Energy Update: Week of April 24th

Friends,

Hope you had a great Earth Day on Saturday.  I was enjoying some excellent panels, conversations and fellowship in Boise at the Society of Environmental Journalists. It was great to see IN-PERSON so many great friends at a fun, informative event. I cannot wait until next year at UPenn in Philly. We are going for it on the Bracewell Reception. I’m thinking a Pat’s, Geno’s, Delassandro’s Cheeseteak contest for our food!!!

While a lot of media focus this week will be on the President’s expected re-election announcement/video, the biggest priority for the energy/environment/climate front is the expected EPA announcement on new GHG regulations for power plants on Wednesday or Thursday. As you know, there is a long history/list of problems with GHG regs forcing the SCOTUS to weigh in numerous times with Obama’s (too much) and Trump’s (too little) rules being rejected.  Biden’s EPA is looking for the difficult/illusive “just right” approach. While most previous rulings have urged Congress to take action, how the recent climate laws are applied will be an important new factor. Of course, my colleagues Scott Segal and Jeff Holmstead are happy to offer historical perspective, background and comment.

The House will also vote this week on a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Biden Administration’s two-year pause on solar tariffs from four Southeast Asian countries. The bipartisan measure is likely to pick up Democratic votes on the floor amid pressure to be tough on China and enforce U.S. trade laws. It is also likely to pass the Senate so the key measure will be looking for the 60 votes given the President would certainly veto the CRA.

Congress continues its budget, debt ceiling and legislative efforts this week. While initial efforts touched energy issues, I wouldn’t expect that to stay very long and also add the debt ceiling timeline is pretty quick if you think they will be able to realistically add permit reform. 

Speaking of permitting, the most important hearing this week is Wednesday’s Senate Environment hearing, the first in a series, looking at permitting with the Chamber’s Global Energy Institute CEO Marty Durbin testifying. Also Wednesday, Senate Budget looks at climate again diagnosing the health costs, a House Resources panel examines Forest Service, BOEM, BSEE and USGS budgets and House E&C Environment panel investigates the environmental, human rights, and national security risks of a rush to green policies. Finally on Thursday, a Senate Environment panel tackles the Impacts of plastic production and disposal on environmental justice communities.

Off the Hill, the Energy Innovation Reform Project and the Korea Foundation will hold a seminar on critical minerals and batteries in the U.S.-Korea relationship today in advance of Wednesday’s State Dinner, while the Carbon Capture Coalition holds an online briefing and Q&A to discuss its new Federal Policy Blueprint on Carbon Capture issues. Former Energy Sect Moniz’s EFI holds a forum tomorrow on Capitol Hill on the role of US natural gas exports in a low-carbon world. Then on Wednesday, EPRI and Hydrogen Forward launch the first of two forthcoming events that will highlight critical elements in the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure.  On Thursday, the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution and Stanford’s Doerr School of Sustainability will convene leaders and experts to examine the future of clean energy innovation and deployment. Finally, we start to see 1Q earnings from oil majors on Friday.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is on Saturday with Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr hosting and President Biden attending. POLITICO has a preview of the events/activities. Also, the 149^th Kentucky Derby runs for the roses on May 5^th. Preview next week. 

                                                                                                              

FRANKLY SPOKEN

"We're not going to turn the faucet off and say we’re not drilling anymore.''

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland speaking to the annual conference of the Society of Environmental Journalist in Boise, ID on Friday.

 

ON THE PODCAST

Granholm Visits with Columbia Podcast – In the latest edition of the Columbia Energy Exchange podcast, host Jason Bordoff talks with United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. They discuss the American energy sector, the Inflation Reduction Act, and how the Department of Energy is using its executive authority to address the climate crisis.

 

FUN OPINIONS

Curtis, Reams: Alaska Must Have All-of-Above Energy – In the Anchorage Daily News last week, Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) and Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) President Heather Reams highlight their participation at the 2023 Arctic Encounter in Anchorage, AK, and key takeaways from Alaska's approach to all-of-the-above energy. Energy production is critical to Alaska’s economy and way of life. In a state where far too many still do not have access to running water and most remote communities rely entirely on diesel generators for electricity and heat, (Oil &Gas) revenues are the reason many rural communities have basic infrastructure, including electricity, sewer and water, schools, and medical facilities. Still, communities throughout the Last Frontier are exploring new ways to embrace clean energy resources, including wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal, and small modular nuclear reactors. 

 

FROG BLOG

EMI’s Lovins Talks Critical Minerals – In a blog post for RMI, Amory Lovins write accessible alternatives to “critical materials” can make excellent EV batteries, solar cells, and wind turbines. Most assessments of “critical materials” pay far too little attention to how scarcity, usually signaled by price, elicits not only mineral exploration and mine development but also a powerful set of other and faster adaptations and alternatives like efficient use, substitution, and recycling.

 

FUN FACTS

GHGs in the US:

 

IN THE NEWS

NOAA  Recommends $562M Investment to Make Communities Resilient to Climate Impacts – The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration in the Department of Commerce has recommended $562 million in funding - including investments in 149 projects across 30 coastal and Great Lakes states and territories - to make communities and the economy more resilient to climate change. Of that, $477 million is for high-impact projects that create climate solutions by strengthening coastal communities’ ability to respond to extreme weather events, pollution and marine debris; restoring coastal habitats to help wildlife and humans thrive; storing carbon; building the capacity of underserved communities to address climate hazards and supporting community-driven restoration; and creating jobs in local communities. The awards are being made under NOAA’s Climate-Ready Coasts Initiative and are funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and bolstered by the Inflation Reduction Act.

DOE Announces $250 Million to Accelerate Heat Pump Manufacturing – DOE has announced a $250 million funding opportunity, via the Inflation Reduction Act, to accelerate electric heat pump manufacturing in America. DOE is extending applications to manufacturers that are interested in creating new facilities or expanding existing production capacity. This is the first funding opportunity announcement stemming from DOE’s new authorization, invoked by President Biden last summer, to utilize the Defense Production Act to increase domestic production of five key clean energy technologies, including electric heat pumps. AHRI welcomed the announcement saying heat pumps will be a valuable tool to strategically use in effort to reduce climate change.

Report: Faster Carbon Management Deployment Needed – An Energy Department finds that carbon management technologies have only been deployed at 1 to 5% of what will be needed by 2050 to meet climate targets, POLITICO reported.  While the U.S. currently leads the world in carbon management deployment with more than 20 million tons of carbon dioxide per year of carbon capture capacity, that's a far cry from what will be needed by 2050 to reach the country's energy goals, according to Monday's report. Reaching U.S. net-zero goals will require capturing and storing 400 million tons of CO2 per year to 1,800 million tons of CO2 annually by 2050 through the use of carbon capture, utilization and storage and carbon dioxide removal, modeling studies suggest. The findings are part of the DOE's "pathways to commercial liftoff" reports, which previously have focused on clean hydrogen, advanced nuclear and long duration energy storage. The new report discussed the entire carbon management ecosystem, including point-source carbon capture, utilization and storage and carbon dioxide removal technologies.

 

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Forum Looks at Critical Mineral Challenges – The Energy Innovation Reform Project and the Korea Foundation will hold a seminar on critical minerals and batteries in the U.S.-Korea relationship today at Noon. On the eve of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to the United States—including a state dinner at the White House and an address to a joint session of Congress—EIRP and the Korea Foundation hold a discussion of these complex issues with leading policy experts from Korea and the United States. Speakers will include Hanyang University, Seoul professor Younkyoo Kim, CSIS Expert Jane Nakano and EIRP’s Paul Saunders.

Carbon Capture Group to Release Policy Blueprint – The Carbon Capture Coalition holds an online briefing and Q&A today at Noon to Discuss its new Federal Policy Blueprint on Carbon capture Issues.

Forum Looks at EV Policy Challenges – The Environmental Law Institute GreenTech Webinar Series continues today at 2:00 p.m. to look at EV policy equity and innovations. In this webinar, expert panelists will discuss these issues and more surrounding the move to electrify transportation. We will explore not only leading innovations in the EV space, but also creative regulatory mechanisms and government initiatives adapted for this new technology. ELI’s GreenTech initiative.

Reed to Talk China – The Center for a New American Security holds a fireside chat with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee today at 3:00 p.m. The event will be moderated by Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn, Senior Fellow and Director of the CNAS Defense Program. Senator Reed will outline his priorities for the Department of Defense. Then the conversation will cover a range of issues, including the challenge posed by China, ongoing support to Ukraine, AUKUS, and the health of the defense industrial base.

Forum Looks at Iraq Energy, Economy – The Atlantic Council holds a discussion today at 3:00 p.m. on reimagining Iraq's economy and energy sector in the post-invasion era. The event focuses on the past two decades and assessing its progress and future trajectory.

Forum Looks at Critical Minerals in Latin America -- The Wilson Center's Latin American Program holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., on Latin America's lithium, critical minerals and the global energy transition.  In a forthcoming report, “Latin America’s Lithium: Perspectives on Critical Minerals and the Global Energy Transition,” the Wilson Center’s Latin America Program examines the region’s enormous potential to supply the lithium needed to drive the global energy transition.

This flagship report, the first in a series, looks at how US-China competition is reflected in the scramble for lithium in South America, how opposition to lithium mining in local communities could curtail production, and how to improve regulations regarding water use to ensure a sustainable lithium industry in the region.

Report to Look at Hydrogen – The Renewable Thermal Collaborative releases a report tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. from Deloitte and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), co-authored the Green Hydrogen Technology Assessment Report. The report aims to better understand the potential for and barriers to the development and use of green hydrogen for industrial heat applications, as well as to identify stakeholder priorities for ensuring that green hydrogen plays an appropriate role in industrial decarbonization for large energy users.

Farm Foundation Reviews Water, Ag – The Farm Foundation holds a virtual forum tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., on water rights and policy in agriculture today.

EFI to Release NatGas Report – The Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) holds a forum tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. on Capitol Hill on the role of US Natural Gas exports in a low-carbon world. Natural gas can help countries around the world meet both energy security needs and decarbonization goals. The United States, as the world’s biggest natural gas exporter, plays an important role at the global stage.

ACORE Webinar Looks at Clean Energy RTO Reforms – ACORE Grid Strategies, the Consumer Advocates for the PJM states, a renewable energy developer and Sierra Club hold a webinar tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. to release and comment on a New Report by Grid Strategies on the need for energy and ancillary service market reforms in PJM and MISO to create a level playing field and enable a reliable and efficient transition to clean energy.

Forum Looks at Community Programs on Resilience – The Clean Energy States Alliance hold a forum on tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on implementing community programs alongside resilience Hub development. Resilient power – solar paired with battery storage – can provide essential economic benefits and backup power to Resilience Hubs, community-serving facilities augmented to support residents and coordinate resource distribution and services, before, during and after an emergency.

USEA Hosts Chile Discussion – Tomorrow at 1:00 p.m., the US Energy Assn holds a forum on a just energy transition in Chile. The webinar with Natalia Correa, Head of Sustainable and Circular Ecosystems and Roberto Alhucema, Head of O&M Gas & Coal Chile de Enel Generación, will look at the steps Enel Chile has taken to prepare for net zero generation with a comprehensive Just Energy Transition plan.

FP Hosts Climate Summit – On Wednesday, Foreign Policy holds its third annual Climate Summit, where they will convene climate-minded leaders and experts for high-profile discussions on maintaining momentum from COP27 and following through on commitments. With a focus on achieving net-zero, addressing climate justice and the logistics of implementation, this event will look at the first steps of making the world’s answer to climate change a reality. The event will also explore how governments and organizations are making progress, identifying, and implementing best practices and navigating the road ahead to COP28.

Senate Enviro to Start Permitting Focus – The Senate Environment Committee will hold the first in a series of hearings on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. looking at permitting. The Chamber’s Global Energy Institute CEO Marty Durbin is among those testifying.

Senate Budget Looks at Health Costs of Climate – Pretty sure this has already been covered by the Committees that really have jurisdiction, but the Senate Budget Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday at !0:00 a.m. diagnosing the health costs of climate change.

Resources Hosts Forest Service, BOEM, USGS – The House Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. examining the President's FY2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Forest Service. Then at 2:00 p.m., they host a hearing examining the President's FY2024 Budget Request for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the U.S. Geological Survey.

House Energy Panel Tackles Green Policies – The House Energy and Commerce Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Materials Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. to investigate the environmental, human rights, and national security risks of the Biden Administration's rush to green policies.

Reuters Forum Looks at Offshore Wind – Reuters holds a forum on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. To look at the future of offshore wind expansion. From the first ever Pacific lease sale in California, to the recent announcement of two WEAs in the Gulf of Mexico, the race is officially on to hit 30GW of offshore wind by 2030.  The event will feature lease winners and federal regulators on plans to undertake this monumental task and discuss what project pipelines will look like over the next decade. The discussion will dive into the possibility for expanding offshore wind areas in the Gulf of Maine, Oregon and the Great Lakes. DOE’s offshore wind lead Jocelyn Brown-Saracino speaks.

Forum Looks at Nuclear – The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research hold a forum on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. the benefits of nuclear regulatory reform. The event will look at commonsense regulatory reforms could help kickstart an American nuclear renaissance and policymakers thinking outside-the-box when it comes to nuclear energy regulations. Former NRC Commissioner Jeff Merrifield and American Nuclear Society CEO Craig Piercy will speak.

Forum to Look at Tribal Energy Transitions – The Institute for Policy Integrity holds a forum on Wednesday at Noon on the impacts, opportunities and research ethics of tribal Energy transitions. In this webinar, panelists will share preliminary findings from their research and policy work, focusing on both the local economic impacts energy transitions have on Indigenous tribes as well as the opportunities that energy transitions might create for these communities. The discussion will address the technological and policy changes needed to make the most of these shifts. Panelists will also reflect on their research design strategies for ensuring that their processes and results serve and benefit the communities they are engaging.

Forum Looks at Scaling Up Renewables – The Alliance to Save Energy holds the Energy 2040 Phase 1 Policy Recommendations release on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. Energy 2040, led by the Commission on National Energy Efficiency Policy, supports a just energy transition – one that achieves our decarbonization goals while advancing energy equity, reliability, and affordability. The Phase 1 Policy Recommendations represent the early products of Commission’s work, designed to guide policymakers to well-rounded, credible policy pathways for rapidly scaling up energy efficiency solutions.

EPRI to Host Hydrogen Series – EPRI and Hydrogen Forward hold two forthcoming events that will highlight critical elements in the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure. Over two sessions, EPRI and Hydrogen Forward will convene subject-matter experts in this field to discuss the roadblocks and opportunities these areas will bring as hydrogen is increasingly being deployed economy-wide. The first will be Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. where the discussion will focus on ways in which hydrogen can be deployed safely, particularly focusing on near-term demonstrations and existing applications like blending, refueling, pipelines, and production. Speakers include PNNL’s Nick Barilo, DOT’s Vincent Holohan, Jennifer Massey of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters and National Grid’s Mark Prewitt. The Second will be next Thursday May 4^th at 10:00 a.m. and look at analyzing the important role of active community engagement in successful infrastructure development by enabling efficient project buildout.

FT Looks at Renewable Gasoline – The Financial Times on Wednesday will host a forum on the role of renewable gasoline featuring our friend Derek Brower moderating Chevron President Andy Walz and Toyota Research Institute CEO Gill Pratt. The FT Energy Source Leaders Digital Dialogue will review the promise and potential of renewable gasoline, and the drivers, benefits, challenges and opportunities on the path to commercialization and scale. 

Forum Focused on Farm Bill – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds a briefing on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. looking at what you need to know about this year’s Farm Bill, including key bipartisan opportunities for addressing the climate crisis. This briefing will help Congressional staff get up to speed on the basics of the Farm Bill, including the process for passing the bill, the history of the Farm Bill, and opportunities for a bipartisan path forward. Staff will develop an understanding of how to meaningfully engage with the 2023 Farm Bill, regardless of their member’s committee assignments.

Forum Hits Offshore Wind – The Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy holds a seminar on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. looking at offshore wind development in the United States. This discussion will examine national and federal deployment targets, state policies, ongoing activities and BOEM leasing activities. NREL’s Matt Shields speaks.

Forum to Talk with State Leaders on Clean Energy – The Clean Energy States Alliance holds a panel on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. that features a State Leaders Roundtable on progress towards 100% clean energy. A panel discussion with leaders from California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Mexico, and North Carolina on the status of their states’ efforts to decarbonize. They will discuss where they think their states are making the most progress and what the most significant challenges are.

Senate Environment Looks at Environmental Justice – The Senate Environment Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight Subcommittee holds a hearing on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. looking at the Impacts of plastic production and disposal on environmental justice communities.

Forum Looks at Clean Energy Future – On Thursday at 1:00 p.m., the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution and the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability will convene leaders and experts to examine the future of clean energy innovation and deployment. The forum will feature remarks from former U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin. The event will feature a fireside chat between Tom Steyer of Galvanize Climate Solutions and Stanford Dean Arun Majumdar. It will also include two panel discussions featuring Inês Azevedo (Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability), Jason Furman (Harvard University), Mark Gallogly (Three Cairns Group), Catherine Hausman (University of Michigan), Heather O’Neill (Advanced Energy United), Carla Peterman (PG&E), and Michael Wara (Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability). The event will coincide with the release of a set of economic facts on significant but surmountable barriers to making the clean energy transition as well as a policy proposal that lays out the rationale for substantially increasing federal spending on clean energy R&D and attendant guiding principles for how the money should be deployed.

DOE Updates Geothermal Tech – On Thursday at 1:30 p.m., the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office holds its quarterly review to learn about upcoming projects and events to deploy geothermal across the United States.

Forum Tackles Critical Mineral Questions – On Thursday at 3:00 p.m., the Peterson Institute for International Economics holds a forum looking at securing critical mineral supply chains amid Chinese and Western tensions. Critical minerals that underpin green technologies are vital to combating climate change, rebuilding the U.S. semiconductor industry, and reducing dependence on China. China dominates critical mineral supply chains, and diversifying suppliers is a challenge the U.S. and its allies.

Wilson Looks at Climate Risks, Migration in Central America – The Woodrow Wilson Center holds a forum on Friday at 10:00 a.m. addressing the converging risks of climate, insecurity, and migration in Central America. The event features a panel of experts on how we can better support decision-makers, civil society, and diverse communities of practice to work together to strengthen resilience in the region.

Forum Looks at Central Asia Power Issues – On Friday at 10:00 a.m. the Atlantic Council holds a virtual discussion on Kazakhstan and Central Asia powering and feeding the world. A new Atlantic Council report, “Kazakhstan could lead Central Asia in mitigating the world’s energy and food shortages,” analyzes the potential for Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region to supply power and food to global markets in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

 

IN THE FUTURE

WRI Looks at GHG Protocol – Next Tuesday May 2^nd at 11:00 a.m., Worldwatch Institute holds a seminar on the GHG Protocol Standards Update process. The GHG Protocol secretariat will review key themes presented by stakeholders in the recently concluded Scope 2 Guidance survey responses and proposal submissions. In this webinar, the GHG Protocol secretariat will review key themes presented by stakeholders in the recently concluded Scope 2 Guidance survey responses and proposal submissions.

Forum Looks at Energy Resilience – The Clean Energy States Alliance holds a forum on Tuesday May 2^nd 2:00 p.m. on the Department of Defense’s clean energy and energy resilience programs and policies. This will provide an introduction for state and local policy makers about DoD’s clean energy & energy resilience policies and programs and explore case studies of DoD’s active partnerships with local governments and utilities to make mutually beneficial resilience investments.

Energy Forum Features Former Energy Secretary, Now Sempra Head – US Energy Stream’s 8^th annual Washington Energy Summit will be on May 10^th -11^th at the Cosmos Club of Washington, DC. Former Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and President of Sempra Infrastructure will be the Industry Keynote Speaker. At the Washington Energy Summit, speakers include U.S. Senators, U.S. Congressmen and senior U.S. government officials, together with top energy leaders to provide market intelligence and enable solutions. This year’s topic is: “Shaping the Global Energy Industry Together: How can the United States Government Better Collaborate with Energy Leaders?” Other speakers include Sen. Ted Cruz, Reps. Dan Crenshaw, Vincente Gonzales, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Kelly Armstrong and many more. 

BioGas American Set for Chicago – The American Biogas Council holds 2023 BioGas Americas in Chicago at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on May 15^th to 18^th. The event is the biggest event in the US for biogas/RNG.

POLITICO Energy Summit Set -- POLITICO is holding its 2023 Energy Summit on May 18^th at 12:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C., at The Schuyler. The Forum will dig into clean energy technologies and innovation, including wind energy, solar power and battery technologies as well as the electrification of the transportation sector, while acknowledging the larger political forces that will shape any policy wins. Speakers will include Sen Ed Markey, White House Infrastructure Advisor Mitch Landrieu, Ali Zaidi and several more.

Climate Prep Conference Set – The Climate Change Preparedness Conference 2023 is set for Washington, DC from May 18-20^th. The three-day event unites climate experts, governments official and policymakers, community organizer. youth leaders, environmental professionals and other stakeholders from around the country to focus on adaptive solutions to foster climate resilience. Speakers include DOE’s Aaron Fuller, Tao Wang of the Word Bank, USDA’s Joaquin Altoro and former CEQ Head Nancy Sutley, now of LADWP.

USEA Policy Forum Set – On May 25^th, the US Energy Assn holds its annual membership meeting and Policy Forum at the Ronald Reagan Building From 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.