Energy Update: Week of March 7th

Friends,

This week is CERAWeek. I have just arrived in Houston, so I hope to see you.  This is the first in-person CERA week in two years and should be a great event.  Speakers today include John Kerry, AGA,’s Karen Harbert and API’s Mike Sommers; tomorrow includes SoCal Gas hydrogen expert Yuri Freedman; Wednesday features former Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette of Sempra and current DOE Secretary Jen Granholm; Thursday features EPA’s Michael Regan, FERC Chair Rich Glick and Sen. Murkowski and Friday hosts Sens. Cornyn and Manchin. There is a hydrogen hub for numerous sessions and new sessions to address the lasting impacts of military conflict in Ukraine on energy, geopolitics and strategy.

Speaking of Ukraine, the bipartisan push in Congress seems to be pressuring the Biden Admin to make stronger sanction moves against Russian energy. While we don’t import much oil (we mostly important heavy crudes for blending much of which we can get from other places including Venezuela), NATO nations use more than 50% of Russia’s exports. A Reuters/Ipsos poll says 4-of-5 Americans would support higher gas prices, but of course, that probably isn’t really going to stop them from passing blame when that actually have to pay $4-5 (or more) a gallon.  Already, with international social pressure, many companies, shippers and traders are self-shunning Russian imports which has frustrated Administration officials.  It has boosted prices nationally to over $4/gallon nationally and will likely push higher.  Finally, I have already heard some enviro groups and administration officials trying to pass the buck on blame. While there are numerous factors involved (COVID, demand uncertainty, employment woes and financing challenges), there is no doubt the regulatory uncertainty created by the Administration’s early moves to restrict oil and gas are definitely an important factor. Happy to discuss or find you resources…there are plenty out there.

While most of the energy industry will be in Houston, Congress returns to action this week to work on the 2023 budget and Ukraine aid. Hearings will include House Energy on EVs and House Science on Resilience tomorrow. On Wednesday, the House Select Climate Committee also looks at adaptation and resilience. Then Thursday, for the second straight week, Senate Energy holds a hearing to drive for more domestic energy by using energy as a tool and a weapon to ensuring domestic and global energy security. Finally, citing the conflict in Ukraine, the House Oversight Committee postponed its part III hearing scheduled for Tuesday that was to examine climate change disinformation efforts by large oil and gas companies.  Committee Republicans accused the majority of not wanting to discuss an “investigation” of climate PR tactics while gas prices are surging because it isn’t great for optics.

Off the Hill, ACORE looks at the SCOTUS GHG case on Wednesday while OurEnergyPolicy holds a forum on regulations for a clean power sector.  On Thursday, the Alliance to Save Energy holds its 2022 Policy Summit and RFF holds a forum to review of trends and trajectories in carbon pricing.

March is here…That means lacrosse and baseball (maybe if MLB players can agree to terms) as well as NCAA March Madness Hoops and the Frozen Four.  Stay tuned and see you in Houston!!!

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

FRANKLY SPOKEN

““We are now talking to our European partners and allies to look in a coordinated way at the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil, while making sure that there is still an appropriate supply of oil on world markets.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”.

ON THE PODCAST

Pat Wood Discusses Power Markets – As former chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and eventually the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Pat Wood helped found Texas’ competitive power market and introduce competition for electric generation across the United States. In this episode of the EPSA podcast Energy Solutions. Wood shares what it took to break up energy monopolies, the hurdles – including the Enron scandal – faced along the way, and how competitive power markets have delivered savings, choice, and technological transformation over nearly three decades.

FUN OPINIONS

Mason Mornings: Energy, Ukraine, Congress – In a segment on Mason Mornings on SiriusXM P.O.T.U.S. 124, I joined host Julie Mason to talk energy, security, Ukraine and Congressional action.  Catch the full 10-minute segment here.

FROG BLOG

Loris Weighs in On Ukraine Energy – In a piece on the C3 blog, Nick Loris provided a timely piece that outlined how the conflict in Ukraine will affect energy prices and what policymakers can do to counteract a spike in energy costs. “The Biden administration is dealing with immense challenges: Providing affordable energy to American families and businesses, helping European allies loosen Russia’s grip on energy markets, and addressing climate change. Opening access to markets and modernizing regulations to build cleaner and faster will help with all three.”

FUN FACTS

Clean Energy Investment in 2021: Among a ton of great facts in the BloombergNEF and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy's "2022 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook.”

• The 2021 total of private investment into U.S. clean energy:  $105 billion

IN THE NEWS

Solar Manufacturers: Pass Tax Credits – POLITICO reports that the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Coalition, representing 16 panel and equipment companies, is out with a letter to President Biden today warning the U.S. risks “losing the domestic solar manufacturing industry forever” if Democrats fail to pass massive tax breaks that were included in the imperiled Build Back Better Act. “Moving from foreign dependence on fossil fuels to foreign dependence on clean energy is not how we can truly build back better and meet our climate targets,” write the companies, including First Solar, Mission Solar, Sunnova and Heliene.

2022 BCSE Sustainability FACTBOOK Shows Major Growth in NatGas, Renewables – BloombergNEF (BNEF) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) released the 2022 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook late last week. The report says despite the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 was a record-breaking year for investment in the energy transition and the deployment of renewable power, battery storage, and sustainable transportation. This growth was fueled by strong consumer demand, unprecedented injection of new capital into companies, technologies, and projects, and a wave of supportive new policies. Comprising 50 slides with data visualizations, the Factbook is a succinct resource that highlights the status of sustainable energy in the U.S. as the country pursues its climate goals. In addition to highlighting the contributions of key energy sectors to 2021’s performance, the Factbook weaves together important market and investment dynamics, technology trends and policy developments. The conclusions drawn from the data not only point to the current momentum of the clean energy transition, but also underscore the need for additional public policy support that accelerates the speed and scale of the deployment of clean energy and energy efficiency solutions.

EIA Annual Energy Outlook Says NatGas will Play Role – Right now at the Bipartisan Policy Center, EIA is releasing its Annual Energy Outlook 2022 (AEO2022).  The report says U.S. energy consumption will increase over the next 30 years as population and economic growth outpace gains in energy efficiency. EIA projects that renewable energy will be the fastest-growing source of energy through 2050, but petroleum and liquid fuels will remain the most-consumed source of energy. The full report will be published on the EIA website.

Hydrogen Company Raises $11M – H2U Technologies, a green hydrogen startup, has raised an $11 million Series A funding round led by Jericho Energy Ventures. The company aims to avoid using rare and expensive platinum group metals, such as palladium, to produce hydrogen gas. The firm, headquartered in a new, 25,000-square-foot facility in Chatsworth, California, has developed low-cost electrolyzers it hopes will provide the means to produce green hydrogen at a lower cost than competitors. Its technology was developed largely at Caltech, using funding from Energy Department, said H2U Technologies president and CEO Mark McGough, in an interview.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

CERA Week Set – CERAWeek returns to in-person this week in Houston. 

NRC holds Conference – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission holds its 34^th Annual Regulatory Information Conference tomorrow to Thursday.

FT Conference Looks at Climate, Net-Zero – The Financial Times' Climate Capital Live 2022 will take place Tuesday through Thursday. The focus of the conference is accelerating action to reach net zero and limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Among the scheduled speakers is COP26 President Alok Sharma. I'm interested in whether there have been any big developments (or setbacks) since the pledges made during COP26 last November.

House Energy Looks at EVs – The House Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 on American manufacturing and the potential for an electric vehicle future.

House Science Looks at Adaption, Resilience – The House Science Committee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on Federal climate adaptation and resilience. NOAA head Richard Spinrad, DOE’s Ingrid Kolb, NASA’s Joel Carney and GAO’s Alfredo Gomez testify.

House Oversight Returns to Questions about Oil Companies, Climate POSTPONED – The House Oversight and Reform Committee was to holds another hearing on the role of the fossil fuel industry in preventing meaningful action on global warming.  Citing the conflict in Ukraine, the Committee postponed the hearing.

USEA Hosts Women Energy Forum – Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., International Women’s Day, USEA will host a special webinar on women entrepreneurs in energy. Panelists will discuss their professional journeys, the formation of their companies, and the challenges they've overcome along the way.

Forum Looks at Climate Action – In celebration of International Women’s Day, EarthDay.org will convene a global group of climate activists tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to discuss challenges and opportunities for climate and environmental literacy. This Earth Day Live will feature a discussion about cutting-edge climate education initiatives, innovative youth action, and strategies for civic engagement.

Forum Looks at Smart Ag – The Business Council for International Understanding holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on innovation to drive climate smart agriculture.

WRI Looks at IPCC Report – Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m., the World Resources Institute for an overview of the IPCC report’s findings and a frank discussion about how significant losses and damages from climate change are not only a future risk, but already a present-day reality for vulnerable people in hotspots around the world. The event will feature leading scientists, policymakers, and advocates on how the world must respond to the growing threats from climate change and how critical it is for governments to reach consensus at the COP27 UN climate summit to go beyond talking about funding for loss and damage and instead establish the means to deliver it.

Forum to Look at Climate, Israel – The Foundation for Middle East Peace holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at Noon on Israeli Apartheid and the climate crisis. The event features a conversation with three key activists and advocates: Jessica Anderson (Visualizing Palestine); Khalil Abu Yahia (Gaza-based scholar); and Manal Shqair (Stop the Wall Campaign), with Dr. Sarah Anne Minkin (FMEP).

Forum to Look at DERs – AEE, GridLab, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and NASEO hold a forum tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. to discuss a new initiative to support understanding of issues related to connection, operation, and compensation of distributed energy resources within the distribution grid, bulk power system, and wholesale energy markets. NARUC and NASEO will provide information, tools, access to experts, and peer sharing opportunities that assist members with FERC Order 2222 implementation in RTO/ISO regions and State oversight of customer-distribution-transmission coordination outside of RTO/ISO regions.

Forum to Address Global Implications of Climate – The American Security Project holds a virtual discussion at 8:00 p.m. on global implications of climate change. Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret.), former President and current Board of Directors member of the American Security Project, as he speaks to the World Affairs Council of Albuquerque to provide his insights on the progress made so far, how to tackle the ultimate threat multiplier, and what it means for international relations.

Forum Looks at Middle Road Map – The Middle East Institute holds a virtual discussion on Wednesday and Thursday looking at the roadmap for climate action in the Middle East and North Africa.

House Climate Looks at Adaption, Resilience – The House Select Climate Committee holds a hearing Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Federal strategies for equitable adaptation and resilience. St. Charles, LA Parish President Matt Jewell is among those testifying.  

Forum to Look at Climate Smart Ag – On Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., the CSIS Global Food Security Program will examine the role of technology in promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and the administration’s recent commitments to support more sustainable agriculture.

Forum Looks at COP26 – The Business Council for International Understanding holds a virtual discussion on Wednesday on COP26 and how the U.S. Embassy will continue to work with the UK government on climate issues for the remainder of the UK's COP presidency.

OEP to Talk Clean Power Regs – On Wednesday at Noon, OurEnergyPolicy holds a forum on regulations for a clean power sector.  The event will be a look at the EPA's “sector-wide roadmap," potential legal challenges and the implications for the power industry.  Speakers include EEI’s Emily Sanford Fisher, NRDC’s Ben Longstreth and Carrie Jenks of the Harvard Enviro and Energy Law Program. 

Forum to Review Factbook on Hill – The Energy & Environmental Studies Institute will hold a Congressional briefing on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the 2022 Factbook. Speakers include ACP’s Bill Parsons, Vincent Barnes of the Alliance to Save Energy, SEIA’s Erin Duncan and Mark Lessans of Johnson Controls.

ACORE Looks at SCOTUS Case Impacts – On Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) will host a webinar to discuss the implications of the West Virginia v. EPA Supreme Court case on renewable energy growth. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the case last Monday. The webinar discussion will provide an overview of the issues for decision before the SCOTUS, the principal arguments that litigants have presented, the range of potential outcomes, and their industry implications. Speakers include Earthjustice’s Kirti Datla, former DOJ Environment Division attorney Sean Donahue and Rhodium Group analyst John Larsen.  

Forum Looks at Net-Zero with BHP – On Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) holds a forum assessing opportunity and disclosing transition risk for a net-zero future. In this webinar, TCFD Secretariat and global mining company BHP will detail approaches to transition risks and opportunities, especially considering policy developments and investor commitments in support of a net-zero, resilient future. BHP’s Fiona Wild speaks.

ASE Holds Policy Summit – On Thursday morning, the Alliance to Save Energy holds its 2022 Policy Summit to hear from top administration, congressional, and industry leaders on where federal energy efficiency policy stands today and the key issues to watch for in the coming months. Speakers include DOE’s Kelly Speakes-Bachman, Senate Finance Committee Senior Policy Advisor Bobby Andres, House Energy and Commerce Professional Staff Member Medha Surampudy and California Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister.

Senate Energy Looks at Energy as Security Tool – The Senate Energy Committee holds a hearing on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. to examine the use of energy as a tool and a weapon and ensuring energy security for the United States and its allies.

RFF Looks at Carbon Pricing – Resources for the Future (RFF) holds a forum on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. to review of trends and trajectories in carbon pricing. In this year’s RFF live event, “The Future of Carbon Pricing: Policy in Action,” a panel of experts will examine the state of carbon pricing around the world today and the prospect for future development and implementation of carbon pricing policies. CSIS’s Joseph Majkut and EDF’s Pam Kiely are among the panelists.

Forum Looks at Indonesia, Climate Change –The JHU SAIS Southeast Asian League of Students (SEALS), in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Arts and Climate Change, holds a forum on Thursday at Noon to discuss Indonesia and climate Change,  The event will feature former Ambassador to Indonesia, Robert Blake to discuss the country’s climate adaptation and mitigation strategies along with the hurdles involved with addressing critical risks of climate change following COP26.

Forum Looks at EVs – Third Way holds a virtual discussion on Thursday at 1:00 p.m., on making the most of EV investments. The event convenes sustainable transportation experts to discuss why it’s so important to build a competitive, viable EV market in the US, how we can efficiently deploy EV charging infrastructure using funds from the bipartisan infrastructure package, and how we can continue to accelerate our transition to electric vehicles by funding research and development, scaling up manufacturing, and securing the domestic supply chain for EVs. Speakers include DOE’s Michael Berube and NREL’s Eric Wood.

Permitting Council head to Speak to WCEE – On Thursday at 2:00 p.m., Christine Harada, the Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council), will speak with WCEE Board President Hana Vizcarra. Harada has had a remarkable career in the private sector and government in management, finance, and technical roles aimed at developing the technology and systems needed for improved sustainability. She will speak about her career path, her drive for public service, and the many ways you can contribute to a more sustainable world.

Experts Discuss Renewables, MicroGrid Reports – On Thursday at 2:00 p.m., NARUC and NASEO hold a forum to share overviews of two reports being published in spring 2022 under the NASEO-NARUC Microgrids State Working Group and answer questions from the audience. The two reports include: "Valuing Resilience for Microgrids: Challenges, Innovative Approaches, and State Needs," by Wilson Rickerson, Converge Strategies and Kiera Zitelman, NARUC; and "Clean Energy Microgrids: Considerations for State Energy Offices and Public Utility Commissions to Increase Resilience and Reduce Emissions," by Kelsey Jones and Kirsten Verclas, NASEO.

Forum to look at CCUS Issues – NASEO and the U.S. Climate Alliance on Friday at 2:00 p.m. will present an overview of CCUS status and opportunities with a focus on state policy and planning aspects. Drawing from NASEO’s CCUS: Overview and Considerations for State Planning and recent developments and resources, the webinar will cover CCUS principles and techno-economic aspects, major sectors to which it can apply, and potential uses for captured CO2. The webinar will emphasize state policy and planning considerations, discuss complementary decarbonization approaches (such as hydrogen applications), and touch on pertinent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provisions.

IN THE FUTURE

AFPM Meeting Set – The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers hold their annual meeting Sunday to Tuesday next week in New Orleans.  Speakers will include former VP Mike Pence, Rep Garrett Graves, pollster Frank Luntz, energy journalist and author Robert Bryce and Cook Political Report senior editor David Wasserman.

AU Looks at Middle East Climate Security – The American University’s School of International Studies, the Historical International Studies faculty research cluster, and the Mohamed S. Farsi Chair of Islamic Peace holds a forum next Monday at 2:30 p.m. looking at the challenges of climate security in the Middle East. Practitioners and scholars will discuss the effects of climate change on people’s access to clean water; efforts to negotiate cooperation among Israelis, Jordanians, and Palestinians on the use of the Jordan River; and the political and economic effects of building dams, with a focus on Egypt’s Aswan Dam and Ethiopia’s new Renaissance Dam.

ELI Forum Looks at ESG – Next Monday at 4:00 p.m., the Environmental Law Institute and Foley Hoag LLP hold a webinar about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in 2022. Expert panelists will discuss how they work with ESG and climate-related financial risk disclosures, as well as what might be on the horizon for ESG as the potential increases for explicit guidelines for disclosure.

Bennet Talks Climate Issues with WRI – Next Tuesday March 15^th at 11:30 a.m., World Resources Institute holds a conversation with Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, a longtime climate champion in the U.S. Senate and tireless advocate of climate action through the Senate Finance and Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry committees. The discussion will center around the state-of-play on Capitol Hill and the benefits of the budget package’s climate measures. Following the conversation with Sen. Bennet, there will be a panel discussion about the legislation’s natural climate solution investments and how they can not only mitigate climate-fueled disasters, but support economies and jobs and address existing inequities.

BPC Looks at Critical Mineral Supply Chains—The Bipartisan Policy Center holds a forum on Tuesday March 15^th at 12:30 p.m. on securing America’s supply chains.  The event will feature a panel discussion with Dr. Vanessa Chan, Chief Commercialization Officer at the U.S. Department of Energy to hear more about the Biden Administration’s strategy for establishing resilient, diverse, and secure supply chains in a variety of critical industries, including the energy sector.

Forum to Look at Risks in Climate Environment – The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) holds a forum on Tuesday March 15^th at 1:00 p.m. understanding physical risks in a climate-impacted future. This webinar examines how different companies and organizations are assessing their forward-looking physical risks from a changing climate and developing resources to assist companies and investors.

Energy Economists Look at Lithium – On Wednesday March 16^th, the US Energy Economists hold their March lunch featuring a discussion of green lithium.  USAEE's Treasurer, Sree Venkat, and Richard Taylor of Green Lithium to discuss barriers to expanding the adoption of EVs such as security (and ease) of battery supply.

Forum Addresses Competitiveness with Cummins CEO – The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) holds a forum on Wednesday March 16^th at 1:00 p.m. on investing in US competitiveness.  The event features a fireside discussion featuring Tom Linebarger, CEO of Cummins, Inc., and C2ES President Nat Keohane on the business imperative for ambitious climate legislation and how low-carbon investments can help the United States lead the global transition to a net-zero economy.

Forum Looks at Climate Loss, Damage – The American University School of Public Affairs holds a forum Thursday March 17^th at 1:30 p.m. looking as climate loss and damage as a major pillar of climate action.  This webinar series seeks to understand how national governments have, or have not, addressed them. We will look at the political opposition to prioritizing climate adaptation over climate mitigation, how “agenda setter” priorities heavily emphasize one set of priorities over another, and how there is little overlap, in most nations, between mitigation and adaptation policies.

Forum to Look at EE Block Grant Program in Infrastructure Law – NASEO and E4TheFuture are holding a “101” webinar on Thursday, March 17^th at 1:30 p.m. covering key basics of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and an opportunity to discuss plans, questions, and challenges.  

Forum Focused on Green Construction – On Thursday March 17^th at 2:00 p.m., GreenTech holds a webinar that will explore developments in construction that aim to reduce the carbon footprint of commercial and residential buildings at all points of the supply chain, potentially turning one of the most stubborn areas of the carbon footprint into a global opportunity for sustainability and housing equity.  We will be joined by experts in building materials and design to explore the future of building.

Forum to Look at Residential Solar – On Thursday March 17^th at 3:00 p.m., Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory holds a webinar summarizing key findings from its recently published report, “Residential Solar-Adopter Income and Demographic Trends: 2022 Update.” The report, the latest in an annual series, describes income, demographic, and other socio-economic trends among U.S. residential rooftop solar adopters.  This latest edition is based on household level data for more than 2.3 million residential solar adopters across the country, with systems installed through 2020. With its unique size, geographic scope, and level of detail, this report is intended to serve as a foundational reference document for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers.  

Forum Looks at Mitigation, Adaptation – On Friday March 18^th at 1:00 p.m., EESI holds a webinar on federal programs that focus on adaptation and the key role they are playing in helping communities prepare for and stay safe from the impacts of our changing climate. Panelists will discuss adaptation-focused federal programs administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, and other agencies, and why these programs are important for districts across the country. Speakers include Cal Rep. Scott Peters, EDF’s Cathleen Berthelot and Cecilia Clavet of the Nature Conservancy

McCarthy, Phillips Headline ACORE Forum – ACORE holds its 2022 Policy Forum on March 24^th.  The forum is a deep dive on climate policy, regulatory priorities, grid advocacy, and equity in the transition to a renewable energy economy.  Keynoters will include White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and FERC Commissioner Willie Phillips.

Forum to Look at Sustainable Investing – Barron’s holds a forum on March 24^th at 12:00 p.m. on sustainability and energy transition looking at investing with impact. Speakers include Ecolab CEO Christophe Beck and Putnam’s Katherine Collins.

Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum Set – On Monday and Tuesday March 28^th and 29^th, the Atlantic Council holds its Global Energy Forum convening the world’s top energy and foreign policy decision-makers to set the global energy agenda for the year ahead and examine the longer-term geopolitical and geoeconomic implications of the changing energy system. The Forum is held in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, ADNOC, and Mubadala. The Forum will discuss the geopolitical and market issues confronting the energy industry in the coming year, develop new partnerships, and demonstrate thought leadership on global energy trends. The 2022 Forum will have a special focus on the pathways to meeting net-zero carbon goals. It will examine the continuing impact of the pandemic on energy, the current energy price spike, and the geopolitics of climate action.

EPSA to Host Competitive Power Summit – The Electric Power Supply Assn will hold its 2022 Competitive Power Summit on Tuesday March 29^th at the National Press Club.   The summit features a day of expert panels and featured speakers discussing critical issues facing competitive power today – and what it means for America’s energy future.

Battelle Host Climate Resilience Conference – Battelle hosts a technical program on Tuesday March 29^th and Wednesday March 30^th with invited keynote presentations, platform talks and lightning talks during the day and a poster reception Tuesday evening.  The curated technical program will explore breakthroughs in technology, policy, and infrastructure that will help mitigate the existential threats that climate change poses to our environment, health, communities, national security, and economic well-being. The program will emphasize field applications, case studies, technology solutions and test beds, but submissions on fundamental research and modeling studies are also encouraged.  Speakers include Gina McCarthy, Katherine Hayhoe, DOE’s Patricia Hoffman and Alice Caponiti and several more.

SEJ Conference Set for Houston – The Society of Environmental Journalists holds its annual meeting in Houston on March 30^th to April 3^rd.  Of course, Bracewell will hold its annual Thursday reception on March 31^st. 

Axios Hosts Barra – On April 5, Axios virtually holds inaugural What’s Next Summit - an event spotlighting the innovators making their mark on the future of work, life and getting around.  Axios journalists will lead newsmaking interviews and deep-dive discussions — asking the questions that you want to know about what’s coming across 5 key themes: Next Cities, Work Shifts, Electric Everything, Financial Flux and Trending Tech. GM CEO Mary Barra, NYSE’s Lynn Martin and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser all speak.