Energy Update: Week of November 14

Energy Update - November 14, 2016

Friends,

In case you haven’t noticed, the last few nights, the Moon has been crazy bright.  Now that I have to walk our new puppy every night, the Supermoon has been really awesome to see.  A “supermoon” occurs when the moon becomes full on the same day as its perigee, the point in the moon’s orbit when it is closest to Earth.  Supermoons generally appear to be 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full moons. The Supermoon tonight will be the closest a Full Moon has been to Earth since January 26, 1948 and is the last night to really catch it until 2034 when it will even be closer and brighter.  Live Science offers a viewing guide here.

What a crazy finish to this crazy election.  Boy, do the results change things around DC especially in the environment and energy arena.  We are offering our insights and policy analysis.  We had a HUGE turnout for our election impacts webinar last week and we will continue to keep you updated on activities related to the transition.  We have already been chatting with many of you and are happy to continue answering your questions regarding transition, First 100 Days agenda, Congress and other information.   Also, if you are looking for more analysis, E&E TV hosts our friend and energy analyst Kevin Book to discuss the energy and environment landscape on the heels of Trump’s election.

With the election in the past and the transition beginning, we are quickly turning to the post-election legislative session, which has certainly lost a lot of its momentum.  That being said, there are several items that need to be completed.  Tomorrow Congress hits “go” with just a few weeks left in the 114th Congress and some unfinished business has been dramatically shortened.  Rumors around suggest that Republicans would rather deal with incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rather that the retiring Harry Reid.  So it seems like dramatic tax, budget and energy changes might just get wrapped up into a small CR, pushing everything to early next year.

Also this week ministers arrive in Marrakesh for week two of COP 22 to a much different political tone. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz is participating today and tomorrow in sessions on carbon capture, innovation and clean energy, while Climate negotiator Jonathan Pershing arrived over the weekend.  There are also rumblings about a new Trump Administration trying to get out of Paris which actually is kind of silly since the agreement doesn’t really require us to do anything more than we are already doing in terms of mandatory GHG reporting.   More on this as we go forward.

Other events start tomorrow with a GenerationHub forum that will feature Holmstead and me, a enviros anti-pipeline rally at the White House, RFF-Stanford’s NatGas forum and USEA hosting Coal Council CEO Janet Gellicci.  On Wednesday, Senate Approps looks at the future of Nuclear.  And Friday, CSIS hosts IEA to release its World Energy Outlook and RealClearPoltics hosts an energy summit featuring AGA’s Kathryn Clay, SEIA’s Chris Mansour, AWEA’s Rob Gramlich and NEI’s Revis James, among others.

Finally, next Monday at the National Press Club, Gina McCarthy will give her final address.  Bracewell is sponsoring table so we will be there to hear her take as she departs after 8 years at the EPA.

We are on it… Call with questions.

 

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

(202) 997-5932

 

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“The last thing in the world any newly-elected president wants to do is go into complicated issues with blinders on.  As a result, they look to people as advisors and implementers that have a full understanding of the subject matter they are supposed to address.”

Scott Segal, head of Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group

 

PRG ELECTION ANALYSIS

Bracewell PRG Election Update – The 2016 election results have significant implications for companies across a wide range of industry sectors. From environmental policy to financial services to tax reform, President-elect Trump has committed to sweeping action on a variety of fronts, and will have a Republican-controlled House and Senate to work with on priority issues. Nevertheless, the GOP-led Senate is not filibuster-proof, and many of the finer points of Trump’s agenda remain unclear. Accordingly, it is important for interested stakeholders to begin thinking through how their own priorities will track with the next President and Congress. The Policy Resolution Group at Bracewell LLP (PRG) has prepared this post-election report to identify some of the key issues slated for action in Washington next term. Our team of lobbyists, lawyers and strategic communications professionals combines decades of experience working on these issues in the private sector, on Capitol Hill and at federal agencies—and stands ready to help our clients make sure their voices are heard by policymakers and the public. For further details on the election results, click here.

Bracewell Webinar Sees Massive Attendance – Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group experts held an election wrap up on Wednesday with more than 500 participants.  Here is the audio file from Wednesday’s Bracewell PRG Election Analysis webinar:  https://bgllp.sharefile.com/d-sdf9ccd676b94f6f9  Here is a list of the speakers:

    • Host/Intro: Dee Martin
    • Scott Segal
    • Jeff Holmstead
    • Salo Zelermyer
    • Josh Zive
    • Curt Beaulieu
    • Paul Nathanson
    • Ed Krenik
    • Former TX Sen Kay Baily Hutchinson

 

The slides from the presentation are available here.

VIDEO: Election Day Takeaways and What to Expect in the Trump Presidency – Dee Martin and Scott Segal, co-heads of Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group, discuss their reactions to the surprising results of the 2016 elections and what to expect during the first 100 days of a Trump administration. view video…

VIDEO: Outlook for the Clean Power Plan and Other Environmental Issues – Scott Segal, co-head of Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group, and Jeff Holmstead, head of the Environmental Strategies Group at Bracewell and former EPA Air Office head, discuss how the next President and Congress will confront issues such as climate change, the Clean Power Plan, and other environmental regulations. view video…

VIDEO: Outlook for Energy Policy – Dee Martin, co-head of Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group, and former DOE Counsel Salo Zelermyer discuss what the results of the election may mean for oil and gas, renewable energy, and fuels. view video…

Detailed Policy Papers for PRG Here – There are also written policy analysis papers on the PRG site that details impacts of the election on a number of key issues, including Environment, Energy, Trade, Tax Issues, and Appropriations/Budget.

 

POST-ELECTION LEGISLATIVE SESSION PRIMER

Post-Election Legislative Session – Tomorrow, lawmakers will return to the Capitol for necessary post-election legislative session.  With just a few weeks left in the 114th Congress, the long list of unfinished business has been dramatically shortened.  Rumors around suggest that Republicans would rather deal with incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rather that the retiring Harry Reid.  SO it seems like dramatic tax, budget and energy changes might just get wrapped up into a small CR.

The Deadline – Lawmakers face a Dec. 9 deadline for the keeping the government running, but senior leaders plan to move a continuing resolution in the lame duck that will fund the government into early next year.

A Clean CR? – The election has made significant changes to the tone of the post-election legislative session.  More sources and media outlets are reporting that House and Senate GOP leaders plan to move legislation that funds the government at current levels into early next year.  This effort will split up showdowns over a government shutdown and a debt ceiling hike.  Pushing the issues to when Trump and a Republican Congress handle government funding is easier politically and gives the GOP more control over final budget outcomes.  Expect a CR to go to the March/April time frame.

The Tax Issues – One of the biggest issues to hit the agenda is whether Congress considers energy tax extenders as part of must-pass budget legislation.  Last year’s omnibus deal included a 5-year phased down extension of tax credits under Sec 45(commercial), Sec 48(commercial), and Sec 25D(residential) for wind and solar.  Already both House and Senate leaders have said they plan to have tax extenders that were inadvertently left out of the deal, at the top of the agenda when the post-election legislative session gets underway.  CEQ chair and energy advisor to President Obama Brian Deese also said these energy tax extenders must be renewed in a post-election session of Congress.  These seem to be part of any Democratic ask, but there are also a lot of other Republican-led extenders that may balance that out.

CCS Tax Credit – Speaking of the post-election legislative session, our friends at the National Enhanced Oil Recovery Initiative (NEORI) have just posted their presidential transition memos on carbon capture, utilization and storage. With the lame duck session now just days away, action on 45Q and related policy priorities is building. NEORI expects new cosponsors on the Senate and House 45Q bills once Congress returns and are confident that this bipartisan, common-sense energy and climate legislation will pass this year.

Energy Legislation – While Sens. Murkowski and Cantwell continue discussions with House energy Conferees, most experts think it may be unlikely that enough progress will be made to have significant energy legislation face a vote.  Senate conferees last month sent the House a compromise proposal, and discussions are expected to step up once members return next week.  Now most think, the current discussions will be the primer to start discussions early next year.

LNG Permits Expedited In NADA – Our friends at Bloomberg First Energy are reporting that the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas, is saying that Congress may pass legislation to expedite DOE approval for liquefied natural gas exports.  One reason they are optimistic is its inclusion of language speeding of the process in the House’s 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, currently undergoing conference with the Senate.

WRDA Still Possible – One thing that seems to have some momentum is the Water Resource Development Act reform legislation that was overwhelmingly approved by both Houses earlier this year.   The legislation includes resources for Flint’s water crisis.

What’s Out For Sure – There are a number of things that are definitely out, like any thought that Merrick Garland’s nomination will be considered.

 

IN THE NEWS

NRECA Aim to Hire Vets – Faced with the challenge of filling 15,000 jobs over the next five to seven years, America’s electric cooperatives want to do more than simply thank veterans for their service this Veterans Day—they want to offer them a job.  To achieve this goal, NRECA launched Serve Our Co-ops; Serve Our Country, a nationwide program to provide veterans, service members and military spouses with the opportunity to continue their mission of service by joining the ranks of America’s electric co-ops. The program provides participating co-ops with resources and training to help them implement nationally-recognized best practices in attracting, hiring, onboarding and retaining veterans.  50 co-ops have signed on to the initiative since its launch earlier this year. In July, Jonesboro, Ark.-based Craighead Electric Cooperative hired the first veteran under the program when it welcomed aboard Air Force Capt. Jeremiah Sloan as an electrical engineer. “He is a totally professional young man,” Craighead CEO Brian Duncan said. “Not only did we get a quality candidate to serve our members, we got a local guy who wanted to get back home and a veteran who has served our country well.”  Click here to view a brief video about the program, including interviews with Sloan and Duncan on why vets are a good fit for electric co-ops.  For more information on Serve Our Co-ops; Serve Our Country, contact Dan Riedinger, NRECA Media Relations, at (202) 403-7517 or dan.riedinger@nreca.coop.

AGA Leads Effort Aimed at Scammers – The American Gas Association, in coordination with a number of natural gas utilities and industry trade associations, will launch this week an inaugural campaign, titled “Utilities United Against Scams.” This collaborative effort is geared toward promoting awareness and prevention of the increasing number of scamming incidents targeting utility customers across North America. As a result of this effort, the third Wednesday in November every year will be designated as Utilities United Against Scams Day.  This national campaign aims to address the wide-range of utility scams including telephone, mail, email, door-to-door and other scams that involve criminals posing as utility company representatives and demanding immediate payment or personal information from customers. AGA member companies across the nation will continue to work alongside law enforcement, industry stakeholders and political leaders at the local and national level to denounce these disruptive scams.

Georgetown Report Says Clean Energy Booming – A new report from the Georgetown Climate Center shows that a dramatic shift to clean energy is taking place across the U.S.  Between 2011 and 2014, installed wind energy capacity grew by more than 40 percent nationally, for example, while solar capacity grew by 577 percent nationally. The Georgetown Climate Center works with states and cities to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, and to help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. Its new report focuses on actions in 19 states that are leading a shift to cleaner energy. These actions have contributed to a 6 percent drop in overall United States greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector between 2012 and 2015.

REPORT: Global Emission Flat Despite Economic Growth – The Global Carbon Project says in a new report the global CO2 emissions stayed flat for the third year in a row despite  modest economic growth around the globe.  The report said the expanded natural gas use and lower coal use in China is driving the trend.  While the global economy grew by over 3%, emissions growth remained relatively flat.  Emissions are projected to rise by only 0.2% this year, marking a “clear break” from growing 2.3% in the decade to 2013. Emissions grew 0.7% in 2014.

 

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

COP 22 Marrakesh – The 22nd Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) continues this week as ministers arrive in Marrakesh, Morocco to focus on action items in order to achieve the priorities of The Paris Agreement, especially related to adaptation, transparency, technology transfer, mitigation, capacity building and loss and damages.  It will also look at many of the difficult conflicts that were disregarded during last year’s negotiations.

JHU Forum Looks at Energy, Climate Policies – Today at 5:00 p.m., Johns Hopkins SAIS will host a forum on energy and climate policy proposals for the next Administration.  The discussion features former State Department Special Envoy for International Energy Affairs David Goldwyn, former NSC energy advisor Bob McNally, RFF’s Roberton Williams and NRDC’s Ben Longstreth.

Hoover to Discuss Conservative Environmentalism – The Hoover Institution hosts a discussion on “Conservative Environmentalism” tomorrow at 8:45 a.m.  Philosopher and renowned author Sir Roger Scruton agrees that the environment is one of the most important political problems of our age, but argues in How to Think Seriously About the Planet that conservatism is far better suited to tackle environmental problems than either liberalism or socialism. Sir Roger will lay out his framework for thinking about the environment in a keynote address to be followed by an audience Q&A. This will be followed by a roundtable discussion on both the philosophical and practical dimensions of a conservative environmental policy, touching on issues ranging from the ethical precepts behind conservative environmentalism to the policy ideas that could be put forward in a conservative environmental agenda.  Steve Hayward moderates a panel with Stanford’s Jeremy Carl and GMU’s Mark Sagoff.

House Resources to Look at Energy Independence Legislation – The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a legislative hearing tomorrow  at 11:30 a.m. on legislation to move toward domestic energy independence.  The legislation empowers States to control the development and production of all forms of energy on all available Federal land.

API Holds Cybersecurity Conference – The 11th annual API Cybersecurity Conference & Expo will be held in Houston at the Westin Houston Memorial City tomorrow and Wednesday.  The forum will focus on methods for thwarting the bad guys, what the scene looks like over the horizon and how the latest technologies can help you counter cyber espionage, address cyber warfare, and make your cyber efforts secure.  Cybersecurity is critical to the infrastructure of the oil and natural gas industry. The energy industry, including oil and natural gas, is ranked 2nd highest of all industries most likely to suffer a cyberattack. This conference is organized by API to provide an opportunity to network with cybersecurity professionals, and to candidly discuss challenges and share solutions. These sessions, essential to cybersecurity, are chosen and presented by recognized experts in the field.

RFF, Stanford Looking at NatGas Siting – Resources for the Future (RFF), Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and Stanford Natural Gas Initiative Webinar are hosting another webinar in the series on New Research on the Science and Economics of Natural Gas tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. looking at optimal siting of shale gas and oil development.  This is the third event in a joint RFF/Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment/Stanford Natural Gas Initiative.  The siting of shale gas and oil development—everything from well pads to pipelines—is based on a complex network of factors, including resource availability, lease ownership, environmental concerns, local zoning, and community preference. Experts at Stanford University and Resources for the Future are considering ways in which these various factors come into play in siting decisions, including what “optimal siting” might look like in a variety of contexts. Stanford’s Anthony Kovscek will open the webinar by looking at optimal siting of shale development from a technical perspective, considering the geologic characteristics of formations that drive companies’ drilling decisions. RFF’s Juha Siikamäki will then present a new model considering optimal siting of shale gas and oil infrastructure from the perspective of minimizing habitat fragmentation and other landscape-level impacts. Finally, Tisha Schuller from the Stanford Natural Gas Initiative will discuss optimal siting of shale gas and oil infrastructure from the perspective of community and industry interactions.

USEA to Host Coal Council Head –The US Energy Assn will host National Coal Council CEO Janet Gellici tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.  Gellici will present the findings and recommendations from the Council’s recently released report in response to the Secretary Moniz’s request – “CO2 Building Blocks:  Assessing CO2 Utilization Options.”  Moniz had tasked the National Coal Council with preparing a white paper assessing market opportunities for CO2 utilization.

TransForum East Set for Nov – GenerationHub’s TransForum East is scheduled for tomorrow And Wednesday at the Capital Hilton in DC. TransForum East brings together electric transmission executives who operate, plan, build, regulate and invest in electric power transmission systems in Eastern North America.  Both Jeff Holmstead and I will be presenting; Jeff on CPP while I will focus on election impacts.  This regional forum provides two days of interaction and collaboration on the business of power transmission. You’ll gain insight from case studies of successful business models, regional planning strategies, financing trends and practical lessons learned from new construction and upgraded transmission projects occurring in the United States and Canada.

AWEA Fall Symposium Set – AWEA will host its Fall Symposium tomorrow through Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, TX.  The wind energy industry has a powerful vision to take us to 10% U.S. wind energy by 2020 and 20% by 2030.  Reaching these ambitious goals brings different challenges for different segments of the industry.  But how does that take shape in each step from development to distribution?  Participants in this year’s Fall Symposium will work together to identify those concrete steps that can be taken to keep our industry on target. Sessions will focus on the collaborative approach needed to reach industry goals bringing together strategic thinkers of developers, OEMs, suppliers, corporate purchasers of wind energy, and utilities.

CCS Forum Set – The Global CCS Institute will hold a forum tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. to look at the future of carbon capture.  The Institute will be launching The Global Status of CCS: 2016 at a dedicated event at the 22nd conference of the parties (COP 22) in Marrakech on Tuesday, 15 November.   The report is an essential reference for industry, government, research bodies, and the broader community, providing a comprehensive overview of global and regional CCS developments. Following the report launch, we will run a number of webinars commencing in November 2016, through to early 2017.  A Summary of the Global Status of CCS: 2016 will be accessible on our website from 15 November, and includes updates on key CCS facilities.  Speakers will include Jeff Erikson of the Global CCS Institute, Armond Cohen of the Clean Air Task Force, Brookings’ expert Adele Morris and former Rep Bob Inglis.

AU to Host Energy Lecture – Tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., American University will host a lecture by Professor Imre Szeman (University of Alberta) on the way interdisciplinary perspectives can inform our understanding of energy uses and forms. Drawing from his work in the field of Energy Humanities, Professor Szeman will explore the social, cultural, and political changes needed to make possible a full-scale transition from fossil fuels to new forms of energy.

Hearing to Focus on Nuclear Pollution – The Helsinki Commission will hold a hearing tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. in 2325 Rayburn on nuclear pollution in the Arctic.  This briefing will examine the policy of the United States, the Russian Federation, and other Arctic Council nations toward the Arctic. Experts will present a general overview of U.S. and international policy in the Arctic, the broader geopolitics of the region, and the imminent threat posed by nuclear pollution.

Enviros to Rally at White House – Environmental groups will hold anti-pipeline rallies tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. including one at the White House.  It should be fun times.

Forum to DOE, National Intelligence – Tomorrow at 5:00 p.m., the Institute of World Politics will hold a special presentation on the role DOE’s plays in national intelligence with Mr. Jesse Reisman, DOE’s Technical Principal in the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence.  Reisman has been working in the federal government since 2002, primarily in the cyber-related areas of counterterrorism, intelligence and inside threat.  Reisman’s presentation will focus on the role DOE plays in national intelligence, and will also provide a high-level discussion about the IC (mission, components, etc.) and the security clearance process.

Wilson to Host Petrobras President – The Wilson Center will host Petrobras President Pedro Parente on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.  Parente will address the challenges and opportunities facing Brazil’s largest enterprise in today’s tough energy market. After his presentation, he will engage in dialogue with members of the audience interested in learning about the outlook for Petrobras and energy in Brazil. Petrobras has a key role to play in the national effort to overcome Brazil’s current economic downturn, regain trust and confidence from domestic and foreign investors, and put Brazil back on the path of sustainable and equitable economic growth.

Forum to Look at China Environment Reforms – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the International Fund for China’s Environment (IFCE) will host a briefing on Wednesday at discussing China’s ongoing efforts to implement environmental reforms and take action against climate change. Three environmental professionals from China will discuss the challenges and progress associated with setting emission reduction policies, implementing national climate targets at the local level, incentivizing supply chain sustainability, and more.

Heritage to Host Coal Film – On Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. , the Heritage Foundation will host the public premiere of “Collateral Damage: Forgotten Casualties of the Left’s War on Coal” in its Lehrman Auditorium.  “Collateral Damage” is an MRC TV investigative journalism project that documents and exposes the trials of West Virginia families and communities who have been hurt by Environmental Protection Agency regulations targeting the coal industry.

Sen Approps Panel to Look at Nuclear – On Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in 138 Dirksen, the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development will convene a hearing looking at the future of nuclear power.  The witnesses will include former CIA director and current MIT Professor John Deutch, Oak Ridge Lab Nuclear and Engineering Lab Associate director Alan Icenhour and NRDC nuclear expert Matthew McKinzie.

Solar Focus Conference Set – Solar Focus 2016 will be held Wednesday and Thursday at the Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel looking at East Coast solar policy. This year’s theme is “Cracking the Code on East Coast Solar” and will feature sessions from energy storage to fixing oversupplied SREC markets.

Ag Biomass R&D Group to Meet – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee will be meeting Thursday and Friday at the Hamilton Crown Plaza in DC to develop advice and guidance that promotes research and development leading to the production of bio-based fuels and bio-based products.

Economists Look At Carbon Tax Questions – The National Economists Club will host a discussion on Thursday at Noon to discuss low–income households and carbon tax.  Chad Stone, Chief Economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities will speak.

Webinar to Look at Solar Issues, Regulation – Our friends at Power Markets Today will be hosting a webinar on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. on what solar means for retail power regulation.  The webinar will offer a high-level, comprehensive view of how the growth of solar is changing the industry’s regulatory landscape.  The event will feature Inger Goodman of Just Energy Group, SolarCity’s Sanjay Ranchod, CC Song of Marin Clean Energy and SoCal Ed’s director of energy policy Gary Stern.  Our fiend James Downing will moderate.  Call 301-769-6812 (1-888-637-7776 toll-free in the US and Canada) to register.

Columbia Law School to Look at Post-Election Policy – The Columbia Law School Executive Education will hold a seminar on Friday in New York that will look at what to expect after the election.  The forum will gathers professors who are experts in environmental law, immigration issues, regulatory matters, national security concerns, health care, and tax rules to discuss how they predict the next presidency and a new Congress will affect the business and legal landscape.  After a long and brutal battle, no matter who wins in November, there will certainly be fallout. Benefit from the wisdom of this Columbia Law School brain trust to anticipate what will change, and how, so that you can be well-prepared to advise your clients and implement effective strategy.

CSIS to Host IEA’s World Energy Outlook – On Friday at 10:00 a.m., the CSIS Energy & National Security Program is hosting Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director at the International Energy Agency (IEA), to present the IEA’s “World Energy Outlook 2016.” This year’s projections for different scenarios to 2040, based on the latest data and market developments, cover all fuels, regions, and technologies. WEO 2016 gives particular attention to the impact of Paris, renewables, the road ahead for fossil fuels, Mexico’s energy outlook and energy and water issues.

RCP Energy Summit Set – RealClearPolitics will host a unique energy summit on Friday at Noon at the Newseum following the pivotal 2016 election. Prominent energy policy experts will discuss this transition phase and where we go from here. Each speaker will present a brief overview of their industry, along with the challenges they face, the opportunities ahead, and their outlook for the future.  RealClearPolitics Washington Bureau Chief Carl Cannon will moderate the event that will feature LIUNA President Terry O’Sullivan, Kevin Avery of ConocoPhillips, AGA’s Kathryn Clay, SEIA’s Chris Mansour, AWEA’s Rob Gramlich and NEI’s Revis James.

Grid Expert to Address Cybersecurity – The National Capital Area Chapter of the US Assn of Energy Economists (USAEE) will host its monthly luncheon on Friday at Carmines Restaurant at Noon.  Paul Feldman, former Chairman of the Midwest ISO, will focus on the clear and present danger associated with cyber-attacks, what we are doing about it, and what needs to be done better. He will differentiate between IT and OT systems, and how to relate the two into an integrated whole – and protect against attacks like the successful Ukraine attack.

CSIS to Launch India Urban Initiative – CSIS will launch of the U.S.-India State and Urban Initiative on Friday at 2:00 p.m.  The Initiative is a unique effort, backed by the U.S. government, to engage directly with Indian states on energy-related issues, and to form partnerships that can help India extend the benefits of electrification to all its citizens while achieving its goal of quadrupling renewable energy use by 2022. The Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies, with support from the Energy and National Security Program at CSIS, will act as Initiative secretariat. Nisha Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, and Amos J. Hochstein, Special Envoy, Bureau of Energy Resources from the U.S. Department of State will discuss the potential at the subnational level in the U.S.-India relationship, India’s energy picture, and the future of the Initiative.

 

IN THE FUTURE

McCarthy to Address Press Club – EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy will address the National Press Club on next Monday November 21st at Noon.  McCarthy plans to focus on the environmental and public health legacy of the Obama Administration, with an emphasis on efforts to combat the global effects of climate change.

Thanksgiving – November 24

RFF to Look at Natural Disaster Issues – Resources for the Future (RFF) will hold a forum on Monday November 28th looking at disaster losses and climate change.  At this event, Robert Muir-Wood, chief research officer of Risk Management Solutions and author of The Cure for Catastrophe: How We Can Stop Manufacturing Natural Disasters, will explore the human causes of disaster and the new technologies and policy tools available to minimize their impact. In the book, he examines how decisions made today—about how homes are built, where people choose to live, how society prepares, and how leadership communicates warnings—determine whether a disaster can be withstood tomorrow.

Senators Headline Rachel Carson 75th Celebration – EESI will host a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s historic arrival on the American environmental and literary scene on November 30th.   Leading authors, environmental leaders, and members of Congress will all speak at the Rachel Carson Council’s all-day, one-of-a-kind event. Participants include Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, Tom Udall, Martin Heinrich and Reps. Chris Van Hollen, John Tierney and several newly-elected environmental champions. They will be joined by environmental leaders including Gene Karpinski, President of the League of Conservation Voters (LCV); Carol Werner, Executive Director of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI); Linda Pentz Gunter, Beyond Nuclear; Mae Wu, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC); Amanda Hitt, Food Integrity Campaign; Zoe Ackerman, Rachel Carson Council; and others.  Confirmed award-winning authors include Sandra Steingraber, Living Downstream; Jennifer Ackerman, The Genius of Birds; Deborah Cramer, The Narrow Edge: A Tiny Bird, An Ancient Crab, and an Epic Journey; Kristen Iversen, Full Body Burden: Growing Up in the Shadow of Rocky Flats; Melanie Choukas-Bradley, A Year in Rock Creek Park; Susan Cohen, Shorewords, and Bob Musil, Rachel Carson and Her Sisters and Washington in Spring. Their books will be available for purchase and personal signing.

EPA RVO Deadline for Ethanol – November 30

AGU Meeting to Focus on Climate – The Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union will be held on December 12-15 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.  It is the largest worldwide conference in the geophysical sciences, attracting more than 24,000 Earth and space scientists, educators, students, and other leaders. Fall Meeting brings together the entire Earth and space science community from across the globe for discussions of emerging trends and the latest research. The technical program includes presentations on new and cutting-edge science, much of which has not yet been published.