Energy Update: Week of March 6th
Energy Update - March 06, 2023
Friends,
The beginning of March is here already…And that means NCAA tournaments. Conference tournaments are already well underway with auto bids for the Big South (UNC-Asheville), Atlantic Sun (Kennesaw St), NEC (Fairleigh Dickinson, Ohio Valley (Se Missouri St) and Missouri Valley (Drake) already in locked In. Iowa also crushed Ohio State to take the Big Ten’s auto bid on the Women’s Side. The NCAA hoops Selection Show is set for next Sunday (women on Monday). NCAA Selection Show for the Frozen Four will also be on Sunday.
This week is CERA Week. It will be a crazy parade of activity. I am working with a bunch of folks to get them scheduled out – plus if you have been before, you know a lot of stuff happens on the fly and/or at the Starbucks. So, I will see you there, but if you are coming and we haven’t connected, please let me know. Today, I will be with the API crew and AGA’s Karen Harbert as both are part of an afternoon panel on Washington Policy issues. Also speaking of CERA, this morning Siemens Energy announced its compressors will be used at Occidental’s first large-scale Direct Air Capture (DAC) plant in Texas’ Permian Basin. (more below)
A second big event this week is Aspen Climate Ideas Forum in Miami Beach today through Thursday. The action jumps in today at 5:30 pm when Conservative Climate Caucus Chair Rep. John Curtis will be on the main stage alongside Dominion Energy’s Diane Leopold for a conversation about breakthrough technologies in meeting climate goals, moderated by ClearPath CEO Rich Powell. Tomorrow, the evening plenary will feature Gevo CEO Patrick Gruber and Delta Chief Sustainability Officer Pam Fletcher with CNBC’s Diana Olick for a discussion on collaborations aimed at more sustainable travel. Curtis also joins WaPo Live on Thursday to discuss the economic viability of ski resorts in light is climate change...
The White House releases its budget this week…mostly to watch the media do a bunch of stories, then have Congress toss it right into the circular file and do their own thing. President Biden is also expected to issue the first veto of his presidency after Congress passed legislation to repeal a Labor Department rule on climate-friendly investing. The rule has also drawn scorn from 25 Republican AGs that are challenging it.
A few hearings this week, but the hearing on Thursday that will suck up all the oxygen will be the Senate Environment Hearing on train derailment featuring Norfolk Sothern CEO Alan Shaw. Some other highlights include Senate Enviro on Crypto mining tomorrow, Wednesday hearings on Waters of the US In House Small Business, House Science on DOE’s Research, House Resources on conservation, House Ag on the Farm Bill and Forestry Issues, House Oversight starting a series of hearings on the SPR and Senate Budget on more climate-related economic issues. Also on Thursday, Senate Energy looks at nuclear fuel and uranium mining.
And remember too, next Sunday they will hand out the Oscars. Please let me know if you are at CERA Week and want to connect. I know it is crazy here, but I will look forward to it.
FRANKLY SPOKEN
The bad news? Getting one into your home is not so easy.”:
Michael Coren in his Climate Coach Column last week writing about Heat pumps.
ON THE PODCAST
Clean Fuels Podcast Talks SAF with Gevo Exec – In Episode 4 of the Clean Fuels Podcast, host Ben Greenfield sits down with Tim Cesarek, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer at Gevo to discuss low carbon fuels and decarbonizing aviation. We break down the current state of the Sustainable Aviation Fuels market, and a wide variety of topics including demand drivers, government incentives, and market challenges. Tim Cesarek is the Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer at Gevo – a next generation low carbon fuels company focus on the development and commercialization of renewable fuels.
Cap Crude Talks SAF With Gevo CEO – ICYMI, last week’s Capitol Crude Podcast, host Jasmin Melvin visits with Patrick Gruber, CEO of leading Sustainable Aviation Fuels producer Gevo on the heels of last week’s major airline announcement regarding an expansion of SAF. Gevo is currently the third largest worldwide supplier of SAF and has committed to delivering 1 billion gallons per year of SAF and other renewable fuels by 2030. Gruber joined the podcast to discuss the policies and market dynamics needed for the significant boost in SAF production envisioned by the administration. He also addressed pain points to deploying SAF projects and sought to debunk some false narratives surrounding the SAF industry.
FUN OPINIONS
American Businesses Breaking Clean Energy Records – In an op-ed in The Hill, CRES President Heather Reams and BCSE President Lisa Jacobson write that new data shows that progress in the clean energy sector stayed resilient through 2022. According to the newly released 2023 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook from the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) and BloombergNEF, 2022 was historic in terms of clean energy benchmarks and laudable policy achievements. Despite daunting obstacles, power generation from renewable sources hit a record, consumers purchased nearly 1 million new electric vehicles, and federal legislation allocated at least $369 billion in support of clean energy technologies. The trend is clear: the clean energy sector is now hard-wired into the U.S. economy, reviving American industry with new jobs and revenue and enhancing national security with resilient energy systems.
FROG BLOG
Critical Roles, Opportunities for American Natural Gas – In a commentary on its blog, Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy researcher Gautam Jain and Luisa Palacios write investments in clean energy have increased and now represent a 1.5 to 1 ratio with fossil fuels, but these investments need to be scaled up dramatically, to a ratio of 9 to 1, by 2030 to be consistent with the net-zero path. But they also warn that phasing out transition assets too early may result in wild swings in oil and gas prices, raising energy security and affordability concerns, similar to what has transpired since Russia invaded Ukraine.
FUN FACTS
Home Heating: Our friends at the WaPo Climate 202 today releases a chart of the ways Americans heat their homes – and like the country’s politics – it is deeply divided. But interestingly, in much of the South and rural America, many residents rely on electricity to heat their homes, whether in the form of old, inefficient electric resistance heaters or new, more efficient heat pumps. By contrast, in cities and on the coasts, many people depend on fossil fuels to stay warm. Natural gas dominates urban, heavily populated areas in states such as New York, California and Illinois, while fuel oil heats many homes in the Northeast.
IN THE NEWS
UN Sea Treaty Negotiated – More than 190 countries have reached agreement to protect biodiversity of the world’s oceans, agreeing for the first time on a common framework for establishing new protected areas in international waters. It is important to note though the High Seas treaty replaces neither UNCLOS nor ISA. In fact, as High Seas was being negotiated, even countries like France and others were renewing their positions to continue their mining programs under ISA leases. The implementation of the ISA mining code continues to be expected this year. Many of these elements are already In the UNCLOS Treaty already in force including of support in High Seas for environmental assessments of mineral collection, ensuring that the developing world share in the economic significance and a percentage set aside for protection.
BCSE, BNEF Roll out 2023 Clean Energy FACTBOOK – Despite a tumultuous year in 2022, the US economy is now firmly on the clean energy transition path to drive down emissions and create economic opportunities. Investment in clean energy generation and technologies shattered records in 2022, even as supply chain disruptions, an international energy crisis, and rising interest rates elevated prices for key energy commodities, according to the 2023 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook from BloombergNEF (BNEF) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE). Power generation from renewable sources hit a new record, consumers purchased nearly 1 million new electric vehicles, and Congress sent a clear signal about long-term commitment to decarbonization through the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the most consequential climate law in U.S. history. Comprising more than 50 slides with data visualizations, the Factbook is a succinct resource that highlights the status of sustainable energy in the United States based on statistics and data inputs from the year before. In addition to highlighting the contributions of key energy sectors to 2022’s performance, the Factbook details important market and investment dynamics, technology trends, and policy developments.
The trend of U.S. decarbonization is hard-wired – The Factbook reveals that 2022 represented a record-breaking year for energy transition investment, with global financing for technologies to decarbonize the world’s economy exceeding $1 trillion. In the United States, energy transition investment rose 11% year-on-year to $141 billion. Renewables’ contributions to the power grid also broke records in 2022. Driven by surges in output from wind and solar, as well as growth in hydropower production, renewable generation rose at the fastest pace among major sectors with a 13% year-on-year rise to its highest level ever. Despite high natural gas prices, coal-fired output fell sharply, with renewables generation ultimately outpacing coal. Renewables and natural gas have grown from a combined 43% of total U.S. power generation to 62% in just a decade. Zero-carbon power (renewables and nuclear power) comprised 41% of generation. The clean energy economy was also driven by investment in innovative decarbonization technologies. Sales of electric and fuel cell vehicles hit nearly 982,000 in 2022, up 50% from 2021. The United States set a new record for energy storage build with 4.8 gigawatts (GW) added, an increase from 3.7 GW in 2021. Post-Inflation Reduction Act commitments to the North American battery supply chain reached almost $17 billion by the end of 2022. This growth in clean energy generation and investment came even as the industry grappled with higher prices, rising interest rates, and supply chain issues. Prices for key commodities that underpin the clean power sector were stubbornly high through much of 2022 but eased somewhat by year end. For the second year in a row, U.S. natural gas prices increased due to rising demand for natural gas at home and abroad, in part due to the conflict in Ukraine. The growth of the clean energy sector amid these difficulties suggests that the clean energy transition has become cemented within the U.S. economy.
Urgent acceleration is needed – Nevertheless, the new data confirm that the clean energy transition must accelerate more rapidly for the United States to avoid the worst climate impacts. 2022 was the third most costly climate disaster year on record, as the country experienced 18 climate-related disasters causing at least $1 billion in damage apiece over the 12 months. U.S. emissions inched up 1% in 2022, following a bigger jump in 2021 when the U.S. economy first began rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic. Economy-wide emissions have trended downward since 2005, and total 2022 emissions were still 3% below pre-pandemic levels. This suggests that some of the emissions reductions made in 2020 have persisted, especially in the power and transportation sectors. However, the United States is still not on track to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) toward reducing emissions under the Paris Agreement, which would have required emissions to fall at least 3% in 2022. In 2022, U.S. emissions were 13.8% below 2005 levels, while the NDCs require that number to be 26-28% by 2025 and 50-52% by 2030.
The next step: Efficient implementation and further policy action – The most significant clean energy policy development in 2022 was the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which will provide at least $369 billion in support of energy transition technologies. Capitalizing on the law’s clean energy investments to the fullest extent will require careful consideration of the implementation process, as well as reforms to federal permitting and siting regulations. Securing all necessary federal permits can be slow and laborious for energy infrastructure projects. One recent study found that the large majority of infrastructure projects take between two and six years to secure all signoffs. A separate study found that renewable power projects take an average of two to three years to complete National Environmental Policy Act reviews, with some taking four to six years to reach completion. Historic public and private sector investment and the enactment of supportive new policies drove growth in the energy transition, despite the challenges and uncertainties of tangled supply chains and international conflict. As a result, clean energy played a leading role in the U.S. economy in 2022 and set the stage for even more growth in 2023.
DAC Project Will Use Siemens Equipment – Siemens Energy compressors will be used at Occidental’s first large-scale Direct Air Capture (DAC) plant in Texas’ Permian Basin developed by 1PointFive, a subsidiary of Occidental. The two compressor packages will enable the plant to capture up to 500,000 metric tons of CO2 per year when fully operational. The announcement was made today by Siemens Energy President and CEO Christian Bruch and Occidental President and CEO Vicki Hollub at the 41st annual CERAWeek energy conference hosted in Houston. Siemens Energy will supply a motor-driven 13,000 horsepower (hp) fully modular wet gas compressor package and a motor-driven 8,500 hp dry gas compressor for the DAC plant. The equipment will compress the captured CO2 for additional processing and pressurize the final product into a pipeline for injection into underground reservoirs. 1PointFive’s plant is expected to provide practical solutions that hard-to-decarbonize industries can use to help achieve net zero. Captured carbon dioxide can be safely sequestered deep underground in saline formations or used to produce hydrocarbons to enable lower-carbon or net-zero transportation fuels and in products like chemicals and building materials.
EPA Sets E15 – EPA said Wednesday it will propose authorizing the year-round sale of gasoline blends containing 15 percent ethanol in several Midwestern states. EPA proposed approving petitions removing a fuel volatility waiver for gasoline-ethanol blends containing 10 percent ethanol in eight Midwestern states, which would effectively allow them to sell E15 gasoline year-round. Most U.S. gasoline retailers currently offer E10. The rule would delay action until next year’s summer driving season, a move aimed at placating gasoline makers' concerns that implementing the change for this summer would strain their supply and push up fuel prices.
ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
CERA Week Locked In – The energy industry’s biggest event, CERA Week will be this week in Houston. CERAWeek brings together global leaders to advance new ideas, insight and solutions to the biggest challenges facing the future of energy, the environment, and climate. CERAWeek is widely considered to be the most prestigious annual gathering of CEOs and Ministers from global energy and utilities, as well as automotive, manufacturing, policy and financial communities, along with a growing presence of tech. Speakers include White House Advisor John Podesta, former Energy Secretaries Ernest Moniz (now at EFI) and Dan Brouillette (now at Sempra Infrastructure), State’s Amos Hochstein, IEA’s Fatih Birol and dozens of energy CEOs.
Aspen Climate Ideas Forum Features Rep. Curtis – The Aspen Ideas Climate will be held from today to Thursday in Miami Beach. It will feature an evening plenary panel today at 5:30 p.m. with Conservative Climate Caucus Chair Rep. John Curtis will be on the main stage alongside Dominion Energy’s Chief Operating Officer, Diane Leopold for a conversation about breakthrough technologies in meeting climate goals, moderated by ClearPath CEO, Rich Powell. They will tackle the tough questions; what policies industry needs to reach their climate goals and what is possible in divided government. Tomorrow, there will be a panel is part of the evening plenary. Gevo CEO Patrick Gruber and Delta Chief Sustainability Officer Pam Fletcher will join CNBC’s Diana Olick for a discussion on collaborations aimed at more sustainable travel. Delta and Gevo are working together to increase access to sustainable aviation fuel by leveraging existing technology and increasing investments in essential manufacturing pathways.
Brookings Looks at Economics of Tackling Climate Now – Today at 11:00 a.m., the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy and the Center on Regulation and Markets at Brookings will convene a virtual conference to discuss two recent papers. The first, by the IMF’s Tobias Adrian and coauthors, focuses on the benefits of phasing out coal as an energy source. Following the presentation, the World Bank’s Carolyn Fischer will react. The second, by Hutchins Nonresident Senior Fellow Glenn Rudebusch and coauthors, quantifies the inverse relationship between carbon prices and future temperatures, illustrating how climate policy choices determine climate outcomes. Following this presentation, Irene Monasterolo of EDHEC Business School will respond. Presenters and discussants. All four will then participate in a panel discussion on the broader implications of these issues.
WaPo Live Event Looks at Train Derailment – With a Senate hearing slated this week on the topic, Washington Post Live holds a virtual discussion today at 1:00 p.m. on the latest findings on what may have caused the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the overall health of the U.S. rail system. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy joins The Post’s Heather Long to discuss the latest findings.
USEA Hosts Women’s Leaders Breakfast – Tomorrow, on the eve of International Women’s Day 2023, the US Energy Assn, in collaboration with the USAID will host a virtual High-Level Policy Dialogue: Women Leaders Breaking Barriers for Gender Equity. The program will embrace equity and spotlight the tremendous contribution of women working with national governments, the private sector, and civil society, prioritizing affirmative action on keeping gender central to green growth and climate action. The dialogue will open with an inspiring keynote address to set the stage spotlighting the significance of policies in promoting gender equity and social inclusion. This will be followed by a presentation by USAID on gender as a cross-cutting priority in the agency’s work, creating the perfect segway for a moderated panel discussion. Distinguished global panelists will advance the conversation during our session on Women Leaders Taking Affirmative Action on Gender Equity with a specific focus on the energy sector. The program will close with a presentation on the value of professional networks to promote and support women.
Forum Looks at Transport System – The WRI Systems Change Lab and WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. for a discussion of the current state of play in the global transport system and the five critical shifts needed to achieve global climate mobility and net-zero emissions goals. Panelists will explore the shared importance of vehicle electrification and shifts to active mobility, the role of various actors in catalyzing new solutions for aviation and maritime shipping, the status of tipping points in driving exponential progress, and how a systems approach can help us reimagine transport as we know it. This session will set the stage ahead of Transforming Transportation 2023, organized by the World Bank and WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.
Forum to Look at Sustainable Aviation Fuels – The George Washington University Environmental & Energy Law Program holds a conference on investable sustainable aviation fuels tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. This program will explore the current development status and future of sustainable aviation fuels; and the challenges to accelerating their use for both military and civilian purposes, including the need for attracting investment capital.
Forum Look at Ag Tech, Climate – Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., the American Security Project holds a forum on innovating out of the climate crisis with agriculture technologies. Emissions from the agricultural sector account for more than 10 percent of the U.S. total. However, innovation - including advances in biotech, animal husbandry, soil, and nutrient management, and more - can help agriculture adapt to climate change.
Forum Look at China US Food System Cooperation – The Wilson Center’s China Environment Forum and the California-China Climate Institute hold a forum tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. looking at opportunities for enhanced near-term U.S.-China climate action on food systems. At this webinar, speakers will explore the pathways for the U.S. and China to achieve emission reductions, soil health improvement, and sustainable development goals while meeting global food demand.
House Transpo Looks at Pipeline Safety – The House Transportation and Infrastructure Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on pipeline safety. The hearing will review implementation of the PIPES Act of 2020 and examining future safety needs.
House Science Addresses DOE Research Effort – The House Science Committee holds a hearing on the DOE’s role in the US research ecosystem.
House Ag Hears from Forestry Experts – The House Agriculture Forestry Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. to review forestry stakeholder perspectives.
Forum Looks at Climate Solutions in Countries – The Middle East Institute holds a forum on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. looking at how poorer nations are shouldering the burden of climate change. Research shows that the international adaptation finance flows going to developing countries are 5-10 times lower than the estimated needs, and the gap isn’t being closed. The event will discuss what is needed to set nations on the path to climate justice, what role businesses, civil society and multilaterals play in the process.
Forum Looks at Distributed Energy, FERC – The US Energy Assn holds a forum on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. featuring distributed energy resources and FERC guidance. Former FERC senior economist Dr. David Katha will discuss Distributed Energy Resources Impacts to the Grid and FERC Order 2222 and the future of DER regulation.
House Resources to Review Conservation Plans – The House Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. promoting conservation with a purpose on America's Federal lands and forests.
Senate FR Looks at Energy Security in SE Asia – The Senate Foreign Relations Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. looking at geopolitical competition and energy security in Central Asia.
House Oversight Panel Looks into SPR – The House Oversight and Reform Committee Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee holds a hearing on depleting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and why it is not a viable solution to America's Energy problem. This is the first in a series.
Carbon 180 Talks Direct Air Capture – On Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., Carbon180 hosts an event on how Direct Air Capture succeeds releasing a paper. The paper, "How Direct Air Capture Succeeds" presents an original framework for answering these questions and explores the economic, political, justice and technological factors that come into play.
ACORE Policy Forum Set – The annual ACORE Policy Forum on Thursday in Washington, D.C. with the annual ACORE Awards Gala the evening before. The event will feature important discussions around ensuring the success of the Inflation Reduction Act, building the clean energy workforce of tomorrow, and what is needed to catalyze a domestic clean energy supply chain and upgraded electric grid to meet our decarbonization goals and achieve the clean energy transition.
WRI Looks at Oil, Gas, Middle East, Energy Transition – On Thursday at 9:00 a.m., WRI holds a forum on navigating a just transition in the oil and gas sector in middle-income countries. This discussion with distinguished experts, practitioners and government officials from Africa and Latin America to learn about the policies that can enable a just transition away from oil and gas and how countries can work together to support and successfully manage the transition.
Wilson Looks at Critical Minerals – On Thursday at 9:00 a.m., the Wilson Center holds a forum to examine the challenges, policy options, and strategic diplomatic alliances needed to minimize confrontation in order to realize individual national commitments and climate emission reduction targets. The discussion will also focus on ways shifting geopolitical alliances are likely to impact prospects for cooperation and specific national initiatives to embrace clean energy.
Senate Environment to Hold Hearing on Ohio Train Incident – With House Committee investigators already at work, the Senate Environment Committee plans to hold a hearing on the Ohio train incident on Thursday. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw to testify.
Senate Energy Looks at Nuclear Fuel, Uranium – The Senate Energy Committee holds a hearing on the Nuclear Fuel Cycle on Thursday at 10:00 p.m.
Curtis Joins WaPo Live – On Thursday at 11:00 a.m., Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) and Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) join the Washington Post Live to discuss their bipartisan efforts to protect ski areas and outdoor spaces challenged by global warming as it threatens the economic viability of ski resorts.
EESI Continues IRA Series – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute holds a briefing on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. focused on implementing the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as part of its continuing Congressional Climate Camp series.
Forum Looks at US-Japs, Fast Reactors – The George Washington University holds a forum on Friday at 6:00 p.m. on US-Japan nuclear energy cooperation in fast reactors. The United States and Japan are now returning to advanced nuclear technology together. The US Department of Energy is financially supporting the construction of demonstration reactors by the private sector and Japan has decided to join the U.S. program.
Granholm to Headline Energy Track at SXSW Conference – The South by Southwest Festival and Conference will be held on Friday through next March 19th. The Energy track runs From Friday to this Sunday and will feature Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Our friend Morgan Bazilian of the Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines will discuss the EV battery supply chain, Jane Stricker of the Houston Energy Transition Initiative will look at energy Transition issues and another friend Julian Spector of Canary Media will also talk energy. There will also be a Climate and Transportation track. The SXSW Conference provides an opportunity for the global community of digital creatives to encounter cutting-edge ideas, discover new interests, and network with other professionals who share a similar appetite for forward-focused experiences.
IN THE FUTURE
Wilson Hosts Event on Algae, Food, Climate – Next Monday at 9:00 a.m., the Wilson Center holds a forum on the impacts of algae blooms on climate and food production. Speakers at this panel will discuss the causes, consequences, and solutions to this escalating challenge in the United States and China. Keith Schneider (Circle of Blue) will share insights from a 6-part series into the drivers of Lake Erie’s toxic algae blooms, Laura Johnson (National Center for Water Quality Research) will review the causes of blooms and highlight innovative solutions being researched by scientists and deployed by state governments and NGOs in the Great Lakes Region. Yuxiang Wang (Queens University) will talk about innovative solutions to halting algae blooms in China. Britt Groosman (Environmental Defense Fund) will discuss some of the obstacles and opportunities for China and the United States to adopt climate-smart agriculture to address algae pollution.
USEA Looks at Impact of Electrification on Utilities, Reliability – The US Energy Assn holds a forum next Monday at 11:00 a.m. on the Potential crisis ahead for utilities with the growing push for electrification. To examine this coming crisis of excess demand and inadequate supply, a panel of experts will be questioned by a panel of energy journalists. Experts include EPRI’s Ronald Schoff, NRECA’s Louis Finkel, Steve Hauser of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies, and a speaker from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). Reporters include our friends Matt Chester of Energy Central
AP’s Matthew Daly, Jennifer Hiller of the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Ken Silverstein and Herman Trabish of Utility Dive.
WRI Looks at Transportation – The World Resources Institute, in collaboration with the World Bank, holds a forum over two days of in-person events, March 14-15, to engage with high-level policymakers, hear from cutting-edge thinkers and explore solutions for countries and cities around the world. The 20th edition of Transforming Transportation will consider the current economic scenario, post-COVID recovery and COP27 commitments as starting points to reimagine transport to make it more inclusive, safe, sustainable, and efficient for everyone. Guest speakers will address a range of critical topics, including decarbonizing mobility, resilient logistics, climate finance, accelerating innovation and more.
WaPo to Host Water Event – Washington Post Live will host This is Climate: Water on Wednesday March 15th at 9:00 a.m. The Forum is a live news program where speakers including Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Melissa Ho, senior vice president of freshwater and food at the World Wildlife Fund, will discuss possible solutions to address global water inequities and the role of water in sustainable development. In a segment presented by Ecolab, Calvin Emanuel, vice president and general manager of Sustainable Growth Solutions at Ecolab, and Glenn Prickett, president and CEO at World Environment Center, will discuss how industry can be a positive force in supporting a water-secure future while driving business outcomes. The conversation will cover the central tenets of corporate sustainability programs that conserve water, foster business resilience, and create positive impacts in support of communities around the world.
Forum/Report Looks at BioHydrogen – On Wednesday March 15th at 11:00 a.m., the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs holds a forum to discuss key findings from its latest report on hydrogen, The Potential Role of Biohydrogen in the Net-Zero World: The Production and Applications of Carbon-Negative Hydrogen. The report explores the current state of play for Bio-H2 and its potential contribution to decarbonization efforts by examining its production options, carbon footprint, cost, potential applications, and policy options.
FACTBOOK Presentation Set for Hill – EESI hosts a Hill discussion of the 11th edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook in 2044 Rayburn on Wednesday March 15th at 3:00 p.m. The Factbook, published by BloombergNEF (BNEF) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), was released on March 1, and is available to download for free at www.bcse.org/factbook. The Factbook provides valuable year-over-year data and insights on the American energy transformation, with an in-depth look at the energy efficiency, renewable energy, and natural gas sectors, as well as emerging areas such as digitalization, micro-grids, offshore wind, hydrogen, and renewable natural gas.
DC Enviro Film Festival Launches – The DC Environmental Film Festival will launch on Thursday March 16th and will run through Sunday March 26th The festival will include screenings of dozens of films including “King Coal,” “Changing Work in a Changing Climate,” “Climate Connections,” “Dam Busters,” “Radioactive – The Women of Three Mile Island,” and “To the End”.
EIA To Release Annual Energy Outlook – On Thursday March 16th at 2:00 p.m. ET, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) will release the findings of the Annual Energy Outlook 2023 (AEO2023) at a public event held at Resources for the Future (RFF) in Washington, DC. The event will feature a presentation by EIA Administrator Joe DeCarolis and EIA Assistant Administrator for Energy Analysis Angelina LaRose.
SAFE Summit To Address EV Supply Chains, Infrastructure – Senior business leaders from the world’s leading automobile, mining, and transportation corporations as well as White House and senior government officials are scheduled to headline the SAFE Summit: A Pathway to Electrification from Minerals to Market, on March 28-29th in Washington, D.C. The summit aims to seize the historical moment provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The two-day event, co-hosted by SAFE and the Electrification Coalition, will offer practical next solutions that will, in collaboration with U.S. allies and partners, build out robust and reliable supply chains and supporting infrastructure for the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the broader energy transition. John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation will address the summit on the Biden Administration’s agenda and priorities; as will Jigar Shah, Director of the Loan Programs Office at the Department of Energy. Top-tiered sponsors and speakers include FedEx Chairman Fred Smith, Nissan Motor Company, and Teck Resources Limited CEO Jonathan Price. Additional SAFE Summit sponsors include Lithium Americas, Lyten, The Metals Company (TMC), and DLT Labs.
Hydrogen Conference Features bp Hydrogen Speaker – The S&P Global Hydrogen Markets Americas Conference will be Held on April 3rd to 5th in Sand Diego. The event gathers hundreds of energy professionals from across North America to discuss the growth of hydrogen as part of the move toward de-carbonization. Keynotes include bp’s head of Hydrogen North America Tomeka McLeod and Air Products VP for Hydrogen Mobility Eric Guter.
Air Pollution Control Conference Set for OKC – The Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies’ (AAPCA) holds its 2023 Spring Meeting on April 4th to 6th at the Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel. AAPCA’s 2023 Spring Meeting will feature presentations from state and local air quality agencies, U.S. EPA, and other air quality professionals on timely Clean Air Act topics.
MIT Energy Conference Set – MIT holds its annual energy conference on April 11th and 12th in Boston. The event brings experts across the three key fields of technology, finance, and global policy to discuss critical solutions that will shape the future of the energy landscape, particularly during this time of uncertainty, urgency, and hardship. Our friend Laura Parkan of Air Liquide will speak.
CGEP to Host Granholm – To kick off the celebration of its 10th anniversary, Columbia Center for Global Energy Policy (CGEP) will host a special 10th Anniversary Global Energy Summit where they will discuss turbulence in global energy markets, the growing gap between climate ambition and reality, and the tensions between today’s energy needs and tomorrow’s energy transition imperative. Speakers include Energy Sect. Jennifer Granholm, NRDC CEO Manish Bapna and BlackRock Investment Institute chair and former US National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, among others.
Power Conference Set – The 38th Platts Global Power Markets Conference is set for The Wynn in Las Vegas on April 17-19th. The event brings together leaders from utilities, regulators, finance and more to discuss the trends moving the power markets forward. Keynote speaker is Xcel Energy CEO Robert Frenzel to discuss his views on sustainability and how companies are generating clean, affordable, and accessible energy, as well as what lies ahead. Other topics include trends and opportunities around infrastructure, the IRA and its implications, wholesale power markets, global and emerging power market investment, supply chain challenges, impact of global energy market upheaval and much more.
FP Hosts Climate Summit – On Wednesday April 26th, Foreign Policy holds its third annual Climate Summit, where they will convene climate-minded leaders and experts for high-profile discussions on maintaining momentum from COP27 and following through on commitments. With a focus on achieving net-zero, addressing climate justice, and the logistics of implementation, this event will look at the first steps of making the world’s answer to climate change a reality. The event will also explore how governments and organizations are making progress, identifying, and implementing best practices and navigating the road ahead to COP28.
BioGas American Set for Chicago – The American Biogas Council holds 2023 BioGas Americas in Chicago at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on May 15th to 18th. The event is the biggest event in the US for biogas/RNG.