Energy Update: Week of March 25

Friends,

What a great weekend of basketball. And, not many surprises...  The two best games were probably the Maryland-LSU game where LSU scored with two seconds left to win, and UCF-Duke where Central Florida had two shots to knock out overall #1 Duke and couldn't get the ball to drop.  A lot of people with Duke in the brackets took a deep breath after those two close-in misses.  You had to feel for UCF coach Johnny Dawkins who is one of Coach K's favorites.  Here's the backstory on the Coach K-Johnny Dawkins relationship.

In fact, the top 12 seeds (all 1-2-3 seed) and two #4 seeds all advanced to the Sweet 16. The only outliers, were #5 Auburn and #12 Oregon, who won the “upset” game over the #13 UC-Irvine Anteaters, so if you picked a lot of higher seeds, your bracket is probably doing pretty well.  Next action starts on Thursday, with Duke and Michigan State both headed to Washington DC for their regional semifinal games.   On the women’s side, half go the Sweet 16 is in, including defending champ Notre Dame, as well as powerhouses UConn, Louisville, Miss St and So Carolina.  The rest, including the UMd Lady Terps will be decided today.   

And how about those Lady Badgers from Wisconsin, who shut out Minnesota Golden Gophers 2-0 in the women's NCAA hockey final on Sunday.  It's the Badgers first NCAA championship since 2011 despite being a perennial women’s hockey power. 

Congress is back this week with hearings and legislative action.  The biggest story will be the vote later in the week on the Green New Deal in the Senate.  We can offer an interesting historical perspective having worked on these issues for as long as we have.  We are happy to discuss, so please feel to reach out.  As well, the US Chamber released a letter today urging the Senate to reject the GND saying it “would turn the American economy upside down, dramatically expand government, and substantially curtail free enterprise.”

On the hearing schedule, Thursday is big day with the nomination hearing for Interior’s David Bernhardt. The Chamber of Commerce has a letter that endorses Bernhardt. My colleague Ann Navaro – who served in both the Obama and Trump Interior Departments – can discuss Bernhardt, as well as last week’s recent Interior climate/leases court ruling.  There is also hearing in Senate Environment at the same time on Thursday looking at PFAS issues, as well as a bunch of budget hearings (including two visits by Secretary Perry).  And finally, tomorrow the House Resources Committee digs in to ANWR and Wednesday House Oversight looks into EPA’s IRIS program.

Speaking of Perry, check out the highlights from last Friday’s visit to Plant Vogtle, where Perry was joined by other officials and union leaders to witness one of the most important milestones for the project to date – the placement of the top of the containment vessel for Unit 3, signifying that all modules and large components have been placed inside the unit.  DOE also announced the closing of approximately $1.67 billion in DOE loan guarantees.

The Vogtle event launches Nuclear Innovation Week this week, so there will be a bunch of events scheduled around town including a Capitol Hill discussion today at 2:30 p.m. with the Nuclear Innovation Alliance and Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center on the geopolitics of nuclear energy.  NEI’s Maria Korsnick talks about the state of the industry tomorrow at NEI’s nuclear R&D Summit.  On Wednesday, NEI hosts the Nuclear Deployment Forum, featuring top DOE nuclear official Ed McGinnis, ClearPath Energy Innovation Program Director Spencer Nelson, and other public and private-sector leaders.  

Other important events include BNEF’s annual summit today and tomorrow; a Thursday morning Resources for the Future “RFF Live event” on carbon pricing; and theCarbon Utilization Research Council (CURC), Global CCS Institute and Carbon Capture Coalition hold their first “Carbon Lunches” briefings series on Thursday as well. 

After publishing its E15 proposal in the Federal Register late last week, EPA holds Its only public hearing on E15 and market reforms in Ypsilanti, Michigan on Friday.  I will be there for all the fun!!! 

Finally, in case you missed it, Elizabeth Weise wrote a long and interesting article in USA Today last Thursday on improving resilience in buildings and homes.  She highlighted new ways city planners, builders, engineers and scientists are racing to find for people to make homes, buildings and businesses more resilient as climate change threatens increased heavy flooding, dangerous weather conditions and extreme storm surges.  Our friend at MIT Jeremy Gregory, expert on the topic is featured. 

We are monitoring all the action (hoops, politics and otherwise), following the key stories and are happy to discuss.  Call with questions.  

Best,

 

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

 

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“The Vogtle project is critically important to supporting the Administration’s direction to revitalize and expand the U.S. nuclear industry. A strong nuclear industry supports a reliable and resilient grid, and strengthens our energy and national security. As I’ve witnessed firsthand today, Vogtle is also an energy infrastructure project with a massive scope employing thousands of workers. This project is rebuilding a highly skilled U.S. nuclear workforce and supply chain for the future.””

Energy Secretary Rick Perry in Georgia at Plant Vogtle where he witnessed the final construction milestone on the plant’s nuclear island. 

ON THE POD

BSCE’s Jacobson Discusses Energy, Sustainability Facts – In this edition of the Columbia Energy Exchange, host Bill Loveless talks to Lisa Jacobson, the president of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, a coalition of companies and trade associations representing the energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy sectors.  Every year, the council along with Bloomberg New Energy Finance puts out “Sustainable Energy in America Factbook,” providing annual information on key trends in the U.S. energy sectors. The 2019 edition of the report, the seventh compiled, illustrates the extent to which the U.S. energy picture is changing and what it indicates for the nation’s economy.  Lisa talks about the latest findings in the various energy sectors as well as a couple of questions the report raises about energy productivity in the U.S. and the absence of federal policy on climate change.

FUN OPINIONS

Faison: Innovation is Key to Addressing Climate – A new Fox News op-ed from Jay Faison recently looked at the fervor over the Green New Deal and focused on the importance of addressing the climate change “elephant in the room” with innovation.  Faison argues many industries and Companies “understand that meeting the climate challenge will be good for business and jobs because of a rapidly changing global energy market and demand for both cleaner and reliable electricity generation.”

IN THE NEWS

Perry Visits Vogtle – Secretary Rick Perry’s visited to Plant Vogtle in Georgia Friday.  Perry was there to witness a historic milestone - placement of the containment vessel top for Unit 3, which completes construction on the plant’s nuclear island.  Perry, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and North America's Building Trades Unions President Sean McGarvey joined Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Tom Fanning, Georgia Power Chairman, President and CEO Paul Bowers and hundreds of workers and special guests at the Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear expansion project also to announce the closing of approximately $1.67 billion in additional DOE loan guarantees for the new Vogtle units.  You can see video from Perry’s tweet HERE.

Vogtle Construction Hit Major Milestone – The Secretary Perry also witnessed one of the most important milestones for the project to date – the placement of the top of the containment vessel for Unit 3, signifying that all modules and large components have been placed inside the unit.  The containment vessel is a high-integrity steel structure that houses critical plant components. The top head is 130 feet in diameter, 37 feet tall, and weighs nearly 1.5 million pounds, more than two fully loaded jumbo jets. It's comprised of 58 large plates, welded together, each more than an inch and a half thick.  Georgia Power owns 45.7% of the new units, with the project's other co-owners including Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities.

Progress and Productivity – With more than 7,000 workers currently onsite and more than 800 permanent jobs available once the units begin operating, Vogtle 3 & 4 is currently the largest jobs-producing construction project in the state of Georgia. Recruiting efforts continue to attract additional craft workers to the Vogtle 3 & 4 project, with more than 700 pipefitters, electricians and other craft labor joining the project since Nov. 1.  Significant progress continues at the site, with the project now approximately 75 percent complete. Several significant milestones have been achieved in recent months including:

• More than 23,000 cubic yards of concrete was placed in 2018, and nearly 600,000 cubic yards for the project to date, enough to build a sidewalk from Miami to Seattle. In addition, more than 16,200 yards, or nine miles, of piping was installed in 2018 alone.
• The Unit 4 pressurizer, which will provide pressure control inside the reactor coolant system once the unit begins operating, was placed inside the containment vessel in February.
• The integrated head package (IHP) was set inside the Unit 3 containment vessel in late January. The IHP, weighing 475,000 pounds and standing 48-feet tall, combines several separate components in one assembly and allows the rapid removal of the reactor vessel head during a refueling outage.
• Progress also continues on the Unit 3 shield building, with additional double-decker panels placed in January. A total of eight six-panel sections have been placed, with each one measuring 20 feet tall and 114 feet wide, and weighing up to 300,000 pounds. To date, more than half of the shield building panels have been placed for Unit 3. The shield building panels, fabricated in Newport News, Va., provide structural support to the containment cooling water supply and protect the containment vessel, which houses the reactor vessel and associated equipment.

Pictures are Worth Thousands of Words – Follow the progress being made at the site with new photos and video available at: Plant Vogtle 3 & 4 Online Photo Gallery.

ClearPath’s Powell, Harrell At Vogtle – ClearPath execs Rich Powell and Jeremy Harrell joined the leaders in Georgia saying the milestone was a “huge victory for continued U.S. nuclear competitiveness and great showing on project management for Georgia Power and Bechtel, who are now managing construction.”  Powell added it was great to be onsite with Secretary Perry to see DOE “officially reinstitute its support for helping to ensure U.S. nuclear remains a vital reliable carbon-free energy source.”

ClearPath Adds Former DOE, CEQ Officials to Advisory Board – ClearPath has added a trio of former senior Department of Energy and White House Council on Environmental Quality officials to its advisory board: William Martin, Elizabeth Stolpe and Marty Hall.  Martin was deputy secretary of energy during the Reagan administration, as well as executive secretary of the U.S. National Security Council and special assistant to President Ronald Reagan.  Stolpe was associate director at CEQ under President George W. Bush, leading development and implementation of President Bush’s market-based national air quality initiatives and regulatory activity at EPA and later joined Shell.  Hall is former chief of staff at CEQ under Bush 43, lead White House liaison to the U.S. Senate during consideration of comprehensive 2007 energy legislation and deputy staff director for the Senate Environment.  Hall also served at BRT and FirstEnergy.

CRS Looks at Carbon Pricing – The Congressional Research Service released a report Friday looking at various approaches to carbon taxes or other emissions fees.  The nonpartisan CRS looked at questions like where the fee would be assessed in the production processes, potential ways of allocating the revenues collected and potential economy-wide impacts. The report says a carbon tax or fee would reduce emissions at varying rates, depending on the price, and would create new revenue.  It cites data from a 2018 study that looked at four carbon tax scenarios, starting at $25 and $50 per metric ton, and found that all of them would reduce emissions enough to meet U.S. targets under the Paris climate agreement.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

International Refinery Meeting Set – Following Last week’s annual American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) meeting, AFPM will also hold its International Petrochem Conference today and tomorrow at the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio. The conference is the world's largest and most prestigious conference representing the petrochemical industry.  The meeting consists of a variety of sessions covering key political, economic, and environmental issues affecting the petrochemical industry. The sessions emphasize global competitiveness in the petrochemical business and are presented by recognized experts in the areas of petrochemical markets, economics, and politics.

BNEF Summit Set for NYC – Today and tomorrow at the Grand Hyatt in NYC, Bloomberg New Energy Finance hosts its annual summit featuring executive interviews and expert panels that can facilitate constructive debate and create a forum to exchange ideas.   Speakers include Xcel CEO Ben Fowke, Hydro-Quebec CEO Eric Martel,  Duke CEO Lynn Good, PSEG CEO Ralph Izzo, Chilean Energy Minister Susana Jiménez, ChargePoint’s Pasquale Romano, as well as our friends AGA’s Richard Meyer, Christer af Geijerstam of Equinor Wind US and reporters David Biello and Tina Davis.  

Forum to Look at Climate, Security – The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, the American Security Project, and the Center for Climate and Security hold a forum today at 2:00 p.m. featuring a conversation on climate change as a national security threat and the need for independent, objective science to inform threat assessments.  A panel of former senior defense, intelligence, and other national security officials will discuss the potential implications of that and the importance of independent, objective science to inform policy decisions.  Speakers include former White House aide David Banks and others.

DOE Perry headed to House, Senate Approps – The House Appropriations Energy-Water Subcommittee hosts Energy Secretary Rick Perry tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. for a budget hearing.   On Wednesday, he then heads to Senate Energy & Water Approps at 2:30 p.m.

USEA to Host African Utility Execs – The US Energy Assn will host 22 heads of utilities and energy companies from West Africa as they discuss the future of energy in the region tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.  A strategic business plan has been developed by the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) to effectively address needs and ensure that the investment program is effective and relevant.  WAPP and ERERA executives will outline specific generation and transmission projects currently underway and in the pipeline for development and the opportunities for private investment to support and advance the economic and electrical goals of a thriving and growing region. 

House Subpanel to Look at Interior Funding – The House Appropriations Interior, Environment Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. on the Department of the Interior budget issues.  Acting Secretary Dave Bernhardt will testify. 

Forum to Discuss Electricity Issues – The Women's Energy Network holds a lunch presentation tomorrow at Noon looking at current policy and legal issues in the electric utility power sector hosted by and featuring experts from the Edison Electric Institute.

House Resources to Look at ANWR – The House Natural Resources Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee holds a hearing on tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain.

GW Forum to Look at Renewables in Russia – Tomorrow at 4:00 p.m., the GWU Elliott School will examine subnational tendencies in Russian energy governance and clarify the role of local authorities and non-state actors in RE development.  Daria Gritsenko is an Assistant Professor at the Aleksanteri Institute and Helsinki Center for Digital Humanities, University of Helsinki (Finland) will speak. 

House Resources to Look at FY 19 Budget – 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 FY2020 Budget Proposal.

House Science Panels to Look at IRIS – The House Science Committees Investigations & Oversight and Environment Subcommittees hold a joint hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. focused on the EPA's IRIS program.  Witnesses include EPA’s Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta and GAO’s Alfredo Gomez, as well as others.

Columbia Forum Features Eizenstat Book – Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy will host a visit with Stuart Eizenstat on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in NYC.  Eizenstat will join CGEP Director Jason Bordoff and Columbia Professor Stephen Sestanovich for a discussion of his book, President Carter: The White House Years, which has received positive reviews from major publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Review, National Interest, and many others. Eizenstat recalls lasting transformations in American energy policy, ideas about human rights, relations with Iran and China, Middle East diplomacy, and more. Perhaps Jimmy Carter’s single closest adviser, Eizenstat will discuss the achievements, setbacks, and lasting impact — both positive and negative — of one of America’s most controversial leaders.

Forum Looks at Enviro Security – On Wednesday at Noon, the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council will host a panel discussion on environmental security in the region and the implications for regional stability. Peter Gleick, a world-renowned expert, innovator, and communicator on water and climate issues will frame some of the most impending challenges today. Kaveh Madani, an environmental scientist, educator, and activist, and former Iranian government official, will discuss Iran’s challenges in this area. Caitlin Werrell, co-founder of the Center for Climate and Security will discuss the implications of climate change, water stress and natural resource mismanagement in Syria and North Africa. Barbara Slavin, Director of the Future of Iran Initiative, will moderate the discussion. The event is open to press and on the record.

Forum to Look at Future of Renewables – On Wednesday at Noon, the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center and K&L Gates are hosting a conversation on the future of renewable energy and the role of the free market in efficiently and effectively advancing the energy transition. The event will examine how power markets can accommodate increasingly high shares of renewable energy, to guarantee robust and fair competition among all energy sources, and to ensure continued availability of capital to finance the modern, clean, and resilient energy grid of the future.  Our friends Nick Loris of heritage and GTM’s Julia Pyper are on the panel.  

NAS Talk to Discuss Sea Level Rise, Climate – On Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., the National Academy of Sciences hosts a discussion on sea level rise.  In this talk, Dr. Eric Rignot will cover how and why the ice sheets are melting and what we can do about it. Practical solutions exist that are economically viable and ethically desirable, including transforming our energy production system and developing scalable carbon sequestration strategies. At stake is whether the world will be irreversibly committed to a multiple meter rise in sea level with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Governors Host Summit on Energy – The National Governors Association and the embassies of Australia, Canada and Denmark host the two-day Global Energy Solutions Summit to help governors and states gather ideas and share developments in three emerging energy technologies - offshore wind, energy storage and carbon capture.

RFF to Hold Carbon Price Discussion – On Thursday at 8:30 a.m., Resources for the Future holds an RFF Live event on price on Carbon," where we’ll speak to Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Don Beyer about their proposals for carbon dividends legislation, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing carbon pricing legislation in 2019 and beyond.

GW Hosts Sustainability Forum – The George Washington University hosts a forum on Thursday as part of its "Energy Connecters" alumni club with their inaugural speaker series. The club will be hosting Dr. Karl Hausker, Senior Fellow with the World Resource Institute's (WRI) Climate Program and Candice Castaneda, Counsel, with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.  Hausker will provide a briefing on pathways to meeting the IPCC’s 1.5°C goal, while Castaneda will address the measures that NERC is taking and the challenges it is facing in meeting its mission of maintaining a reliable grid in the face of changing infrastructure.

Senate Energy to Host Interior Nominee – The Senate Energy Committee will convene a hearing Thursday to consider the nomination of Mr. David Bernhardt of Virginia to be Secretary of the Interior.

Senate Enviro Focuses on PFAS – The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds a hearing on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. examining the federal response to the risks associated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

House Resources to Focus on Colorado River Drought – The House Natural Resources Water, Oceans and Wildlife Subcommittee holds a hearing on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. on the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan.

FERC, Energy Host Infrastructure Conference – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Department of Energy (DOE) will co-host a technical conference Thursday on Security Investments for Energy Infrastructure, to provide a forum to discuss security practices to protect energy infrastructure.

Forum to Lead Discussion on CCS – The Carbon Utilization Research Council (CURC), the Global CCS Institute, and the Carbon Capture Coalition for “Carbon Lunches” a carbon capture 101 briefings series starting on Thursday in the Capitol Visitor Center. The briefings will provide an introduction to Carbon Capture, Use, and Storage, and how this suite of technologies can deliver steep emissions reductions alongside other clean and renewable sources of energy in the transition to a zero-carbon economy, while supporting clean energy production and creating high-wage energy, industrial, and manufacturing jobs.  Center for Climate and Energy Solutions President Bob Perciasepe will speak, among others.

Yale Climate Comms Expert to Address Forum – EESI will hold a briefing on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in 2318 Rayburn discussing Americans' evolving perceptions of climate change. Americans have diverse and sometimes opposing views about climate change, which can fundamentally shape the political discourse around climate action. Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, the featured speaker, will explain recent trends in Americans' climate change knowledge, attitudes, policy support, and behavior and discuss strategies to build public and political will for climate action. He will discuss how voter attitudes towards climate change and clean energy influenced the 2018 mid-terms and may influence the 2020 election cycle.

E15 Public Hearing Set for Michigan – After publishing the rule in the Federal Register late last week, EPA holds its only public hearing on E15 and market reforms in Ypsilanti, Michigan on Friday.

Perry, McKinley Headline RCP Energy Event – On Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. at Charlie Palmer Steak, RealClearPolitics hosts a forum on the US power grid.  The panel of experts will address access, affordability and fuel diversity questions and dig into a policy debate at the very heart of America’s energy, environmental and economic future.

Forum to Look at Ag Resilience – The Johns Hopkins University holds a forum on Friday at 12:00 p.m. agriculture resiliency and climate.  While agriculture continues to be the primary source of income for many communities around the world, the increase in climate-related severe weather events may have a significant impact on local farmers.  The Swiss Re Practicum team will present this research on the economic impacts of climate shocks in agriculture dependent communities, which will be followed by a panel discussion on how farmers, local, and federal governments are responding to these devastating impacts.

IN THE FUTURE

Waterpower Week Set – The National Hydropower Association’s Waterpower Week conference is set for April 1^st and 2^nd in DC.  Waterpower Week is comprised of NHA’s Annual Conference and the International Marine Renewable Energy Conference (IMREC).  Marine energy, America's next-gen renewable, is on a path towards commercialization. The conference will look at funding and maritime market opportunities to new deployments, Waterpower Week's IMREC sessions are focusing on the biggest challenges facing marine energy.  FERC’s Rich Glick and ACORE’s Greg Wetstone are speaking.

PGA Heads to San Anton for Valero Texas Open – During the week of April 1^st…and the week preceding the PGA’s first major, The Masters, Valero is hosting the Texas Open at the TPC in San Antonio.  Last year, Austin, TX-resident Andrew Landry claimed his first PGA TOUR victory, hoisted the Valero Texas Open trophy and slipped on the Champion's Boots.  This year’s Valero Texas Open, along with the Valero Benefit for Children, has raised a record $12 million, bringing the grand total to $138 million in charitable giving.

Factbook Discussion Set For Hill – Next Monday at Noon in 2322 Rayburn, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Environmental and Energy Study Institute host a briefing on the 2019 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook.  In its 7^th year, the BloombergNEF and BCSE 2019 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook provides new industry information and trends for the U.S. energy economy, with an in-depth look at the energy efficiency, natural gas, and renewable energy sectors, as well as emerging areas such as energy storage and sustainable transportation. A panel of executives from BCSE member companies and analysts from BNEF to learn about current market trends for the renewable energy, energy efficiency and natural gas sectors and what the facts mean for our nation’s infrastructure.

GWU to Host American Egypt Chamber on Energy – Next Monday, April 1^st at 3:30 p.m., the GWU Elliott School of International Affairs hosts members of the Cairo-based American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt to discuss prospects for energy development and sustainability. 

Perry to Stop at Senate Energy – The Senate Energy Committee will convene a hearing next Tuesday to examine the President's FY 2020 Budget Request for the Department of Energy.  Secretary Perry will testify.

Next Atomic Wings Forum Set – DOE and ClearPath host the next Atomic Wings advanced nuclear luncheon discussion on April 3^rd in G50 Dirksen.  Speakers will include Senate Energy Committee staff Ben Reinke, Brett Papal of the Clean Air Task Force and former NRC Commissioner Jeff Merrifield.  

WCEE to Host Marine Mammal Discussion – The Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE) hosts a lunch at the Ocean Foundation that will look at marine mammal protection in an era of expanded ocean development.  A panel of experts will look at the government and NGO initiatives working to protect marine mammals and balance ocean management priorities.  Speakers include NOAA’s Shannon Bettridge, Peter Thomas of the Marine Mammal Commission and Mark Spalding, President of the Ocean Foundation.  

Washington “Policy” Auto Show Line Set –The Washington Auto Show launches on Wednesday April 3^rd and 4^th as the auto show circuit’s “Public Policy Show” and precedes the regular show with two Public Policy Preview Days of special events and announcements for officials in government, industry and the media.  The events will feature discussions of AI. Data mobility, AVs and other items.  Our friend Robbie Diamond of SAFE will be on the AV panel while Reuters auto correspondent David Shepardson, NADA CEO Peter Welch, former NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind and current NHTSA Administrator Heidi King as well as others will all speak.  The regular Washington Auto Show starts Friday April 5^th and runs through the 14^th and there are hundreds of vehicles on display from over 35 manufacturers. See the production, concept, luxury, electric, hybrid, exotic and historic cars that covered 750,000 square feet of floor space in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

BPC Hosts Innovation Showcase with ARPA-E – ARPA-E holds its Innovation Showcase on the Hill, hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center’s American Energy Innovation Council on Thursday April 4^th in the Rayburn foyer at 6:30 p.m. ARPA-E Acting Director Chanette Armstrong will give remarks.

Planet Forward Summit Set – The George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs holds the 2019 Planet Forward Summit on April 4-5^th at GW.  It will feature some of the best communicators, photographers, innovators, policymakers, and journalists in the world. Discover what “impact” really means for communicators and creatives alike, and network with influential people and organizations in sustainability and science. 

SEIA, NEI Headline MIT Energy Conference – The MIT Energy Club hosts its 2019 MIT Energy Conference on Thursday April 4^th at the Boston Marriott Cambridge.  The focus this year will be on power grids and what they may look like in 2040.  Speakers include SEIA’s Abby Hopper, NEI’s Maria Korsnick, PSEG CEO Ralph Izzo and our friends at GTM’s Energy Gang Podcast, who will do a live show.

JHU to Look at China Coal Policy – On Friday, April 5^th at 12:30 p.m., Johns Hopkins University hosts a forum on integrating air quality, water and climate concerns into China's energy strategy.  The talk will feature two examples in the energy space to highlight the potential synergies and tradeoffs between multiple environmental objectives: a) scaling up electric vehicles for air quality vs. carbon mitigation objectives, and b) building transmission infrastructure to address air pollution vs. water conservation goals. Both examples are evaluated by an integrated assessment method using scenario analysis, air quality modeling, and/or optimization modeling. These analyses highlight the importance of integrating carbon, air pollution and water objectives into China’s energy strategies to simultaneously address local and global sustainability challenges.

WOTUS Revision Comments Due – April 15^th

Petraeus to Address Energy Economists Annual Meeting – The National Capitol Area Chapter of the US Association for Energy Economics is holding its 23^rd annual conference on Wednesday April 24^th at the Marvin Center Continental Ballroom at George Washington University. The theme of this year's one-day event is Energy Security.  The confirmed keynote speaker at lunch is David Petraeus, Chairman of the KKR Global Institute. General Petraeus is former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and was commanding general of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and Commander of United States Central Command.  Morning panels will focus on the international role of the United States, the perspective of the U.S. military, and the response of the refining and shipping industries to changes in emissions limits for bunker fuel. Afternoon panels will cover the security of the electric power grid and fossil fuel delivery systems.  There are many leaders from think tanks, government, the private sector and consultancies to explain how energy security concerns are driving the energy markets.

EPA E15, RIN Market Reforms Comments Due – April 29^th