Energy Update: Week of March 8

Friends,               

It was an interesting Sunday evening toggling back and forth between the NBA All-Star game and the Oprah-Meghan/Harry interview.  Definitely a lot of points scored and drama in both!!!

And who said there wouldn’t be any drama or points scored over the Senate Version of the COVID relief?  As it slides back the House early this week (with an expected vote as soon as tomorrow) after a 50-49 vote (AK’s Sullivan was gone for a family emergency), one thing is clear: WV Sen. Joe Manchin definitely decided to flex his “moderate” muscle on Friday at the last minute, forcing Majority Leader Schumer to hold open a vote for more than 10 hours to try to get him back in line. It became the longest known amendment vote in Senate history according to our friends at POLITICO.  In the end, the Senate axed $15 minimum wage, decreased unemployment benefits slightly and lowered the income threshold for the $1400 payments.  Passage and Biden signature expected by the March 14^th UI expiration deadline.  An interesting energy twist, the final package includes $4.5 billion in LIHEAP energy assistance and $500 million for drinking water and wastewater needs.

So much going on this week in Congress beyond COVID/Budget. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer filed cloture Saturday on the nomination of Michael Regan for EPA administrator which means a final confirmation vote probably later in the week. Interior nom Deb Haaland is after Regan but with the slim House majority, is still needed for final budget votes in the House this week.  And OMB deputy Shalanda Young gets a vote in Senate Homeland Security on Wednesday.

On the hearing front, there is a lot of action too.  On Wednesday, the Senate Environment Committee will hold a hearing addressing climate change in the electricity sector (with our former Bracewell colleague now INGAA’s Sandra Snyder).  Look for discussions of Pallone and McKinley-Schrader efforts with getting a sense of where Carper is on CES issues (in the past, he has been for it).  Also Wednesday the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight panel looks at EPA with former Admins Whitman and Browner. On Thursday, the Senate Energy Committee touches on Texas/California in a hearing on reliability, resiliency and affordability of electric service while Senate Ag examine farmers/foresters’ opportunities to tackle climate change. (On Friday, BPC is expected to announce a major initiative on this topic as well. MORE LATER this week). Finally Friday at 11:00 a.m., House Science hosts experts on the science of climate change.

In one of her first policy events tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm joins Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) to discuss on the EV transition, American jobs and strengthening the US industrial base.  RFF also talks hydrogen tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. and hosts bp’s Bernard Looney on Thursday. Heritage also discusses Biden Climate/Energy agenda tomorrow as well.

The American Council on Renewable Energy will hold its virtual policy forum on Wednesday and Thursday, featuring Granholm, White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy, Manchin and Sen. Ron Wyden and many more.

Finally on Friday, EESI will host a forum to discuss the 9^th edition of the “Sustainable Energy in America Factbook,” published by BloombergNEF and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.

On the international front, it is a busy week as well with broad policy discussions of the Nordstream 2 challenge, as well as Climate envoy John Kerry heading to London, Brussels and Paris today through Wednesday.  It all heads toward the Biden Climate Summit set for April 22-23. 

Remember to “Spring” forward on Sunday when Daylight Savings Time kicks in.  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

“I think critical minerals is a huge opportunity space for the U.S. [For one], to get out and improve our national security because we are relying too much on those critical minerals from countries like China, the Congo, etc. We need to work on the full supply chain."

Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk at his Senate Energy nomination hearing last Thursday when asked about critical minerals and the supply chain at the Very same time DeepGreen was announcing a new critical minerals venture.

“The consumer in the middle of America just isn’t there yet,” when it comes to switching to electric vehicles.

Missouri Chevy Dealer Brad Sowers in the Wall Street Journal when asked about EVs. 

ON THE PODCAST

SEIA’s Hopper Joins Bracewell Clean Energy Podcast – In the sixth installment of our Clean Energy Transition series on Bracewell’s Lobby Shop podcast, Scott Segal and I have a conversation with our expert guest and long-time friend Abby Hopper, the president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA).  In the conversation, we cover the latest in solar power technology, including prospects under the Biden Administration, how solar can grow in the market, how it can be integrated with other renewable sources, and much more. Our Clean Energy Transition series is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, and Stitcher!

FUN OPINIONS

AGA Harbert: LAT Call for “Electric Only” is a Mistake – In an letter to the editor in the LA Times responding to the a recent editorial on California electrification policy, AGA head Karen Harbert writes California has nearly 119,000 miles of natural gas pipelines that connect more than 11 million homes, upward of 445,000 businesses and 36,000 manufacturers with affordable energy. All of this helps the Golden State continue to be a destination for residents and businesses, stanching the recent trend of major companies fleeing to Texas. A nationwide study of the implications of policy-driven electrification by the American Gas Assn. showed that switching natural gas customers over to the electric system could raise average household energy-related costs up to $910 per year when you factor in appliance costs, higher utility bills and covering the expense of upgrading our electrical grid to handle all of these new customers. Finally, after criticizing the state’s electricity grid and its reliability, it is astounding that you expect it to handle three times the power load to meet the new commitments on electric cars and building electrification.

WSJ: EV May Be Future, But Not If Dealers Can’t Sell Them – While it is not necessarily an opinion article, the Wall Street Journal details a significant challenge for EVs in the US: Car dealers say they are struggling to square the industry/policy activist enthusiasm with shoppers’ reality. While dealer Brad Sowers is spending money to prepare for the coming wave of EVs to install charging stations, upgrade service bays and retrain staff, he worries he only sold 9 Bolts last year out of more than 4,000 vehicles.  As auto executives and investors buzz about the coming age of the electric car, many dealers say they are struggling to square that enthusiasm with the reality today on new-car sales lots, where last year battery-powered vehicles made up fewer than 2% of U.S. auto sales.

FROG BLOG

Forbes: Deep Sea Minerals Key to Energy Future – In a column in Forbes, energy expert Jim Conca writes that collecting manganese nodules on the ocean floor for rare metals doesn’t generate toxic mine waste, uses no child labor and has a life-cycle carbon footprint 90% less than traditional mining. As long as care is taken with the ocean-floor habitat, it is superior to land mining in every way.

IN THE NEWS

Deep Sea Bed Mining Issues Hit Mainstream – One significant policy challenge facing the expansion of electric vehicles is the need for expanded access to key minerals necessary to produce items in the EV supply chain. Given that challenge, a new venture has emerged for electrification, batteries and any related supply chain issues.  Late last week, it was announced that Sustainable Opportunities Acquisition Corporation (SOAC) is combining with DeepGreen to form The Metals Company (TMC).  The transaction represents an important step in the collection of deep sea minerals to address the tremendous demand created by the need for batteries necessitated by electrification.  DeepGreen has been targeting development of a new, scalable source of battery metals—polymetallic nodules that lay unattached on the seafloor in the Pacific Ocean—with enough of a resource base to supply 280 million EVs, or a quarter of the global passenger car fleet. Collection of deep sea minerals opens up cleaner, safer and more secure supplies of nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese – all important to the electrification revolution.  Nickel supplies are particularly relevant.

Significance of the Venture to Policy Debate – The country is reaching an inflection point where market forces and governmental policy are counting heavily on fundamental changes in our transportation mix in order to address global climate change.  Part of the transportation puzzle is increasing electrification of vehicles.  Electrification will help reduce the carbon footprint of households and businesses. One of the key points of concern is the supply chain of important minerals necessary to produce sufficient batteries.  For more information on the electric transition, you might want to contact the team at the Zero Emission Transportation Association for a deeper dive on current market trends and the importance of battery manufacturing. 

SAFE Report Highlighted this Challenge – Current sources of rare minerals include nations that aren’t friendly to the United States or that have poor safety and environmental records. Last Fall, Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) authored a report called, Commanding Heights of Global Transportation which addresses topic.  You can connect to their resources/experts though Alex Adams (aadams@secureenergy.org)

Dallas Fed Says Oil, Gas Jobs Still Struggling – The Economists at the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank predict New Mexico oil and gas drillers will gradually defect to Texas if the Biden administration turns its current pause on new leasing on public land into a permanent ban. Garrett Golding and Kunal Patel of the Federal Reserve say a more restrictive ban on both new leasing and permitting could drive a decline of nearly 500,000 barrels of oil per day in the Permian Basin by the end of 2025, mostly from New Mexico, where half of production comes from federal wells.

Lujan Grisham Voices Concerns Over Biden's Halt on Oil, Gas Leases – Speaking of New Mexico, Dem  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined a group of governors from western, oil-producing states in voicing concerns to the administration of President Joe Biden for the impact the recently-enacted pause on new federal oil and gas leasing could have on state economies. The Western Governors’ Association sent a March 1^st letter to Biden expressing that states must be consulted on the implementation of the executive order issued in January as it could have a dramatic effect, the letter read, on the states that produce fossil fuels in the US.

Oil Prices Gaining – Wondering why Gas prices are trickling up?  West Texas Intermediate crude for April delivery were up 0.2% at $66.21 per barrel in early Monday trading after logging a 7% gain last week, lifted by strong US economic data and OPEC+'s decision to extend output cuts. Meanwhile, Brent for May delivery is hovering just below $70 per barrel after briefly crossing that mark following Yemen's attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil and military facilities.

SEJ2021 in Boise Postponed, SEJ2022 in Houston On – Due to pandemic restrictions, Boise State University — the host of SEJ's 2021 conference — has been forced to cancel the June 2-6, 2021 conference. SEJ hopes to reschedule this event for Spring 2023, so please stay tuned for details. SEJ is announcing though the confirmed dates for SEJ's 2022 Annual Conference: March 30 - April 3, 2022, in Houston, hosted by Rice University. The SEJ2022 conference will focus on environmental health and justice, energy and climate change, and oceans and coasts. Save those dates and watch this space: We'll announce details — including how you can contribute to the agenda — later this spring.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

MOST EVENTS SCHEDULED ARE NOW ONLINE WEBINARS

DOE Bioenergy Holds Peer Review Week – All this week, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is hosting the 2021 Project Peer Review. Approximately 300 projects in BETO’s research, development, and demonstration portfolio will be presented to the public and systematically reviewed by more than 40 external subject-matter experts from industry, academia, and federal agencies. The 2021 Project Peer Review will include multiple simultaneous review sessions of projects within 12 technology areas. 

Granholm Speaks at EERE Forum – Speaking of DOE, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is hosting a roundtable today at 2:00 p.m. to discuss how the Department’s Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs) are helping small- and medium-sized manufacturers improve energy efficiency, create jobs, and reduce their carbon footprints.  Guest speaker for the event will be Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, who will be joined by Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kelly Speakes-Backman.

IRENA Holds Green Hydrogen Webinar – IRENA holds a forum and releases a report tomorrow morning  at 4:00 a.m. (yes that is right) on green hydrogen and its Guide to Policy Making. This webinar will share key takeaways from the recent IRENA report “Green Hydrogen: A Guide to Policy Makers” and will go through some of the policy pillars to overcome the initial resistance and reach a minimum threshold for market penetration. These include building national hydrogen strategies, identifying policy priorities, establishing a governance system and enabling policies, and creating a system for guarantee of origin for green hydrogen. 

House Ag Funding Panel Looks at Rural Economy – The House Appropriations Agriculture-FDA Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on the rural economy. Farm Credit Insurance Corp Chair Jeff Hall and Farm Credit Admin CEO Glen Smith testify. 

House Science Mark Up – Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., House Science Mark up of Early Career Researchers Act. 

WaPo Looks at Endangered Species, Climate – The Washington Post Live will hold a Climate Solutions discussion and share stories/perspectives of individuals working to protect the lives of endangered animals around the world tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. The event will bring together scientists, conservationists, and wildlife activists who are championing new proposals for protecting the health of our living planet, combating deforestation, and tackling continuing harmful wildlife trades.  Speakers include experts Jeff Corwin, David Suzuki and Krithi Karanth

Forum to Look at Low-Carbon Iron, Steel Production – Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy will host an event tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. to explore the findings of new peer-reviewed research published in Joule, “Low-Carbon Production of Iron & Steel: Technology Options, Economic Assessment, and Policy Options,” focused on the dynamic landscape of net-zero energy systems in heavy industry. The research examines four potential approaches to decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like iron and steel production: zero-carbon hydrogen, biomass, electrification, and CCS; and assesses the current, likely and projected costs. This webinar will feature a short presentation by Dr. Julio Friedmann, CGEP Senior Research Scholar, and Zhiyuan Fan, CGEP Research Associate, followed by a moderated discussion with leaders in industry, technology, policymaking and government.  Speakers include Rep. Sean Casten, United Steelworkers Roxanne Brown, LanzaTech’s Tom Bower, Gas Tech Institute’s Paula Gant and Rhodium’s John Larson.

German Marshall Looks at NordStream2 –The German Marshall Fund of the United States holds a virtual debate tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. on whether the Nord Stream 2 pipeline be completed?"  In the news last week with Congress pressuring Biden, the event will feature a 30-minute snap debate between Friedbert Pflüger, Head of the European Cluster of Climate, Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) and Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Alan Riley, also a Member of the Advisory Committee of the Energy Community in Vienna.

CSIS Look at COP 26 – The CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program and the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) will hold a discussion tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. to look at the Road to COP26: Just Transitions and the Climate Agenda. The event will examine the role of just transitions in the current international climate agenda, in the run-up to COP26 this November. Speakers will discuss how just transitions can help accelerate climate action and to what extent national climate plans are integrating aspects of inclusive decision-making and the fair distribution of emerging opportunities in the new climate economy. They will also share how they think COP26 can help raise ambitions for achieving just transitions.  DOE’s Negotiator Andrew light is among the speakers.

House Resources Panel to Hold Legislative Hearing on Energy Bills – The House Natural Resources Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee holds a legis hearing at Noon on several bills including methane waste and oil/gas leasing.  RFF’s Brian Prest, San Miguel CO county commissioner Hilary Cooper, NWF’s Tracy Stone-Manning and Strata’s Mark Murphy are witnesses.

Forum to Look at CCS Techs – The Chemical Sciences Roundtable hosts a forum tomorrow at Noon to review advances in carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technologies.  The event will look at available technologies, explore the chemical and engineering challenges in finding improved capture agents, and describe new technologies under development. UC-Berkeley’s Jeff Long and UToledo’s Ana Alba-Rubio will speak.

Heritage to Discuss Biden Climate Policy – The Heritage Foundation holds a web forum tomorrow at Noon to discuss what the Biden Administration’s climate Policy will mean for everyday Americans.  Speakers include our friends Nick Loris of Heritage, Electricity Consumers Resource Council (ELCON) CEO Travis Fisher and ConservAmerica’s Todd Johnston and Shawn Regan of the Property and Environment Research Center.

RFF Looks at Hydrogen – Resources for the Future holds an RFF Live webinar tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. to convene a panel of experts to discuss strategies to reduce barriers to deployment for decarbonized hydrogen. We will begin the event with a presentation of Bartlett and Krupnick’s recent report that will outline the technologies and their relative costs, as well as review policy options to incentivize the production and use of decarbonized hydrogen. Additional speakers include CF Industries Linda Dempsey, Stephen Szymanski of Nel Hydrogen and Kristine Wiley of the Hydrogen Technology Center

WRI Looks at Wholesale Market Pathways for Cities – The WRI holds a forum tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. on pathways for cities to engage in wholesale market issues. This webinar will highlight findings from WRI’s forthcoming working paper “Local Government Voices in Wholesale Market Issues: Engagement Approaches for Decarbonization,” which explores the ways that cities and counties can engage in their own electricity markets. Guest speakers from the PJM Cities and Communities Coalition and Great Plains Institute will discuss what city engagement is already underway in the PJM and MISO territories. 

Granholm Address SAFE Event – Tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., SAFE hosts a conversation on American jobs, the transition to electric vehicles and securing U.S. advanced manufacturing with newly-minted Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, in conjunction of the release of SAFE’s latest report, The Commanding Heights of Global Transportation: Quantifying the Employment Effects. SAFE’s Commanding Heights of Global Transportation plan proposes to invest in the technologies of the future—transportation, energy, and communications—to combat Beijing’s ambitions, ensure supply chain resilience, and protect and expand the U.S. manufacturing sector. This report is intended to complement the Commanding Heights strategic report with an economic assessment focused on the job impacts of various proposals. 

ABA Holds Event on Public Lands – The American Bar Association holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. on public land management in the Biden era. Topics will include managing resources in a changing climate, the Biden Administration’s 30x30 conservation commitment, and other priorities that will shape management of public lands, timber, wildlife, and other resources. Panelists include Dan Ashe, Former Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Jon Jarvis, Former Director of the U.S. National Park Service; om Tidwell, Former Chief of the U.S. Forest Service and Janice Schneider, former Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at Interior.

Manchin, FERC’s Clements Head Line ACORE Policy Forum – On Wednesday and Thursday, the ACORE Policy Forum will convene leaders from across the U.S. government and the renewable energy industry for a deep dive on climate policy, grid advocacy, and their expectations for progress at the federal and state levels.  Keynote speakers Joe Manchin and FERC Commissioner Alison Clements will provide an outlook for executive, regulatory and legislative action over the coming year.

USAID Forum Addresses Power System Auctions – The USAID’s Scaling Up Renewable Energy (SURE) program holds a forum on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. to explore how renewable energy auctions can support VRE integration to the power system and wholesale electricity markets. Power system stability and reliability become more complex as more shares of variable renewable energy (VRE) are integrated into the electric grid. Auctions enable countries to seek out the most cost-effective renewable energy projects on the market while enhancing dispatchability, promoting the use of utility-scale batteries, lowering emissions, and creating local jobs.  

Senate Enviro Looks at Climate, Electricity – The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds a hearing Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on climate change in the electricity sector and fostering economic growth. The witnesses include GAO’s Frank Rusco, director of natural resources and environment-energy issues; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; Xcel Energy CEO Ben Fowke; Sandra Snyder, vice president of environment at INGAA and Jim Wood, director of the Energy Institute at West Virginia University.

WRI Experts Look into COP26 Issues – The World Resources Institute hold a forum virtually on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the state of national climate action ahead of COP26. Climate Watch will demonstrate tools for policymakers and stakeholders to explore climate commitments and compare them with other countries’ efforts.

House Energy to Look at EPA – The House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee holds a hearing Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. on the mission of EPA. Among the witnesses will be former Administrators Christine Todd Whitman and Carol Browner.

House Transpo Panel Looks at Rail – The House Transportation and Infrastructure Railroads, Pipelines and HazMat Subcommittee holds a hearing Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. on rail and why it is more relevant than ever for economic and environmental progress.

Forum to Look at State Energy Challenges – Our Energy Policy holds a webinar on Wednesday at Noon to address energy challenges and priorities facing states. This event will feature a conversation between John Rhodes, Former Chair of the New York State PSC and Board Member of NYSERDA, and Kyle Kimball, Vice President of Government, Regional, and Community Relations for ConEdison. The dialogue will explore how states are addressing the issues of reliability, affordability, and decarbonization.

Forum to Look at Paris Agreement – West Virginia University’s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences holds a virtual discussion on Wednesday at Noon looking at the U.S. rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement.  Berkeley’s Dan Kammen is among the speakers.

Forum to Look at EE – BU hosts a forum on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. hosts leaders in mobility, aviation, buildings, and industrial energy efficiency for a panel discussion of World Scientific’s new release, Energy Efficiency | Innovations: Driving Prosperity, Slashing Emissions.

House Energy Funding Panel Looks at Innovation in Water Resources – The House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee holds a hearing Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. on innovation and investment in water resources infrastructure.

Senate Indian Affairs Tackles Climate – The Senate Indian Affairs Committee holds a hearing Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. on Native communities and climate change.

WRI to Release Green Finance Paper – After speaking to over a hundred stakeholders, the WRI Finance Center is publishing a paper on Thursday at 9:00 a.m., Improving Access to the Green Climate Fund: How the Fund Can Better Support Developing Country Institutions. This paper explains what the direct access process was intended to do, as well as how it is currently going wrong. In this webinar, we'll not only diagnose some of the processes which are holding back climate finance, but also provide concrete suggestions for how this innovative mechanism can deliver on its considerable promise.

Senate Energy Looks at Reliability, Resilience – The Senate Energy Committee holds a hearing on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. looking at the reliability, resiliency and affordability of electric service. Witnesses will include former FERC Chair Pat Wood, PJM CEO Manu Asthana, WAPA CEO Mark Gabriel, NERC CEO James Robb and Environmental Progress founder Michael Shellenberger.

Senate Ag Looks at Farmers, Forestry Climate Issues – The Senate Agriculture Committee hold a hearing on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. to examine farmers and foresters, focusing on opportunities to lead in tackling climate change

WaPo Live Event Hosts GM President – The Washington Post Live holds an event on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on the path forward for electric vehicles.  The event features GM President Mark Reuss, who joins Washington Post columnist David Ignatius to discuss what is needed to drive mass EV adoption and how GM will drive the transition.

Forum to Look at Financing Innovation – ClearPath and Dynamo Energy Hub hosts a forum on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. that will bring together policy experts, investors, and project developers to discuss key policies and financial innovation pathways that will help accelerate investment in clean energy projects as part of economic recovery. Emily Chasan of Generate Capital will moderate a panel of speakers including ClearPath’s Jeremy Harrell, Launchpad’s Miriam Eaves and John Kaercher of Baker Botts.

POLITICO Forum Looks at Biden Climate Agenda – On Thursday at 11:00 a.m., POLITICO Pro reporters hold a forum to discuss the administration's focus on climate policy and how it will impact politics and business in the coming years.  The event is for POLITICO subscribers. 

Resources Looks at Climate Resilience – The House Natural Resources Water, Oceans, and Wildlife panel holds a hearing Thursday at 2:00 p.m. on resilience for the economy, climate and ecosystems. Trout Unlimited’s Laura Ziemer is among the witnesses.

NHA to Discuss Clean Energy Path – On Thursday at 2:00 p.m., the National Hydropower Association and the Energy Storage Association hold a Path to Clean Energy Virtual Event, pairing batteries and hydropower.  At this virtual event, panelists will explore the value streams of collocating batteries and hydropower. Pairing these technologies together has the potential to enhance grid reliability services, environment performance, and O&M costs.  Panelists will also discuss new market services that could be established, as well as examine the findings of a current project that has successfully paired hydropower and batteries together.

RFF hosts bp’s Looney – On Thursday at 2:15 p.m., Resources for the Future (RFF) holds a Policy Leadership Series event with bp CEO Bernard Looney. Since stepping into the role of CEO a year ago, Bernard has set a new ambition for bp to get to net-zero by 2050 or sooner and launched a new strategy which will see the company pivot from an international oil company to an integrated energy company. RFF President and CEO Richard G. Newell will discuss a range of energy and climate issues with Bernard, including bp’s recent ambition to help the world achieve decarbonization goals and the role of “greening” companies in the energy transition.

NARUC Webinar Looks at Data – The National Assn of Utility Regulatory Commissioners holds a forum on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. on utility and regulatory possibilities for empowering energy equity with data.  This webinar will explore approaches to the collection, reporting, and analysis of energy sector data to empower energy equity.

Forum Looks at Climate – New America holds a virtual discussion on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. focused on moving the climate conversation forward.  The Progress Network holds the conversation with Ted Nordhaus, co-founder of The Breakthrough Institute, an environmental research center, and Bina Venkataraman, author of The Optimist’s Telescope and a former senior climate change advisor in the Obama White House, about a more helpful approach to meeting the challenge of climate change.

Forum to Look at Green Hydrogen in Chile – On Friday at 10:00 a.m., the Latin American Energy Roundtable and the Energy, Minerals & Materials program at the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies hold a webinar on green hydrogen in Chile. The webinar will feature a keynote presentation from Chile’s Minister of Energy and Mining Juan Carlos Jobet and Max Correa Achurra, head of the Chilean energy ministry’s fuels and new energy division, and will be followed by a roundtable with presenters from Air Liquide, AES, and Toyota.

House Science Hears from Experts on Climate – The House Science Committee holds a virtual hearing on Friday at 11:00 a.m. on the science behind impacts of climate change.  Witnesses include Princeton’s Michael Oppenheimer, The Breakthrough Institute’s Zeke Hausfather, Stanford’s Noah Diffenbaugh and Paula Bontempi of the University of Rhode Island.

Clean Energy Forum Set – On Friday at 11:00 a.m. the 7^th Annual Clean Energy and Sustainability Extravaganza 'Lite' which will be held by Leaders in Energy (LE) and the Association of Energy Engineers National Capital Chapter (AEE NCC). Topics will include highlighting the energy transition under the new Administration, in a panel led by the Chapter's Council on Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership (CWEEL) program, as well as examining how the circular economy is being operationalized in Leaders in Energy’s "Building Back Circular" panel.

Forum to Hit Climate Security Risks – On Friday at 12:30 p.m., the Wilson Center and the Center for Climate and Security (CCS) hold a high-level discussion on the intersection of climate change and security in the Arctic, followed by a dialogue on opportunities to manage future security risks in the region. Panelists will build on the findings and recommendations of two new reports from CCS and its partners: Climate Change and Security in the Arctic and a Climate Security Plan for Canada.

EESI hosts FACTBOOK Discussion – EESI will host a forum on Friday at 2:00 p.m. to discuss the 9^th edition of the “Sustainable Energy in America Factbook,” published by BloombergNEF (BNEF) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE).  The Factbook was released on February 18^th, is available to download and provides updates on industry information and trends for the U.S. energy economy, with an in-depth look at the energy efficiency, natural gas, and renewable energy sectors, as well as emerging areas such as digitalization, micro-grids, offshore wind, hydrogen, and renewable natural gas. The speakers, including BCSE President Lisa Jacobsen, BNEF’s Ethan Zindler, CRES policy expert Charles Hernick and National Grid’s Emily Duncan, will assess several core benchmarks—deployment, technology innovation, policy, emissions, and jobs. Despite a very volatile period, the clean energy sectors demonstrated the resilience of the energy system overall.

IN THE FUTURE

DOE Forum Aimed at State, Local Assistance – Next Tuesday March 16^th at 3:00 p.m. DOE holds a forum with its State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE) Platform. SLOPE is a collaboration between DOE and the National Renewable Energy Lab to support state and local action in building a 100% clean energy economy. SLOPE integrates and delivers data on energy efficiency and renewable energy into an easy-to-access online platform to enable data-driven state and local energy planning. The platform will also include sustainable transportation data this spring. Join this webinar for a demonstration of SLOPE's functionality and learn how Milwaukee, Wisconsin is using SLOPE in its energy planning and decision-making processes.

WRI Looks at Urban Climate Opportunities – On Wednesday March 17^th at 9:30 a.m., WRI hosts a conversation between government representatives and experts in sustainable urban development on how to tackle this triple challenge and help cities build back better. This webinar will also serve as the launch of our new report, Seizing the Urban Opportunity, demonstrating through the lens of six of the world’s largest economies – China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa – how national governments have a central role to play in unlocking the enormous potential of cities. The report, which will fuel much of the discussion, shows how putting cities front and center in both COVID-19 recovery and longer-term climate action can create jobs, advance key development priorities, and accelerate the shift to net zero.

Forum to Look at Orlando Sustainability – JHU’s SAIS Program holds a forum on Wednesday March 17^th at 12:30 p.m. on Orlando and its solutions to advance a sustainable energy future.  Since 2014, Chris Castro has worked at the City of Orlando as the Senior Advisor to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Director of Sustainability & Resilience, and 'Future-Ready' steering committee member, developing a comprehensive set of policies & programs that advance the City’s sustainability, climate action, and smart city goals. At the event Castro will talk about his experience in spearheading Orlando's efforts, including specific strategies that are working to accelerate a sustainable energy future.

DOE to Host Solar Tour – On Wednesday March 17^th at 1:00 p.m., DOE's Solar Energy Technologies Office holds a tour of their coolest research projects: farming under solar panels, super-powered concentrating solar technology, community solar developments, and technology innovations for utility-scale solar.          

Forum to Talk Carbon Pricing – On Wednesday March 17^th at 3:30 p.m., Princeton University’s Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, in partnership with the Niskanen Center is hosting a forum on advantages and challenges of carbon pricing. Danny Cullenward and David Victor, authors of Making Climate Policy Work, will explain the critique of carbon pricing policy and why they found carbon prices to be ineffective nearly everywhere they have been applied. Afterwards, Cullenward and Victor will discuss the topic with carbon pricing proponents Joseph Majkut, director of climate policy at the Niskanen Center and Suzi Kerr, chief economist at the Environmental Defense Fund, who will take a fresh look at the promise and peril of carbon pricing and how we can help inform more effective policy decisions.

Forum to Look at NatGas Transmission in India – The US Energy Assn and US-Asia Gas Partnership (AGP) holds a forum on gas transmission in India on Thursday March 18^th at 6:00 a.m.  In this webinar, we will share insights on the role of transmission system operators (TSOs) in managing pipeline capacity and how India can adapt lessons from overseas’ sectors to India’s existing gas market structure.  Panelists will discuss different models for adoption of a TSO (ownership unbundling, independent system operator, transmission system operator, etc.), the challenges, and the stringent regulations that may be needed for implementation of these models.

Groups Launch New Clean Air Program – On Thursday March 18^th at 9:30 a.m. groups will launch the Clean Air Catalyst, a new flagship program of USAID and a global consortium of organizations led by WRI and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Groups are working with communities on the frontlines of this global crisis to better understand local pollution sources and identify solutions that lead to sustained progress on cleaner, healthier air. The program will begin with pilots in three cities: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Indore, India; and Jakarta, Indonesia. To mark our official launch, there will be a virtual conversation on the topic of "Accelerating Clean Air Solutions to Deliver Better Health, Climate and Development Outcomes" featuring representatives from USAID, WRI, EDF as well as our pilot city partners.

House Science to Look at Grid Reliability – The House Science Committee has announced a Thursday March 18^th hearing at 10:00 a.m. on lessons learned from the Texas Blackouts. The hearing is expected to target research needs for a secure and resilient grid.

SEIA hosts Solar + Storage Forum – On Thursday March 18 at 1:00 p.m., SEIA and DNV GL hold a webinar to learn more on financing for solar + storage projects. Having supported numerous first wave solar + storage systems acquire tax equity financing, DNV GL’s team of independent engineering experts have the knowledge to help advance projects. During this webinar, speakers will take their leading experience to provide key insights and lessons learned on technical due diligence for project technology and topography, energy revenue modeling for financing, critical safety issues and emerging trends and risks for solar + storage diligence, including cybersecurity.

Forum to Look at ConEd Climate Response – ICF holds a forum on Thursday March 18^th at 1:00 p.m. on utilities need to start incorporating climate change into every aspect of planning, design, operations, and emergency response.  This forum will look at Con Edison and how it embraced this challenge by relying on science, stakeholder engagement, and benchmarking to strengthen their energy systems and address adverse impacts of climate change and natural disasters.

Forum to Look at OPEC+, Market – On Friday March 19 at 9:00 a.m., the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies convenes a world-class panel that will discuss the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest oil market outlook, including its flagship monthly Oil Market Report and its annual Five-year Oil Outlook. Toril Bosoni, the head of the IEA’s Oil Industry and Markets Division, will present the findings of each report. Following this, Mark Finley, the fellow in energy and global oil at the Baker Institute, will moderate a discussion with Helen Currie, chief economist of ConocoPhillips, and Colin Fenton, chairman of commodities in the advisory practice of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co.

Oxy CEO Headlines Columbia CCUS Forum – On Monday March 22^nd at Noon, Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy holds its Carbon Capture and Energy panel, the third set of panels being convened as part of the Women In Energy CCUS Roadshow. These conversations highlight leading experts in the field of CCUS with a special focus on local policy and deployment. The Center’s Carbon Management Research Initiative and Women in Energy program will host a webinar addressing the vital role of carbon capture in greenhouse gas emissions reductions and carbon dioxide removal. The conversation will focus on the status of carbon capture policy and technology in Texas, including how carbon removal technology fits into strategies to address climate change and bring global greenhouse gas emission to the equivalent of zero. We will also explore how it can contribute to a more just energy transition and how to assure safe and effective deployment of the technology. A panel of exceptional leaders will then discuss a recent analysis by Susan Hovorka at the Bureau of Economic Geology and recent announcements by Occidental Petroleum on carbon storage resources, state and federal regulations, technological advances, and commercial opportunities in carbon dioxide use and removal, and efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the industrial sector.  Speakers include Occidental CEO Vick.  

CCS Forum to Look at Funding, Biz Partners – On Tuesday March 23^rd at 9:00 a.m., the Global CCS Institute holds a forum on finding government funding and business partners in CCS Projects.  In this webinar, they will look at how financial support from federal governments is driving both CCS technology advancements and the financing of demonstration projects. In the US, the recently passed Energy Act of 2020 brings the potential of substantially more US Department of Energy funding opportunities for carbon capture. This webinar will provide insights into navigating transatlantic government funding opportunities and identify the priorities for funding across various sectors.

Forum to Look at Decarb on Economic Sectors – AU’s Center for Environmental Policy continues its series of decarbonization forums on March 25^th at 1:00 p.m. looking at decarb from economic sectors. 

NYT Event Looks at Oceans – The NYT Climate Series Netting Zero holds an event on March 25^th at 1:30 p.m. to look at Oceans.  Oceans are a crucial part of the biosphere, soaking up carbon dioxide, absorbing more than 90% of the excess heat trapped on Earth from carbon emissions and producing half of global oxygen. Action is imperative and the panel will look at how to unlock and accelerate ocean-oriented solutions without repeating the mistakes of the past.

EESI Continues Camp Congress Events – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) continues its Congressional Climate Camp online briefing series on March 26^th at 2:00 p.m. to discuss lessons learned from past congresses and current public attitudes on climate.

Sempra Exec Highlights Panel on ESG in Dealmaking – The Deal holds a forum on Tuesday March 30^th 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.

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. 

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.  More to come…