Energy Update: Week of March 4

Energy Update - March 04, 2019

Friends,

Last week was a news heavy week for sure.  It's a busy week like that – and I suppose this week as well – that makes me look forward to Saturday night’s jump in daylight savings time: one less hour to have to try and fill.  I don't even care that I'm losing one hour of sleep!  Speaking of losing sleep, tomorrow is Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras hits its peak. Of course, it is the last day of the Carnival season which always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Finally, the Iditarod is underway from Anchorage, Alaska.  You can get Live Reports here and check out the full musher line up.  Crews have been headed north for about 20 hours and are expected to complete the 998 mile trip to Nome sometime next week. 

As mentioned, this week is another busy week on Capitol Hill. Tomorrow, the Senate Energy Committee takes up electricity issues in a changing climate with our friend Lisa Jacobson of the Business Council on Sustainable Energy and others testifying.  The other big hearing is Thursday's redo of a House Energy & Commerce Committee hearing that was postponed a few weeks ago on energy efficiency that features HVACR industry head Steve Yurek. 

Other hearings include tomorrow’s Senate Enviro Committee hearing on states’ roles in protecting air quality, House Resources on BOEM/BSEE; Senate Enviro on Infrastructure and House Oversight’s  Environment panel on PFAS on Wednesday; and Thursday hearings in House Science on Energy/Water Nexus, House Resource on threats to the North Atlantic Right Whale, as well as a Senate Energy Roundtable on public lands in the West.

The prime event off Capitol Hill is tomorrow's National Press Club Newsmaker on the 2018 hurricane season featuring NOAA hurricane expert Gerry Bell and MIT resilience/building expert Jeremy Gregory.  They will focus on last year's storms that hit NC and panhandle Florida as well as the rebuild efforts underway from the 2017 season in Puerto Rico, FL, GA and Texas. 

Others include the Wednesday morning NASEO, the Energy Futures Initiative and BW Research release the 2019 U.S. Energy and Employment Report at 8:15 a.m. at the National Press Club. ClearPath and DOE talk Nuclear Jobs on Thursday at another Atomic Wings Lunch at 11:30 in CVC and finally, Friday morning, US Energy Assn celebrates International Women's Day with a Women In Energy Panel.

And mark your calendars for next week because it is CERAWeek 2019, one of the biggest weeks in energy.  Among the throngs of high-profile speakers descending on Houston, the daily highlights include EPA Chief Andy Wheeler at lunch and Senate Energy leaders Lisa Murkowski and Joe Manchin later Monday; John Hickenlooper and Mike Pompeo going Tuesday;  Energy Secretary Rick Perry speaks Wednesday; FERC Chair Neil Chatterjee set for Thursday; and Sen. John Cornyn talking about what’s ahead in Washington on Friday.  See the Full Schedule here

Finally, it is March and you know what that means.  It is important to start paying attention to NCAA conference tournaments for March Madness which begins with Selection Sunday on March 17th and games in just 15 days!!!  

We are monitoring all the action, following the key stories and are happy to discuss.  Call with questions.  

Best,

 

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

 

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“It’s not going to mean that his priorities suddenly go away or that he’s suddenly going to abandon the regulatory philosophy that the administration from the very top has embraced.  This is an administration that would like to reduce the overall regulatory footprint of the federal government.”

Former EPA official Jonathan H. Adler, a professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, characterizing Wheeler’s soft-spoken style and willingness to listen to criticism as genuine in the New York Times

ON THE POD

PCA Podcast Launches – The Portland Cement Association, representing America’s Cement Manufacturers, has launched a new podcast series. Hard Facts is a podcast examining the best way to pay for the nation’s transportation infrastructure and explores money-saving tools available to planners and builders through interviews with members of Congress, the Administration and industry.  The premiere episode features PCA President & CEO Michael Ireland explaining the Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) approach to planning infrastructure projects and makes the case why this tool will stretch federal investment dollars.   To listen to the full podcast, visit www.cement.org/newsroom/hard-facts-podcast and follow PCA on Twitter @PCADaily, Facebook @PCACement, and LinkedIn Portland Cement Association for future episode releases and updates.

Former Energy Chair Phil Sharp Weighs in on Green New Deal – Resources for the Future’s Podcast hosts Kristin Hayes and Daniel Raimi team up to interview Phil Sharp, former Indiana congressman who served as House Energy panel chair, former president of RFF, and current non-resident fellow at the Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy. Sharp shares his thoughts on the Green New Deal—the ambitious set of proposals aimed at tackling climate change, inequality, and more, while giving his take on the pros and cons of the approach from a political perspective.  He also shares his broader thoughts about the ability of our political system to deal with big, complex challenges like climate change.

FUN OPINIONS

EPA Finally Initiates Air Quality Assessment of Renewable Fuel Standard – In a new commentary, CEI’s Ben Lieberman, a former House Energy Committee staffer, wrote recent that EPA is taking action on the air quality impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and will complete a study of such impacts by 2020.  The agency action, in response to a lawsuit from the Sierra Club, may finally result in the EPA meeting statutory duties whose deadlines have long passed.  Lieberman: “Perhaps more significant than what EPA’s final study says is the fact that a major environmental group is pushing the agency to conduct it. In this regard, the Sierra Club now joins the National Wildlife Federation, which believes that the RFS has led to the conversion of pristine grasslands into cropland and has advocated for changes to the program.  For many years, the environmental activist community was relatively absent from the RFS reform debate—with the exception of smaller organizations like the Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, and the Clean Air Task Force. But with both the Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation now actively involved, that may be changing.”

IN THE NEWS

Wheeler Confirmed – The Senate confirmed Andrew Wheeler to be the administrator of EPA by a vote of 52-47.  A seasoned Washington insider, Wheeler has held in an acting capacity since the summer when former EPA Head Scott Pruitt resigned. My colleague Scott Segal, who has known Wheeler for decades said his experience and his temperament are precisely what the EPA needs at this point in its history.  Segal said Wheeler is one of the most qualified individuals to lead it.  Segal: “Andy began his career at EPA, gaining vital early exposure to the complexities of environmental decision making.  He took that knowledge to Capitol Hill, serving in positions of increasing responsibility in the environmental arena.  Then, in the private sector, he received valuable experience in seeing first-hand how regulations impact businesses, and their employees and communities.  Few have had such a 360 –degree view of how environmental policy is developed and implemented as well as how regulations impact average Americans.  Even in the acting capacity in which he has served to date, it’s pretty clear that he understands the Agency, cares for its professionals, and respects the rule of law.”

Warren Blasts Back – In a letter to Wheeler just after his confirmation, Sen. Elizabeth Warren demanded more information about former Lobbyists working at EPA, specifically former Koch Industries official David Dunlap, who now oversees EPA's Office of Research and Development, and air policy expert and former industry lawyer Bill Wehrum, who heads EPA’s air office.  Of course, this relentless line of attack will continue as environmental groups and Democrat opponents attempt to undercut the much-needed reforms underway at EPA they oppose.

Inslee In on Climate – Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee said that he will run for president, becoming the first governor (other more pro-energy Gov John Hickenlooper jumped in today) to join a crowded field vying for the Democratic nomination.  Inslee said he will put climate change at the heart of his platform like no other candidate would in his announcement video.  It's an issue Inslee has been passionate about as the governor of the state since 2013, but historically, even primary voters have placed environmental concerns behind pocketbook issues like job creation, the economy and health care.  So, he plans to run on climate and we’ll see how that goes.  I suspect this is a double-edged sword for my friends in the environmental community. 

DC Circ. Scraps Army Corps' Approval of Dominion Power Line – The D.C. Circuit on Friday rescinded an Army Corps of Engineers' approval allowing a Dominion Energy electricity transmission project to cross the James River in Virginia, directing the Corps to perform a full environmental review of the project.  This is made more important by the fact the power line is built and in service.   My Colleague Ann Navaro – an expert in this area – says while this case presents some unique facts, it is another example of the challenges faced by linear project planning and construction and the importance of cultural resource impact assessment in any permit process.  Perhaps most significantly, the decision potentially widens the scope of the agency’s review in future permit proceedings.  Ann can get into the specifics if you are Interested.  

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Forum to look at Cities, Climate Resilience – The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) are hosting a forum today at 2:00 p.m. in 1539 Longworth to discuss the economic, environmental and public benefits of green infrastructure. Experts from ASLA’s interdisciplinary Blue Ribbon Panel on Climate Change and Resilience will discuss their report, Smart Policies for a Changing Climate, which outlines a bold vision for 21st century infrastructure investment to create healthy and resilient communities from coast to coast.

EPA Officials to Address Pesticide Meeting – The Association of American Pesticide Control Officials meets today through Wednesday for its 72nd Spring meeting in Alexandria at the Hilton Old Town. Among the EPA officials scheduled to speak today are Rick Keigwin, head of the agency’s pesticide office, and Alex Dunn, the new head of EPA’s chemical safety and pollution prevention office.

Forum to Discuss Power, Gas – S&P Global hosts its 32nd Annual Power and Gas M&A Symposium tomorrow and Wednesday in New York at the Hilton Midtown.  On day two, my Colleague Scott Segal offers a view from Capitol Hill hosting state and Federal Policy Roundtable with Senate Energy staffer David Gillers and EEI’s Brian Wolff.  Review the recent changes in leadership at the federal level, including FERC and EPA. How is the industry preparing for the upcoming Presidential election; are there any lessons learned from the last election? Examine initiatives of the current Administration, including Clean Power Plan, subsidies, and tariffs.

AWEA Members to Go to Capitol Hill – AWEA will hold Wind Power on Capitol Hill tomorrow and Wednesday 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.

Energy Board Set to Meet – The Energy Department holds the first meeting of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.  Recently, Perry announced the first members of his Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) that included Daniel Yergin, Occidental CEO Vicki Hollub, retired Lockheed Martin CEO Norman Augustine and others. The SEAB has historically provided advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on the priorities for the Department of Energy.

Senate Energy to Look at Electricity Sector, Climate – The Senate Energy Committee hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. focused on examining the U.S. electricity sector in a changing climate.  Witnesses will include Business Council for Sustainable Energy President Lisa Jacobson, former FERC Joe Kelliher (now with NextEra Energy), Rice University Center for Energy Studies professor Kenneth Medlock, Ethan Schutt of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and former Obama DOE official Sue Tierney.

Senate Enviro to Look at State Role in Air Quality – The Senate Environment Committee Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety holds a hearing tomorrow on states’ role in protecting air quality. 

Press Club to Discuss 2018 Hurricane Season – With another challenging Hurricane Season in the books, NOAA hurricane forecasting expert Dr. Gerry Bell and MIT disaster resilience expert Jeremy Gregory will discuss the impacts of the 2018 season and the status of the 2017 season rebuilding effort at a National Press Club Newsmaker tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in the Club’s Bloomberg Room.  Bell, a hurricane climate specialist and research meteorologist at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) in College Park, Maryland, will focus on the 2018 season impacts, climate change and what people can do to prepare for the 2019 season. Gregory, a research scientist in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Materials Systems Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is an expert on disaster resilience and rebuilding. He will focus on the 2017 rebuilding in Houston, Puerto Rico and Florida, as well as the impacts of the 2018 season on the Carolina coast and Florida Panhandle.

Mexico Energy in Wilson Forum Focus – Tomorrow, the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute holds a conference on the outlook for Mexico's Energy Sector under the new Administration.  This conference seeks to engage senior thought leaders from across the energy spectrum in a dialogue on the future of the Mexican energy model two months after the inauguration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Experts will provide key perspectives on the current and future landscape of the Mexican energy sector, will help better understand the challenges and opportunities the new administration faces, and will shed light on ways to enhance public-private cooperation.

ITIF to Release Defense Energy Report – Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation will release of a comprehensive report on DOD’s energy innovation effort and host an expert panel discussion on its relevance to the fight to reduce carbon emissions, including ways civilian agencies might better leverage DOD’s investments.  Speakers will include Richard Carlin of the Navy’s Office of Naval Research, NREL’s Jeffrey Marqusee, DOE’s Conner Prochaska and Dorothy Robyn of the Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy.

POLITICO to Host Ag, Enviro Forum – POLITICO host a forum tomorrow at Noon at Eastern Market in SE DC to discuss the environmental policies and practices that are gaining momentum, particularly around how to lessen the climate impact in farming and energy production while keeping these sectors economically viable.  Senate Ag’s top Democrat Debbie Stabenow and USDA Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Matt Lohr will offer keynote remarks.

JHU forum to Look at Climate Action – The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies holds a discussion tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. on fusing national and subnational climate action to enhance global ambition.   The U.S. The U.S. provides a window into how the diversification of climate action across actors can drive changes in emissions. We developed a new analytical approach to integrate sub-national commitments into a modeling framework to assess impacts across three politically plausible scenarios formulated in consultation with experts and stakeholders. These coalitions of actors in the U.S. are globally significant, equivalent to the world’s third largest economy and fourth largest GHG emitter.

USEA to Discuss CO2 Mineralization – The US Energy Assn holds a forum tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. with UCLA's Dr. Gaurav N. Sant, Associate Professor and Director of the Institute for Carbon Management.  Sant will present an approach for large scale utilization of carbon dioxide by the construction sector through carbon dioxide mineralization.

Forum to Look at Electrification – EESI holds a forum tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. 1539 Longworth on increasing opportunities to electrify the economy.  Beneficial electrification (or strategic electrification) is a term for replacing direct fossil fuel use (e.g., propane, heating oil, gasoline) with electricity in a way that reduces overall emissions and energy costs. This can include switching to an electric vehicle or to a high-efficiency electric heating system—as long as the end-user and the environment both benefit.  Speakers will include NRECA’s Keith Dennis, EPRI’s Barbara Tyron and NRDC’s Derek Murrow.

WCEE Awards Honorable, Gold-Williams at Annual Gala – The Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE) holds its annual gala tomorrow at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington DC.  WCEE will present its 2019 Woman of the Year award to Colette Honorable. Honorable is a highly regarded leader in domestic and international energy sectors. For nearly a decade, Honorable has served with distinction as a utility regulator at the state and federal levels including as a FERC Commissioner.  WCEE will also honor CPS Energy President & CEO Paula Gold-Williams as its 2019 Champion.

Report to Release Energy/Employment Report – The National Association of State Energy Officials, the Energy Futures Initiative, and BW Research release its the 2019 U.S. Energy and Employment Report Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. at the National Press Club.  This is the 4th installment of the comprehensive energy jobs survey offering data and employment trends in five key energy sectors: Fuels; Electric Power Generation; Transmission, Distribution and Storage; Energy Efficiency; and Motor Vehicles.

ACC to Hold Chem Regs Conference – The American Chemistry Council’s annual Global Chemical Regulations conference, which runs Wednesday through Friday at the Omni Shoreham in DC. EPA’s Dunn is scheduled to be among the speakers as well as Jennifer Abril, president and CEO of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates.

Senate Enviro Looks at Infrastructure – The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds a hearing on highway infrastructure on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.  The hearing will focus on the economic benefits of highway infrastructure investment and accelerated project delivery.

House Oversight Panel to Tackle PFAS Issues – The House Oversight Subcommittee on the Environment holds a hearing Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on PFAS chemicals and their risks.

House Ways, Means Also Looks at Infrastructure—The House Ways and Means Committee holds a hearing Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. on the nation’s crumbling infrastructure and the need for immediate action. Witnesses include Transportation Committee leaders Peter DeFazio and Sam Graves, as well as AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Chamber CEO Tom Donohue, American Trucking CEO President Chris Spear, Gregory E. DiLoreto of the Committee for America's Infrastructure and CEI’s Marc Scribner. 

House Resources Hosts BOEM, BSEE – The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources holds a hearing Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. on the policies and priorities of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Witnesses include BOEM’s Walter Cruickshank, BSEE Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs Chief Doug Morris and US Geological Survey Director James Reilly.

House Science Looks at Science Leadership – The House Science, Space and Technology Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. focused on leadership in science and technology. Witnesses include National Academy of Sciences President Dr. Marcia McNutt, University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Dr. Patrick Gallagher and PepsiCo Chief Scientific Officer Mehmood Khan.

Forum to Look at India, Energy – The Johns Hopkins SAIS Energy, Resources and Environment program's Global Leaders Forum and the South Asia Studies program present on forum on India's Energy and Climate Policy on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.

RFF to Host Carbon Pricing Discussion – Resources for The Future (RFF) will host the Future of Carbon Pricing on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. where Dr. Gilbert Metcalf will discuss his book Paying for Pollution: Why a Carbon Tax is Good for America. The event will kick off with brief remarks from Metcalf about the book, followed by a moderated conversation with economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin. The two will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing carbon pricing during the next few years, as well as lessons learned from carbon pricing around the world. Metcalf argues that there is a convergence of social, economic, environmental, and political forces that provides an opening for a new approach to climate policy, one based on market principles that can appeal to politicians across the political spectrum. After all, markets work best when the price of a good reflects all its costs.

WCEE, Energy Economists Host Discussion on China – The Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment and National Capital Area Chapter of the United States Association for Energy Economics host happy hour on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. with Jane Nakano, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic & International studies, who will speak on China’s energy strategy.

Chamber Sets Aviation Summit – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Aviation Summit will be held Thursday at the Ronald Reagan Building. The 18th annual Aviation Summit brings together top leaders in business, aviation, and government to publicly discuss one of the most important industries in our economy. Each year we host a lineup of well-respected leaders in aviation to discuss critical topics in the industry. This Summit will also address the many challenges and opportunities facing the aviation industry, as new technology and access to flight continues to expand across the world.  Speakers include DOT Secretary Elaine Chao, FedEx CEO Fred Smith, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, former AA CEO Bob Crandall, Airline trade group CEO Nick Calio and many more. 

Wilson Brazil Forum Looks at Energy Sector – The Woodrow Wilson Center's Brazil Institute holds a discussion on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. looking at powering Brazil and the its outlook for the energy sector. Brazil’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Bento Albuquerque, and the Director-General of Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels, Decio Oddone will both speak. 

HVACR Experts to Testify at House Energy on Efficiency – The House Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee will hold its rescheduled hearing on the Energy Department's efficiency standards and its Impact on consumers and the climate for Thursday at 10:00 a.m.  AHRI President Steve Yurek will testify.

House Resources Panel to Look at Threats to Right Whale – The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife holds an oversight hearing on Thursday looking at threats to the North Atlantic Right Whale.

House Science to Look at Energy-Water Nexus – The House Science Subcommittee on Energy holds a Thursday 10:00 a.m. hearing on the energy water nexus. Witnesses include Sandia National Laboratories Vincent Tidwell, EDF’s Kate Zerrenner, Richard Bonner of Advanced Cooling Technologies, head of Oklahoma State University School of Materials Science and Engineering Raman Singh and UT-Austin professor Michael Webber. 

Senate Energy Roundtable to Look at Public Lands in West – The Senate Energy Committee holds a roundtable on issues related to public lands in the Western United States on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.  Speakers will include First Solar’s Laura Abram, Salt River Project’s Bruce Hallin, Brent Keith of the Nature Conservancy, Alaska DNR Deputy Commissioner Sara Longan, Patrick Malone of Barrick Gold North America and Western Governors’ Association head Jim Ogsbury.

ClearPath, DOE to Talk Nuke Jobs – On Thursday at 11:30 a.m., ClearPath and Energy Department cosponsor another Atomic Wings Lunch & Learn on jobs in nuclear energy.  Panelists include NEI’s Carol Berrigan, NuScale’s Chris Colbert, Argonne’s Bo Feng and U of Tennessee Nuclear Engineering Head Wes Hines will all speak. 

House Energy Approps to Look at Energy Workforce -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies holds a hearing on energy workforce opportunities and challenges on Thursday at 1:00 p.m.

Forum to Look at Women in Energy – The US Energy Assn hosts a forum on Friday at 10:00 a.m. on International Women's Day for a Women in Energy Panel. Moderated by Vicky Bailey, the panel will cover challenges and opportunities for women working in energy, how to ascend into leadership roles, education and career paths, overcoming obstacles, and how to increase diversity and gender balance within organizations and board rooms.  Panelists will include Sheila Hollis of Duane Morris LLP, Natural Gas Supply Association CEO Dena Wiggins and Allison Archambault of EarthSpark International.

IN THE FUTURE

Pompeo Joins CERA Week Line up – Next week is CERA Week 2019.  And now, in addition to the list of top shelf speakers, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will present a Special Keynote address on The Role of Energy in 21st Century Global Politics next Tuesday, March 12 at CERAWeek 2019 in Houston, Texas. The Secretary of State joins a premier roster of distinguished speakers including fellow dignitaries, energy officials, thought leaders and innovators.

Press Club to Host Discussion of Climate Data – Next Monday at 6:00 p.m. in the Club's Murrow Room, the National Press Club Journalism Institute and Freedom of the Press Committee have organized a panel of climate science journalists and climate policy researchers to lead this lively discussion on how to obtain and improve coverage of climate data.

NAS Workshop to Look at Nuclear Disasters – The National Academy of Sciences Nuclear Radiation and Studies Board is hosting a workshop on Tuesday March 12th and Wednesday March 13th to discuss establishing a registry for long-term health monitoring following radiological emergencies in the U.S.  Agenda topics for the workshop, "Challenges in Initiating and Conducting Long-Term Health Monitoring of Populations following Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies in the United States," include biodosimetry (examining damage to biological markers in the human body to assess how much radiation a person was exposed to), population monitoring and health screening, environmental impacts, and examination of existing health registries following the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power meltdowns and explosions.

JHU to Look at Oil Policy In Saudi Arabia – Next Tuesday, March 12th at 5:00 p.m., Johns Hopkins University’s Energy, Resources, and Environment's Global Leaders Forum and the Middle East Studies program present a forum on oil policy in Saudi Arabia and status of domestic reforms.  OPEC led by Saudi Arabia, and its allies including Russia, agreed in December to reduce oil production by 1.2 mbd in an effort to stabilize oil prices.  But surging US shale oil output could effectively eat up OPEC's cuts by later this year as the US has become the world's largest crude oil producer.  These developments will be discussed by our speakers along with the status of domestic reforms in Saudi Arabia in the wake of the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

USEA Hosts CCS Film Screening – As the annual motion picture awards season comes to a close, USEA hosts a screening on Wednesday March 13th of the documentary "CCS: Bridge to a Cleaner Energy Future" which was underwritten by the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) and produced to engage the global community in a conversation about the vital role carbon capture and storage (CCS) must play in mitigating climate change. Following the screening, IBB's Cecile Conroy, Director of Government Affairs and Cory Channon, Assistant to the International President and Assistant Director of Construction Sector Operations (Canada) to discuss IBB's role in the documentary and why they support Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage.

Environmental Film Festival – Speaking of films, the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital is the world’s premier showcase of environmentally themed films.  It starts next Thursday March 14th and runs to the 24th.  Since 1993, our mission has been to celebrate Earth and inspire understanding and stewardship of the environment through the power of film.  Each March in Washington, D.C., we host the largest environmental film festival in the world, presenting 100+ films to audiences of more than 20,000. Collaborating with over 110 partners, including museums, embassies, universities, and theaters, the Festival is one of the leading annual cultural events in Washington, D.C., winning the 2017 DC Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Creative Industries.

Argentinian Energy Minister to Speak – On Thursday, March 14th at 12:30 p.m., the Inter-American Dialogue hosts a conversation about energy policy in Argentina with Energy Secretary Gustavo Lopetegui.  Since the election in 2015, Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri’s has followed market-oriented energy policy, including long-needed price adjustments and gradual subsidy reductions. This policy has attracted significant investments in power generation, including renewable energy and upstream oil and gas - notably in the Vaca Muerta unconventional play.  Over the past year, Argentina has faced macroeconomic challenges that led to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund targeting a sharp fiscal deficit reduction, which requires limits on public spending across the economy. Yet the government is forging ahead in its efforts to attract energy investment, holding its third renewable energy tender since 2016 and accepting the first bids to develop offshore oil and gas in decades, both in March. With legislative and presidential elections slated for October, energy will continue to figure prominently in the Argentine political discussion.

Energy Economists Host Smart Meter Expert – The US Energy Economists host their March Monthly Luncheon on Friday March 15th at Chinatown Gardens featuring a presentation by Pasi Miettinen, CEO of Sagewell, Inc.  Sagewell provides utility smart meter data analytics software, strategic electrification programs and consulting services to utilities.

Refinery Annual Meeting Set – The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) will hold its annual meeting on March 17th to 19th at the Marriott Riverside in San Antonio.  The meeting is the world's premier refining meeting, assembling key executives and technical experts from refining and marketing organizations worldwide, as well as representatives from associated industries. The general session features high profile speakers who will address current issues of widespread importance to the refining industry. During management and technical sessions, leading industry experts share valuable insights with attendees on major issues, including energy and environmental initiatives, and the latest technological developments impacting refining and petrochemical industry management and performance.

CCS Forum Set – The Global CCS Institute hosts the 8th Annual DC Forum on CCS on Tuesday, March 19th at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center looking at new perspectives for a decarbonized economy.  The event brings together a diverse set of speakers from the private sector, government, and NGOs to discuss the realities of decarbonizing the American economy in an effort to fight climate change. Topics will include the business of decarbonizing, the role of government - the California strategy, hydrogen economy issues and much more.

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 20th 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. 

Wilson To Screen Film for Enviro Film Festival – The Wilson Center is hosting a film screening for the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (March 14-24). This year, Wilson is screening a new documentary Thirst for Power on Thursday March 21st at 12:00 noon that takes a deep dive into water-energy confrontations facing our planet. Thirst for Power explores the ruins of Roman aqueducts in France, the mountains and deserts of California, and the vast landscapes of Texas, tracing the mysterious connections and growing confrontations between water and energy use. Combining personal stories with insights into the latest science of energy and water, the film identifies a hopeful path toward wise water-energy decisions and a more reliable and abundant future for humanity.  Following the screening, the filmmaker Mat Hames will join Jennifer Turner, who has managed the Wilson Center’s water-energy initiative Global Chokepoint for 8 years, for a discussion of the film.

Petraeus to Address Energy Economists Annual Meeting – The National Capitol Area Chapter of the US Association for Energy Economics is holding its 23rd annual conference on Wednesday April 24th at the Marvin Center Continental Ballroom at George Washington University. The theme of this year's one-day event is Energy Security.  The confirmed keynote speaker at lunch is David Petraeus, Chairman of the KKR Global Institute. General Petraeus is former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and was commanding general of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and Commander of United States Central Command.  Morning panels will focus on the international role of the United States, the perspective of the U.S. military, and the response of the refining and shipping industries to changes in emissions limits for bunker fuel. Afternoon panels will cover the security of the electric power grid and fossil fuel delivery systems.  There are many leaders from think tanks, government, the private sector and consultancies to explain how energy security concerns are driving the energy markets.