Energy Update: Week of June 13th

Energy Update - June 13, 2022

Friends,

Another missed opportunity at the Belmont Saturday. While I had Mo Donegal and Nest, Skippylongstocking messed up my big payout. Either way, it was a great triple crown. And I don’t know if you watched the Rangers-Tampa Bay Lightning Series, but it was great hockey, with TB prevailing.  Amazingly, they can win their third straight Cup when the Finals start Wednesday in Colorado. NBA Finals Game 5 continues tonight with Celtics and Golden State tied at two.  Finally, it was a big night on Broadway last night with the Tony’s big winners including A Strange Loop and Company.

Sounds like DOE will propose a new rule today to make residential, natural gas furnaces more energy-efficient, requiring non-weatherized gas furnaces and furnaces used in mobile homes to achieve a 95% annual efficiency standard. Of course this is part of an effort to push consumers toward heat pumps.  AHRI is concerned that may limit consumers’ choices (these furnaces and heat pumps for that matter are already available for purchase) with CEO Steve Yurek saying “heating technologies are essential for the health, safety, comfort and wellbeing of all and must be available to all at an affordable price,” while AGA’s Karen Harbert said "at this moment when natural gas is imperative for our country's and the world's stability, placing enormous costs on everyday Americans is wrong-headed at best."

Another busy week in Congress as they are running out of legislative days.  Following last week’s methane hearing in House Science, the House Select Climate Committee revisits the issue tomorrow with NM Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and WY Gov. Mark Gordon. Senate Energy holds a hearing tomorrow to examine short- and long-term solutions to extreme drought in the Western US. A House Foreign Affairs subpanel meets Thursday to discuss ways the U.S. can support European energy security and FERC holds its first public open meeting with planning requirements for extreme weather on the docket at a time when heat waves and electric reliability are hot topics.

Other events include the Alliance to Save Energy’s 2022 Energy Efficiency Global in-person event on Wednesday discussing energy efficiency’s role in the clean energy transition with Dan Yergin, House Energy Panel Chair Paul Tonko and BCSE’s Lisa Jacobson speaking.  Then, Thursday, the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute holds its 10th Annual D.C. Forum on Carbon Capture and Storage and CRES hosts a forum exploring the role of the US plastics industry in global climate mitigation, as well as the SEC climate disclosure rule with Dave Banks.

The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), in partnership with E3G, is conducting a survey to better understand the economic, financial and regulatory factors that drive and/or limit the necessary domestic and foreign investments in renewable energy sectors. Please participate in this formal survey if you are a professional in the renewable energy industry.

Gas prices still creeping up, now hitting over $5/gallon. Moody's Investors Service said in a note this week while supply-side constraints and rising demand have pushed global energy prices to multiyear highs, “producers face several risks that will limit their ability to ramp up drilling and development quickly." It notes that capital investment is growing significantly, but producers face cost inflation, supply chain woes, shareholder demands for "continued capital discipline" and "looming risks of energy transition-related regulations."  That sounds VERY familiar to me…Happy to discuss the factors keeping it high.

We are still keeping our eye on the Supreme Court today and Wednesday when new decisions are announced… Call with questions.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“An inconvenient truth: reducing fossil fuel usage hurts the world’s poor far more than any consequence of actually using fossil fuels."

Vivek Ramaswamy of Strive Asset Management

ON THE PODCAST

Renewable Podcast Looks at Solar Issues – In the third episode of Factor This!™, host John Engel is joined by our friend Rhone Resch, the former CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association from 2004-16, who explains why now is the time to invest in a domestic supply chain. Plus, Heliene CEO Martin Pochtaruk joins the podcast to talk about how proposed incentives for domestic manufacturing would impact production in the US. Finally, Michael Parr talks about how focusing on solar’s carbon footprint could spur domestic manufacturing.

FUN OPINIONS

Time to Get Serious with OPEC – In an op-ed in FoxOpinion, former Sierra Club head Carl Pope writes that the US must take the necessary steps to moderate and stabilize oil markets even as the world begins to replace gasoline and diesel-powered cars and trucks with cleaner electric ones.  Pope says repealing the OPEC loophole would, for the first time, give oil consumers enough market power to insist that the days of explosively volatile oil supplies and prices are over. Congress should approve a bill which would eliminate the OPEC loophole that allows the President has exclusive power to take OPEC to court if they collude to raise, lower, fix or stabilize the price of a commodity – the very act which is OPEC’s raison d’etre.

FROG BLOG

Reams: White House Should Streamline Resiliency Planning – In a column in Newsweek, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) head Heather Reams writes with the beginning of hurricane season, the Administration could Streamlining the permitting process will provide certainty to project developers and put funds to use to catalyze research and development. And it would help build the infrastructure we need now to prepare for the uncertainty of what's to come. Reams says let's hope the White House clears hurdles for such projects soon to reduce the risk to American communities, build a stronger and cleaner power supply, create jobs and potentially save lives.

Fitzsimmons: Clean Energy Plan Will Boost Innovation, Cut China – In an opinion blog in The Hill, ClearPath energy expert Alex Fitzsimmons writes to escape China’s supply chain, US Policymakers must embrace a diverse clean energy portfolio. Congress and the Biden administration should embrace all forms of energy that can contribute to a resilient, secure and clean energy system. With smart solutions focused on building and exporting a diverse suite of technologies, the next decade of clean energy expansion can be America’s to seize.

FUN FACTS

  • OPEC+ is still producing less oil than its monthly target: Despite claims they will increase production, OPEC+ countries Nigeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Congo are producing well below their quotas, while Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait have spare capacity but have had no change in production. Only Russia increased production.
  • Air Conditioning Cranks Up in Summer Heat: About 88% of all US households use air conditioning according to EIA. Two-thirds of those use central AC or a central heat pump as their main AC equipment.

IN THE NEWS

Poet Partners in CO2 Pipeline – The world's largest ethanol producer POET will partner with Navigator CO2 Ventures to meet some of its climate goals early. POET said the Navigator partnership means participating plants will achieve 75% lower emissions.  The Navigator pipeline project aims to capture greenhouse gases from Midwest ethanol processing plants and transport it to underground storage sites. Navigator would pipe some 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from 18 POET plants across Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota to underground storage sites in Illinois and will be operational by 2025.

EIA expects continued high energy prices through 2023 – The EIA forecasts that a variety of U.S. energy prices will remain historically high through 2023, including oil, natural gas, coal, and electricity, according to EIA’s June 2022 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO).  EIA forecasts that high natural gas and coal prices will result in an increased share of renewables in U.S. generation, largely offset by a decline in coal’s share. Wind and solar generation will likely contribute more than 11% of U.S. electricity this summer, after providing less than 10% in the summer of 2021. The natural gas share is forecast to decline over the next two years although at a slower rate than coal. Key takeaways from the STEO forecast include:

  • The Brent crude oil price will average $108 per barrel during the second half of 2022, as tight global inventories and significant geopolitical uncertainties continue to put upward pressure on crude oil prices despite an increase in production to pre-pandemic levels.
  • U.S. refinery utilization will average 94% in the third quarter of 2022, close to the highest levels of the past five years. A 5% decrease in refinery capacity between 2019 and 2022 will keep refining margins above the five-year average.
  • The Henry Hub natural gas price will average $8.69 per million British thermal units during the third quarter of 2022, up from May’s average of $8.13. This increase is due to strong demand for U.S. LNG exports and for natural gas in the electric power sector, which will keep U.S. natural gas inventories below their previous five-year average.
  • Electricity generation will increase by 2.1% in 2022, with the largest increases from renewable energy. With the forecast addition of 20 GW of solar capacity, solar power will account for nearly half of all the new U.S. generating capacity this year.

The entire Short-Term Energy Outlook is available on the EIA website.

U.S. Department of Energy Announces Hydrogen Shot Incubator Prize – At its hydrogen conference, DOE announced the opening of the Hydrogen Shot Incubator Prize to foster innovative concepts that produce clean, affordable hydrogen and address the Biden Administration’s climate priorities. The $2.6 million prize will support the DOE Hydrogen Program’s efforts to identify, develop, and test disruptive technologies that reduce the cost of clean hydrogen production and meet the DOE Hydrogen Shot goal of $1 per kilogram of clean hydrogen. 

Columbia Energy Journalism Initiative Picks 2022 Group – The Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University announced this year’s cohort of selected journalists for the 2022 Energy Journalism Initiative (EJI). Since its inception in 2017, EJI has enrolled 120 journalists from the US and around the world. The program is designed to educate journalists on a variety of issues shaping the global energy sector, including finance and markets, climate change, science and technology, policy, and geopolitics. Taught by CGEP Scholars, Columbia faculty, and other academic, industry, and government experts, the five-day seminar is typically hosted on campus at Columbia University. Given the ongoing pandemic and travel restrictions, this year’s program will be held virtually this week (Monday to Friday) to allow journalists to join from across the globe. This year’s cohort of selected journalists includes:

1. Abbie Bennett, Energy and Environment Reporter, S&P Global

2. Jonathan Brown, Moscow Correspondent, Agence France-Presse (AFP)

3. Matthew Choi, Energy Reporter, POLITICO

4. Catherine Clifford, Climate and Innovation Technology Reporter, CNBC

5. Casey Crownhart, Climate and Energy Reporter, MIT Technology Review

6. Louise Dewast, Correspondent, Agence France-Presse

7. Jenessa Duncombe, Science Reporter, AGU’s EOS Magazine

8. Mara Hoplamazian, Energy/Environment Reporter, NH Public Radio

9. Karoline Kan, Climate Reporter, Bloomberg Green

10. Sylvia Klimaki, Producer, Bloomberg TV

11. Sheri McWhirter, Climate Reporter, MLive

12. Clark Mindock, Climate and Energy Reporter, Law360

13. Daniel Moore, Energy Reporter, Bloomberg Law

14. Grace Murray, Bureau of Investigative Journalism

15. Diana Nava, Senior Economics Reporter, Expansión

16. Shoko Oda, Japan Energy Reporter, Bloomberg

17. Andrea Palasciano, Economics/Business Correspondent, AFP

18. Tatiana Serova, Energy Reporter, Argus Media

19. Inayat Singh, Environment/Climate Change Reporter, CBC

20. Miriam Wasser, Environmental Reporter, WBUR

To learn more about the Energy Journalism Initiative at Columbia University, visit the Energy Journalism Initiative page here.  Our friend Bill Loveless runs the program.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

EESI Looks at Wildfires, Climate – Today at 1:00 p.m., the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) hosts a briefing on policies and practices to address wildfires. Panelists will discuss policies and practices that would allow the United States to reduce the overall risk of wildfires, including how innovations in community-centered wildfire protection can improve resilience for humans and ecosystems.

Forum to Look at Eastern Europe – The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center holds the 7th Annual Central and Eastern European Energy Security Conference tomorrow at the Atlantic Council’s Headquarters in Washington, DC. The Central and Eastern European Energy Security Conference is the leading platform for addressing key energy security and climate issues in Central and Eastern Europe. For the seventh edition of the conference, government and private sector leaders discuss transatlantic cooperation on removing energy as an enabler of Russian aggression in the region. The conference explores how Central and Eastern Europe can advance energy security and climate action by diversifying oil and gas imports, investing in critical energy infrastructure, accelerating decarbonization, and rebuilding Ukraine’s energy system.

Event to Look at Trade, Climate Goals – Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., the American Security Project hosts a conversation with the Rt Hon. the Lord Barker of Battle and Ambassador Daniel Sepulveda to discuss aligning climate change goals with trade policy.

Senate Energy to Look at Western Drought – The Senate Energy Committee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to examine short- and long-term solutions to extreme drought in the Western US. Witnesses include Interior Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille C. Touton, CRS’s Charlie Stern, EDF’s Maurice Hall, Southern Nevada Water Authority GM John Entsminger and Family Farm Alliance President Patrick O'Toole.

House Science Looks at Weather Research – The House Science, Space and Technology Environment Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. on a look at the future of weather research. Witnesses include Fred Carr of the University of Oklahoma's School of Meteorology, Kevin Petty of Spire Global, Scott Glenn of Rutgers University's Center for Ocean Observing Leadership and Bradley Colman, President-elect of the American Meteorological Society and director of weather-strategy, for the Bayer & The Climate Corporation.

Forum to Look at Northern Triangle Climate Issues – As the impacts of climate change mount worldwide, the countries of Central America’s Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) face disproportionate exposure to catastrophic storms and other threats such as drought and food insecurity. This vulnerability is contributing to a growing humanitarian crisis in a region already wracked by poverty, inequality, corruption, and violence and is exacerbating these drivers of migration within and from the region, including to the United States. In response to this challenging context, the Inter-American Dialogue convened a Task Force on Climate Change in the Northern Triangle, representing a diverse set of perspectives, to inform a series of policy reports. These publications will be outlined on tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. looking at the effects of climate change on key sectors and vulnerable communities and provide recommendations for US assistance to support sustainable, locally led climate adaptation in the region. A presentation of the findings of the three reports will be followed by a panel discussion with task force members.

House Climate Committee Looks at Methane with Governors – Tomorrow at 1:00 p.m., several state governors will head to the House Select Climate Committee for a hearing on methane. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and WY Gov. Mark Gordon will testify on their states' efforts to cut emissions from oil and gas production.

WaPo to Talk Energy Efficiency – Washington Post Live holds a series of conversations starting tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. with experts and elected officials about energy efficiency as a means to combat climate change, clean the air we breathe and reduce energy costs. The conversation will touch on how the commercial real estate industry is evolving in light of new mandates for reducing emissions, increasing interest from property owners in sustainable technology, and what the future holds for smart buildings.

Yergin, Tonko Headline ASE Global Forum Set – The Alliance to Save Energy holds the 15th annual 2022 Energy Efficiency Global event on Wednesday in DC in -person at Convene.  The event includes a full day of panels discussing energy efficiency’s role as the first solution for ensuring an equitable, reliable, and affordable clean energy transition.  Headliners include Dan Yergin, House Energy Panel Chair Paul Tonko and our friend Lisa Jacobson of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.

House Ag Looks at Climate, Ag Resilience – The House Agriculture Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. looking at the role of climate research in supporting agricultural resiliency.

RFF to Host Bezos Fund Head – On Wednesday at Noon, Resources for the Future (RFF) holds a Policy Leadership Series event with Dr. Andrew Steer, President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. Born out of a $10-billion commitment from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the Earth Fund is a philanthropic organization that funds efforts to address climate change and protect nature. RFF President and CEO Richard G. Newell will sit down with Steer to discuss the mission and goals of the Bezos Earth Fund; the role of philanthropy in transformational systems change; and the range of investments, policies, and technological innovations needed to accelerate decarbonization and protect nature. Their conversation will touch on a variety of topics, including data-driven solutions, innovation, and environmental justice and equity.

Forum to Talk Greenland Resources – The Wilson Center’s Polar Institute and the Greenland Representation in Washington, DC hold a conversation on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. with Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede about trade, minerals, and the green transition.  The conversation will be followed by an expert panel discussion with State’s Paul Hueper and US AID’s David Brown.

WRI to Discuss Electric School Buses – On Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., Clean Energy Works, the Alliance for Electric School Buses and WRI’s Electric School Bus Initiative hold a webinar focused on electric school bus infrastructure, including charger selection and installation, infrastructure upgrades, interconnection agreements, charging and vehicle-to-grid technologies. Panelists will share best practices and helpful tools for productive district-utility partnerships.

Forum Looks at Vehicle-to-Grid Tech – SAFE and the Electrification Coalition holds a discussion on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. looking at the benefits of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology and related policy recommendations to accelerate adoption. This webinar will coincide with the launch of a new report that details the policies needed to advance V2G technology at the federal, state, and regional levels to enhance energy security and resilience. V2G technology – also referred to as bidirectional charging – allows electric vehicles to provide electricity back to the grid. During periods of high electricity demand or power outages, V2G capabilities enable EVs to serve as mobile energy storage units. This technology can also help accelerate the adoption of EVs by unlocking new revenue streams for EV owners, with promising applications for all vehicle sectors, from light-duty passenger vehicles to medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses.

CCS Forum Set – On Thursday, the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute holds its 10th Annual D.C. Forum on Carbon Capture and Storage. The event will include policymakers, industry leaders, NGOs, journalists, and financial institutions to gather and discuss the rise of CCS, as well as the urgency of increasing support for the enabling conditions needed to take it to scale. We will explore topics such as recent U.S. policy developments, the role of finance, the importance of environmental justice and listening to frontline communities, and the latest on global carbon markets.

House Foreign Affairs Panel Looks at European Energy Security – The House Foreign Affairs Europe, Energy, the Environment and Cyber Subcommittee meets Thursday at 9:00 a.m. to discuss ways the U.S. can support European energy security.  Witnesses include assistant secretary of Energy for International Affairs Andrew Light, principal deputy assistant secretary of State in the Bureau of Energy Resources Harry Kamian and Jake Levine, chief climate officer at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.

Forum to Look at Future of Coasts – On Thursday at Noon, the Future of Land and Housing Program at New America and Future Tense hold a discussion on the mix of creative public policies and societal reimagining needed to ensure that coastal America has a future. Among the panelists will include our friend Abrahm Lustgarten of ProPublica. 

USEA Looks at Native American Energy Focus on Hydrogen – The US Energy Assn continues it Indian Energy Minerals Forum on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. This webinar’s discussion will highlight regional hydrogen hubs and supporting tribal self determination to replace tribal industries impacted by climate change. Speakers include Sagebrush Hill’s Derrick Watchman and Steve Grey of Four Corners Economic Development

Forum to Look at Ag Stewardship – EESI and the NRDC hold a briefing on Thursday at Noon looking at regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture, or farming in sync with the local environment and climate, produces multiple economic, climate, and societal benefits. Panelists will describe how these steps can lead to a more resilient and productive agricultural system.

BCSE Hosts Ex-Im Bank Head To Talk Clean Energy Exports – The Business Council for Sustainable Energy E2, Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) and Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) host a forum on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. on clean energy exports and the huge opportunity they present for U.S. businesses.  This briefing with senior representatives of the Biden administration to discuss the state of international trade in clean energy products and technology, and the federal tools and programs available to businesses seeking to expand. Speakers include Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President Reta Jo Lewis and US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Chief Climate Officer Jake Levine.

WCEE Forum to Look at Enviro Justice – On Thursday at 2:00 p.m., the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE) hosts a forum about the administration’s efforts to address environmental justice and equity concerns, and what it means for private sector actors. Hannah Perls, Staff Attorney at Harvard Law School’s Environmental & Energy Law Program, and Stacey Halliday, Shareholder at environmental law firm Beveridge & Diamond P.C., will provide an update on the Federal government’s environmental justice efforts and lead a discussion about how the private sector is responding to the increased focus on environmental justice.

CRES to Discuss Plastics – On Thursday at 3:00 p.m. in a LIVE event at its Forum’s atrium (1201 Pennsylvania NW), Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions hosts another CRES Forum exploring the role of the US plastics industry in global climate mitigation, as well as the SEC climate disclosure rule.  The event will feature a new white paper, “U.S. Plastics Manufacturing Offers Opportunities for Global Emissions Reductionism,” authored by George David Banks, CRES Forum Policy Fellow. This is part of CRES Forum’s series, “Understanding the Facts,” which includes papers that address global emissions, intra-fuel switching, and critical minerals dependency.

SSF Forum Looks at Russia, Climate Risks – George Washington U’s Security & Sustainability Forum holds an event on Friday at Noon with Anthony Agotha – a senior advisor to EU Green Deal head Frans Timmermans – on EU-US cooperation on climate issues and the EC’s global climate efforts, and the current and upcoming EU climate policies in the context of the Ukraine war.

AEI to Discuss Infrastructure Law – On Thursday at 3:00 p.m., the American Enterprise Institute holds a forum evaluating the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  The event will feature Brookings Institution’s Adie Tomer, who will summarize the bill’s main elements, benefits, and potential drawbacks. A panel discussion will follow with Susan Howard of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Jeff Davis of the Eno Center for Transportation and Patrick Jones of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association.

IN THE FUTURE

Wilson to Host Seabed Critical Minerals Forum – The Wilson Center will hold a forum on Tuesday June 21st at 1:00 p.m. looking at the US strategy toward seabed mining. More on this soon.

EEI Forum Set for Orlando – EEI 2022 is Set for Monday June 20th through Wednesday June 22nd at the JW Marriott in Orlando.  Two leading energy policy experts will be at EEI 2022 to share their insights on the juggling act between energy security and climate goals.  US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm speaks as well as Columbia University’s Jason Bordoff and Harvard University’s Meghan O’Sullivan who will join EEI Chairman Gerry Anderson of DTE in exploring the impact of this geopolitical crisis on energy markets and prospects for the global pursuit of a world of net-zero emissions.

ELI to Look at Geoengineering – The Environmental Law Institute holds a forum on next Tuesday at Noon looking at geoengineering Earth’s climate and solar radiation management (SRM). Expert panelists will provide an overview of SRM, lay the foundation for the benefits and controversies, and explore the ethical rationale for and against geoengineering.

Forum Look at Russia Ukraine Energy – On Tuesday June 21st at 3:00 p.m., the Institute of World Politics holds a conversation with Kelly Ogle and Dr. Sara Vakhshouri on global energy issues with the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

ACP Holds Energy Storage Forum – American Clean Power holds an Energy Storage Forum on June 22nd and 23rd in Washington.  The two-day event will feature an exclusive conversation with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.  Whitehouse will be joined by additional federal, state and market leaders shaping the future of energy storage policy, including DOE’s Jigar Shah and Cal ISO CEO Elliot Mainzer. 

Forum Looks at Oil/Gas, Energy Security – The CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program holds a conference on Wednesday June 22nd looking at how the oil and gas sector is navigating both the energy transition and shifts in U.S. energy security.  Over a series of panels and keynotes, leaders in the sector will address the future U.S. energy security, how companies are navigating markets during the energy transition, the role of public lands in oil and gas, and how ESG is affecting the oil and gas sector.  Speakers include EQT’s Toby Rice.

WRI to Look at GHG Emissions Tracking Techniques – On Wednesday June 22nd at 9:00 a.m., WRI holds a forum on Climate Watch, an online platform designed to empower policymakers, advocates, researchers, media and other stakeholders with the open climate data, visualizations and resources they need to gather insights on national and global progress on climate change. The webinar is an interactive training on how to use Climate Watch to gain insights on countries’ climate commitments, generate custom visuals and access raw data for further analysis. This training will focus on Climate Watch's newest data set on 2019 GHG Emissions data and explore how to use the data to draw insights.

Forum to Look at Just Transition – The US Energy Assn’s Advancing Modern Power through Utility Partnerships (AmpUp) Program will hold a panel discussion on Wednesday June 22nd at 11:00 a.m. focusing on socio-economic implications and new workforce development opportunities for USAID-assisted countries as they transition away from fossil fuels.  The webinar will include presentations and case studies by subject matter experts to identify inclusive, collaborative, and participatory best practices that focus on equity and inclusivity. 

Atlantic Forum to Look at Heavy-Duty Zero Emissions Vehicles – On Thursday June 23rd at 10:00 a.m., the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and CALSTART’s Drive to Zero Program virtually hold a discussion on the role of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (ZE-MHDVs) to accelerate climate action and spur economic growth. The discussion will address advancement and scalability of zero-emission vehicle technology to ensure global decarbonization goals are met and to reduce human health consequences caused by tailpipe emissions. Navistar’s Christopher Perzan is among the speakers.

NYT reporter Visits WEN – The Women in Energy Network holds a virtual lunchtime conversation on Thursday June 23rd at noon with New York Times energy and environmental reporter Coral Davenport. She will share insights on how she built her career as a leading journalist on climate change, how she selects the cutting-edge stories she pursues, and trends to watch in media coverage of energy topics.

Forum Looks at Gulf Coast Green Infrastructure – On Thursday June 23rd at 2:00 p.m., the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues (AAAS EPI Center), EPA’s Office of Water and the White House host the next webinar in our series that highlights regional examples of green infrastructure and nature-based solutions. In this event, speakers will discuss their work across the Gulf Coast and Southeast to plan and implement unique green infrastructure and nature-based solutions. The expert panelists will share their unique, regional experiences planning and implementing green infrastructure and nature-based solutions in the Gulf Coast and Southeast region.

Forum to Look at Climate, Extreme Heat Issues – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds a briefing on Friday June 24th at Noon looking at policies and practices to address extreme heat. Panelists will discuss ways that built and natural infrastructure can reduce temperatures, steps to protect outdoor and warehouse workers, and how communities and cities are designing and implementing heat action plans.

Columbia Forum to Host Brazil Energy Conversation – The Center on Global Energy Policy, in partnership with Women in Energy Brasil and Columbia Global Centers | Rio de Janeiro, will host a discussion on Tuesday June 28th at 11:00 a.m. to provide insights into Brazil’s pragmatic pathway to a clean energy transition from the perspective of an oil and gas producing country. A stellar panel of women leaders in the energy sector will discuss the future of the country’s energy system in the context of global high energy prices, the country's policy approach towards low carbon fuels, the lessons learned from the deployment of clean technologies, and integration of renewables in the power grid, all while at the same time working towards lowering the carbon footprint of its oil and gas production.

Forum to Look at Offshore Wind – On Wednesday June 29th at Noon, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds a briefing on offshore wind energy. During this briefing, panelists will discuss opportunities, challenges, and considerations for scaling up offshore wind energy in the United States, as well as the policies that could support such a ramp-up. Panelists include NJ Board of Public Utilities expert Andrea Hart and John Begala of the Business Network for Offshore Wind.