Energy Update: Week of June 20th

Friends,

Hope everyone had a great Father’s Day and Juneteenth holiday!!! After nine-plus months of games, both the Stanley Cup and NBA Championship were awarded within a day of each other. Vegas took its first Stanley Cup in only its sixth season, while Denver took its first Larry O’Brien trophy.  Finally, what a thrilling US Open Golf Championship with Wyndham Clark winning his first Major holding off Rory McIlroy.

The President is talking climate in California yesterday and today (and raising for big money for the party).  And of course, there is news out of Bonn last week about “lobbyist transparency” for COP28, much of which business organizations have actively chosen to disclose for a long time. Happy to comment or connect with experts here if you are tracking…

Today at 2:00 p.m. ET/Noon MT in Rawlins, Wyoming, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and other state and local leaders will commemorate the groundbreaking of the TransWest Express Transmission Project, a high-voltage interregional transmission line that will extend from south-central Wyoming through northwestern Colorado and central Utah, ending in southern Nevada. The transmission line will add more than 1,000 jobs during construction and, once complete, will provide 3,000 MW of new transmission capacity despite being 16 years in waiting. BTW, the project selected Siemens Energy to supply the high-voltage direct current transmission technology.

Two other key events today: RFF is hosting a conversation with DOE Loan Office head Jigar Shah at 3:30 p.m. and this evening at 10:00 p.m., the Energy Policy Research Foundation (EPRINC) hosting a webinar on mitigating extreme volatility of LNG Prices in Southeast Asia with our friend Dan Byers of the Chamber’s Energy Institute on the panel.

Both chambers of Congress are in for the week before the Fourth of July recess begins. After a crazy energy week last week, most of the action is non-energy related. Look for some energy items as the House Armed Services Committee marks up its version of the National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday. Senate Armed Services Committee plans to conduct subcommittee-level markups of its NDAA bill, followed by a full-committee markup Wednesday through Friday.

On the energy side, the House Oversight Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs will hold a hearing on Wednesday examining the EPA’s proposed emissions standards, with EPA’s Joe Goffman on the witness list. On Thursday, a House Energy Committee panel has Goffman as well on vehicles with AFPM’s Chet Thompson, National Corn Growers Association head Neil Caskey and Scott Lambert of the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association. Senate Budget looks at climate issues again on Wednesday and on Thursday, House Resources hosts CEQ’s Brenda Mallory and House Approps takes up the Energy/Water funding bill.

Finally, congrats to our friend and renewable energy writer Darius Snieckus, who launched the flagship issue of Beaufort yesterday, which will deliver weekly intelligence in a newsletter composed of insightful commentary, analysis, and in-depth journalism delving into the talking points, technologies and thought-leadership now shaping the reinvention of the world's offshore energy provinces as the renewables revolution gathers momentum. You can sign up starting next week!!!

                                                                                                       

FRANKLY SPOKEN 

“If we’re looking to meet ambitious clean energy goals and mandates starting as soon as 2030, we can't take 16 years to get a project from conception to groundbreaking.”

Larry Gasteiger, executive director of transmission owner trade group WIRES, to POLITICO regarding today’s TransWest Express Project groundbreaking.

“Any transmission line in the West is almost certain to cross lands managed by different agencies, with different permits and standards. What is often needed is some coordination and leadership within the federal government to get decisions made and keep on schedule.”

Our Friend and Transmission expert Rob Gramlich to POLTICO on the TransWest Express groundbreaking

 

ON THE PODCAST

Herrgott Joins Carbon Capture Podcast on Permitting – In this episode of Captured Carbon, Alex Herrgott, president and CEO of The Permitting Institute joins the podcast of the Capture Action Project to discuss the permitting process and energy infrastructure. Alex talks about his career trajectory and how his experience has informed his point of view on today’s permitting issues and what needs to be done.

 

FUN OPINIONS

Carbon Capture Essential to Clean Hydrogen Economy – In an op-ed in the Washington Times, Jillian Evanko of Chart Industries writes carbon capture necessary to advance clean hydrogen economy. By integrating CCS technology into hydrogen production facilities, we can maximize the environmental benefits of clean hydrogen while addressing carbon dioxide emissions. We can also ensure that we scale hydrogen at the pace necessary to meet aggressive decarbonization targets.

 

FROG BLOG

Critical Mineral Supply Remains Major Concern – In a commentary for the Columbia’s Center for Global Energy Policy, authors Tom Moerenhout, Lilly Yejin Lee and James Glynn discuss whether supply of critical minerals essential to the energy transition, particularly those with supply chains vulnerable to disruption or bottlenecks in the short to medium term will be able to meet demand, and what the consequences of potential supply-demand gaps could be on the feasible adoption of clean energy technologies. Renewable energy technologies and batteries require lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese, graphite, and rare earth elements. The authors assess whether any supply-side challenges could impact energy transition scenarios, including those that assume countries will achieve their specific or longer-term targets.

 

FUN FACTS

Investments in electricity transmission infrastructure are at historically high levels (inserts below, map of annual transmission investment, as reported to FERC; and, graph of annual transmission investments, by year and in billions USD).

 

IN THE NEWS           

Senators Call On Treasury to Expand SAF Model – A group of 16 senators sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen Friday urging the agency to adopt DOE’s GREET model as the secondary methodology for calculating tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). According to the senators, adopting GREET will dramatically enhance the effectiveness of SAF incentives to accelerate the aviation industry’s decarbonization.

“Failure to provide businesses with the certainty and reliability of a science-based, United States government-developed model to determine eligibility for IRA tax credits could have dire consequences,” the senators wrote. “Prohibiting the aviation industry from decarbonizing with the most readily available SAF options will not only prevent American farmers from contributing to a clean energy economy, but it will drastically delay adoption of promising low emission energy sources and force the aviation industry to miss an opportunity to eliminate millions of tons of carbon emissions in the coming years.”

Within the letter, the senators explain that the GREET model would enable SAF stakeholders to adapt to new developments and technical advances, making it “the only model that can lead to every participant in the SAF lifecycle having options to appropriately participate in carbon reducing processes." The letter outlines several specific reasons why Treasury should allow SAF producers to use GREET in determining the fuel’s lifecycle GHG emissions. As required by the Inflation Reduction Act, GREET is a “similar methodology” to the most recent CORSIA model, which has been adopted by the International Civic Aviation Organization. GREET also satisfies the criteria for lifecycle analysis under the Renewable Fuel Standard regulations.

ACP Adjusts Hydrogen Stance – The American Clean Power Assn issued a plan today that could impose rigorous requirements for a new hydrogen tax credit that would rule out the use of electricity from older wind, solar and nuclear facilities. The ACP blueprint attempts to find a landing zone between the back and forth with potential guardrails that are likely to frustrate both developers and environmentalists. The goal, said ACP head Jason Grumet is to help foster a commercial green hydrogen industry in the US by ensuring government requirements aren’t too burdensome at the outset and yet strict enough to ensure long-term climate benefits. Details HERE.

Hydrogen Industry response – It is important to note that if the IRA will be able to live up to its climate and energy goals outlined by the Biden Administration, it is essential that the market grow in a flexible way. Of course, activists want to limit hydrogen as much as they can.  The Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association has argued that increasing the deployment of clean hydrogen is essential because of its versatility and reliability which make it an essential component of decarbonizing some of our hardest-to-abate sectors. CEO Frank Wolak said about the ACP plan:

“The IRA offers a significant opportunity to reduce GHG emissions, decarbonize heavy-energy users and help achieve the Biden administration’s climate, energy security and clean manufacturing goals.  We are concerned that the positions described by the American Clean Power Association, particularly on additionality, will chill development of the essential first generation of clean-hydrogen facilities. Restricting generators capable of selling environmental credits and leaving nuclear and hydropower out altogether are inconsistent with the broad intent of the IRA.

We urge the Department of Treasury to implement Section 45V guidelines in a way that allows the necessary flexibility for the clean hydrogen market to grow rapidly as possible. Hydrogen’s versatility and reliability make it an essential component of decarbonizing some of our hardest-to-abate sectors. In order to fully realize these benefits and deliver on the IRA’s intended goal, hydrogen must be treated equitably and optimized with accessibility and deployment in mind. FCHEA, for its part, will continue to push for the right rules that encourage investors to press forward with clean hydrogen production especially as we round out this decade crucial to the launch of the hydrogen economy.”

FCHEA, joined by 54 companies and organizations across the hydrogen landscape, also called on the Department of Treasury to implement the Section 45V Credit for the Production of Clean Hydrogen enacted by IRA without additionality requirements. 

Chamber Letter on 45V – The US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute also sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and White House infrastructure advisor John Podesta saying the central purpose of the section 45V credit is to rapidly grow the clean hydrogen economy in order to enable deep decarbonization pathways for carbon intensive sectors.

“Stringent restrictions on section 45V credit eligibility could cripple investment in this burgeoning sector and deprive would-be consumers of adequate and affordable supplies necessary to pursue their own ambitious emissions goals. The Chamber therefore urges the Administration to pursue a pragmatic and clear implementation path, not unlike the European Union’s phased-in approach that balances near- and long-term emissions goals.”

ACORE Study on topic Support Flexibility to Drive Market – The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) also released an analysis last month with Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. (E3) that compared the carbon emissions and production costs associated with the two primary accounting approaches: an “hourly match” requirement versus an “annual match” requirement. The report, Analysis of Hourly & Annual GHG Emissions: Accounting for Hydrogen Production, finds that the annual matching approach leads to lower carbon emissions than hourly matching in 25 out of the 40 scenarios studied. These scenarios were evaluated across four energy markets, with different combinations of additional wind and solar capacity for both 2025 and 2030. For 34 out of the 40 scenarios, the emissions under the annual matching approach were less than the minimum threshold required to receive the full PTC credit.

Senators Raise Concern about Methane – In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, 13 Senators Led by Enviro Committee Chair Tom Carper urged the agency to strengthen a proposal to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production and to swiftly implement the IRA’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program.  Carper and others like Sen. Manchin have been irate at the EPA’s pace on issuing this funding or detailed guidance given the IRA provisions that provide roughly $1.5 billion in funding to cover upgrades to pipelines, storage tanks and other infrastructure. As for the questions of flaring, industry has been aggressive at making those reduction already:

• Natural gas and oil companies are prioritizing emissions reductions and are taking action, including through programs like The Environmental Partnership.
• Programs like The Environmental Partnership, whose members make up more than 70% of the U.S. onshore natural gas and oil industry, are helping to ensure this progress continues by facilitating best practices across participating companies to reduce flaring, implementing cutting-edge technologies to detect and reduce emissions and replacing gas-driven pneumatic controllers with low- or zero-emitting devices.
• The Environmental Partnership’s 2022 annual report found a 45% reduction in flare intensity and a 26% reduction in total flare volumes from participating companies over the past year, even as the number of companies participating in the flare management program grew by 40%.
• Thanks to innovation and concerted industry action, average methane emissions intensity declined by nearly 66 percent across all seven major producing regions from 2011 to 2021.
• According to IEA’s 2022 Global Methane Tracker, U.S. methane emissions intensity from oil and gas production is among the lowest of any major producing country – lower than Russia, Iran and Venezuela.

Grid Storage Challenges – A new report from ACP and WoodMac says grid-scale energy storage installations continued a steep decline into the first quarter of this year.  It marks the first consecutive quarterly decline since 2015. The industry installed 1,552 megawatt-hours of grid-scale storage in 2023’s first quarter, 33% lower than the first quarter of 2022. ACP and WoodMac attributed the delays to supply chain and interconnection issues. The annual outlook still remains bright, however, with 8.9 gigawatts of grid-scale storage expected to come online this year, double the total for 2022, according to the report and reporting in POLITICO. Energy Vault is one of the market leaders in this space and last week, CEO Robert Piconi was in Washington to meet with a range of policymakers including several Members of Congress and officials from Department of Energy. The timing of these meetings was important (especially with the Hydrogen Roadmap release). EV shared its on-the-ground perspective about the role of the recently passed IRA in advancing energy storage and the renewable energy scale-up. Additionally, as Energy Vault has recently broken ground (in Texas) on the first U.S. gravity energy storage system and has plans to build (in California with PG&E) the largest and first of its kind micro-grid hybrid long duration storage system combining green hydrogen and battery technology.

Fund Set to Push Green Decarb Projects – Just Climate, an investment business established by Generation Investment Management to address the net-zero challenge at scale, is starting its inaugural fund, Climate Assets Fund. The Fund exceeded its $1 billion target, raising $1.5 billion in institutional capital to invest in the highest impact solutions that can radically reduce or remove emissions, while generating attractive risk-adjusted financial returns. The Fund closed with a diverse set of institutional investors with a far-reaching geographical spread, including California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), PSP Investments, AP4, Colonial First State Investments, Builders Asset Management and AP2; as well as other pensions, sovereign wealth funds, insurers, financial institutions, endowments, foundations and family offices from North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. The Fund’s founding investor group included Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund which anchored the Fund, IMAS Foundation, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Harvard Management Company, the Imprint Group of Goldman Sachs as well as Hall Capital Partners and its clients.

 

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Federalist Group Looks at Environmental Regs – The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies holds a discussion today at Noon on environmental enforcement policies, priorities and the Rule of Law. this panel, comprised of leading voices on environmental enforcement, will discuss past and current environmental enforcement priorities, policies and actions at EPA and DOJ, the value of transparency and impartiality in environmental enforcement, and share varying perspectives on the future of environmental enforcement in the United States.  The panel will also explore ways to increase environmental compliance and integrity in enforcement decision-making. Sen. Dan Sullivan keynotes while expert panelists include Susan Bodine, Eric Schaeffer, Jeff Wood and David Uhlmann.

Forum to Look at Water Cooperation – Today at 1:00 p.m., the US Institute of Peace, the Environmental Law Institute and the Stockholm International Water Institute hold a discussion today at 1:00 p.m. on elevating women's leadership for effective transboundary water cooperation. Women water diplomats from around the world will discuss water conflict sensitivities, share lessons learned and enumerate paths forward for peace.

Granholm, Haaland Attend Transmissions Project Groundbreaking – Today at 2:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. MT, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and other state and local leaders will commemorate the groundbreaking of the TransWest Express Transmission Project, a high-voltage interregional transmission line that will extend from south-central Wyoming through northwestern Colorado and central Utah, ending in southern Nevada. The transmission line will add more than 1,000 jobs during construction and, once complete, will provide 3,000 megawatts of new transmission capacity.

Aspen Hosts Critical Mineral Forum – Today at 2:00 p.m., the Aspen Institute's Energy & Environment Program convenes a panel of experts to explore a viable path forward for the US to scale critical minerals production and build resilient supply chains to achieve climate targets. Aspen convened a task force of experts in 2022 to help policymakers address these challenges and form a bipartisan, comprehensive approach for U.S. critical minerals policy. This report is the result of a series of roundtable and consensus building exercises with an array of current and former senior officials across a range of industries and sectors. The roundtables were co-chaired by Columbia University SIPA’s Jason Bordoff and Meghan O’Sullivan of the Harvard Kennedy School. Former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp will also speak.

Forum Talks Plastic Pollution – The Business Council for International Understanding holds a discussion today and tomorrow on the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-2) in Paris as well as opportunities for private sector engagement.

RFF Hosts DOE’s Shah – Resources for the Future (RFF) holds a conversation today at 3:30 p.m. with RFF President and CEO Richard Newell hosting DOE Loan Office head Jigar Shah to dive deep into the lessons he learned as a clean energy entrepreneur, how that is informing his approach at DOE, and the vision for how public and private finance can work together to underwrite the US energy transition at scale.

CA Hydrogen Summit Set – The California Hydrogen Leadership Summit will be held today at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel in Sacramento, CA. The Summit is a collaboration between the California Hydrogen Business Council (CHBC) and Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA), each with substantial experience advocating for hydrogen and organizing clean energy conferences.

Forum to Look at Asian LNG – This evening at 10:00 p.m. EST, the Energy Policy Research Foundation (EPRINC) will host a webinar on Mitigating Extreme Volatility of LNG Prices in Southeast Asia in conjunction with the Institute for Energy Economics of Japan and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). Our Friend Dan Byers of the Chamber’s Global Energy Institute will be on the panel.

Forum Looks at Green Subsidies – The Peterson Institute for International Economics holds a forum on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. on global green subsidies and their impact. Advanced economies have long avoided industrial policy and subsidies because of their inefficiency. But the U.S. has set a new tone with the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes extensive tax credits for electric vehicles, green manufacturing & renewable energy production.

Atlantic Council Tackles Africa, Green Hydrogen – Tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., the Atlantic Council holds a virtual discussion on green hydrogen for Africa, looking at opportunities and obstacles in African markets.

Forum Looks at Climate, Security – On Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., the German Marshall Fund of the United States holds a Transatlantic conversation on climate and security.  To analyze and discuss these issues, the event will bring together Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate; Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General; and Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission.

House Oversight Takes Up EPA Emissions Rule – The House Oversight and Accountability Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on examining the EPA’s proposed emissions standards. EPA’s Joe Goffman Is testifying.

Senate Budget Looks at Fossil Fuel Dark Money – Why Senate Budget is looking at this, who really knows, but Senate Budget Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. looking at investigating dark money's threats to climate. As if we haven’t been down the road before with no real results (other than crazy handwaving).

Senate Environment Looks at EDA -- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on the reauthorization of the Economic Development Administration, focusing on state and local perspectives.

Wilson Looks at Green Finance, Galapagos – The Wilson Center’s Latin American Program holds a discussion on Wednesday ta 10:00 a.m. on Ecuador’s ‘Blue Bond’ and the future of the Galapagos Island and green finance. The event features an in-person conversation with Ecuador’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gustavo Manrique Miranda and Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries Julio José Prado about Ecuador’s ambitious conservation agenda.

Germany Energy/Power Book Event – The American-German Institute holds a book forum on Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. to release “Energy and Power - Germany in the Age of Oil, Atoms, and Climate Change.” The book is the first comprehensive history of German energy and climate policy after World War II follows the Federal Republic as it passed through five energy transitions, the rise of the Green movement in the 1970s and 1980s and ending with the transition to wind and solar power today.

House Energy Looks at Energy Spending – House Energy’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. oversight of President Biden's energy spending with a focus on controversial battery-maker Microvast. DOE’s David Howell testifies.

Forum Looks at Climate-Smart Conservation – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds a briefing on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. looking at opportunities to cultivate climate-smart conservation programs in this year’s Farm Bill. Panelists will describe conservation opportunities, barriers to access the many Farm Bill conservation-related programs, as well as ways to advance conservation through research, technical assistance, and financial support. Speakers include Reps. Nancy Mace and Sharice Davids.

House Resources Hosts CEQ – The House Natural Resources Committee holds a hearing on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. examining the Council on Environmental Quality’s FY2024 Budget Request. CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory testifies.

House Marks Up Energy/Water Funding – On Thursday at 10:00 a.m., the House Approps Committee will mark up the FY 24 Energy and Water funding bill. 

House Energy Panel Tackles Vehicle, Fuel Affordability – The House Energy and Commerce Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee holds a hearing on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. on EVs.  The hearing will look at preserving consumers’ freedom to buy affordable vehicles and fuel. EPA’s Goffman will testify there as well. Others include AFPM’s Chet Thompson, National Corn Growers Association head Neil Caskey, Scott Lambert of the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association and Genevieve Cullen of the Electric Drive Transportation Association.

Forum to Look at Land Use – The Environmental Law Institute holds a forum on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. on the basics of land use and energy law. Experts will explore the history of land and energy use, along with recent trends in approaches to planning energy developments.

ACCF Hosts Rep. Hern – On Thursday at 12:00 p.m., the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF)  hosts a webinar with Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee to discuss economic challenges for President Biden and the 117^th Congress.

WaPo Hosts Mexico Climate Conversation – On Thursday at 1:00 p.m., Washington Post Live holds a conversation with Luisa Palacios, senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, and Jimena Marván, executive director of Chapter Zero Mexico, about the country’s climate commitments and the impact of global warming across the region.

Forum Looks at Transmission Planning – The R Street Institute holds a forum on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. on reforming transmission planning and cost management. The event will focus on the reforms that will get transmission planning and cost management back on track. FERC Commissioner Mark Christie will make opening remarks and panelists include Indiana Commissioner Sarah Freeman, KY PSC Chair Kent Chandler and MD PSC Chair Jason Stanek.

 

IN THE FUTURE

NASA to Hold Earth Info Opening – Next Monday, NASA hosts an all-day opening for its new exhibit that transforms science into art, view stunning visuals of Earth data from space on a cutting edge 20-ft hyperwall. The event will look at how information about Earth from space improves lives and livelihoods in the face of disasters, environmental challenges and climate change.

Forum Looks at Transatlantic Climate, Trade – In a second event, the American-German Institute discusses more Transatlantic cooperation on climate and trade on Tuesday June 27^th at 10:00 a.m. Climate policy is becoming increasingly linked with more traditional areas like trade and security. Yet many of the international rules covering these issues are not fit to manage this new reality. The U.S., the EU, and Germany have launched several initiatives to tackle this situation.

Forum Looks at G-7 Energy, Climate Opportunities – The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center and Climate Advisers holds a forum virtually on Tuesday June 27^th at 10:00 a.m. featuring an expert discussion on opportunities to advance climate solutions in trade and industrial sectors. G7 leaders in their recent Clean Energy Economy Action Plan emphasized the need to align trade policies with climate goals and opportunities for international cooperation to open new doors for more inclusive cooperation with other nations and the private sector on Industrial decarbonization, referring often to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

WRI to Discuss Supporting Auto Workers in EV Transition – World Resources Institute holds for a conversation on Tuesday June 27^th at 11:00 a.m. featuring federal policymakers, labor, private sector and environmental leaders to discuss how the U.S. can create equitable and just policies for auto workers as the industry electrifies. DOE’s Betony Jones keynotes

Forum Looks at Bioenergy, Carbon Capture – Resources for the Future and the Energy Futures Initiative hold a forum on Tuesday June 27^th at 2:00 p.m. using policy to accelerate bioenergy carbon capture and storage deployment. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage is a promising form of CO2 removal that can help us reduce emissions by combining the sustainable utilization of a wide range of biomass materials, making providing clean energy and net-negative carbon emissions possible.

OEP to Talk Solar – OurEnergyPolicy holds a forum on Wednesday June 28^th at Noon addressing the future of solar power in the U.S., barriers to advancement and the key economic, regulatory and policy issues.  Speakers will include Sen Catherine Cortez Masto, DOE’s Garrett Nilsen, ACP’s David Murray and others.

C2ES Forum Looks at Resilience – The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and the Vermont Bond Bank on Wednesday June 28^th at 1:00 p.m. hold a webinar on the emerging landscape of climate risk assessment by investors in the $4 trillion municipal bond market. Speakers will outline the physical climate risk analysis landscape, how local governments can integrate climate risks and opportunities into financial decision-making, and how investors are beginning to evaluate climate risk.

Forum Looks ta Grid Markets – WRI and SolSmart hold a webinar on Wednesday June 28^th at 2:00 p.m. to provide an introduction to how the electricity grid functions and the key stakeholders who oversee it. Presenters will describe how wholesale electricity markets function and highlight the rules and processes that could affect the achievement of local governments’ solar energy goals. It will also include presentations on potential engagement opportunities and related support that local governments can consider if they want to participate in stakeholder processes. Local governments will hear from peers who have already taken steps to engage in these processes through the PJM Cities and Communities Coalition (PJMCCC) and the MISO Cities and Communities Coalition.

WRI Targets Net Zero Strategies – The World Resources Institute holds a forum on Thursday June 29^th at 9:00 a.m. to release a forthcoming report by World Resources Institute (WRI), titled “Realizing Net-Zero Emissions: Good Practice in Countries,” will draw out examples of countries that are already taking concrete actions today toward achieving their net-zero aims. The event will feature the report’s lead authors to showcase these pioneering countries and share good practices related to governance, sectoral policy, finance and investment, stakeholder engagement and more. Experts will also highlight resources from the Climate Watch and Systems Change Lab data platforms showing global progress towards net zero.

ACORE Looks at Rural Utilities – ACORE and the US Department of Agriculture holds a virtual discussion on Thursday June 29^th at 1:00 p.m. looking at new funding opportunities for clean energy. Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service will provide an overview of the approximately $11 billion in grants and loan opportunities that will help rural energy and utility providers implement affordable, reliable clean energy initiatives for their communities across the country. The programs represent the single largest investment in rural electrification since the Rural Electrification Act went into law in 1936. USDA will provide an overview of the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program and the Power Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program.

DOE Forum Tackles Interconnection Costs – DOE’s Berkeley Lab holds a webinar on Thursday June 29^th at 1:00 p.m. looking at US interconnection costs and trends across five ISO/RTOs.  With the recent publication of interconnection cost analyses for ISO New England (ISO-NE) and the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), Berkeley Lab is holding a series of briefs analyzing interconnection costs and trends across five U.S. wholesale electricity markets is complete. The series employs extensive data collection and analysis at the individual project level in MISO, PJM, SPP, NYISO, and ISO-NE to provide developers, regulators, policy makers, and other stakeholders with critical insights about interconnection cost data that is often difficult and inefficient for the public to obtain.

Forum Looks at Decarb on Industrials – ClearPath and the Clear Air Task Force are holding a clean energy industrial Summit on July 19^th at the National Press Club. The summit features Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk, top thought leaders, project developers, innovators, and lawmakers to discuss exciting opportunities to ensure America’s next industrial revolution arrives — leading the world in decarbonization. Other speakers include execs from Holcim, CEMEX, LanzaTech and the American Iron & Steel Institute.