Energy Update: Week of December 9

Friends,

Rolling into December with the holidays fast approaching.  And hoping maybe we will see a little slowdown in the action. Not so this week…Action in Congress will remain busy, busy. 

On the legislative front, Congress is moving forward on a funding bill and clean energy tax provisions and seems to be making significant progress.  There also appears to be significant movement on the massive USMCA trade deal to replace NAFTA.  Finally, negotiators are aiming to tie up a deal on the long-awaited defense reauthorization and could file the conference report as soon as today.

First off today, House Energy & Commerce Republicans will be highlighting the importance of investing in the development and deployment of breakthrough technologies to reduce emissions in an energy and environment policy showcase in Rayburn starting at 1:30 p.m. Other hearings include tomorrow’s Senate Energy hearing on IMO fuel standards featuring our friends AFPM’s Derrick Morgan and ClearView’s Neelesh Nerurkar.  Also tomorrow, House Science holds a hearing on critical minerals.  On Wednesday afternoon, House Armed Services and the House Select Climate Committee both address climate issues while Thursday, the National Petroleum Council meets as Secretary Brouillette attends for the first time as Secretary.  Finally, tomorrow at Noon, House Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva and several of the panel’s members will unveil their climate-change legislation.

On the climate front, it is the second week of the UN Climate meetings in Madrid.  Our friend Zack Colman is there and reporting that climate negotiators have just a few days left in Madrid to hammer out rules linking carbon markets but so far a deal remains elusive. Some of the most challenging discussions are over designing the rules that would guide trading carbon emissions/offsets across borders. Translating world leaders' lofty promises into an actionable set of rules by Friday will be a daunting task and most negotiators continue to make numerous promises that they most likely won’t keep if history is any guide. 

This morning at 10:00 a.m. though (4PM Central European Time) business leaders at COP 25 held a presser to demonstrate how the deployment of clean energy can power greater action and ambition to mitigate climate change and increase community resilience. Today, the second of four ministerial high-level events will feature a coalition of finance ministers with the aim to bring climate considerations into the mainstream of economic policy. The three-hour event featured a packed schedule of high-level speakers.  Full UN Schedule here. 

Other great events for the week include gridCONNEXT 2019 tomorrow to Thursday at The Liaison Hotel featuring our friend Rich Powell of ClearPath.  Also tomorrow, NASEO and Energy Futures Initiative hold a webinar on analysis of the jobs data gathered for the 2019 US Energy and Employment Report and offer a preview of the 2020 survey/analysis. On Wednesday, Third Way sponsors forum on a national clean energy standard featuring Sen. Tina Smith and Rep. Ben Ray Lujan.  RFF looks at The Endangered Species Act on Thursday and Friday OAS and DOE host a forum on natgas use in Latin America while energy economists host a number of their past presidents for insights at their December lunch. Finally, the S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards black-tie affair is Thursday in New York.

That’s all for today, call with questions.  Please feel free to visit the National Press Club on Wednesday evening when they hold their Winter Reception and hand out the annual Vivian Awards.  I think I know someone who is getting one! Eleven days to the final Star Wars movie…

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“Don't ask me what the president will do. I have no idea.”

Appropriations veteran Rep. Mike Simpson when asked if Trump would sign the bills amid an impeachment vote.  Simpson said he remains confident Congress will pass its bill before current spending expires on Dec. 20 as part of a minibus spending package.

ON THE PODCAST

CRES Talks to RealClear Podcast on Climate Meetings – While in Madrid for the UN Climate meetings, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions head Heather Reams made an appearance on a recent RealClear Politics podcast. She and hosts Andrew Walworth and Carl Cannon discussed how Republicans should talk about environmental issues, the need for better solutions for energy storage, and what it is like to try to get something done in Washington while everyone is focused on impeachment.

Bracewell Podcast Looks at Trade, USMCA – The latest episode of Bracewell PRG’s The Lobby Shop Podcast episode features Steve Pavlick, Head of Policy at Renaissance Macro Research and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs at the Treasury Department.  We chat with Steve about USMCA, trade and China, and much more  You can Hear it now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play Music.

FUN OPINIONS

MIT’s Reilly in UDive: Deep Decarbonization Requires Nuclear – A new piece in Utility Dive, MIT expert John Reilly, co-director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, and an energy, environmental and agricultural economist argues as the productivity of solar panels and wind turbines fall because of curtailments, and the integration costs rise, there is a need for other zero-carbon generators that are available at all times, such as nuclear energy.  A new study from a team of researchers at MIT (including myself) examines these trends and explains why this creates an important role for both existing and new nuclear power plants in an affordable decarbonized energy system.

FROG BLOG

CRES Outlines Climate Agenda – CRES’s Reams also wrote an op-ed in RealClear Politics urging Republicans to address the climate concerns of the 85% of suburban women who want to see government take a role in accelerating the use of clean energy in the U.S.  Reams outlined six principles of a GOP climate plan that can win with voters in 2020:

1. Make it affordable
2. Streamline government regulations
3. Take a true “all of the above” approach
4. Recognize the government has a (limited) role to spur innovation
5. Demonstrate U.S. leadership in emissions reductions
6. Think outside of the box

 

IN THE NEWS

COP 25 Update – There is a lot going on in Madrid.  Officials are trying to develop rules linking carbon markets but so far, a deal has proven elusive to the many technical experts. Translating world leaders' lofty promises to protect the climate into an actionable set of rules by the end of the conference will be a daunting task.  Outstanding issues are politically challenging and also include increasing funding l countries must provide to developing countries so they can adapt.  Another important issue. An outline draft text on a COP25 decision is out and reflects efforts to keep ambition at the top of the agenda. The draft text, which could change significantly by the end of the week, stresses the need for science to underpin climate action and calls for more ambitious climate pledges in 2020. The final text will provide a key signal on ambition ahead of next year’s COP26.  Meanwhile, discussions about who deserves “special circumstances” and additional support to respond to climate change continue, including the special needs of African.  This has bothered Latin American countries who are also looking for special help but are not getting it.  There is also a developing country push to ban the use of ‘carry-over credits’ from the Kyoto Protocol to meet Paris Agreement targets. The idea here is that overshoot achieved under the precursor deal should still count. But most countries have said this is not within the ‘spirit of Paris’, but Australia wants to be able to do this.

AG Group Urges SCOTUS to Overturn ACP Ruling – An 18-state alliance is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that unnecessarily blocked construction on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and impedes the nation’s economic growth.  The coalition’s friend of the court brief filed by WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, argues the appeals court was inaccurate in ruling the U.S. Forest Service lacked authority to grant the Atlantic Coast Pipeline rights-of-way through forestland beneath federal trails.  The Atlantic Coast Pipeline will transport natural gas through Harrison, Lewis, Upshur, Randolph and Pocahontas counties en route to Virginia and North Carolina. The halting of pipeline construction has cost West Virginia jobs and lost revenue from income and property taxes. 

Transform Energy Development for the Worse – The brief argues that If left intact, the attorneys general argue the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling would transform 1,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail into a near-impenetrable barrier to energy development – all due to a one-tenth mile crossing deep beneath the surface on a 600-mile pipeline. If applied nationwide, the coalition argues the lower court decision would seal off more than 11,000 miles of federal trails from development and potentially disrupt the national power grid because of the chilling effect it could have on infrastructure investment.
 
States – The state joining West Virginia include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
Moor Joins EPA Air Office – Karl Moor joined EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation as a deputy assistant administrator last week a former staffer in the Reagan administration and on Capitol Hill, Moor also worked for the law firm Balch and Bingham LLP and Southern Company. 

Ag Tech Expert Honored by Native Brazil for Contributions to Science – ISCA President/CEO Agenor Mafra-Neto, Ph.D., received the prestigious Brazilian Diaspora Award at a ceremony on Friday at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, D.C.  The prize from the Brazilian government recognizes exceptional Brazilian expatriates for their contributions to science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, as well as for building a positive image of Brazil worldwide.  A citizen of Brazil and the United States, Dr. Mafra-Neto will moderate an expert panel discussion about innovations in agricultural technology and later receive the award during a ceremony at the embassy.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

COP 25 Continues for Madrid – The UN continues its 25^th Conference of the Parties at IFEMA - Feria de Madrid in Madrid, Spain from today through Friday. The updated overview schedule can be found on the COP 25 session website.

AGU Celebrates 100 years at Meeting in SF – The American Geophysical Union marks its Centennial in 2019 by returning to San Francisco, the home of the AGU Fall Meeting for more than 40 years this week.  A diverse community will convene at the newly renovated Moscone Center to explore and develop research.

Forum to Look at BNEF EV Report – CSIS will host a panel today to discuss strategies and policies to develop and deploy EVs. Aleksandra O'Donovan will outline BloombergNEF's report, Electric Vehicle Outlook 2019, to set the scene with the global forecast for EVs and the implications on the growth of the clean energy economy. Garrett Fitzgerald, with Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), will discuss its recent report, Driving a Shared, Electric, Autonomous Mobility Future, which evaluates mobility in China, India, and the United States.

House Energy to Showcase technologies – Later today, House Energy & Commerce Republicans will be highlighting the importance of investing in the development and deployment of breakthrough technologies to reduce emissions as well as energy and environment policy. Committee Members have invited energy companies, universities, and other organizations from across the nation to showcase their innovative solutions on Capitol Hill.

Grid Forum Set – The GridWise Alliance and Clean Edge hold the 3^rd annual gridCONNEXT 2019 in Washington, DC tomorrow to Thursday at The Liaison Hotel.  The event will bring together technology, policy, utility, and business leaders to explore the most important topics impacting the electric utility industry. Speakers will include former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, former FERC Commissioner Nora Mead Brownell and our friend Rich Powell of ClearPath will speak.  The full agenda is now available online. 

Atlantic Council Discussion Looks at Venezuelan Illegal Mining – The Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center holds a discussion tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. on how to address illegal mining in Venezuela and its transnational security, human rights, and ecological implications. The event will feature a discussion with Lisseth Boon, Venezuelan journalist, who has played a critical role in exposing the illegal mining activities taking place in the country. 

Senate Energy Looks at IMO 2020 – The Senate Energy Committee holds a hearing tomorrow on implementation of the International Maritime Organization's new global sulfur standard for marine fuels, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2020. Witnesses include EIA head Linda Capuano, World Shipping Council CEO John Butler, as well as our friends Derrick Morgan of AFPM and ClearView Energy’s Neelesh Nerurkar. The Committee also holds a business Thursday at 10:00 a.m. to consider pending legislation which includes on 20 energy bills.

House Science Looks at Critical Materials – The House Science Committee hold a hearing tomorrow on research and innovation in critical materials.  Witnesses include Ames Laboratory Director Adam Schwartz, Sophia Hayes of the Washington University in St. Louis, Eck Industries’ David Weiss, and Purdue expert Carol Handwerker.

Wilson to Look at Wastewater Issues in China, US – The Woodrow Wilson Center's China Environment Forum holds a discussion at 10:30 a.m. on wastewater in China and the United States. Speakers will delve into how cities can close the loop on wastewater through methane capture and water recycling to turn wastewater into a cost-saving and sustainable resource. Danielle Neighbour (former Wilson Center Schwarzman Fellow and now at the State Department) will talk about lessons New York City can offer Beijing and other Chinese cities on capturing methane from wastewater biosolids. Patrick Serfass (American Biogas Council) will explain the state of the US biogas market, of which the wastewater sector is one part, and will give examples or the role municipalities often play to help cities recycle food scraps and wastewater sludge to produce renewable energy and soil products. Scott Houston (West Basin Municipal Water District) will close out with a deep dive into how the Los Angeles region has become a leader in water recycling, which provides a sustainable alternative water supply while reducing treated wastewater discharge into the Pacific Ocean and also lowers the region’s dependence on water supplied through the state’s various aqueduct systems.

DOE Officials to Talk End of Life Management for Batteries – Tomorrow at 11:30 a.m., the Electric Power Research Institute holds a workshop under its Washington Seminar Series to discuss the current and future outlook for end-of-life (EoL) management for solar modules, wind turbine blades, and utility-scale lithium ion batteries.  Speakers include DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy David Solan, DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency Alex Fitzsimmons and DOE Vehicle Technologies Office Director David Howell.

House Resource Dems Introduce Climate Legislation – House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl Grijalva and several members of the committee hold a presser at noon tomorrow to unveil their flagship legislation to fight the climate change.

Forum to Look at Nuclear Power’s Future – OurEnergyPolicy and the Keystone Policy Center are hosting a panel event tomorrow at Noon in 201 CVC on the fate of nuclear power.  As renewables and natural gas become increasingly cost-competitive and some policymakers push for a 100% renewable energy future, the fate of conventional nuclear and the existing nuclear power fleet is unclear. Scientists, policymakers, and energy analysts are debating the economics of nuclear energy and how nuclear policy should fit into a “carbon-free” energy future.  This dialogue will explore the current state of conventional nuclear energy, how bills such as the Nuclear Energy Renewal Act (S. 2368) and the Nuclear Powers America Act of 2019 (S. 1134, H.R. 2314) can address concerns in the nuclear power industry, and the fate of nuclear power in the U.S. energy mix.

Webinar to Look at Energy Jobs Data – The National Assn of State Energy Officials (NASEO), in partnership with the Energy Futures Initiative and BW Research Partnership, hosts a webinar tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. The webinar will offer exclusive insights and analysis of the jobs data gathered for the 2019 U.S. Energy and Employment Report and offer a preview of the 2020 survey and analysis.

Senate Dem Climate Panel to Look at Resilience – The Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis holds a hearing tomorrow building community resilience with a changing climate. The panel will hear from local officials and experts on how we can take action now to help communities rebuild after severe weather to be more resilient and better withstand the next disaster.  Panelists include Pew’s Laura Lightbody and LaCrosse, WI Mayor Tim Kabat.

Panel to Look at Science Journalism – The Risk Policy and Law (RP&L) specialty group at the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) holds a panel discussion tomorrow evening at the National Press club to discuss science journalism, risk communication, and policymaking.  Speakers include NYT reporter Kendra Pierre-Louis, GWU School of Media and Public Affairs head and Creator of Planetforward.org Frank Sesno, Cardiff U’s Nick Pidgeon and Hank Jenkins-Smith, Director of the National Institute for Risk and Resilience at the University of Oklahoma. 

Mexico Energy Reform Discussed in Press Club Forum – The Dialogue hosts a forum at the National Press Club on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. on Mexico’s energy sector under the new Administration. As the López Obrador government celebrates its first anniversary, the energy sector continues to be a critical area for understanding the administration’s broader goals and policymaking. A central campaign promise to reduce fuel imports and construct a new refinery, the Dos Bocas project in Tabasco, continues apace and is frequently the subject of the president’s morning press conferences complete with data downloads and updates from the project site.  Additionally, reasserting the primacy of Pemex and CFE and the role of each firm in the nation’s energy sector has been at the center of much of the national discourse. The international investor response has been mixed with notable credit downgrades and less-than-bullish reviews of the Pemex business plan.

Forum Looks at Carbon Free Power – Third Way holds a discussion at Noon in SVC 203 on setting the standard for carbon-free power. Attendees will get a first look at Third Way’s interactive dashboard that shows the trend toward technology-inclusive electricity standards and targets at the state, local, and utility level.  The event will feature Sen. Tina Smith (MN) and Rep. Ben Ray Luján (NM-3), as well as the following panel of experts that includes Lee Anderson of the Utility Workers Union of America, Exelon’s Katie Ott and Jeremy Richardson of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

House Climate Committee Looks at Financing – The House Select Climate Crisis Committee holds a hearing tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. on smart finance for strong communities. The hearing will focus on resilience finance. Specifically, it will explore the actions Congress can take to better leverage federal funds, private capital, and insurance to increase resilience before disasters and to accelerate recovery in their aftermath, while ensuring that no community is left behind.  GAO’s Mark Gaffigan and former HUD official Marion Mollogan McFadden and Damon Burns of the Finance Authority of New Orleans testify.

House Military Panel Climate, Strategic Competition – The House Armed Services Committee’s Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. on climate change in the era of strategic competition. Witnesses include DoD’s Victor Mercado and Mary Miller, Defense Intelligence Director Neill Tipton and Maria Langan-Riekhof, Director of the Strategic Futures Group at the National Intelligence Council for the DNI.

Forum to Look at Link Between Arms Control, Climate – The Institute for Policy Studies holds a discussion on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. on how the U.S. could seize the initiative on arms control and link it to a global rethinking of security in light of climate change. 

Petroleum Council Meets – DOE holds the 129^th meeting of the National Petroleum Council on Thursday.  In addition to remarks from Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, the agenda will feature consideration of the proposed final report of the NPC Committee on U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Transportation Infrastructure and the proposed final report of the NPC Committee on Carbon Capture, Use, and Storage. Both studies were requested by Secretary Rick Perry. The NPC meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m., in the Grand Ballroom of the Willard InterContinental hotel, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., and is open to the public. Persons interested in attending are asked to contact the NPC offices in advance to ensure adequate seating. A press opportunity will be held immediately following the meeting, and contact Carla Scali Byrd for details. The NPC meeting will also be webcast through the NPC website.

RFF to Hold ESA Panel – Resources for the Future (RFF) for a forward-looking panel discussion on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. looking at the Endangered Species Act (ESA), with a focus on how best to implement the recent regulatory revisions and what additional reform ideas the current administration might be interested in pursuing. Speakers include RFF’s Rebecca Epanchin-Niell, NOAA’s Stuart Levenbach, Ya-Wei (Jake) Li of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center and our friend Michael Doyle of E&E News as moderator. 

Money Managers Look at renewable Investments – The Washington Association of Money Managers holds a dinner meeting at the National Press Club on Thursday looking at investment opportunities in renewable energy.  The meeting will feature a conversation with Tom Emmons and Chris Lyons, two senior members of Voya’s Renewable Energy Infrastructure debt team, to learn how investors might best capitalize on the growth of the renewable energy market.

S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards Set for NYC – The 21^st annual S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards black-tie affair will be held on Thursday at Cipriani South Street in New York, NY to celebrate the top performers, industry leaders, and innovators in the energy industry. The event is among the most prestigious and comprehensive awards program in the energy industry. On Wednesday, the 12^th annual S&P Global Platts Global Energy Outlook Forum will be held at the New York Marriott Downtown. The event features more than 200 energy executives for an in-depth insight into the world's most pressing power and energy issues.  See the categories and finalists here.

OAS, DOE Look at NatGas in Latin America – On Friday at 9:30 a.m., the Organization of American States and Department of Energy hold an event on Investing in natural gas for resilient and flexible power systems in Latin America. 

USEA to Host Ethiopian Energy Group – The United States Energy Association, in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development and Power Africa, is hosting a high-level delegation from the Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) on Friday at 10:00 a.m. The purpose of this exchange is to discuss best practices in utility governance and organizational structure optimization as they currently going through major reorganization throughout the utility. The Ethiopian delegation will present information on the Ethiopian energy sector, future plans, challenges, and lessons learned. We invite you to come and learn about Ethiopia's energy future and participate in this discussion. NREL’s Jeff Logan and NETL’s Ivonne Pena Cabra are among the speakers. 

Past Presidents Attend Energy Economists Event – The NCAC of the US Energy Economists will meet for its December lunch on Friday at Noon at Chinatown Garden featuring past Presidents of USAEE. The energy industry has evolved since OPEC took the world stage in the 1970s, and no one knows that more than past presidents of the National Capital Area Chapter of the United States Association for Energy Economics. Several of these individuals will discuss how our business has changed during and after their leadership, and the skills that are needed to adapt. Past presidents Guy Caruso, James Koehler, James McDonnell, Alan Levine, Elaine Levin and Michael Ratner are invited. 

MD Activists Hold Climate Action Summit – On Saturday at the University of Maryland College Park campus, a coalition of advocacy groups large and small — faith leaders, labor activists, environmental groups, and others — will be hosting a one-day conference called Rebuild Maryland: Climate Action Summit. The conference will be co-sponsored by MD Climate Coalition, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, MD League of Conservation Voters, MD Chapter of the Sierra Club, Interfaith Power & Light, MD Legislative Coalition, 350 dot org, Howard County Sunrise, HoCo Climate Action, MoCo Students for Climate, Climate Law & Policy Project.

IN THE FUTURE

WRI Workshop to Develop Clean Energy Proposal – Next Monday morning, the World Resources Institute hosts a workshop on the Forward Clean Energy Markets (FCEM) policy proposal, which aims to provide a framework for a clean energy market to meet such carbon reduction goals.  This workshop will be a discussion around the proposed FCEM, and is one in a series of WRI workshops that examine market design issues and the clean energy transition. Participants will learn more about the proposed model and will have the opportunity to discuss its benefits and drawbacks, potential impacts, pathways for implementation, and relevancy to specific regions within the U.S.

Brookings to Host Climate Forum – Next Monday at 1:30 p.m., the Center for East Asia Policy Studies at Brookings will host experts to discuss climate change and security threats. The panelists will review the climate emergency, delve into its implications for regional governance and security dynamics, and examine mitigation strategies.  This conference is part of the Asia Transnational Threats Forum, an interdisciplinary forum launched by the Brookings Institution Korea Chair to harness the collective expertise of U.S. and foreign partners to tackle key strategic issues affecting all of Asia. Previous discussions were on cybersecurity in Asia in June 2018 and counterterrorism in Asia in December 2018.

WCEE Happy Hour – The Women's Council on Energy & the Environment (WCEE) holds its December 2019 Happy Hour at Kafe Leopold on next Monday December 16^th at 5:30 p.m.

Groups Launch EE Impact Report – The Alliance to Save Energy, along with partners American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and Business Council for Sustainable Energy, will release the first-of-its-kind Energy Efficiency Impact Report next Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. The report will show the sweeping impacts of energy efficiency investments, policies, and innovation and how EE has transformed our energy use. The Energy Efficiency Impact Report will be your go-to resource for everything EE.  Report authors will discuss highlights from the new report, which covers a variety of sectors including utilities, buildings, industry, and transportation, and explores the impacts of policy and other market tools to further incentivize energy efficiency.

RFF Forum to Look at Healthy Soils – Resources for the Future (RFF) and Cornell University’s Atkinson Center for Sustainability holds a forum on Tuesday December 17^th at 9:30 a.m. to explore the important role of soil health in finding climate solutions.  The event will open with a short primer on soil health, including an overview of the current health of US soils, what healthier soils might look like in future, and how research suggests we can foster such improvements. A panel of experts will share perspectives from various sectors—government, industry, and the conservation community—on how practices, technologies, and policies related to soil health are evolving.

Jane Fonda to Address NPC – Next Tuesday at 12:30 p.m, the National Press Club hosts actor and activist Jane Fonda at an NPC Headliners luncheon on her movement to push for political action on climate change.  Inspired by young climate activist Greta Thunberg, Fonda has held a “Fire Drill Friday” climate change protest on Capitol Hill every Friday since October 11, 2019. On Thursday nights, before each protest, Fonda hosts a “teach-in” with a panel of experts.

AAAS to Host Climate, Faith Speakers – The American Association for the Advancement of Science Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion will host a forum with Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, and Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori for a discussion on climate change, environmental stewardship, and ways faith communities and scientists are working together to address one of today’s most pressing issues.  Hayhoe and Jefferts-Schori, as scientists and leaders in their faith communities, help build trust and enhance communication between the scientific and religious communities. They connect forefront science with a passion for world service in ways that resonate with both groups, fostering dialogue about shaping effective practices for environmental stewardship.

AAAS Also Looks at Climate Responses – AAAS’s Center for Public Engagement with Science & Technology will also host a coffee and moderated conversation the next day (Wednesday Dec 18) with Hayhoe, Dr. Katy Hinman (AAAS DoSER: Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion), Daniel Barry (AAAS Local Science Engagement Network) and Emily Therese Cloyd (AAAS Center for Public Engagement with Science and Technology). The event will focus on ways of responding to questions about how to take individual and community-level action on climate change. The event will include a short film from the How We Respond project.

Forum to Look at Tax Incentive for Clean Energy Innovation – The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) holds a briefing on Wednesday December 18^th at 10:00 a.m. to discuss a new report about using tax incentives to drive clean energy innovation and an expert panel discussion of key issues and congressional activity on the issue. Speakers include our friend Jeremy Harrell of ClearPath.

Star Wars – December 20^th

Hanukkah – In 2019, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Sunday, December 22^nd and lasts until sundown on Monday, December 30^th.

Christmas – December 25^th

API Sets State of American Energy – API hosts its annual State of Energy on Tuesday January 7^th. 

State of American Business Event Set – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce holds the 21^st annual State of American Business event on Thursday January 9, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., where they will explore the most important trends, opportunities, and challenges facing the business community in the coming year - and beyond.