Energy Update: Week of January 31st

Friends,               

Starting today with a sad note on yesterday’s loss of WKRP DJ and legend Dr. Johnny Fever.  While I pitched Les Nessman many times, Fever was the heart & soul of WKRP.  RIP Howard Hesseman.

Another good sports weekend with the Super Bowl set for February 12^th: the LA Rams will play the surprising Cincinnati Bengals (who came from behind to knock off the favored KC Chiefs). It is the second straight year that a team will play in a Super Bowl in its home stadium. And Down Under, Rafa Nadal won his 21^st Grand Slam to take the lead over Djokovic and Federer with a classic 5+ hour, 5-set, come-from-two-sets down win over Daniil Medvedev.  On the Women’s side, American, UVA alum and two-time NCAA champ Danielle Collins came up short against world #1 Ashleigh Barty, who was the first Aussie to win its home title since 1978.

Congress comes back to town this week to return to action on the budget with a funding deadline looming on February 18^th.  If they don’t take quick action, it will make it increasingly likely that a yearlong measure (with previous Trump budget numbers) will exist. This potential challenge likely moves the funding issues ahead of passage of the stalled BBB, further setting back the Biden legislative agenda.  Our experts are tracking… As well, it looks as if discussions on competitiveness and manufacturing legislation has also moved ahead of BBB and will be a major focus this week as well.  The Senate passed very different legislation last year.

The Administration remains under pressure on Ukraine and oil and gas issues.  Late last week, a judge blocked the November lease sale causing havoc and global energy pressure caused by Russia’s threat to Ukraine are creating additional tensions in the Biden positioning on the issue as they walk a tight rope between domestic/international energy realities and climate change positioning.  More in this below.

Hearings this week include an important Senate Banking nomination hearing Thursday featuring climate advocate Sarah Bloom Raskin to be Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve.  The Chamber and energy trades both are weighing in with concerns ahead of the action. Expect some tough questions from both sides. Also Thursday, Senate Energy hosts Maria Robinson to be an assistant Energy secretary for the Office of Electricity; Joseph DeCarolis to head EIA and Laura Daniel-Davis to be an assistant Interior secretary for land and minerals management.  Senate Enviroment digs into recycling on Wednesday and the House Select Climate Committee talks clean energy manufacturing with SEIA’s Abby Hopper and others.

Tomorrow, EPIC hosts a web event with Dep. Climate Envoy Sue Biniaz and Great Plains Institute releases of an atlas of carbon and hydrogen hubs for US decarbonization. On Wednesday, BPC hosts farm/forest carbon forum with Ag Sect. Vilsack as well as former Sens. Heitkamp and Chambliss and Thursday Wilson hosts a forum on Ukraine tensions with Sens. Shaheen and Portman.

Earnings season returns with 2021 and 4Q earnings tomorrow from Exxon, Shell Thursday and bp next week.  Chevron kicked off the action on Friday with a hefty 2021 profit after a big loss in 2020, but its 4Q earnings were mixed, perhaps given the late year COVID uncertainty. More on this this week as it progresses, but feel free to check in if you need background/context.

Finally, the Trump administration's solar tariffs are set to expire on Sunday.  Look for a potential extension (with some minor changes) this week from the Biden Admin, much to the chagrin of many in the industry. 

I am in Florida this week in Key West with Stacey trying to get out of the cold, but I may have stopped at GulfStream Park in in metro Miami on the way down Saturday for the Pegasus World Cup races with Knicks Go and Life Is Good going for the big money.  Either way, I turned out a pretty good payday at the track with a superfecta wheel hit.  Just so you know, it is less than 100 days until the Kentucky Derby…And while the Beijing Winter Olympics start on Thursday, you have to check out this great Wall Street Journal story on the “Cyclocross Super Bowl” held in Arkansas this past weekend.  These guys have been working the quote machine:

“A backyard barbecue where a bike race broke out. It’s pandemonium.”

Brendan Quirk, the recently-named CEO of USA Cycling.

“I feel good about the amount of cowbells.”

Tom Walton, WalMart heir and cycling obsessive that helped bring the World Championships to Fayetteville.

As Bruce Dickinson says when he makes GOLD records, you always need more cowbell.  COVID is still out there (but not so much in FL it seems) so please stay safe and healthy.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“State control will be a ‘game-changer’ for speeding up carbon sequestration projects. States that have primacy or are actively working towards primacy will attract more projects within their borders, which will certainly help local economies and industries."

Jena Lococo of clean energy group ClearPath in a Reuters story about oil states seeking expanded jurisdiction over CCS projects.

“It rips at the seams of the Democrat party on energy and climate policy. You want to inhibit, disinvest, regulate fossil fuels, but on the other hand you have the president begging OPEC+ for more oil, begging Qatar for more gas and promising to look under every rock for oil and gas” in the United States..”

Bob McNally, president of analytics firm Rapidan Energy and a former senior international energy director for the National Security Council, to POLITICO on the global energy tensions surrounding Ukraine.

ON THE PODCAST

Segal Discusses Seabed Minerals on ABA Podcast – ICYMI, my colleague Scott Segal joined the American Bar Association national security team for an ABA podcast session to discuss critical minerals and the Pacific seabed.  It is a great 30-minute “deep dive” (pun intended).

Loris Joins C-SPAN's Washington Journal – Our friend Nick Loris and former CEQ head Christy Goldfuss joined C-SPAN's Washington Journal last week to discuss President Biden's clean energy plans and ways that we can reach decarbonization goals in the United States and abroad. On economic freedom being used as a tool to reach climate objectives, Loris had this to say: “Part of the priority [should be] to expand economic freedom. Both in the United States and around the world. We need more energy innovation, natural climate solutions, and adaptive and resilient solutions, not just in the United States but around the world. A lot of our future growth will come from developing countries like India and China. The best way to have them meet their clean energy targets and emissions reductions, and for global decarbonization to happen, [is getting] costs down to be able to deploy technologies. Expanding economic freedom through private innovation and a number of other practical solutions can get us there.”

FUN OPINIONS

Transmission Needs Falling Short to Reach CA Climate Goals – In an opinion in CalMatters, transmission expert Marty Walicki writes California’s electric grid is not ready to meet climate goals. Walicki says the state must start now to develop the electric grid of the future that will make clean energy possible. A grid that is wildfire resistant and – to the extent possible – buried underground or in the ocean. Acting now will keep California energy policy on track and avoid wasteful curtailment of renewable energy that only undermine its climate goals.

FROG BLOG

EU NatGas Challenge and Its Energy Transition – In a guest essay in the New York Times, experts Meghan O’Sullivan of Harvard and Columbia Climate School Dean Jason Bordoff write that fears are mounting that Europe may be about to face a far worse energy situation as Russia threatens military action in Ukraine. The United States is exploring ways to get more natural gas to the continent. The European Union typically relies on Russia for about 40 percent of its natural gas, making it by far the continent’s largest supplier. Some may see Russia’s actions as the last gasp of a fading petrostate before the energy transition robs the country of geopolitical power. But that would be wishful thinking. The transition to a clean energy economy may actually empower Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, and other petrostate leaders before it diminishes them.

FUN FACTS

Iceberg Naming Rights…or Wrongs: Why do Antarctic icebergs have such mundane names? All large ones that are tracked are named according to a convention established by the U.S. National Ice Center. So A68a, one that broke off in 2017 and recently melted into small pieces, was created in the “A” quadrant of the continent, it was the 68th “A” berg to be large enough to be tracked, and when a small berg broke off of it, it became A68a, and the smaller one became A68b.

A Long Way to Go: According to EIA’s Monthly Energy Review, petroleum accounted for 90% of total energy consumption in the transportation sector. Biomass accounted for 6% of energy consumption in this sector, and natural gas accounted for 3%. Electricity retail sales and electrical system energy losses accounted for less than 1%.

IN THE NEWS

Court Stops Lease Sale – In the latest twist in the saga of the Biden administration's federal oil and gas leases, a U.S. district judge vacated Thursday the results of DOI's November lease sale for large swaths off the Gulf Coast. Judge Rudolph Contreras pointed to the environmental review by Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management under the Trump administration, saying the bureau "acted arbitrarily in excluding foreign consumption from its emissions analysis."

Biden Waking the Tight Rope – Interestingly, more long-term, it shines a bright spotlight on the narrow tight-rope the Administration continues to walk on gas prices and onshore/offshore drilling.  They are clearly admitting their intended policy is to restrict oil and gas drilling with their pipeline shutdowns, ban strategy and now have been handed another opportunity to slow leasing. At the same time, they continue to seek to place blame for high gas prices, asking for more output from OPEC (which hasn’t really worked out), there are global fears with Russia on the border of Ukraine and they keep asking why they aren’t ramping up production. Given the uncertainty and concern about increasing demand, it remains a challenge and we will likely see continued high-gas prices through the summer according to both EIA and AAA. 

A Leases CCS Sidebar – Many of the leases were bids for shallow water tracts.  Remember, there isn’t much new shallow-water drilling going on now (something we know a little something about), so likely these tracts would be for CCS project development, a hot-button issue with both Republican and Democrats in Congress and a major part of the infrastructure law just passed.

API Weighs In – API’s Frank Macchiarola said “this ruling is yet another example of the increasing policy and legal uncertainty that is jeopardizing the future of American energy leadership and leading to greater dependence on foreign energy sources that result in higher emissions. While we are disappointed by the Court’s ruling to vacate the only federal oil and gas lease sale offered last year, we urge the administration to implement policies that encourage continued leasing and development in the Gulf of Mexico, which is critical for meeting demand for affordable energy while generating billions in government revenue for conservation programs. At a time when demand is outpacing supply and energy costs are a top concern for Americans, we should be encouraging the development of our domestic energy resources, not sending signals that disincentivize U.S. production.”

EIA: NatGas Reserves Lower in 2020 – Because of lower natural gas prices in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. operators reported that proved natural gas reserves in 2020 declined by 4% to 473.3 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), according to EIA’s Proved Reserves of Crude Oil and Natural Gas in the United States, Year-End 2020 report. Proved reserves are operator estimates of the volumes of oil and natural gas that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in the future from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. The decline in natural gas reserves in 2020 was largely attributable to lower natural gas prices. The average annual price of natural gas at Henry Hub fell from $2.56 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in 2019 to $2.03/MMBtu in 2020. In 2020, low prices caused many operators to revise their proved reserves estimates downward and scale back development plans for new wells. Higher natural gas prices in 2021 will likely lead to more proved natural gas reserves in 2021.

Exports to Soar in 2022 – Analysts expect US crude oil exports to rise to an average 3 million barrels per day in 2022 amid a stronger price environment and improved availability of Western Canadian Select and Mars grade barrels. However, crude production increases will outpace export growth as rising refinery utilization rates are seen boosting domestic demand. US exports will not spike as much as crude production volumes this year because domestic demand also is expected to increase with refineries still underutilized as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic potentially switches to the endemic phase later this year.

Coal Board Revised – After letting the previous National Coal Conference Charter lapse, much to the chagrin of many Republicans, DOE is revamping its coal advisory board with a new name and mission. A notice published in the Federal Register today creates a National Advisory Committee on Coal established for a two-year period that will focus on coal workers and communities. 

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Forum to Feature Navajo Renewable Exec – Today at 11:00 a.m., the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center which will host Dr. Suzanne Singer, co-founder of Native Renewables, where she will discuss the latest advancements in providing off-grid photovoltaic systems to rural Indigenous communities in the Navajo Nation.

Energy Economists to Discuss EV Build Out – Today at Noon, the US Energy Economists host their January forum on the EV infrastructure buildout, featuring TeraWatt Infrastructure, an EV infrastructure project developer and long term owner of high-powered charging for commercial fleets. In this webinar, David Schlosberg, VP of Solutions at TeraWatt, will discuss the opportunity and challenge of scaling EV charging infrastructure across the country - including powering up the grid, deploying distributed energy systems, advancing regulatory policy and establishing new business models in transportation. David will also address the opportunities for transportation electrification afforded by the IIJA, and the role the private sector will play in building out the necessary infrastructure of the future.

Forum Looks at British Climate Action – The American Security Project holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on the UK decarbonizing defense and adapting to climate change. The event will feature a conversation with Lieutenant General Richard Edward Nugee, CB, CVO, CBE, British Army, (Ret.). General Nugee was appointed Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy Lead for the Ministry of Defence in 2020 and is the architect of the new UK strategy. He will discuss how the strategy was developed, its implications for military capabilities, and how the strategy will be implemented.

DOE to Look at Ethanol – Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) will host the Gen-1 Ethanol Opportunities webinar focused on improving lifecycle GHG benefits of existing biofuel production. The workshop is designed to gather stakeholder input to assess the potential of current and developing technologies to meet BETO goals with regards to expanding the climate and economic benefits of the U.S. biofuels industry in the near- and long-term.

Forum to Look at Climate with Book Author – Tomorrow at Noon, the Environmental Law Institute and experts in the field will discuss the science of climate change, sustainable designs, green policies, and so much more. ELI will first talk with author Bill Caplan as he discusses his new book published by ELI Press – “Thwart Climate Change Now: Reducing Embodied Carbon Brick by Brick.” Caplan will discuss three primary threads he wrote about: the urgent reality of now, misinformation and the green and sustainable palliatives, and reducing embodied carbon in the 2020s. Following that, expert panelists will convene with the author to tackle embodied on carbon emissions, design and policy issues and the best strategies to slow the pace of climate change within the coming decade.  Our friend Maxine Joselow of the Washington Post moderates. 

EPIC Hosts Climate One-on-One – Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) will be hosting Sue Biniaz, Deputy to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, who played a critical role in both the forming of the Paris Agreement and in the latest COP26 climate talks. Biniaz will talk with EPIC journalism fellow and The New York Times climate reporter Lisa Friedman for a conversation on the successes and setbacks from COP26 as well as the future of international climate diplomacy.

Japan Group Looks at EV Trends – The Japan Electric Power Information Center, USA (JEPIC-USA) is holding an upcoming webinar tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on electric vehicles in the US.  Discussion topics include funding for public charging infrastructure to accelerate electric vehicle adoption, moving beyond the early adopters and appealing to new consumer demographics with new models and ease of use, transitioning fleet and industrial vehicles from internal combustion engines to EVs and the fundamental operational changes that bring, particularly in regards to heavier-duty vehicles and equipment, new and better power delivery solutions and battery technologies to increase charging power, speed, and convenience, added stress on an already strained electric grid from EVs and how utilities can meet this capacity and technology challenges

Great Plains Rolls Out Carbon, Hydrogen Atlas – Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. the Great Plains Institute and Carbon Capture Coalition hold a virtual event to release “An Atlas of Carbon and Hydrogen Hubs for United States Decarbonization.”  This atlas is a new publication from our client the Great Plains Institute that identifies prime areas of the United States with a capacity to develop shared carbon management and hydrogen infrastructure.  International climate modeling scenarios confirm that both carbon management and hydrogen are necessary to achieve midcentury climate goals. The coordination, deployment and accompanying policy for the development of regional carbon and hydrogen hubs will help the nation reach its climate goals by accelerating emissions reductions and carbon removal. Developing these hubs in key regions and localities across the country will result in emissions reductions to support the decarbonization of industry, retention and creation of high wage jobs and development of new industries and economic opportunities.

Senate Enviro Looks at Recycling Issues – The Senate Environment Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. to examine legislative proposals to improve domestic recycling and composting programs.

Forum to Look at Small Nuclear – The Global America Business Institute holds a forum on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. looking at cooperative opportunities in the global small modular reactor arena. Speakers are experts Milt Caplan and Andrew Paterson. 

BPC Releases Climate Smart Ag Recommendations – The Bipartisan Policy Center hold a forum on tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. to release BPC’s Farm and Forest Carbon Solutions Task Force consensus report.  The event features a conversation with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on the efforts to scale public and private investments in climate-smart agriculture and forestry. Task Force Chairs Heidi Heitkamp and Saxby Chambliss will also speak in a Fireside Chat with BPC’s Jason Grumet. 

USEA to Look at Oxy-Fuel – The US Energy Assn will hold a webinar on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. on oxy-fuel combustion and advanced power generation turbines. This talk will discuss the development of a 300 MWe oxy-fuel turbine, as well as combustion, heat transfer, and material test rigs to support its development.

NASEO Looks at EV Buildout – The National Assn of State Energy Officials continues it webinar series in on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. to look at engaging communities, industry and other partners throughout the EV planning and program design process to ensure that EV infrastructure programs adequately address the needs of drivers. States have taken a variety of approaches to solicit input before, during, and after the EV planning process, from launching statewide stakeholder engagement initiatives to project-specific, targeted community outreach. This webinar will highlight different strategies states have taken to meaningfully engage stakeholders and built-out EV infrastructure in an effective and equitable manner. 

House Climate Committee Looks at Clean Energy Manufacturing – The House Select Climate Committee will host a hearing on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. on clean energy manufacturing in the bipartisan infrastructure package and the Build Back Better bill. Among the witnesses will be our friends SEIA head Abby Hopper and former DOE official Charles McConnell, now head of the University of Houston Energy Center for Carbon Management and Energy Sustainability. 

Shaheen, Portman Discuss Russia, Ukraine – On Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., the Center for Strategic and International Studies holds a conversation with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) on the steps that need to be taken to support our Ukrainian partners and deter a Russian incursion. Earlier this month, Senators Shaheen and Portman led a bipartisan delegation to Ukraine that met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reaffirming the U.S.’ commitment to Ukraine as it faces an increasingly belligerent Russia. The discussion and subsequent Q&A session will explore the important role Congress plays in providing critical defense capabilities to Ukraine and standing firm against the Kremlin.

Senate Energy Hosts Nominees – The Senate Energy Committee holds nomination hearings on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. for Maria Robinson to be an assistant Energy secretary for the Office of Electricity; Joseph DeCarolis to head EIA and Laura Daniel-Davis to be an assistant Interior secretary for land and minerals management.

Forum to Look at Geoengineering – On Thursday at 11:00 a.m., ConservAmerica holds a discussion on the potential of ocean-based geoengineering to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. In December 2021, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine (NASEM) released a report assessing the potential benefits of ocean-based carbon dioxide removal approaches and calling for more research to learn how these methods could help mitigate the impacts of climate change. The event features a conversation with Russ George, an environmentalist, and eco-entrepreneur pioneering ocean fertilization, also known as ocean pasture restoration (OPR).

Group Looks at Energy Market Design – The NYU Institute for Policy Integrity and EDF hold a forum on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. on energy market design. This webinar will discuss ongoing policy questions and the latest research on how different market designs could affect clean energy outcomes.  FERC’s Valerie Teeter, Penn State’s Chiara Lo Prete and UMich’s Catherine Hausman speak.

WCEE Panel Looks at State Energy Issues – On Friday at 2:00 p.m., WCEE Past President Barbara Tyran will moderate a panel of managing directors from the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) about energy sector trends and how states can work with federal and local governments and stakeholders to advance energy policy and utilize federal support through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and reconciliation legislation. NASEO panelists include Sandy Fazeli, (workforce diversity, equity, innovation work and trends), Cassie Powers (transportation, planning programs and trends) and Kirsten Verclas (electricity and energy security program and trends)

IN THE FUTURE

CA LG to Talk Climate at CSIS – Next Monday at 3:00 p.m., CSIS hosts a conversation with California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis.  Kounalakis joins Matthew P. Goodman and Sarah Ladislaw to discuss trade, technology, climate change, and shifts in the workplace on “Economy Disrupted.” Every month, the CSIS Original Series examines a new set of disruptive forces shaping the U.S. economy and America's international leadership

Forum Looks at Climate Security – On Tuesday February 8 at 7:30 a.m., the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IIHS) holds a forum on climate change and scarcity/vulnerability of key natural resources creating additional conflicts. In this webinar, Dr Susanne Schmeier, Mark P. Nevitt, Laura Birkman, Dr Marcus D. King and Dr Irene Mia will discuss the dynamics of natural resources weaponization in conflict in the context of accelerating climate change-induced scarcity and the implications for future policy attention. The webinar will also explore possible early warning methods to identify conflict areas/states most at risk of resources weaponization and multilateral solutions to strengthen the protection of natural resources and prevent their violent instrumentalization in conflicts.

CGEP to Host Nuclear Supplier Group Panels – The Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy will host two panels of experts on Tuesday February 8^th at 10:00 a.m. to discuss past Nuclear Suppliers Group activities as well as current policy topics confronting the group. The first panel will focus in particular on the NSG export control lists and their associated guidelines, as well as institutional aspects of the group. The second panel will highlight policy topics such as membership, outreach, and implications for the NSG from a potential growth in nuclear energy usage by 2050 to address climate change.

EU Commissioner to Talk Energy Security – The CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program is hosting a conversation on Tuesday February 8^th at 10:30 a.m. with the EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson. Commissioner Simson will discuss the reason for her visit to the United States, the meeting of the EU-US Energy Council, and the prospects for transatlantic collaboration on energy and climate. She will also discuss the latest development in European energy and the agenda for strengthening energy security. Commissioner Simon will provide an update on the European Green deal, including key items like the recent EU framework to decarbonize the gas market, promote hydrogen, reduce methane emissions and mobilize private investments to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 while ensuring a just transition for workers and communities.

Sandia to Host Energy Storage Workshop – The Sandia National Labs hosts a workshop on Tuesday February 8^th and Wednesday the 9^th that will bring together members of industry, national laboratories, universities, and government to discuss the needs, challenges, and opportunities associated with carbon-free energy and energy storage for manufacturing and industrial decarbonization.  Energy needs will first be identified for different manufacturing and industrial sectors (e.g., cement/steel production, chemical synthesis, food processing, petroleum refining). The outcome of this workshop will be a summary of needs and gaps (scale and duration), use cases, potential technologies, and a framework for implementation of energy storage for manufacturing and industrial decarbonization (Energy StorM) through initiatives such as the U.S. DOE Energy Storage Grand Challenge.

Forum Looks at Arctic – On Tuesday February 8^th at Noon, the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and Transatlantic Security Initiative in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security holds a discussion on the energy, resilience, and national security challenges in the Arctic region. This discussion will highlight the opportunities of the Arctic region to ensure environmental protection and resilience, common security, appropriate resource development, and the rights of Indigenous inhabitants.

Forum to Focus on Hydrogen – ICF holds a webinar on Tuesday February 8^th at 1:00 p.m. to look at the future of hydrogen. This webinar will explore what hydrogen potential could be realized over the next decade—and evaluate the levers that will need to be pulled to facilitate a meaningful contribution from hydrogen in meeting U.S. decarbonization goals. 

Forum Focuses on Clean Energy in Rural America – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds a briefing series on federal programs that currently deliver a host of climate, environmental, economic, and social benefits nationwide. The first briefing in the series will be Tuesday February 8^th at 2:00 p.m. and feature the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), which provides rural electric cooperatives, other rural utilities, credit unions, and green banks with zero-percent loans to launch or expand energy efficiency, beneficial electrification, and renewable energy on-bill financing programs.  Speakers include Rural Utilities Service Robert Coates, NAACP’s Denise Abdul-Rahman and Travis Neal of the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative.

BPC Looks at Oil/Gas Investment on Net Zero – On Wednesday February 9^th, the Bipartisan Policy Center hosts a forum on Investment or Divestment, looking at the role of future oil and gas issues.  Our friend Kevin Book is Keynote speaker, followed by a panel with Chevron’s Bruce Niemeyer, Sarah Ladislaw of RMI and Rhodium’s John Larsen.

Senate Energy Takes on Hydrogen – The Senate Energy Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday February 10^th at 10:00 a.m. to look at issues surrounding hydrogen.  More details on this next week.

Journos Talk Climate at Harvard Event – On Thursday February 10^th at Noon, the Harvard Environment and Natural Resources Program, the Harvard Kennedy School's Arctic Initiative, and the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy host a webinar covering solutions to the climate and energy crisis.  The event features two leading environmental journalists: Sarah Kaplan of The Washington Post and Sammy Roth of The Los Angeles Times. While much of the news coverage of climate change has focused on the immense global "gloom and doom" problems ahead, there is a new push in journalism to reach out to the public by featuring innovative solutions to the climate and energy crisis.

DOE Solar Webinar Set – DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) holds a webinar, “Heating Up: Advances in Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power,” on Thursday February 10^th at 3:00 p.m. SETO leadership will be joined by guest speaker Chiranjeev Kalra, Vice President of Power Generation Engineering at Heliogen, to highlight recent developments in the commercialization of next-generation concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP) technology. The webinar will also cover the broader scope of CSP research, development, and demonstration work in SETO’s portfolio, which advances DOE goals in renewable power, long duration energy storage, and industrial decarbonization.

NARUC Winter Meetings Set – The National Assn of Regulatory Utility Commissioners holds it Winter Policy Summit Meeting on February 14 to 16^th in DC.

Ethanol Conference Set – The Renewable Fuels Association holds the National Ethanol Conference (NEC) in New Orleans on February 21^st to 23^rd.  Since 1996, the NEC has been recognized as the ethanol conference for the latest, timely information on marketing, legislative and regulatory issues facing the industry. With numerous networking opportunities, more business meetings are conducted and contacts made at this conference than at any other ethanol conference.

Biden to Deliver State of the Union – In the latest SOTU Speech ever, the President will address a joint Session of Congress on March 1^st.