to phase out combustion engine vehicles by 2050.  David Sandalow (Columbia University) will compare the electric vehicle (EV) charging policies, markets, and business models in the U.S. and China. Camron Gorguinpour (World Resources Institute) will highlight the global impact of China's electric vehicle boom, and how other countries could gain insights from China's green auto sector.

Women's Energy Network Winter Happy Hour – Forbes Tate Partners hosts the Women's Energy Network Winter Happy Hour on Thursday, February 21^st at 6:00 p.m.

Forum on Storage Set for SF – The 12^th annual Storage Week will be held on February 25-27 in San Francisco at the Hotel Kabuki.  The event is the development and finance business hub at the forefront of behind-the-meter and grid-connected storage system deployments. This year, the event takes a deep dive into structuring both standalone and co-located storage projects, and assesses the opportunities emerging in states, new rules in organized markets and the needs of new customer classes.

NAFTA, USMCA Forum Set – The US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce hosts the 18^th Congressional Border Issues and NAFTA/USMCA Conference on February 26^th in DC. The conference aims to provide a venue for an open and timely discussion on current conditions at the border and how these challenges can and should be addressed.  DHS head Kristjen Nielson, Reps. Mike McCaul and Henry Cuellar will all speak. 

CSIS to Host BP Outlook – On Wednesday, February 27^th at 10:30 a.m., CSIS will host the U.S. launch of 2019 BP Energy Outlook with Spencer Dale, group chief economist of BP.  The global energy system faces a challenge to provide significantly more energy while simultaneously reducing emissions.  What forces are shaping the energy transition through 2040?  The Outlook outlines BP’s view on future of global energy demand―and the global energy transition―by exploring four scenarios through three lenses: sector, region, and fuel.  Dale will present the scenarios of the Outlook, followed by a moderated conversation with Sarah Ladislaw.

AWEA Members to Go to Capitol Hill – On March 5-6, AWEA will hold Wind Power on Capitol Hill, which brings companies to Washington, D.C. to meet their representatives in the House and Senate.  The event is an opportunity for AWEA members and others who want to help advance wind energy to participate in advocacy training and then put that training to work to educate legislators and their staff on the wind industry’s top policy initiatives at the federal level.

Forum to Look at Mexican Energy Sector in First 100 Days of New President – Talanza Energy will host a forum in Houston, TX on March 20^th to discuss the first 100 days of the new Mexican President and its impacts on energy.  The event will look at the challenges and opportunities for the Mexican Energy sector from a risk management perspective.  Speakers will include MIT’s Lourdes Melgar (a former Mexican Undersecretary of Hydrocarbons), UHouston Law Professor Sashe Dimitroff and Talanza CEO and former Director General of E&P in the Mexican Ministry of Energy Marco Cota.