Energy Update: Week of March 29

Friends,               

Welcome to Easter Week and hope everybody had a great Passover on Saturday Night.  We celebrated a virtual Seder and still watched the NCAA tourney as three of the top four seeds (UMich, Gonzaga and Baylor) landed in the Elite 8. On the Women’s side, top seeds UConn, So Carolina and Stanford are in the Elite 8. Finally, I hope somebody besides me stayed up and watched the 5OT North Dakota/MN-Duluth game NCAA regional Final game in Fargo. UM-D scored, finally ending the longest game in NCAA History (142 minutes, 13 second) and sending the Bulldogs to the Frozen Four in Pittsburgh on April 8-10^th.  UMass, Minnesota St. and St. Cloud State are headed to Pittsburgh as well giving MN three of four teams this year. And those of you prepping for the Triple Crown, Saturday’s Florida Derby gave us a good look at two names you’ll hear as we approach the Kentucky Derby: Known Agenda stalked his way to a strong to win but lurking after a slow start was favorite Greatest Honour.  Keep your eyes on those two. Finally, THURSDAY IS OPENING DAY for Major League Baseball!

Speaking of Pittsburgh, before the Frozen Four arrives, Joe Biden heads there this Wednesday to talk Infrastructure.  Biden is expected to detail a multi-trillion-dollar and multipart package with the first part taking on more traditional physical infrastructure projects - including transportation, bridges and waterways as well as energy and climate resiliency measures - while the second will address other domestic priorities such as education.  Axios’ Ben Geman has a good preview in today’s Generate.

And speaking of Biden, the State Department on Friday sent a “transmittal package” for the White House to deliver to the Senate on the Kigali Treaty Amendment to address HFCs.  The move was just before the 60-day deadline from Biden’s January 27^th executive order that called for the action. Meanwhile, EPA also sent its proposed phase-down of HFCs to the OMB for review following passage of the AIM law, which requires EPA to craft rules to reduce HFCs by 85% by 2036.  AHRI’s Steve Yurek and E2’s Bob Keefe talked about why this climate deal is good for earth and the economy this in a recent New York Times op-ed.

And late breaking, the Biden administration just a few minutes ago announced it will designate an area between the South Shore of Long Island and the New Jersey coast as a priority offshore wind zone.  Our friends at Equinor are the leading developer in the NY Bight and Equinor Wind US President Siri Espedal Kindem said:

“Equinor is not simply building projects, we are creating a brand new, large-scale industry in the US with offshore wind. The Administration’s support for this exciting new industry will help ensure its success, and we applaud today’s initiative. Equinor looks forward to working with the Administration, state and local governments, and all stakeholders on exciting new opportunities for economic development, jobs and renewable energy solutions from this growing industry.”

Congress is out this week until mid-April, so the action slows slightly.  But still as couple good events, including BPC launching an ESG Task Force with a virtual discussion this afternoon; WaPo Live talking the future of energy tomorrow with former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good, while out friends at NHA look at the potential for marine energy; a CRES forum on Wednesday at noon to offer close look at the future of electric vehicles; and most importantly Thursday, the US Chamber’s Global Energy Institute holds its first EnergyInnovates Event that features discussions about the projects, policies and technologies that are shaping our energy landscape—and laying the groundwork to solve global challenges. Speakers include GEI’s Marty Durbin, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher and ClearPath’s Rich Powell, among others.

Finally last week, I visited with long-time friend and Sirius XM POTUS host Julie Mason for her Mason Mornings Show to talk energy, environment and climate. 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

"Border carbon adjustments keep me up at night, because they’re really complicated, and also because I think they’re so exciting.”

Catrina Rorke of the Climate Leadership Council, a coalition of industry groups, including some of the biggest oil companies, as well as environmental advocacy groups in a story on trade issues and climate in Inside Climate News.

EDITOR’S NOTE: SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET OUT A LITTLE MORE.  I’m just saying…

ON THE PODCAST

BOEM Director Talks Future of U.S. Offshore Wind – The Business Network for Offshore Wind has launched Season 3 of its popular Offshore Wind Insider podcast. Released monthly, the podcast features conversations with industry trailblazers covering all aspects of the offshore wind industry and pressing topics, from clean energy development, diversity & inclusion, to job creation. The latest episode, released today, features Amanda Lefton, newly appointed Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), to discuss the future of offshore wind in the U.S.

FUN OPINIONS

SoCalGas CEO Drury: Achieving Net Zero – In a column in the California policy journal CALMatters, CEO Scott Drury writes as move to a cleaner energy future, it is vital that energy remain reliable and affordable for all. No energy company is more intent on achieving that than SoCalGas which is why he says it is making a commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations and delivery of energy by 2045.  SoCalGas’ commitment makes it the largest North American gas distribution utility to set an ambitious net-zero target that includes scopes 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions. 

FROG BLOG

SAFE: USPS Missed Opportunity on EVs – In a column in Morning Consult, SAFE’s Robbie Diamond argues that the US Postal Service missed a huge opportunity to promote EV infrastructure and transition when it announced its contract to replace its current fleet of iconic delivery vehicles recently…

Hydrogen Will Power Our Future, Energy Transition – In a recent blog on C3 Magazine, your host opines on hydrogen and the important role it will play in the global energy transition. 

FUN FACTS

Highest CO2 emissions/capita, by country/region: 1. Palau: 59.9 metric tons CO2 emissions/capita, primarily due to its tourism industry; 2. Qatar: 38.8 metric tons; 3. Trinidad and Tobago (23.8 metric tons), O&G is 80% of total exports; 4. Kuwait: 23.4 metric tons; 5. United Arab Emirates: CO2 emissions per capita (23 metric tons). 

IN THE NEWS

EIA Report Shows COVID Impact on CO2 – Late last week, the Energy Information Administration published its latest Monthly Energy Review, which gives us our first full-year (though still preliminary) look at 2020 CO2 emissions from energy use. With COVID-19 and all of its related economic impacts, 2020 saw the biggest yearly reduction in CO2 in U.S. history, declining 566 million metric tons (MMT), or 11%, from 2019. Not surprisingly, reductions were seen across all economic sectors, but impacts were most pronounced in transportation and electric power, which fell by 15% and 10% respectively. In terms of energy sources, the greatest year-over-year percentage reductions in emissions came from coal (down 19%) and petroleum (down 14%). Natural gas emissions fell just 2%, as affordable prices continued to make it attractive to customers in both the electric and industrial sectors.   Check out the US Chamber Global Energy Institute blog on the topic.

EPIC Release Climate, Energy Roadmap – The Energy Policy Institute at the UChicago (EPIC) released a new policy resource, the U.S. Energy & Climate Roadmap, which provides Congress and the Biden administration with practical, evidence-backed recommendations on a range of energy and climate policy issues currently being debated or under review:  the social cost of carbon, carbon prices, border tax adjustments, grid integration, clean electricity standard, fuel efficiency standard, energy efficiency programs, coal remediation, oil and gas leasing, and nuclear energy.  The Roadmap has received praise from a bipartisan collection of more than twenty government, industry and other experts, including Bracewell’s own Jeff Holmstead. Other validators include former cabinet and congressional members such as Carol Browner, Carlos Curbelo, Ernie Moniz, Hank Paulson and John Podesta, as well as senior White House and agency officials who played important roles in shaping climate and energy policy under the last five presidents.

SoCalGas Rolls Out Net Zero Goals – Southern California Gas, the largest gas utility in the U.S., made a bold commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045. This commitment makes SoCalGas the largest gas distribution utility in North America to set a net zero target including scopes 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions, which would eliminate not only its own direct emissions, but also those generated by customers' energy delivered by SoCalGas' energy infrastructure. The commitment aligns with the Paris Climate Agreement's recommendations and reflects the company's focus on supporting California with a resilient gas grid through the energy transition to support a carbon neutral economy.

API Release Climate Objectives – Speaking of plans, API released its own climate policy objectives late last week, dropping a robust policy framework of industry and government actions to address the risks of climate change while meeting the world’s long-term energy needs. Ahead of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26), API shared analysis, initiatives and policy solutions to build on the progress the U.S. has made in driving emissions to generational lows, including accelerating technology and innovation; further mitigating emissions from operations; endorsing a carbon price policy; advancing cleaner fuels and driving climate reporting.

New Report Highlight Climate Techs – The American Energy Society has completed Empowering Impact: A Report on Incubators and Accelerators of Energy in the US 2021, a two-year study of all incubators and accelerators in the US that have energy- and/or climate-tech in their portfolios. An executive summary and sneak peak of the report is available for free to Friends of AES - visit the website to join as a Friend for free. (The report and dataset are available to members.) The report offers comprehensive list of all energy- and climate-tech incubators and accelerators in the United States, and a ranking of the most productive and effective.  It also includes what they do, where they are located and an assessment of the trends driving the future of energy- and climate-techs.  Finally, it offers a cheat sheet of best practices.

ClearPath Poll Shows Support for Clean Energy – A new poll released this morning by the conservative group ClearPath finds strong support for expanding clean energy across party lines. Nearly 80% of respondents to the survey, conducted by Echelon Insights, said it is extremely or fairly important that their member of Congress support policies that promote clean energy, including 54% of Republicans. But Republicans are not connecting their interest in clean energy to the need to address climate change. Only 28% of them say climate change is happening and is caused primarily by human activity, compared to 82% of Democrats.  On a policy level, the survey found majority support in both parties for Congress offering tax incentives for companies to develop clean energy technologies. Broadly speaking, 63% of respondents said they favor “more innovation and better technology” as the “best way” to fight climate change, compared to “more regulation.”

Groups Call for Lifting of Steel Tariffs – A broad group of U.S. business associations, composed of 37 groups ranging from API, AHRI, the Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users (CAMMU), the Precision Metalforming Association, all the way to the U.S. Fashion Industry Association and Beer Institute, calling on the Biden administration to lift the 25% tariff on steel imports and 10% duty on aluminum imports imposed by the Trump administration three years ago. The groups argue the negative impact on the industries that use the metal far outweighs the benefits the tariffs brought to domestic steel and aluminum producers.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

MOST EVENTS SCHEDULED ARE NOW ONLINE WEBINARS

BPC Launches ESG Task Force –The Bipartisan Policy Center holds a virtual discussion today at 2:00 p.m., on defining environmental, social and governance issues and launching an ESG Task Force that can help make sense of it.

IEA Energy Efficiency Conference Set – The International Energy Agency’s holds its 6^th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency tomorrow morning and will be a major input to the IEA-COP26 Net Zero Summit the following day. The Global Conference on Energy Efficiency will bring together leaders in national government, civil society and business to discuss how next-generation energy efficiency policies and programs can accelerate achievement of high-ambition climate goals and clean energy transitions. The Conference will also feature the work of the Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative and COP26 Call to Action to drive ambition on product energy efficiency to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, promote business innovation, and ensure consumer access to affordable and high-performing technologies.

WRI Hosts Urban Environment Conversation – Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., the World Resources Institute will hold a conversation between Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency, and Ani Dasgupta, Global Director of WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, to look at cities of the future.  This webinar will highlight a vision for tomorrow’s cities developed by the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) and what it means in the global context of sustainable urban development. This vision includes 10 wide-ranging measures to achieve a city of the future – one of less traffic, fewer cars, and fewer health and climate hazards. In this future city, space is more effectively and economically utilized for sustainable mobility, recreation and living overall. 

Wilson Looks at Plastic Pollution in Indonesia – The Wilson Center’s China Environment Forum holds a webinar tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., looking at the Frontline of Indonesia's plastic waste crisis.

Event to Look at Women in Transportation – In honor of Women’s History Month, tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., Generation180 is bringing together three inspiring women who are leading the charge to electrify transportation in Virginia, across the United States, and internationally. Jane Akumu, Program Officer from the United Nations Environment Program, Liza Borches, President and CEO of Carter Myers Automotive, a fourth generation automotive retailer in Virginia, and Britta Gross, Managing Director, Mobility at the Rocky Mountain Institute will each offer their unique perspective on a vision for the future of mobility and careers in transportation electrification.

DOE Focuses on CHP, WHP – Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., the Department of Energy Combined Heat and Power (CHP) TAP hold an interactive conversation focused on state of the art CHP and waste heat to power (WHP) technologies, applications, market trends, and a dive into several case studies of successful projects. The webinar will also cover technical assistance resources that are available to end-users interested in knowing if CHP or WHP would be good candidates for their facilities.

Hydro Group Holds Forum on Marine Energy Potential – Tomorrow at Noon, the National Hydropower Association holds its Path to Clean Energy Virtual Event, on the vast potential of marine energy.  During this event, top officials in DOE’s Waterpower Technologies Office, National Labs, Ocean Energy Europe and technology developers will discuss the potential market opportunities for marine energy (wave, tidal, ocean current, ocean thermal, and riverine marine). Panelists will also speak to the importance of these findings as this resource strives toward commercialization. Marine energy CEO’s of ORPC, Verdant, C-Power and Oscilla will discuss their recent accomplishments, challenges they have faced along the way and what’s next on the road to commercialization.

Baker Event Explores New Mexico Electricity Law – Rice’s Baker Energy Institute holds a forum tomorrow at Noon examining Mexico's new electricity industry law. At this webinar, a panel of experts will explore the new law, giving historical context and examining its content and implications for the economy and the environment, its relationship to the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), its clash with Mexico’s commitments to climate change, and next steps, including expected litigation both within and outside Mexico.

Sempra Exec Highlights Panel on ESG in Dealmaking – The Deal holds a forum tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. to explore the role that ESG is playing in Power and Utility M&A transactions.  Issue will look at ESG diligence, scores and challenges that are impacting corporate deals. Sempra Corporate Affair SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer Lisa Alexander heads a panel with several utility analysts and Deal Senior Editor Tom Terrarosa.

WaPo Looks at Future of Energy – The Washington Post Live will hold an event tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on the future of energy. Former US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good will speak about America’s electricity infrastructure, advances in solar and wind energy, efficiency improvements, and important technologies such as carbon capture and hydrogen, are showing promise.

EESI Hosts Opponents of Nuclear – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds an online briefing tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. looking at nuclear energy issues, including the current economics of the U.S. nuclear power industry, how to approach decommissioning as more civilian reactors shut down, and what to do with their high-level radioactive waste. In particular, the briefing will assess the impacts of extending the licenses of existing nuclear plants and pursuing “advanced reactors” as a way to fight climate change.  The briefing will point out gaps in current research and data, federal policy, and regulatory oversight, and what can be done to fill them. It will examine how some other countries safeguard their radioactive waste, and offer practical recommendations to help make pending U.S. policy and regulatory decisions about nuclear energy more evidence-based, and better aligned with science and environmental justice. The event only has opponents of Nuclear so know that going in.

Press Club Hosts Perino on Book – The National Press Club hosts a Book event tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. with former White House press secretary and political commentator Dana Perino to discuss her new book, Everything Will Be Okay.  The one-hour program will be streamed live on the National Press Club’s website as well as the YouTube Channel. Perino will discuss how young women in the workforce, from newly minted graduates on the job hunt to seasoned professionals, can make the next big leap up the corporate ladder.

Net-Zero Global Summit Set – International Energy Agency (IEA) holds its COP26 Net Zero Summit on Wednesday aimed at accelerating the momentum behind clean energy. The Summit will bring together representatives from energy and climate Ministries from more than 40 countries. This includes official Ministerial representatives from the United States, India, China, the European Union, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, France, Germany, Italy, Colombia, Australia, and many others, who will take part in 5 Ministerial panel discussions.

WRI to Look at World Forests From 2020 – The World Resources Institute holds a webinar Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. on world forests in 2020.  WRI’s Global Forest Watch team provides analysis on annual tree cover loss data each year, showing when and where forest loss occurred around the world. This year, the tree cover loss data will be released via the Global Forest Review, pairing in-depth analysis with expert insights on the current state of the world’s forests.

Chamber Holds Annual Aviation Summit – The U.S. Chamber its annual Aviation Summit virtually on Wednesday at Noon.  This year marks an important milestone for the program as it celebrates its 20^th anniversary.  Boeing CEO David Calhoun and US Chamber CEO Suzanne Clark will headline the event that feature a number of additional industry leaders and experts, among many others.

CRES Forum Looks at EV Infrastructure – The Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions holds a forum on Wednesday at noon to offer close look at the future of electric vehicles. Discussion will focus on private-sector leadership in EVs; federal, regional, and state policy support for incentives and infrastructure modernization; and how the rise of EVs could make pollution standards less controversial —while successful, they have become more stringent and complex over time. The virtual event and panel discussion will be followed by a presentation and overview of the Caret™ tool, a data-driven approach to informing state and federal policymaking developed by the Center for Sustainable Energy.  Panelists include Paul Allen of the Coalition for A Better Business Environment (CBBE), Natasha Vidangos of the Alliance to Save Energy, GM’s James Hall and Karen Glitman from the Center for Sustainable Energy.

Forum to Look at Ag, Sustainability – The Environmental Law Institute hosts a forum on Wednesday at Noon on agriculture and technology for sustainability. New technologies may be revolutionary tools to mitigate environmental harms associated with the agricultural industry including improved water conservation, limiting erosion, reducing fertilizer levels in local bodies of water, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, among other potential benefits. However, realizing the environmental benefits of these technologies ultimately lies with how quickly and easily they can be incorporated in the industry. Speakers from CropLife American and Purdue will discuss.

Forum Looks at Utilities Renewables Integration – Micatu, Zpryme and Rochester Institute of Technology are holding a forum on Wednesday at Noon looking at planning for renewable integration across the grid, managing challenges around accurate data and power quality and addressing environmental and field crew safety concerns for utilities.

DOE, NREL Forum to Look at Geothermal Advances – DOE and NREL join with clean energy thought leaders for a forum to discuss game-changing technologies and opportunities in the geothermal workforce at NextGen Geo.  The event will highlight industry advances and cash prize competitions designed to engage a wide range of innovators including students, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals. A panel of DOE and industry speakers, including DOE Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly Speakes-Backman, will discuss current hot topics—and what’s next—in the geothermal industry. To help spur further advancement in America’s geothermal workforce, DOE leadership will be making exciting announcements surrounding multiple competitions at NextGen Geo.

SEIA, NREL Host Look at Roof Top Solar – On Wednesday at 1:00 p.m., SEIA and NREL launch the Solar Time-based Residential Analytics and Cycle time Estimator (Solar TRACE) for rooftop solar permitting, inspection, and interconnection (PII) tool. Solar TRACE will strengthen the ability for jurisdictions to identify opportunities to improve their permitting, inspection, and interconnection (PII) cycle-time. During this webinar, NREL will summarize the data collected and related analysis it has conducted around PII including cycle times, delays, and opportunities for streamlining PII processes in the future.

ANS Event Discusses Nuclear Power in Illinois – The American Nuclear Society (ANS) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Section and ANS Chicago Local Section will hold a forum Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. on nuclear power in Illinois. An expert panel with broad backgrounds will discuss the economic impact of nuclear power plants, how nuclear helps address climate change, efforts to keep plants open in Illinois, and the nuclear legacy in the state. Among the panelists will be our friend John Kotek of the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Groups Look at Climate Challenges – On Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., the Markets at Risk initiative at Brookings, in collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund and Columbia Law School's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, will host an event exploring the rising impacts of climate change  Experts in climate science, finance, and the electricity sector will consider the question at the heart of their research.  What can the scientific, legal, energy, and financial sectors do to help the nation prepare for the growing impacts of climate change?

Financial Stability Oversight Council to Meet on Climate – On Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., the U.S. Treasury will hold a climate change Financial Stability Oversight Council meeting slated to address climate and its impact on financial stability.

NAS Holds Hearing on Light-Duty Vehicles – On Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine's Energy and Environmental Systems department will hold a public hearing on technologies for improving fuel economy of light-duty vehicles. The report provides cost and effectiveness estimates for future fuel efficiency technologies and discusses how the current Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards should be updated to reflect new technical, economic, and policy developments.

Chamber Energy Groups Rolls Out Innovation Agenda – The US Chamber’s Global Energy Institute hosts its new EnergyInnovates Event Series on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.  The event will feature discussions about the projects, policies and technologies that are shaping our energy landscape—and laying the groundwork to solve global challenges. Speakers include GEI’s Marty Durbin, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, ClearPath’s Rich Powell, Third Way’s Josh Freed and Robin Millican of Breakthrough Energy.

Forum to Look at Methane Detection Issues – On Thursday at 10:30 a.m., the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center hosts Doug Baer, Global Product Line Manager for Laser Analyzers, Measurement and Analytics Division at ABB, who will discuss how ABB’s gas leak detection technology identifies leaks throughout the entire natural gas supply chain with high reliability and speed. Baer will focus on the new drone-based solution—HoverGuard™. The system continuously measures methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapor emissions while flying attached to a drone. He will explain how HoverGuard’s generates digital reports, which detail leak locations and corresponding emissions rates. This conversation is particularly timely—in December 2020, Congress passed the PIPES Act of 2020 with bipartisan support, a law instructs PHMSA to create rules on how to detect and repair methane leaks, among other requirements. Innovative technologies could play an important role in implementing this rule. 

Quarter Climate Forum Set – On Thursday at 1:00 p.m. the first Quarterly Interagency Forum on Climate Risks, Impacts, and Adaptations of 2021 will be held, co-hosted by NASA and DOI. The event will feature an informal forum on climate risks, impacts and adaptation.  This forum is attended by numerous agencies and provides a venue for presentations and discussions on issues relating to the impacts of climate risks on agency resources and operations, and adaptations of agency activities, facilities or lands to respond to these impacts.  Relevant new publications and reports from participating agencies and from sources such as the Government Accountability Office, the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Pew Center are regularly presented and discussed at this forum.

Forum to Look at Cities Clean Energy Success – The World Resources Institute and RMI host a forum on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. will highlight notable city clean energy trends from the past year based on new data from the Renewables Action Tracker. A panel of speakers from U.S. local governments will then discuss their own procurement stories from 2020, as well as the ways the COVID-19 pandemic affected their efforts, how the shift in federal administration might influence their future plans, and the role that they see cities playing in the clean energy transition moving forward. Officials from Denver, Houston and Madison, WI will speak.

CSHB to Hold Meeting – The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board will be meeting by teleconference to review the CSB's progress in meeting its mission and highlight safety products newly released through investigations and safety recommendations.

IN THE FUTURE

JHU Forum Looks at Business, Labor Climate Impacts – Next Monday 12:30 p.m., JHU’s SAIS program hosts a forum on business and labor Interests’ impact on climate policy. Matto Mildenberger, an assistant professor of political science at the UC-Santa Barbara, discusses his book Carbon Captured and his research on the politics of climate change in the United States and around the world.

Forum to Look at US Energy/Employment Report – The National Association of State Energy Officials, Energy Futures Initiative, and BW Research Partnership host a presentation next Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. of key data findings from Wages, Benefits and Change: A Supplemental Report to the U.S. Energy and Employment Report, an analysis of workforce wages, benefits, and transitions in the U.S. energy sector.  Energy, climate, and economic policy experts will discuss the potential role of energy careers in just transitions and job creation, as a new Administration, states across the country, and the private sector address challenges and opportunities emerging from the transition to low and carbon free energy and economic recovery.

Forum to Discuss Climate Voices – WRISE holds a conversation next Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. about how to amplify the voices of women and people of color working on climate action. Panelists will share insights from participating in the Public Voices Fellowship on the Climate Crisis. This highly competitive, year-long program was developed by The OpEd Project and Yale University to increase the diversity of thought leadership addressing climate change.  Karen Conover, Martha Southgate and Nikayla Jefferson will share lessons learned from the fellowship and how the experience influenced their perception of leadership.

Inslee Headlines Atlantic Council Discussion – The Atlantic Council holds a forum on Wednesday, April 7^th at 2:00 p.m. with Washington Governor Jay Inslee and a distinguished panel of energy and climate leaders from the Evergreen State discuss Washington’s push to become the next U.S. climate frontrunner.

Webber Headlines WCEE Book Forum – On Wednesday April 7^th at 5:30 p.m., the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE) holds its virtual Author Spotlight featuring authors Roger Duncan and Michael Webber as they discuss ‘The Future of Buildings, Transportation, and Power’.  You may recall that Webber wrote ‘Power Trip’ selected reading for WCEE’s December 2020 book club meeting. 

Energy Security Conference Set For Congress – US Energy Stream hold s its in-person Energy Security Forum 2021 on April 8^th and 9^th at the Petroleum Club of Houston, TX. The Forum is an annual market intelligence platform that brings together powerful U.S. Congressmen, Senators, government leaders, top energy executives, and investors.  Speakers will include API’s Mike Sommers, Reps. Markwayne Mullin, Neil Dunn, Jeff Duncan, Gary Palmer, Randy Weber, John Curtis and Troy Nehls, among others.

ELI Looks at Food Waste Issues – On Thursday April 8^th at Noon, the Environmental Law Institute, BioCycle, American Biogas Council and leading experts hold a forum to explore food scrap recycling questions and seek solutions to diverting food waste from landfills and recycling to create valuable products through anaerobic digestion.

Forum to Look at Electrification of Transportation – On Thursday April 8^th at 1:00 p.m. E, ClimateSolutions April Climate Leaders Live webinar will focus on the particularly vital strategy for cutting climate pollution: how to rapidly and equitably accelerate the electrification of our vehicles. Featured speakers for the conversation include EDF’s Fred Krupp.

Forum Targets Paying for Infrastructure – On Thursday April 8^th at 3:00 p.m., the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget holds Paying for Infrastructure, a virtual event that will explore possible revenue sources. A panel of experts will discuss options ranging from vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees to income taxes to carbon pricing. Our panel of experts will also take your questions. Panelists will ITIF’s Robert Atkinson, Jeff Davis of the Eno Center for Transportation, NYU Law’s Chye-Ching Huang and Brookings’ Adele Morris.

AU Forum to Look at Energy Transition – On Thursday April 8^th at 5:30 p.m. AU’s Center for Environmental Policy will hold a forum to explore climate and economic transition issues looking at economic winners and losers and how the world’s economy can be reshaped, and within a couple of decades. 

GW Planet Forward Summit Set – On April 9^th, GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs holds its annual  2021 Planet Forward Summit.  The Summit is focused on the urgency of the climate crisis, environmental equity, inclusion — and the narratives that propel them. Learn how these environmental change agents use storytelling to transform their audiences from passive listeners to engaged doers. Speakers include National Geographic Explorer & documentary filmmaker John Sutter. TODAY Show Weather and Feature Anchor Al Roker and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, among others.

AFPM Annual Conference Set – The annual conference for the American Fuel and Petrochem Manufacturers will be held virtually on April 12^th - 14^th.  Our friends Christine Tezak of ClearView Energy, Monroe Energy’s Adam Gattuso, AFPM’s Derrick Morgan and Valero CEO Joe Gorder all speak.  

Power Market Conference Set – S&P Global Platts holds its 36^th Annual Global Power Markets Virtual Conference on April 12^th to 14^th. The Conference focuses on the latest trends in energy policy, generation development, power market dynamics, power finance, power asset valuation, A&D, and energy transition.

UT Austin Energy Week 2021 to Focus on Energy Transition – The UT Austin Energy Week 2021 Conference will be held on April 13^th and 14^th focusing energy transition issues.  UT Energy Week 2021 will focus on the intertwined dynamics of how leaders and organizations in the public, private, and non-profit sectors balance the complex suite of pull-and-pushes to position their organizations and communities to not only lead in the energy transition, but also become more equitable and resilient in the process.  Our friends Robert Bryce, former WSJ reporter Jeff Ball and former EERE office head Dan Simmons are among the speakers.

Biden Climate Forum Shaping Up – The Biden Administration is expected to hold a climate forum for international leaders on April 22^nd and 23^rd in Washington.  The event is part of Biden’s effort to engage the international climate committee which start with his rejoining the Paris Agreement.  The president has asked leaders of the world’s 17 biggest economies, which account for roughly 80% of GDP and emissions, to take part in the event, as well as the heads of other countries that are demonstrating strong climate leadership, are especially vulnerable to climate impacts, or are charting innovative pathways to a net-zero [emissions] economy. Invitees include Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a many others.

Chamber Innovation Forum looks at CCS – The US Chamber’s Global Energy Institute continues its EnergyInnovates Event Series on Thursday April 22^nd at 10:00 a.m.  The event will feature discussions that highlight the need to fund the innovation programs authorized in the Energy Act of 2020, including the important role of carbon removal, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in achieving global and national climate goals. In this webinar, experts will explore the status of and outlook for carbon removal and CCUS technologies in light of recent legislative changes, as well as the next set of policies necessary to accelerate their scaling and adoption.

SCOTUS Packs Enviro Cases in Late April – Late April will be busy for the Supreme Court on environmental issues.  The Court will hear oral arguments in Guam v. United States on April 26, a case that has attracted the interest of my colleague Scott Segal and looks at a battle over a waste dump that first served as a disposal site for Navy waste during World War II.  The next day, April 27^th, HollyFrontier Cheyenne Refining, LLC v. Renewable Fuels Association is just scheduled which is case over the RFS’s Small Refinery program and a 10^th Circuit ruling that has caused significant controversy.  Then on April 28^th, the Court addresses PennEast Pipeline Co. LLC V New Jersey where PennEast wants to use the Natural Gas Act to use eminent domain to build its 116-mile natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to state-owned land in New Jersey.

Bloomberg Green Summit Set – The Bloomberg Green Summit will be Held virtually on April 26^th and 27^th to focus on a net-zero economy, plans to rebuild while calling for real climate action, and what can inspire and enact lasting positive change. Speakers will include former VP Al Gore, American climatologist Michael Mann and the CEOs of Dow and Ariel Investments.

Chamber Innovation Forum looks at Permitting, Transmission – The US Chamber’s Global Energy Institute continues its EnergyInnovates Event Series on Thursday May 13^th at 10:00 a.m.  The event will feature discussions on growing demand for cleaner energy sources and the need to build new energy infrastructure.  However, the byzantine federal permitting process is neither predictable, nor transparent, and inhibits capital investment to bring new energy platforms to market, including non-emitting electricity generation and transmission.  This webinar will highlight the inefficiencies of the permitting process as well as common sense, bipartisan solutions to unlock investment in the next generations of energy infrastructure.