Energy Update: Week of June 21

Friends,               

Hope everyone had a great Father’s Day.  As usual, much of it was spent watching the Sunday race for golf’s US Open, eventually won by John Rahm, who earned his first major title.  I’ve also been watching the swimming, diving and Track/Field Olympic trials, which reminds that we are only five weeks away from Toyko’s 2021 Summer games.

We also are getting to crunch time on infrastructure and it is looking harder and harder for progressive climate-driven Democrats to walk away from the bipartisan approach that keeps getting more support.  There is a July 4^th deadline for a final agreement, but the senate is out after this Friday so that deadline is right around the corner now.  Our Liam Donovan is all over it.  Finally, we are hearing rumblings of more on the Clean Energy Standard, with a some movement on McKinley-Schrader and the beginnings of some planning for a hearing on the topic…Stay tuned!  Finally, the methane CRA rule gets a House vote this week and when passed, goes to Biden's desk for final signature.

A number of Congressional hearings this week.  Granholm and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland are back on the Hill Wednesday to discuss their spending priorities/budget requests for FY 2022. Granholm is at Senate Approps’ Energy panel with nuclear security chief Charles Verdon, and Haaland visits House Resources. Granholm and Verdon will visit Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.  Senate Enviro focuses on natural water resources projects on Thursday, and Senate Ag (tomorrow) and Energy (Wednesday) subpanels are both meeting this week to discuss rural access to reliable and clean energy. Finally, there is another plastic waste hearing on Wednesday.

Other events this week include tomorrow’s Third Way virtual event discussing the nation’s clean energy industries by looking at domestic supply chain development with current DOE’s Nuclear official Katy Huff, former DOE Nuke head Rita Baranwal and union heads Sean McGarvey (Building trades) and Mark McManus (Plumbers-Pipefitters).  EPRI holds a seminar on Wednesday looking at the IEA's recently released Net-Zero by 2050 report. On Thursday, the Chamber’s Global Energy Institute continues its EnergyInnovates Series with an in-depth discussion on critical minerals and BPC holds a virtual discussion making the case for direct air capture and carbon removal with Sen John Hickenlooper and GEI’s Durbin.

BTW, our friend Derek Brower, US Energy Editor of the Financial Times – one who was stuck in Europe during COVID – wrote a great magazine piece last week detailing his foray across Energy America.  Derek started in North Dakota and ended in Texas and hit every key place along the way through the energy heart of the country.  Check out the trip.

Finally, the American Gas Association (AGA) has been named one of The Washington Post’s Top Workplaces in the Washington, D.C. area for the 7^th consecutive year. Selection is based solely on employee feedback gathered through an anonymous third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC, which measured several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection.  See the full List here.

Hope you stay safe & healthy and get those vaccine shots if you can.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

 

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“Americans know what infrastructure is, and they know energy is central. Infrastructure affects everyone, everyone agrees it needs to be repaired, and everyone should have a stake in its success. President Biden and the Democrats would be making a huge mistake to try and shove yet another expensive, partisan spending package this summer in the name of infrastructure. It’s time for them to reach across the aisle and work seriously on behalf of America.”

CRES head Heather Reams in RealClearEnergy this week about American support for energy infrastructure.

ON THE PODCAST

Sen King Weighs in on Climate, Energy – On this week’s Columbia Energy Exchange, Bill Loveless is joined by Maine Senator Angus King to discuss the state of play for climate and energy legislation.

Sen. King is part of a small group of powerful moderates. He spends his time in the Senate actively working with Democrats and Republicans in search of climate compromise. Sen. King is a founding member of the Senate Climate Solutions Caucus and a Member of three prominent committees -- energy, intelligence, and armed services. 

Connaughton Discusses Data Centers – Nautilus CEO Jim Connaughton joined Bechtel‘s Peter Nelson on his podcast to discuss how data centers are important in the effort to reduce emissions. Data centers, which are crucial for daily life, are energy intensive units. Decarbonizing these data centers is an important step to reducing global emissions.

FUN OPINIONS

Granholm: China Supply Chain Challenges Can Be Overcome – In an op-ed in the USAToday, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm writes that China profits off our passivity regarding our imbalances on supply chain disruptions.  She says these imbalances make our economy vulnerable to disruptions and put us at a huge disadvantages in the global clean energy race, but can be resolved by moving forward with the Biden Jobs plan.  

FROG BLOG

Global Challenges Require Multinational Solutions – In an opinion piece in Eurogas, Sempra CEO &  Chairman Jeffrey Martin and HR McMaster, former U.S. National Security Advisor write that energy security is vital to national security, highlighting that increasing LNG around globe offers an important way to continue expanding renewable energy, reducing emissions. Citing international cooperation as the lynchpin to tackling climate change, they share why global solutions will require outside-the-box thinking.

Loris on G7: Turn to Free Enterprise– In a Blog Post in C3, economist Nick Loris writes in order to truly be effective, leaders looking for climate action should instead look to free markets and private sector innovation to advance solutions that benefit the environment and economy. “Leading up to the 26^th Conference of the Parties (COP26) forum this November in Glasgow, politicians should offer a fresh take on climate negotiations: removing government-imposed barriers to economic and climate progress.  Otherwise COP26 runs the risk of continued climate insanity – doing the same thing over again and expecting different results.”

FUN FACTS

Coal IN Europe: While the continent is on target to close 50% of its coal plants by 2030,  Coal usage in the continent jumped 10% to 15% this year after a colder- and longer-than-usual winter left gas storage sites depleted.

Methane: With the Methane CRA on the table this week, some methane facts:

• A ton of methane warms the planet 80 times more than a ton of CO2.
• On average, 2.3% of upstream US natural gas production is leaking,
• The majority of methane emissions come from a small number of big leaks, “super-leakers,” which are typically caused by maintenance and equipment failures.
• There are 123 super-emiters in the US.

IN THE NEWS

Fed Judge Reverses Biden Ban on Federal Land Leases – A Federal judge in Louisiana blocked President Joe Biden’s executive order pausing oil and gas leasing.  Judge Terry Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, a Trump appointee, issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Interior Department from pausing oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters. Biden’s leasing pause violates both the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Mineral Leasing Act, Doughty wrote.

125 Chambers Call for Biden to Lift Ban – 125 state and local Chambers from 30 states around the nation today sent a strong message of opposition to President Biden’s indefinite ban on new energy production on federal lands and waters. The Chambers sent a letter organized by the U.S. Chamber’s Global Energy Institute to the President today outlining the devastating impacts of the President’s federal leasing ban, which by 2025 could result in more than 154,000 jobs lost, a loss of more than $22 billion in GDP, and a loss of $4 billion in tax revenue. 

Energy Storage Company patented rechargeable alkaline battery offers modular energy storage 

The only energy storage company in EPRI’s latest pick of 20 startups to partner with top electric utilities is Urban Electric Power (UEP), a New York-based company that has patented a way to make the familiar alkaline battery rechargeable at scale.  UEP used their innovations to develop modular batteries that can provide backup electricity for personal use, installed in a home garage or basement; be grouped as part of a commercial microgrid; or installed en masse at grid scale by an electric utility or independent power provider. They boast what other batteries cannot: non-toxic energy storage, suitable for indoor use without the fire risk of lithium-ion batteries, at an attractive cost.  UEP’s rechargeable alkaline chemistry uses zinc and manganese, cheaper and more abundantly found on Earth than lithium. As a result, alkaline batteries can be up to 10 times more affordable per kilowatt-hour than most lithium-ion systems today. “We’re both more planet-friendly and also easier to replace and source over time, given the varying global trade climate,” said Ann Marie Augustus, UEP’s Vice President of Operations. 

EPRI is Involved – A panel of experts for global utilities and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) chose the 20 startups for this year’s Incubatenergy Labs® program from more than 250 entrants from around the world. "Incubatenergy Labs brings startups and utilities together to crowdsource the demonstration of these innovations and speed the commercialization of promising technologies," said Incubatenergy Lead Erik Steeb June 10 in announcing this year’s list.  The winning companies will now spend 16 weeks working with electric utilities and EPRI on demonstration projects to accelerate decarbonization, electrification, grid modernization, and other electric power industry “innovation imperatives.” Results will be presented Oct. 19-20 during EPRI’s interactive Incubatenergy Labs Demo Days.

Who’s Interested? – Host utilities this year include Ameren and Tennessee Valley Authority, with participating utilities Con Edison, Duke Energy, Enel, FirstEnergy, Fortis (Newfoundland Power, Tucson Electric Power, FortisBC, Central Hudson), Green Mountain Power, Vermont Electric Coop, Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO), New York Power Authority, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Portland General Electric, Southern California Edison, Salt River Project (SRP), and Xcel Energy.

U.S.-EU Summit – The Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users (CAMMU) released the following statement regarding trade-related developments between the United States and European Union last week:

“While the U.S. and EU made some progress during the summit in resolving long-standing trade disputes, CAMMU is disappointed that the parties did not come to an agreement on a timeline to end the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs. We reiterate the urgency of terminating these tariffs imposed under the previous Administration while discussions continue on how best to address China’s over supply of steel and aluminum. We also note that any working group or stakeholder involvement in the discussions must include U.S. industrial users of steel and aluminum. The 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum should have never been applied to our allies in the first place. They have only served to increase the costs of goods manufactured in America compared to overseas competitors who can simply import the finished product to the U.S., and thus continue to erode the ability of the U.S. manufacturing sector to compete and survive in the global market. Record high prices, shortages and delays in delivery for steel and aluminum are rippling throughout downstream industries, disrupting supply chains and threatening the economic security of American workers. Section 232 provides no mechanism for review of the costs and benefits of the tariffs. We urge the Biden Administration to reach a resolution with our trading partners and terminate the Section 232 tariffs as quickly as possible before more damage is done to the manufacturing sector and the economy.”

RCG's Offshore Wind Report: More Than 200 GW In New Projects Since 2020 – More than 200 GW of new offshore wind projects have been announced since the beginning of 2020 - accounting for more than 44% of all global capacity at the pre-construction or early development phase, according to the 2020 Global Offshore Wind Annual Market Report from The Renewables Consulting Group (RCG). Despite a global pandemic, 2020 was a year of substantial milestones for global offshore wind. Among the highlights: The total capacity financed for offshore wind last year reached 8,370 MW across the European, Americas and Asia Pacific (excl. China)* regions, eclipsing the previous total of 6,438 MW financed in 2018. Global investment for offshore wind also set new highs last year as investment reached USD 30 billion, surpassing the previous high of USD 22 billion set in 2018. In the US market, despite a slowdown in federal permitting and new leasing in the final year of the Trump presidency, state authorities issued solicitations for offtake contracts in New Jersey and New York. The first project installed in federal waters, the 12 MW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) demonstrator, was commissioned by Dominion Energy in October 2020. The development and operations of the project will inform the build out of the adjacent 2.64GW CVOW offshore wind farm. For more information, visit

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

MOST EVENTS SCHEDULED ARE NOW ONLINE WEBINARS

Reuters Looks at Global Energy Transition – Reuters Events' Global Energy Transition will be held this week. The event unites leaders and change makers from across the public and private sectors to shed light on the defining issue of our time and tackle the energy transition head on. The Global Energy Transition will define the future of our energy system, inspire a decade of action and prepare the sector for COP26, with diverse voices from around the word bringing passion, experience and expertise to deliver a new path forward.  Among the speakers are bp’s Bernard Looney, Equinor’s Anders Opedal, Duke’s Lynn Good, Southern Gas’ Kim Greene and many more.

Green Bank Summit Set – The Green Bank Design Summit, sponsored by RMI, NRDC and the Green Finance Institute, will be held this week and focus on establishing national green banks and other dedicated green financing. The Summit creates a forum for country representatives and experts to discuss green bank establishment issues, both shared and country-specific, through a series of workshops, clinics, and panels. Among the many speakers is Rep. Debbie Dingell and Sen. Chris Van Hollen.

Forum to Look at Renewable Generation Costs – Tomorrow at 8:00 a.m., IRENA will hold a forum to address latest renewable power generation cost trends from a decade where solar and wind power learning has driven down costs to historically low levels and made them the mainstay of new capacity additions in 2020.  IRENA will present highlights of its annual “Renewable Power Generation Costs” report, granting insights into the latest trends in installed costs, capacity factors and the levelized cost of electricity for bioenergy for power, concentrating solar power, geothermal, hydropower, onshore and offshore wind, and solar photovoltaics.

Forum Look s at Zero-Carb Buildings – Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., WRI launches its Zero Carbon Building Accelerator (ZCBA) in a webinar. Global thought leaders will speak about the urgent challenges inherent in building sector decarbonization and what kind of business and planning models can help us overcome these challenges.

Senate Ag Looks at Rural Communities – The Senate Agriculture Rural Development and Energy Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. on renewable energy growth and opportunities for our rural economies. Iowa Western Community College industry Dean Matt MancusoShannon Schlecht, Executive director of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Crookston, Minn.

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor, Central Iowa Power Coop CEO Bill Cherrier and Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Chairwoman Katie Sieben.

Report: Uncertain Energy Future – The Baker Energy Institute at Rice University hosts Equinor’s Eirik Wærness tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the recently released Energy Perspectives report, which presents three distinct scenarios for future energy demand. The three scenarios — reform, rebalance and rivalry — reveal a wide set of possible outcomes driven by a variety of factors, ranging from economic growth and technological development to climate policy and geopolitics.

Forum to Look at 2040 Zero Emissions – The Business Council for International Understanding holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. on the new Development Finance Corporation 2040 zero-emissions target and how DFC will institute more international climate investments in its portfolio. Jake Levine, Chief climate officer of the U.S. International DFC, speaks. 

Forum to Look at Climate, Financial Issues – The Peterson Institute for International Economics holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. on climate risk, the Fed and preparing for an uncertain certainty. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco CEO Mary Daly speaks.

Web Event to Look at NREL Storage Study – The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) holds a webinar at Noon about findings from its Storage Futures Study. In this webinar, speakers will discuss two recent publications in the study, featuring 1) a first-of-its-kind visionary framework for the possible evolution of the stationary energy storage industry and power system as a whole and 2) detailed modeling of the future electric grid with increased storage. Storage Futures Study analysts Paul Denholm and Will Frazier will discuss the recent reports and synergies between them.

Resources Looks at Ocean Legislation – The House Natural Resources Committee holds a hearing tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. on ocean-based climate legislation.  NOAA’s Nicole LeBoeuf and US FWS policy expert Stephen Guertin as well as several other testify.

Third Way Hosts Union Leaders on Jobs Plan – Third Way holds a virtual event tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. to discuss how policies like the American Jobs Plan can get one of the nation’s newest clean energy industries up and running. The event will explore how to develop the domestic supply chain while building on the nuclear sector’s strong record of supporting union workers in construction, manufacturing, and engineering.  The Keynote Speaker will be DOE Nuclear Acting Assistant Secretary Katy Huff.  Panelists will include former DOE Nuclear AS Rita Baranwal, now at EPRI, TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque, North America’s Building Trades Unions President Sean McGarvey  United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters General President Mark McManus and X-Energy CEO Clay Sell.

CSIS to Look at US-Korea Supply Chain – The Center for Strategic and International Studies holds a virtual discussion Wednesday at 8:30 a.m., on 100-Day Supply Chain Review.  The event will look at opportunities for U.S.-Korea cooperation, focusing on semiconductors and batteries.  Speakers include Semiconductor Industry Association President John Neuffer, Naomi Wilson of the Information Technology Industry Council and Ultium Cells President Eun Kee.

Deese to Headline Forum – The Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center will hold a special event on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. with the Director of the National Economic Council, Brian Deese. Deese will present a detailed view of the Administration’s strategy for building domestic industrial strength, within the context of the President’s broader economic agenda.

Forum Reviews Wildlife Crimes – The Woodrow Wilson Center's China Environment Forum and Environmental Change and Security Program hold a virtual discussion Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. on ending wildlife crime to protect animals, human health and the planet. Speakers include Ofir Drori of the Eagle Network's Last Great Ape Organization, Sharon Burke of the New America Resource Security Program and John Scanlon, former secretary general of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Granholm Talk Budget, Nuclear Security – The Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee holds a hearing Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on the FY2022 Budget Submission for DOE, including the National Nuclear Security Agency.  Secretary Granholm and nuclear security chief Charles Verdon testify.  They will also visit Senate Armed Services following day at 9:30 a.m.

Haaland Visits House Resources – The House Natural Resources Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. examining the Department of the Interior's spending priorities and the President's FY2022 Budget proposal.  Secretary Haaland testifies.

Forum to Look at Coastal Resilience, Climate – On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., the Stimson Center’s Environmental Security Program and Island Press hold a roundtable discussion on coastal city resilience and the launch of a new book, A Blueprint for Coastal Adaptation: United Design, Economics, and Policy. The event will bring together some of the best thinkers and practitioners engaged in building resilient coastal cities both at home and abroad. The conversation will engage the virtual audience and focus on successful approaches to develop comprehensive climate adaptation actions in coastal cities and to direct financial resources to safeguard people, their livelihoods, and to build a more resilient future.

EPRI Forum to Look at IEA Net Zero Report – The Electric Power Research Institute holds a seminar on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. looking at the IEA's recently released report "Net-Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector." This EPRI Washington Seminar looks at national perspectives on technology pathways to net-zero from the US and UK  A companion panel will discuss carbon pricing’s role in achieving net-zero pathways, featuring international perspectives from the IEA and Shell, followed by regional perspectives from the US and UK.

Forum to Look at Sustainable Aviation Fuels – ICF and Airlines UK hold a webinar on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on sustainable aviation fuels. This webinar will feature a practical guide to the actions needed to achieve decarbonization ambitions and adapt to the rapidly evolving policy landscape. Primarily aimed at airlines who are considering their first SAF offtake agreement, it will also be of interest to airports, investors, and policy-makers.

Forum to Look at Green Bank Issues – The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) hold a  webinar on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. where they will discuss their forthcoming “Closer Look” report, which examines lessons learned from established subnational green banks, provides recommendations for these banks, as well as insights for how subnational experiences can inform the establishment of a new national climate bank.  This webinar will provide an overview of the report and perspective from key leaders at subnational green banks at the forefront of catalyzing the investment needed for the clean energy transition. Speakers include Connecticut Green Bank CEO Bryan Garcia, Michigan Saves CEO Mary Templeton, Jeffrey Schub of the Coalition for Green Capital and New York Green Bank Managing Director Kim Erle.

Forum to Look at Caribbean Climate Issues – On Wednesday at 1:00 p.m., the US Energy Assn holds a forum that features a panel discussion of the USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean Regional Climate Symposium.  It will focus on identifying and prioritizing the climate impacts that require support at the sectoral and cross-sectoral level, considering them in the context of COVID-19. Panelists will discuss how to strengthen climate resilience, highlighting cutting-edge innovations to help transform the water, energy, agriculture, and tourism sectors over the next decade. The panel will feature specialists from these sectors, including perspectives from a youth representative.

AEE To Look at EVs, Offshore Wind – Advanced Energy Economy holds a webinar on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. looking at state legislatures and EV and offshore wind issues.  In this webinar, a panel of AEE and company experts will discuss the legislative focus on issues involving equity in environmental impact and employment, supporting (and taxing) electric vehicles, and launching offshore wind as a new U.S. industry.

Forum Targets Middle East Utilities – The Center for Strategic and International Studies holds a virtual discussion Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. on why sustainable public utilities are a security issue, focusing on the Middle East. The CSIS Middle East Program holds a conversation on the link between sustainable utilities and regional security with the commander of United States Central Command, General Kenneth F. McKenzie. General McKenzie will highlight how non-military factors, such as environmentally sustainable public utilities, advance U.S. security interests in the Middle East. McKenzie's speech will be followed by a panel discussion with Harvard’s Melani Cammett, Franck Bousquet of the IMF Institute for Capacity Development and Tessa Terpstra, former Regional Envoy for Water and Energy Security in the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Forum to Clean Electric Grid – The American Nuclear Society holds a discussion on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. on what a clean US electric grid will look like in 2035.  Our friends Malcoml Woolf of NHA and Craig Piercy of ANS lead the discussion with Idaho National Labs’ Shannon Bragg-Sitton, Trevor Brown of the Ammonia Energy Association, MIT researcher Patrick Brown and Stanford researcher Ejeong Baik.

USEA Looks at CO CCS Project – On Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., the US Energy Assn hosts Coyote Clean Power (CCP), the Colorado Energy Office, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and Svante, in a discussion around carbon capture in Colorado and the Southern Ute Indian Reservation. Coyote Clean Power is a partnership between 8 Rivers Capital and the Southern Ute Growth Fund to develop, construct, and operate a near-zero emissions NET Power plant. CCP is planning to deliver zero emissions, clean energy to the project Svante is developing at a LafargeHolcim facility in Florence, CO with Occidental and TotalEnergies. Additionally, CCP's  zero emissions and reliable electricity along with its energy storage capability can support the increased renewable energy in the Four Corners region while gigawatts of coal assets are being retired.

Senate Energy Tackles Rural Communities – The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Energy Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. looking at existing programs and future opportunities to ensure access to affordable, reliable and clean energy for rural and low-income communities. Witnesses include Deputy assistant Energy secretary for renewable power Alejandro Moreno, Hawaii Energy’s Brian Kealoha and Minnkota Power Cooperative CEO Mac McLennan.

WCEE to Chat with Author Highlighting Energy’s Women Leaders – On Wednesday at 6:00 p.m., the Women’s Council for Energy and the Environment hosts its virtual Author Spotlight featuring author Steve Mitnick to discuss two of his recent book projects: “Lewis Latimer, The First Hidden Figure” and “Women Leading Utilities.” His book on Lewis Latimer shines light on a founding father of the utility industry, forgotten due to his race, and is available for download thanks to the book’s generous sponsors.

USEA Looks at De-risking Renewables – The US Energy Assn hold a forum on Thursday at 6:30 a.m. on the underlying risks that investors and lenders usually review and that can cause a project to fail if not addressed properly. The webinar will demonstrate how risks and the perception of these risks will affect the “bankability” of projects, increasing financing costs.  The webinar will also provide a brief introduction to risk mitigation instruments, which will be covered in more detail during the other webinars in the series. This webinar is rooted in experiences on the ground and will provide multiple examples and short case studies that will bring these otherwise abstract risk concepts to life. It is open to all for registered participation.

Forum to Look at CCS in Scotland – The Global CCS Institute will hold a webinar on Thursday at a9:00 a.m. to provide insights into Scotland’s plans to reach net zero climate targets, the associated decarbonization roadmap and the role of the Acorn CCS project in delivering Scotland's climate goals.

Senate Energy Looks at Energy Water Infrastructure – The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. to examine the infrastructure needs of the U.S. energy sector, western water and public lands.

Senate Enviro Takes Up Natural Water Resources Projects – The Senate Environment Committee will hold an oversight hearing on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. the role of natural and nature-based features in water resources projects.

Chamber to Address Critical Minerals – The US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute continues its EnergyInnovates Series on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. with an in-depth discussion on critical minerals.  This discussion will examine the need for policies to address end-to-end supply chain concerns in order to facilitate continued energy innovation and emissions reductions across the economy. Speakers include DOE’s David Turk, Rep Henry Cuellar, GE’s Roger Martella and Simon Moores of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. 

WCEE Forum Looks at Equity in Clean Energy – The Women’s Council for Energy and the Environment hosts a forum on Thursday at Noon focused on concerns about equitable access to resources and equity impacts of new policies. Speaker include DOE EERE’s Kara Podkaminer and Anne Canavati of the Energy Futures Initiative.

ITIF to Look at US Manufacturing, Low Carbon Economy – On Thursday at 12:00 p.m., the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) holds a forum and discussion on a new report, in partnership with Boston University’s Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Fraunhofer USA Center for Manufacturing Innovation, outlining policy recommendations to integrate the U.S. manufacturing innovation and competitiveness agenda with emerging national climate policies.

USEA holds Green Hydrogen, Mineral Energy – The US Energy Association hold its Indian Energy Minerals Forum on Thursday at Noon, focusing on the recent national agenda for carbon reduction and clean energy. Sagebrush Hill Group, a Navajo professional services company, in partnership with USEA and DOE as they invite tribal representatives, federal and state representatives and industry stakeholders to the 4^th  webinar of the Indian Energy Minerals Forum, a series of 6 collaborative sessions scheduled from May 2021 through July 2021. This forum addresses Indian energy minerals –the mainstay for many energy tribes and their economies —and the outlook and potential to contribute to global carbon reduction goals in line with proposals at the federal level.

BPC Looks at Direct Air Capture – The Bipartisan Policy Center holds a virtual discussion on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. making the case for direct air capture and carbon removal.  Sen John Hickenlooper and US Chamber Global Energy Institute head Marty Durbin headline along with Shuchi Talati, Chief of staff at the Energy Department's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.

NYT Climate Forum Look at Real Estate – The New York Times Climate Forums will hold an event on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. exploring how we might reimagine our built environment to put us on the path to net zero. The forum will look at building for climate change and how it might shift real estate to present an opportunity to think differently.  It will also tackle how current and future homeowners, global construction firms, material scientists and real estate magnates can work together to offset climate and environmental risk.

Dabbar to Join ClearPath Forum on Fusion – On Thursday at 4:00 p.m., ClearPath hosts a forum with Paul Dabbar, DOE’s former undersecretary for science featuring a conversation on how to mobilize investments on nuclear fusion. 

USEA to Look at Drought, Impacts in Utilities – On Friday at 11:00 a.m., the US Energy Assn, in collaboration with journalist Llewellyn King, will address the impact of the megadrought in a virtual press briefing featuring a panel of industry experts who will be questioned by reporters. USEA Acting Director Sheila Hollis will give opening remarks and Mr. King will moderate the briefing. Guest Speakers include Cal ISO CEO Elliot Mainzer, EIA Office of Energy Analysis Senior Economist Tyler Hodge, Peter Asmus of Guidehouse and Leah Rubin Shen of Advanced Energy Economy.  Journalists questioners include Ken Silverstein of Forbes, Edward Saltzberg of the Security and Sustainability Forum and Linda Gasparello of the PBS Show "White House Chronicle."

Forum Looks at Grid Integration – EESI continues its a briefing series about the climate benefits of modernizing the nation’s energy system Friday at Noon.  In this forum, briefing panelists will discuss policy opportunities such as a federal energy efficiency resource standard, state level efforts, and the nexus between buildings, transportation, energy storage, and the grid. Speakers include DOE Building Technologies Office (BTO) Monica Neukomm, Cornell’s Eilyan Bitar, Jared Leader of the Smart Electric Power Alliance and SoCal Edison’s Dana Cabbell.

IN THE FUTURE

Aspen Ideas Forum Set – Next week, the 2021 Aspen Ideas Festival will be held online from Sunday to Thursday.  Among the speakers will be Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, GM CEO Mary Barra and Rep. Stephanie Murphy and many more. 

Forum to Look at Geopolitics of Electricity Security in NE Europe – The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center holds a public event next Monday at 11:00 a.m. on the Geopolitics of Electricity Security in Northeast Europe. High-level speakers from the US, Lithuania, and Latvia will discuss the current state of electricity security in the region. The expert panel will also address the complexity and urgency of the region’s forthcoming synchronization with the EU electricity grid and how this interconnectivity could unlock greater renewable energy integration. Most importantly, the speakers will outline key opportunities for US engagement in resolving these key issues and bolstering energy security in the region.  

Forum To Talk to Eco-Futurists – The Security and Sustainable Forum holds a 60 minutes dialogue conversation next Monday at 1:00 p.m. with ecological economist and futurist, Hazel Henderson, and Kate Raworth an English economist working for the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Kate is known for her work on 'doughnut economics, an economic model that balances between essential human needs and planetary boundaries.  Her work shows how we can break our addiction to growth; redesign money, finance, and business to be in service to people; and create economies that are regenerative and distributive by design. Kate is actually building on the insights of Hazel Henderson, host of this SSF webinar series and President of Ethical Markets.

Forum to Look at Role of Oil/Gas in Net-Zero – The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center for a virtual discussion next Monday at 2:00 p.m. on the role of oil and gas companies in a net-zero world. The event features remarks from Al Cook, Executive Vice President, Exploration & Production International, Equinor, joined in discussion by Juliana Garaizar, Vice President of Innovation, Greentown Labs, and Greg Sharenow, Portfolio Manager, Real Assets, PIMCO, and moderated by Helima Croft, Managing and Global Head of Commodity Strategy, RBC Capital Markets.

Forum on Greening Transpo Sector – Greentech Conferences hold a forum next Monday at 2:00 p.m. on leveraging technology to green the transportation sector. This panel led by Katie Thomson, Vice President and Association General Counsel for Worldwide Transportation and Sustainability at Amazon will explore the use of technology – from air to highways to rail to water – to green the transportation sector.  The panel will also discuss the challenges and opportunities in leveraging technology and the need for collaboration and investment across a diverse group of stakeholders to deliver successful, lasting outcomes.

Forum Hears Perspectives on Resilience – The National Assn of State Energy Officials (NASEO) holds a forum next Monday at 3:00 p.m. local communities facing challenges in planning and implementing a more resilient energy system. This webinar will highlight two State Energy Offices’ projects in the Midwest to support local communities in improving energy resilience. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Energy worked with three communities to garner insights into the needs of small- to medium-sized communities and developed a Roadmap to Resilience as well as a Process Guide for replication. The Wisconsin Office of Energy Innovation is currently implementing its Statewide Assistance for Energy Resilience and Reliability (SAFER2) project, through which several templates for local emergency managers as well as a tabletop exercise guide were developed. Cherylyn Kelley from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Energy and Megan Levy from the Wisconsin Office of Energy Innovation will outline the details of their efforts and discuss key takeaways for other State Energy Offices.

Forum to Look at Public Power – On Monday, June 28^th at 4:00 p.m., the Center on Global Energy Policy holds its fourth episode of Columbia Energy Straight Talk, a discussion series hosted by former DOE official David Hill and former FERC Chair Cheryl LaFleur. The hosts will discuss the role of public power entities and hydroelectricity in bringing about America's energy future. For this discussion, Cheryl and David will welcome Gil Quiniones, President and CEO of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Steve Wright, General Manager of the Chelan County, WA Public Utility District, and former Administrator of the Federal Bonneville Power Administration.

Our Energy Policy holds Webinars Set – OEP will hold two webinars next week.  Tuesday June 29^th at 12:30 p.m. they will look at the state of the energy transition with Broadscale, while on Wednesday June 30^th they will look at the long-awaited promise of carbon capture.

Forum to Focus on Financing – DNV hosts a forum on Tuesday June 29^th at 2:00 p.m. to look at financing equity in clean energy. The event will explore collaborative financing partnerships and incentives, as well as alternative clean energy deployment models can address existing gaps. Partnerships among a variety of financial institutions, clean energy developers and operators, and other stakeholders – can help advance a more equitable clean energy transition.

EPIC to Look at Revitalizing the Grid – The Energy Policy Institute of Chicago (EPIC) will host a forum

Wednesday June 30^th at 10:45 a.m. on the challenges facing the electric grid today, and the steps the Biden administration is taking—and could take—to protect and grow it. Rep. Sean Casten will open the event, followed by a conversation with FERC Chairman Richard Glick and EPIC Non-Resident Scholar Steve Cicala. The conversation will be moderated by The Atlantic’s Rob Meyer, EPIC’s journalism fellow. This event is part of a series on topics from EPIC’s U.S. Energy & Climate Roadmap.

FP Events Look at Climate Progress – Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Embassy of the UAE, is launching a three-part event series on Wednesday  June 30^th at 11:00 a.m. to explore global partnerships and solutions for a food-secure future.  The first dialogue will focus on the nexus of climate change and agriculture. To protect farmers’ livelihoods and the ecosystems they rely on, and to ensure food security for humanity’s future, agriculture innovation must be a central focus of global climate action. This dynamic program will bring together policy leaders and experts working to adapt farming to a warmer, more volatile planet to discuss pathways toward a sustainable future for food and farmers.

WRI Forum Looks at Climate Policy Options – WRI holds a forum on Wednesday June 30^th at 12:30 p.m. on the misalignment between companies’ sustainability and political engagement (government affairs) strategies in the U.S.  This online event will tackle this question and highlight how companies can meet the moment, realign their strategies, and champion federal climate policy in the United States.  

Hill Forum Looks at ESG, Corporate Responsibility – The Hill holds a national summit on Wednesday Juen 30^th at 1:00 p.m. focused on ESG with CEOs, regulators, investment experts, activists, and others leading the way towards purpose-driven business models. The program consists of three “bands” of speakers who will address 1) What ESG is; 2) Measuring Success; and 3) The Road to Zero-Emission Trucks through Charging Infrastructure.  Among the speakers will be Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep, Yvette Clark. 

Forum Looks at Cities, Decarb – ICF holds a forum on Wednesday June 30^th at 1:00 p.m. on decarbonizing the biggest cities in the country. The event will be a live webinar with experts from NYC Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Con Edison, and National Grid for an important conversation on technology options to drive to carbon neutrality. Drawing from a groundbreaking study that included modeling and predictive scenario analysis, NYC and its utility partners now have a deeper understanding of their options on how to make the city carbon neutral by 2050.

House Banking Looks at Resilience – The House Financial Services’ Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions will convene a hearing on Wednesday June 30^th at 2:00 p.m. on addressing climate as a systemic Risk.  The hearing will address the need to build resilience within the banking and financial system.

Forum to Look at Critical Minerals – ConservAmerica holds a webinar on Thursday July 1^st at 9:00 a.m. to explore the threats and challenges created by our reliance on foreign imports of critical minerals, our capacity to develop these resources domestically, and the policy changes needed to make that happen. Speakers will include Rep. Pete Stauber, National Mining Assn CEO Rich Nolan, Tristan Abbey of Comarus Analytics and PolyMet CEO Jon Cherry.  Our friend Abby Smith of the Washington Examiner moderates.

Forum to Focus on Energy innovation –The Tax Foundation, Heritage Foundation and the R Street Institute hold a forum on July 1^st at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the important roles of taxes, regulations and subsidies in facilitating the market to adopt new energy technologies—and how some poorly designed policies meant to stimulate innovation can become ironic barriers. Speakers will include the Tax Foundation’s Garrett Watson, Heritage senior Policy Analyst Katie Tubb and R Street’s Philip Rossetti.

CEI to Look at ESG Questions – CEI will host a forum on Tuesday July 6^th at Noon featuring a robust discussion on the future of finance and ethical investing. For many years, ESG-style investing has been making progress in the finance world. But now that the Securities and Exchange Commission seems poised to actually enforce such a framework, will corporate managers suddenly get cold feet? Questions explored will include whether investors benefit from consistency and certainty of market-wide rules, or is a “comprehensive ESG framework” a serious threat to property rights.  It will also look at if regulators can adjudicate controversial social issues.

NARUC Forum Looks at Virtual Power Plants – The National Assn of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) holds a webinar on Thursday July 8^th 3:00 p.m. on Virtual power plants.  VPPs are systems that manage a network of distributed energy resources (DERs) of various types across a geographic area, aggregating control of those resources to provide and be compensated for energy, capacity, and/or services to the grid. During this webinar, participants will hear from speakers who have been analyzing, developing, and operating VPPs. The discussion will focus on specific examples where DERs are being aggregated to act as resources and/or grid assets in addition to providing customer benefits. We will explore how the installed VPPs are working from both an operational/technical and economic/policy perspective.

SIPA Hosts bp’s Spencer Dale Outlook – On Monday July 12^th at Noon, the Columbia Center for Global Energy Policy will host Spencer Dale, bp Chief Economist, as he presents the findings of bp’s Statistical Review of World Energy 2021. Following his presentation, he will join James Glynn, CGEP Senior Research Scholar, and Laura Cozzi, Chief Energy Modeler, IEA, on a panel moderated by Jason Bordoff, Co-Founding Dean, Climate School, Columbia University; CGEP Founding Director; and Professor of Professional Practice in International and Public Affairs, Columbia University.

Bloomberg Sustainability Summit Set – On July 13^th and 14^th, Bloomberg holds its Sustainable Business Summit Global. The Summit bring together business leaders and investors globally to drive innovation and scale best practices in sustainable business and finance. This global event will span key markets and time zones, leveraging Bloomberg's unrivaled markets expertise to convene conversations uniquely focused on the risks and opportunities for corporate executives and forward-thinking investors in a 21^st Century economy.  bp’s Bernard Looney will be among the many speakers.

FERC Open Meeting – Thursday July 15^th

Transmission Conference Set – Global Transmission is organizing a two-day virtual conference on Transmission Infrastructure Investment on July 28-29^th.  The mission of the conference is to explore the issues that impact transmission investment and discuss how to finance the needed infrastructure. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, utilities, investors and technology providers to discuss what’s needed to build a decarbonized, resilient and modern electricity grid in the US.