Energy Update: Week of July 13

Friends,

Last week was heavy with action from the House Budget marathon to the Energy Secretary/DepSect’s visit to Texas to energy politics heating up.  In fact, in his roundtable on Friday, Secretary Brouillette mentioned he expected the NEPA reform announcement to happen this week.

President Trump is planning to unveil an infrastructure/NEPA plan on Wednesday when he visits a UPS airport hub in Atlanta. And while in PA last week, Democratic Presidential candidate told a local PA TV station that "Fracking is not going to be on the chopping block" when asked about displaced workers.  He will unveil an updated clean energy and infrastructure plan tomorrow in a speech at 1:30 p.m. 

But we can’t wait for Wednesday.  EPA is kicking off the fun today by announcing its Ozone-NAAQS plan today at 2:30 p.m., proposing to retain without revision the current standard.  The Chamber, energy industry folks and my friend Joe Stanko at Hunton (who follows NAAQS very closely) are always good resources.  And as mention above, the Approps Committee rolls forward today at 1:00 p.m. with the full committee markup of energy funding and with the other six remaining funding bills expected to move forward as well.

And the fun just doesn’t stop there.  The Energy Secretary visits House Energy & Commerce tomorrow at Noon, but before that at 9:00 a.m., American Gas Assn CEO Karen Harbert and policy expert Richard Meyer will discuss a new report on natural gas utility energy efficiency investments.  A House Resources panel looks at energy infrastructure at 11:00 a.m. and House Science looks at COVID-19 lockdowns and, extreme heat and access to air conditioning in the afternoon.

In addition to NEPA issues on Wednesday mentioned above, OurEnergyPolicy holds a webinar at Noon on the politics, economics and infrastructure questions around building electrification. 

On Thursday, if you are following COVID and air conditioning issues, you will want to tune into a forum with Penn St. expert Bill Bahnfleth and his discussion about the role of air conditioning and ventilation in preventing the spread of pathogens, COVID. Bahnfleth’s talk will address ways building owners, homeowners and others can use their HVAC systems to help ensure health and safety.

Also on Thursday, SAFE releases a new report and holds a forum at 2:00 p.m. on how increased access to autonomous vehicles (AVs) how current options are inadequate to help for low-income communities.  And Cheniere rolls out its 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report focusing on the impact of COVID-19 on the oil and gas industry in a discussion with former Energy official and current Cheniere exec Chris Smith at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center. 

On Friday, the House Science Energy Subcommittee holds a virtual hearing on accelerating progress toward economic recovery and a clean energy future.  And (if I survive the week) since it is early next Monday, remember to calendar the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center and the Hydrogen Council panel discussion on the future of hydrogen with Seimens Energy CEO Christian Bruch and Cummins CEO Tom Linebarger.

Whew….and there is a lot more below.  Finally, tune in to the Bracewell podcast this week which features a conversation with TIME's Molly Ball.  It is great stuff.

Call with questions…stay safe & healthy. 

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

 

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“We owe a great deal to the Journeyman Lineworkers across our country who put themselves in harm’s way to keep the lights on in our homes, hospitals, and other public facilities. During the coronavirus pandemic, their work is nothing short of essential.”  

Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA), the first woman IBEW member elected to Congress, announcing a House resolution to “honor these brave men and women for their dedication, hard work and sacrifice.”

ON THE PODCAST

Bracewell Podcast Sitdown with TIME’s Molly Ball – Bracewell’s The Lobby Shop this week features Molly Ball, TIME National Political Correspondent, CNN Political Analyst, and author of NYT bestseller Pelosi, released this May. Liam and Josh host a discussion about Nancy Pelosi's influence over key political moments in her House career and her ever-evolving role in American politics, as well as a lengthy dive into Molly's recent reporting on the politicization of reopening schools amidst the continued COVID-19 crisis. The Lobby Shop is live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play Music.

Pipeline Expert Talks DAPL Impacts – On this week's Platts’ Capitol Crude podcast, SMU energy law professor James Coleman walks Brian and Meghan through the possible scenarios for the Dakota Access Pipeline ahead of its court-ordered shutdown on August 5.  The group talks about the broader uncertainty hanging over the midstream sector, the major shift in US pipeline regulation expected if Joe Biden beats President Trump in November, and how the headwinds facing pipeline projects have also hampered renewables development.

FUN OPINIONS

Energy Sect: Powering the Oil, Gas Comeback Through Innovation – In an opinion piece in the Houston  Chronicle just prior to his visit to Texas last week, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said while the coronavirus pandemic dealt a heavy blow to the oil and gas industry in Texas and around the nation, but it is never out of the fight. The president’s plan to unleash innovation-driven American energy dominance will power the post-COVID-19 economic comeback, and we are already seeing signs of better days.  Brouillette highlighted key programs in carbon capture and storage, LNG and current DOE-lab research on specific local projects on drilling, hydraulic fracturing and monitoring multiple horizontal wells to optimize well spacing and completion design that maximize ways to increase the recovery of unconventional oil and gas resources.

FROG BLOG

Expert Blasts PA AG NatGas Report – In a blog post on Forbes, energy contributor David Blackmon writes that oil and gas industry has always been an easy target for ambitious politicians. The utility of bashing “big oil” has historically been most advantageous during times of high gasoline prices, but even in this current time of very low prices at the pump, one politician in Pennsylvania, Democrat Attorney General Josh Shapiro, is apparently attempting to leverage a campaign of assaulting that state’s natural gas producers to further his own political ambitions. “Shapiro released a report from a two-year grand jury investigation which largely uses anecdotal allegations to lambast the state’s industry and regulators for a variety of sins both real and not-so-real. In constructing his report the Attorney General managed to either ignore or misstate at least a dozen important facets of Pennsylvania law.”   Blackmon adds the state’s own DEP found the report so lacking that it filed its own detailed official response in which it takes the AG to task for failing to provide jurors with “accurate information about the existing laws, the scientific and policy underpinnings of the regulations, and the commitment of DEP staff to create and implement a comprehensive and effective regulatory program that protects the citizens and environmental resources.”  Blackmon adds in traveling down this demagogic road, AG Shapiro does a disservice not just to the industry and its regulators, but also the citizens of his state. As AG, he has an obligation to know and enforce all of the laws and regulations of the state. Instead, Blackmon writes he has invested two years at great cost to the taxpayer to “produce a report that attempts to re-litigate cases from a decade ago and which doesn’t even get the current law right.”  See the full take down of Shapiro’s “report” here.

IN THE NEWS

LNG Exports Will Lower GHGs Significantly by Sending Cleaner NatGas to China, India, Others – A new  study released by API and conducted by researchers at ICF examines the environmental benefits of U.S. natural gas use in China, Germany, and India, finding that using U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) rather than coal for electricity generation produces on average 50.5 percent fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in all base case scenarios studied. Looking at cases in China, Germany and India, the study, “Update to the Life-Cycle Analysis of GHG Emissions for US LNG Exports,” demonstrates the importance of natural gas for achieving global emissions reductions. In China, coal still makes up 66% of power generation – in India, it’s 74%, and in Germany it also remains high – nearly 30%. Coal generation in the U.S. has fallen from roughly 50% in 2005 to 24% in 2019, while natural gas generation has increased from 19% to nearly 40% in the same period. This transition has been instrumental to the U.S. reducing emissions in the power sector by 25% from 2008 to 2018.

Other Key Findings – Other key findings from the study can be found below:

• Percentage decreases in emissions from the use of U.S. LNG versus U.S. and domestic coal:
  • In China: U.S. LNG delivers 48% fewer emissions than Chinese coal and 49% fewer emissions than U.S. coal
  • In Germany: U.S. LNG delivers 53% fewer emissions than U.S. coal and 51% fewer emissions than German coal
  • In India: U.S. LNG delivers 48% fewer emissions than Indian coal and 48% fewer emissions than U.S. coal
• The study found transportation and shipping distance have the least impact on emissions levels in the supply chain, only 1/10 of the total GHG supply chain emissions, demonstrating that the export journey for U.S. LNG has a limited environmental impact.
• Similarly, the study found that export and import terminal operations also only make up 1/10 of the total GHG supply chain emissions.

AGA Industry Look: 3.4 Million Jobs Connected to NatGas – The American Gas Assn industry market analysts released data on Thursday showing more than 3.4 M jobs were connected to direct use of natgas in 2018, adding $408 billion to Gross Domestic Product.  They unveiled the data on a Twitter Q&A.  The economic contributions of local utility companies estimated in three parts: 1) Direct input from utilities, 2) Indirect contribution from supplying industries such as natural gas production, and 3) Induced contribution from workers spending incomes. Regionally, there are specific impacts. In the case of New England, where there's no oil and gas production and only some appliance manufacturing, every job associated with a local gas utility multiplies to more than eleven jobs through New England and four more throughout the country.   Those numbers are exponentially higher in other regions. 

Congress, Groups Honor Lineworkers – Members of Congress and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) all joined together late last week to salute the nation’s nearly 75,000 electrical lineworkers on National Lineworker Appreciation Day.  Lineworkers work around the clock, often in dangerous conditions, to keep the lights on for the customers and communities they serve. They also build and maintain the energy grid and stand ready to make emergency repairs to ensure that customers have access to the safe and reliable energy they need to stay connected and to power their lives. National Lineworker Appreciation Day is celebrated each year on July 10^th, and it honors the life and work of Henry Miller, the first president of IBEW.

IEA Says Markets Recovering Some, Uncertainties Exist – The International Energy Agency said Friday that oil markets have recovered from the worst of the pandemic as economic activity has resumed, but the growth of new COVID-19 cases after the lifting of lockdowns is “casting a shadow” over that outlook. Oil prices have been “remarkably stable” around $40 per barrel — enough for some producers to break-even — due to the partial return of demand, along with a supply reduction of 2.4 million barrels per day in June to a nine-year low of 86.9 million barrels per day, IEA said.  But new cases, and revisiting of economic openings in many places means there are no guarantees prices will rise any further, and could even fall again. IEA expects global oil demand to average 92.1 million barrels per day this year, up 400,000 barrels per day from its outlook last month, but still down 7.9 million barrels per day from a year ago.

Ministers Attend Clean Energy Summit – Speaking of IEA, it held the first Clean Energy Transitions Summit on Thursday discussing how to bring about a sustainable and resilient recovery from the Covid-19 crisis and achieve a definitive peak in global carbon emissions. Ministers participating in the Summit included those from the world’s largest energy consumers: Minister Zhang Jinhua of China, Secretary Dan Brouillette of the United States, Commissioner Kadri Simson of the European Union, Minister R.K. Singh of India, Minister Kajiyama Hiroshi of Japan, Minister Kwasi Kwarteng of the United Kingdom, Minister Bento Albuquerque of Brazil, Minister Seamus O’Regan of Canada, Minister Sergio Costa of Italy, Minister Gwede Mantashe of South Africa, Secretary Rocío Nahle of Mexico, Minister Arifin Tasrif of Indonesia, and Deputy Prime Minister Ribera of Spain.  Speakers also included United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, CEOs from across the energy sector, top investors, heads of regional development banks and other key international organizations, past and present COP Presidents – including Secretary of State Alok Sharma of the United Kingdom – and leaders from civil society.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

MOST EVENTS SCHEDULED ARE NOW ONLINE WEBINARS

House Approps Starts with Energy/Water Funding – The House Appropriations Committee markup of FY 2021 appropriations for Energy-Water starts today at 1:00 p.m.

VA Renewable Conference Set – The Virginia Renewable Energy Alliance will host the first LEAD Series Conference of 2020 in July 13^th at Noon. This LEAD Series Conference will serve to provide policy updates and a 2020 General Assembly Debrief on noteworthy policy updates directly impacting development of Renewable Energy in Virginia.  A second event will be held on August 13^th.

Forum to Look at Post COVID Energy – The Environmental Law Institute hosts a forum today at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the lesson and challenges of the post-pandemic energy sector. Panelists will include Florida Public Service Commissioner Julie Brown and former FERC Commissioner Tony Clark.

House Resources Looks at Legislation – The House Natural Resources National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee holds a legislative hearing on eight bills today at 2:00 p.m.  See the legislation on the docket here.

Forum to Look at Resilience, Sustainability – The Business Council for International Understanding holds a briefing today at 4:00 p.m. on corporate sustainability and resilience, with a focus on the impact of COVID-19. Ms. Elizabeth Littlefield, Senior Counselor and Sustainability Practice Lead at global advisory firm Albright Stonebridge Group, will speak.

AGA to Release Report on Benefits of Efficiency Investments – Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., the American Gas Association (AGA) will host a media briefing to present findings from a new report on natural gas utility energy efficiency investments.  CEO Karen Harbert and Director of Energy Analysis Richard Meyer will speak to the report.  Let me know if you need call-in info, I will send.

Web Event to Look at Oceans – The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace holds a webinar tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. on the fragile state of the world's ocean and the Transatlantic response.  The event focused on U.S. and EU efforts to fight climate change and ameliorate natural disasters.  Former Sect of State John Kerry and Deputy Will Burns are among the speakers.

ACORE to Release Renewable Finance Look – The American Council on Renewable Energy holds a webinar launch of new report, "Expectations for Renewable Energy Finance in 2020-2023" tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. ACORE surveyed prominent renewable energy investors and developers about the expected near-term environment for renewable finance as we face the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This webinar will highlight findings from the survey report, feature the opinions of sector leaders about the health of the sector, and identify the pathways toward achieving ACORE’s goal of $1 trillion in U.S. private sector investment between 2018 and 2030.

Economists Host CO Energy Leader – Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., the US Energy Economists host a web forum to look at Colorado’s energy legislation featuring Colorado State Senator Chris Hansen.  Hansen will discuss the state’s energy goals and transition that include securitization of rate-payer backed bonds for early retirement of coal power plants and a ‘just’ transition for associated workforce and communities. Senator Hansen will also discuss the advantages of moving forward with an integrated Regional Transmission Organization within the Western Electricity Coordinating Council to help states reach emissions and clean energy goals as well as hurdles to implementation.

Public Power Hosts Markets Summit – Starting tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., the American Public Power Association hosts the Wholesale Markets Summit.  FERC Commissioner Rich Glick will keynote and the event includes a series of panels throughout the afternoon with many speakers, including our friend Rob Gramlich.

Castor to Headline Forum on House Climate Report – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) will hold a briefing tomorrow at Noon on the climate action report released by the majority staff of the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.  The briefing will focus on four core areas of climate policy: climate mitigation, climate adaptation, environmental justice and public health. Through presentations and a Q&A session, panelists will unpack the key elements of the 538-page report and highlight next steps for congressional action to address the climate crisis.

Energy Sect Heads to House Energy Subpanel – The House Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at Noon on oversight of DOE during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Secretary Brouillette will be the witness.

Chamber to Discuss Preparing for Hurricane Season During Pandemic – The 9^th Annual Building Resilience Through Private-Public Partnerships (PPP) Conference will be a webinar forum tomorrow through Thursday. This year’s virtual conference, hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation with support from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND, will focus on building resilience in the midst of a global pandemic while looking ahead to future emergencies and how we can be better prepared through greater collaboration across sectors. Extreme weather threatens communities and businesses across the U.S., adding further complexity to response and recovery efforts as emergency management agencies, first responders, and community leaders continue to deal with the impacts of COVID-19.  The main focus will be how businesses can prepare for the hurricane season in the midst of a global pandemic.

Web Event to Look at Water Bill Assistance – The Bipartisan Policy Center holds a webinar tomorrow at Noon on Federal government water bill assistance, especially among low income residents. The panel will explore the merits and shortfalls of a federal water assistance program, discuss the prospects for bipartisan action in Congress, and consider other critical water-related needs in this moment of crisis. 

House Resources Look at Energy Infrastructure, Enviro Justice – The House Natural Resources Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on energy infrastructure and environmental justice issues.

CSIS Innovation Series Looks at Nuclear – The CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program, with input and support from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions and Chief Commercialization Officer, hosts its fourth session in the Energy Innovation Series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. focusing on innovation occurring in nuclear energy. Dr. Rita Baranwal will give a brief keynote address on the Department’s priorities and the role of innovation in nuclear energy. CSIS Senior Fellow Jane Nakano will then moderate a discussion with Ashley Finan (INL) and Todd Allen (University of Michigan) on how various efforts in these categories fit into the innovation chain, from basic science to commercialization and deployment.

House Science to Look at COVID, Summer Heat – The House Science Committee holds a hearing tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. on COVID-19, summer heat and access to air conditioning for low income communities.  Former EPA EJ official Mustafa Ali, Heather McTeer Toney of the Moms Clean Air Force,

Texas Southern urban planning professor Robert Bullard and Houston community activist Hilton Kelley will testify

Forum Looks at Electricity Rates – The American Public Power Association holds webinar tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. on understanding price signals and time of use rates.  This forum will explore the relationship between utility costs and the time of energy use and learn how this should affect how you calculate your rates. Discuss how to make your rate structure understandable and usable to various stakeholders.

Berkeley Lab to Release Report on Renewable Energy Futures – Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory holds a webinar on the impacts of high-variable renewable energy futures on electric-sector decision-making.  The speakers will focus on demand-side effects in a new report that explores whether private and public electric-sector decisions that are made based on assumptions reflecting low VRE levels still achieve their intended objective in a high VRE scenario with 40-50% wind and solar. 

Hydro Conference Moved to Online – HYDROVISION International was originally scheduled to take place tomorrow through Thursday in Minneapolis. To honor these original dates, NHA is hosting an online information exchange for the global hydropower industry over the same three days. See the full schedule here.  The HYDRO+ Series will bring together the hydro community for perspective and discussion on issues affecting hydro resources, meeting challenges and ensuring a future sustainability of hydro.

Forum to Look at Coastal Habitat, COVID – The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership holds a discussion at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday looking at creating coastal habitat and post-COVID jobs. Speakers will include Reps. Garret Graves and Jared Huffman, as well as Scott Kirkpatrick of the Coast Builders Coalition and TRCP’s Steve Kline.

Dems Resources Panel Looks at Wildlife Viewing – The Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee holds another virtual forum Wednesday at Noon on the economic benefits of wildlife viewing and increasing access to it.  The forum will focus on Colorado examples and features CO First Gentleman Marlon Reis and CO Parks/Wildlife Commissioner Taishya Adams.

Panel to Look at Building Electrification – OurEnergyPolicy holds a webinar Wednesday at Noon on the Politics, Economics, and Infrastructure challenges/issues surrounding building electrification. Moderated by Adam Zurofsky, Former Director of State Policy and Agency Management for the State of New York, this panel will provide insights from representatives of academia, industry, labor, and the utilities sector.

GW Book Forum Look at Shipping in Arabian Peninsula – The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs holds a book discussion on Wednesday at Noon featuring "Sinews of War and Trade: Shipping and Capitalism in the Arabian Peninsula." The book focuses on the Middle East oil export ports and routes that fuel China's economic growth. Author Laleh Khalili will be joined by Brandeis University expert Pascal Menoret.

Forum to Look at Carbon Pricing – On Wednesday at 1:15 p.m., the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) hosts a discussion of carbon pricing.  The webinar will highlight the latest trends in carbon pricing globally and take a closer look at leading examples at the international, national, and state levels: the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the United Kingdom’s Emissions Trading System, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in the Northeast United States.

Forum Looks at Community Choice Aggregation to Achieve Clean Energy Goals – On Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. speakers will join a webinar focused on community choice aggregation (CCA) as a potential strategy for local governments to achieve their clean energy goals. The webinar will provide an overview of what CCA is, how it works, and considerations for local governments interested in establishing or participating in a CCA program. The webinar will highlight case studies from CCAs across the U.S. that support local renewable energy development. Among the speakers are Meghan Shaw, Outreach Director for Cambridge Energy Alliance in the City of Cambridge and the Solar Foundation’s Daniel Falk.

Forum to Look at LNG Exports, Impact – The Baker Institute at Rice University’s Center for Energy Studies and the International Association for Energy Economics holds a forum on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. looking at the effects of LNG trade on domestic gas markets on Australia. In this webinar, based on the research of Center for Energy Studies graduate fellow Kelly Neill, experts draw on the recent experience of Australia — a large LNG exporter with a substantial domestic market— where questions have been raised about the competitiveness of the domestic market structure as higher domestic prices foster calls to limit LNG exports.

Forum to Look at Nuke Waste Issues – On Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., the Nuclear Information & Resource Service hosts a telebriefing about NRC’s nuclear waste landfill issue.  Don’t expect this one to be that fair.

Cheniere Report Released at Atlantic Council Forum – The Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center holds a discussion on Thursday at 10:45 a.m. looking at Cheniere's 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report, which will be released at the event and focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on the oil and gas industry. Chris Smith, senior vice president at Cheniere Energy and former Obama Energy Department official, discusses the company’s 2019 corporate responsibility report launch, its ongoing corporate responsibility initiatives, and its strategy during the COVID-19 crisis.

USEA to Look at Cyber Security – On Thursday at 11:00 a.m., the US Energy Assn hosts an on-line event Zoom webinar on cyber hygiene. This webinar will discuss how cybersecurity culture in the utility workforce place a big role in reducing cyber vulnerabilities and it is a part of corporate change management culture. Speakers include Idaho National Laboratory’s grid expert Andy Bochman and Eversource Energy Chief Information Security Officer Christopher James Leigh.

Forum to Look at Arctic – The Hudson Institute holds a webinar on Thursday at Noon reasserting U.S. influence in the Arctic. The event will feature a discussion with U.S. Ambassador Carla Sands on America’s strategic relationship with the Kingdom of Denmark and U.S. efforts to address shared challenges and priorities in the Arctic.

Penn St Expert to Address AC, Infection Risks in Light of Pandemic – On Thursday at 1:00 p.m. Dr. William Bahnfleth, Penn State professor of architectural engineering, past ASHRAE President, and current Chairman of the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force, will address the role of air conditioning and ventilation in preventing the spread of pathogens and, specifically this year, of the novel coronavirus. Bahnfleth has been a key figure in educating policy makers and the media. Bahnfleth’s talk will focus on addressing ways building owners, homeowners, and others can use their HVAC systems to help ensure health and safety in this unusual time.

DOE to Host Building Performance Discussion – DOE’s EERE buildings program holds a webinar on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. on the deploying the next generation of building performance policies to maximize energy savings in buildings and meet the energy and environmental goals they have set. Leading cities will discuss their strategies for policy design, challenges and successes with implementation, and early impacts from these policies. Speakers include DC’s Dave Epley, St, Louis’ Rajiv Ravulapati and Seattle’s Nicole Ballinger. 

SAFE Report to Look at AV Access for Low Income Communities – On Thursday at 2:00 p.m., Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) will hold a forum to release new paper that addresses how autonomous vehicles (AVs) and autonomous transit can redress imbalances for low-income communities, whose options are limited by inadequacies in today’s transportation. Speakers will include expert Courtney Ehrlichman, Dr. Richard Ezike of the Urban Institute and Princeton University’s Director of the Program in Transportation Dr. Alain Kornhauser.  The event will be an illuminating discussing on transportation’s role in limiting economic opportunities for millions of Americans, and how AVs and autonomous transit can be part of the solution.

ELI Forum look at Ride-Sharing – The Enviro Law Institute holds a forum on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. ride-hailing and the future of sustainable transportation. Panelists will look at the current and potential sustainability of ride-hailing, including questions surrounding sector emissions and the utilization of electric vehicles, systemic fit with public transportation, and labor and economic equity.

Forum to Look at Critical Minerals – The Woodrow Wilson Center's Canada Institute holds a webcast on Friday at 10:00 a.m. looking at a joint action plan on critical minerals supplies for Canada and the United States to securing these important materials.  In January 2020, Canada and the United States finalized their Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration, this forum will discuss the challenges and opportunities of the Canada-U.S. Joint Action Plan on Critical Mineral Supplies. During the webcast, the panelists will talk about the inherent weaknesses and risks of the current critical mineral supply systems, how both countries can work together to secure critical minerals and keep relevant industries competitive, and what a Join Action Agreement accomplishes for collaboration between Canada and the US.  USGS’s Darah Ryker and NR Canada’s Andrew Ghattas speak. 

House Science to Look at Clean Energy, COVID Recovery – The House Science Energy Subcommittee holds a virtual hearing on Friday at 1:30 p.m. accelerating progress toward economic recovery and a clean energy future. Witnesses include DOE’s Jetta Wong, Jennifer States of Washington Maritime Blue, Third Way’s Farah Benahmed, Greentown Labs Emily Reichert and Lee Cheatham of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

IN THE FUTURE

Forum to Look at Future of Hydrogen – The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center and the Hydrogen Council host an engaging public panel discussion next Monday at 10:00 a.m. on transatlantic opportunity for developing a hydrogen economy amid the post-pandemic clean energy recovery. As a promising technology with high growth potential across a suite of applications, hydrogen could help jumpstart national job markets in duress.  Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruch and Cummins CEO

Tom Linebarger will discuss hydrogen’s future role. 

NEI to Host Fuel Supply Forum – The Nuclear Energy Institute holds the NEI Nuclear Fuel Supply Forum on Tuesday July 21^st.  The forum explores policy issues related to the nuclear fuel industry. Speakers from key government agencies and organizations that shape nuclear fuel supply policy present the latest insights on the future of the industry.

DOE Bioenergy Office to Host Workshop – Next Tuesday to Thursday, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) will host a virtual workshop to discuss how to collect and valorize underused datasets and associated knowledge, with the goal of making this information public on existing databases. This workshop seeks to connect industry scientists, data owners, and lawyers with federal government, academic, and National Laboratory representatives to shepherd valuable datasets and other knowledge to be used to maximum benefit. This effort would bolster the growing bioeconomy with industrially-relevant data across the supply chain, and result in accelerated development and utilization of biotechnologies.

USEA to Look at NatGas Investment Climate – On Wednesday July 22^nd, the US Energy Assn will hold a forum on creating favorable investment climates and economic conditions for natural gas. 

Web Event to Tackle Resilience, Climate – The Wildlife Habitat Council and ArcelorMittal host a webinar on Wednesday July 22^nd at 1:00 p.m. on climate change resilience.  Climate change impacts, such as sea level rise, higher-intensity storms and wildfires, and droughts, can damage infrastructure and impede operations, leaving companies vulnerable to risk. Speaker will discuss how companies can harness the power of nature to build resilience against these impacts and hear case studies about companies who have implemented successful nature-based solutions.

Bloomberg Green Summit Set – The Bloomberg Green Summit will be held on July 29^th.  The Green Summit will feature the voices of those people working at the edge of change to deliver real solutions. Built to foster solutions-oriented conversations with a festival atmosphere, the Bloomberg Green Summit will feature a cross section of visionaries from business, design, culture, food, technology, science and entertainment.