Energy Update: Week of May 25

Friends,

I hope you all enjoyed Memorial Day weekend.  Normally, we are running to California for field hockey but this year it was a much more relaxed weekend.  I did enjoy the Tiger-Phil redux with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.  It was a nice live experience.  In other sports news, it looks like NBA is trying to resume its season in late July at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.  And finally, MLB and its players are still discussing their return.  Two important issues are outstanding: the use of the Universal DH and (surprise) money.

The Senate is out this week but the House will return so we expect discussion of the PPP and next round of COVID relief.

The biggest event of the week is tomorrow when OurEnergyPolicy hosts API’s Mike Sommers to discuss the state of the oil and natural gas industry.  Sommers and AFPM’s Chet Thompson just finished a similar webinar with ACCF’s Mark Bloomfield today and you can see that video here. 

Another important event is Friday at Noon when DOE hosts a forum on the Trump Administration Strategy to restore American nuclear energy leadership featuring DOE experts, ClearPath’s Rich Powell and other stakeholders.

With its first annual CleanPower Conference cancelled for next week, AWEA is hosting a series of webinars this week: today at 2pm on Wholesale Markets, tomorrow on Battery Storage at 1pm and the Clean Power Decade at 2:30pm and Thursday at 2pm on supersized wind technology.

In the news today, NOIA released a new report that outlines the economic impacts of Gulf oil and gas production in light of the political claims by some candidates to stop drilling.  The report shows that political efforts to limit offshore production would not only devastate Gulf Coast economies but would damage the U.S. as a whole.

Finally, Axios Sports reports baseball is back in Montana. The Missoula Mavericks hosted the Helena Senators in the first game of the American Legion baseball season on Saturday, and fans were allowed to occupy 25% of the stands. That’s all for today, call with questions, stay safe & healthy and review our COVID-19 updates. 

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

 

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“In the absence of strong government policies, a sustained economic recovery and low oil prices are likely to take global oil demand back to where it was, and beyond.”

Fatih Birol, President of International Energy Agency

“Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas production is a powerful driver of economic, energy and national security. Every barrel of oil produced in the Gulf is a barrel produced under one of the toughest safety and environmental regulatory regimes in the world, and is a barrel that Americans do not have to import from countries like Russia and Iran. While some elected officials and political candidates have promised to stop American energy production, including oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico, the reality is that these pledges would do untold harm to America.”

NOIA President Erik Milito releasing a new study on Gulf economic impacts of oil/gas production.

ON THE PODCAST

Segal Talks COVID, Utilities on EEI Podcast – EEI’s new podcast The Current will feature Bracewell PRG utility expert Scott Segal this week (episode could be posted as early as tomorrow) discussing his insights the policy and politics of the current COVID-19 challenges facing utilities.  Tune in here at EEI Podcasts webpage.  

FUN OPINIONS

Bond/Loris in WashTimes: Three Ways to Green Recovery – Our friends Nick Loris of Heritage and Drew Bond of Conservative Climate group C3 write in a Washington Times opinion piece that jump starting the economy will require policymakers implement broad-based, technology neutral reforms that unleash the ingenuity of the American people.  Bond and Loris recommend three policy fixes Congress and the administration should prioritize: 1) fix the environmental review and permitting process required by NEPA; 2) tax reform in the form of immediate and full expensing for all new plant and equipment costs; and 3) open access to domestic and international markets by reducing trade barriers. “Rather than picking winners and losers, these reforms will empower the private sector to provide households and businesses with affordable, dependable power while yielding better environmental outcomes.”

FROG BLOG

The Hill: No Better Time To Modernize America's Energy Infrastructure – in an blog in The Hill, ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer and Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions head Heather Reams write as Congress looks for targeted and timely ways to prime the economy for recovery, it should seize this opportunity to modernize the nation’s power system with investments that will pay dividends for the economy and the environment for generations.

Energy Workforce Decline – The Houston Chron’s Fuel Fix blog reports that the Texas Workforce Commission has said the decline in oil and gas employment in the Houston area over the past year was 17.5%.  In April alone, Texas lost about one in 10 energy jobs.

IN THE NEWS

Report: O&G Has Huge Economic Impacts on Gulf Region – The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) released the study, The Economic Impacts of the Gulf of Mexico Oil & Natural Gas Industry, this morning. Prepared by Energy & Industrial Advisory Partners (EIAP), the report examines the economic impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas industry and the effects of potential leasing and drilling bans.  The study shows that the offshore industry plays a vital role in the economic and energy wellbeing of the U.S. However, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and others have pledged, “No offshore drilling.” Political efforts to limit offshore oil and natural gas production would not only devastate Gulf Coast economies but would damage the U.S. as a whole.  EIAP models three scenarios of what the Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas industry could look like by 2040: a scenario based on a continuation of current policies and regulations; a scenario examining the potential impacts of a ban on new offshore leases; and a scenario examining the potential impacts of a ban on new drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico.

Poll Shows Americans Remain Wary Of AVs – A new poll of 1200 adults released by the AV education group Partners for Autonomous Vehicle Education (PAVE) says almost half of Americans would not get into an autonomous taxi. The group’s survey showed that 48% would “never get in a taxi or ride-share vehicle that was being driven autonomously,” while 21% said they were unsure about it. Another 20% think autonomous vehicles will never be safe, and only 34% of those surveyed agree that "the advantages of AVs outweigh any potential disadvantages. Taken together, the results show that “Americans have a lack of trust and a lack of knowledge about AVs,” said PAVE executive director Tara Andringa. The solution, they say, is giving the public greater familiarity with the technology.

15 Senators Blast RFS in Letter – 15 Republican senators sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler calling on EPA to grant petitions from a bipartisan group of six state governors to waive the blending obligations for the 2020 compliance year under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In the letter, the senators urged Wheeler to use his authority under the Clean Air Act to waive or significantly reduce renewable fuel volume obligations on America’s refineries for the 2020 compliance year.  The letter was signed by U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), James Risch (R-ID), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and John Cornyn (R-TX).It  follows a House Letter from 24 members and a letter from 7 Attorneys General. 

OK Gov Signs NatGas Legislation – Even as the states grapple with COVID re-opening issues, some are continuing to cement balance energy options for energy consumers in their state.  This time it is Oklahoma that is taking the action.  Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed HB 3619 which prevents a city, town or county from adopting a measure that discriminates against utility providers based on the source of energy provided.  The law goes into effective date is November 1, 2020. This follows strong bipartisan action in Arizona and Tennessee.   In February, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, signed a law which overwhelmingly passed both state houses that says a city or town may not impose a fine or penalty that would restrict a utility’s ability to serve customers.  That law was supported by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, as well as retail and restaurant trade groups. Then in March, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed SB 1934, pro-balanced energy legislation that prevents local natural gas bans.  The legislation passed the Senate 29-2 and the State House 87-8 and follows Arizona and several other states.  Finally, SB 492 in Louisiana is similar and passed through the Senate last week with a bipartisan vote of 38-7 and yesterday advanced out of the House Commerce Committee by unanimous vote. It has not yet been placed on the full La State House calendar, but expect it will be passed before they adjourn on June 1.

Emissions Dropping Dramatically – We know that coronavirus pandemic has forced countries around the world to enact strict lockdowns and scale back economic activities. But an analysis published in the journal Nature says daily global carbon dioxide emissions dropped 17% compared to daily global averages from 2019. The pandemic will likely also cause this year’s annual carbon emissions to drop by between 4-7%, depending on how long strict social-distancing measures remain in effect and how quickly economies rebound.

Production Cuts Actually Leveling Oil – After a tumultuous Month in April, self-imposed production cuts from US producers and OPEC+ countries actually following their agreed cuts has started to level the volatility of the oil market in May.  Over the weekend, IEA said global oil consumption has not peaked, despite sharp declines caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  Crude oil prices are again rising this morning (Brent crude around $36.50, WTI at $34).  Finally, the gap between the price of a physical barrel of oil and futures prices has narrowed, indicating oil markets are moving back to relative normality, analysts say. A winding down of the amount of oil being stored at sea is another sign markets are returning to normal

Vistra Expands CA Storage Plant – Texas-based Vistra recently said that, subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), it will expand the size of the battery energy storage systems at its Moss Landing Power Plant site in Moss Landing, California. The company has entered into a 10-year resource adequacy agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for a new 100-megawatt/400-megawatt hour battery to complement the 300-MW/1,200-MWh battery already under construction. On Monday, May 18, PG&E filed its application with the CPUC to approve the contract, with a decision expected within 120 days.

North Sea Carbon Capture Project Announced – Equinor, Royal Dutch Shell and Total announced a first-of-its-kind project capturing carbon dioxide from multiple emitters, and transporting and storing the gas underneath the North Sea. They are calling this the Northern Lights initiative, which will move CO2 from cement and other industrial facilities by ship to a terminal off Norway's coast. From there, they will transport the CO2 via pipeline for permanent storage below the seabed. They intend to transport and sequester up to 1.5 million tons of CO2 annually. The three companies combined for a $674 million initial investment and plan to be operational by 2024.

COVID UPDATE

Our most recent update provides insight from Bracewell/PRG Principal Liam Donovan on the state of play for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) reforms and what to expect moving forward with the next phase of COVID-19 relief.

PPP Reforms

Reforms to the PPP have dominated the headlines, and for good reason—small businesses represent an essential aspect of the economic recovery. Bracewell/PRG Principal Liam Donovan closely tracks the issue and below you will find his insights on the current PPP reform debate and what to expect for the next phase of stimulus. As events rapidly evolve, you can also see Liam’s analysis in real time via his Twitter @LPDonovan.

False start for Senate PPP fix. Yesterday, a bipartisan group of senators led by Small Business Committee Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a PPP fix bill (S. 3833) that would most notably extend the covered period for PPP loans from the current 8 weeks to 16 weeks, affording businesses more time to re-open, re-hire, and put the funds toward allowable expenses. The bill would also push the PPP application deadline to December 31, while expanding allowable uses to include personal protective equipment (PPE) and other COVID-related safety costs.

• 75-25 Requirement. Importantly, unlike the pending House proposal, the Senate PPP fix would not eliminate the forgiveness requirement that businesses spend at least 75 percent of the funds on payroll.
  • Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has doubled- and tripled-down on his belief that the 75-25 rule is in keeping with the intent of the statute, and that any changes would require congressional action.
  • Senator Rubio has said that while this rule is not something Congress put in the law, he believes there needs to be a minimum threshold:
    • “It was going to be some standard. It was going to be more than 50 percent no matter what. Because this is the paycheck protection [program].”

Still, extending the covered period would go a long way toward alleviating the chief problem posed by the rule. Combined with the 8-week window, the 75 percent payroll threshold means that a recipient can only qualify for full forgiveness if they maintain their entire staff at full pay for the whole period. Put another way, 75 percent of 2.5 months payroll amounts to roughly 8 weeks’ pay, notwithstanding any safe harbors for rehiring. Stretching the window to 16 weeks (or more) would allow even those with reduced staff to spread their spending over several more pay periods.

• Not so fast. While there was an attempt to quickly pass the bill via unanimous consent, it failed to clear hotlines run by either cloakroom, meaning that the holds were bipartisan. Instead, Senator Rubio’s co-author Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) went to the floor to speak on behalf of the effort before the chamber recessed for the remainder of the month.
  • With cooperation from Democratic co-sponsors, including Small Business Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), there is a chance that any concerns could be resolved in the coming days, meaning the bill could be passed during a pro forma session before the Senate returns June 1. Per Senator Cardin:
    • “Hopefully, within the next couple of days, we can have a bicameral understanding and get it done, hopefully by [unanimous consent].”
  • The Senate’s no-huddle approach to a PPP fix appears to be an attempt to head off House plans to vote on their version of a PPP fix bill next week. Senator Rubio’s comments made it clear that they are mindful of the collision course with the House:
    • “If we can't [pass the bill under unanimous consent], then we'll take it up when we get back. My hope is that we'll have something in place. My guess is by the time we get back, the House will have probably passed something and sent it to us."
  • The sudden urgency is mostly a practical matter. The PPP opened to applicants on April 3, with the earliest recipients being funded by mid-April, meaning their 8-week window will be coming to a close in early June.
• PPP and future phases. As we have said in previous updates, stunted demand has removed PPP funding as a driver of near-term legislative action, but the program remains central both to the GOP’s policy goals and to public perception of the federal response. Bifurcating these critical policy tweaks from broader negotiations over Phase 4, and securing them without major unrelated concessions to Democrats à la 3.5, would further insulate the GOP’s current wait-and-see posture on anything further.

House side. As we reported in our last note, the lower chamber plans to vote on the Phillips-Roy PPP fix bill next week. Like the Rubio bill, the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act would push out PPP’s June 30 deadlines to the end of the year and extend the 8-week covered period, in this case to 24 weeks. Unlike the Senate bill, it would prohibit payroll restrictions such as the 75-25 rule, and allow PPP recipients to defer payroll taxes, something the CARES Act prevents. As the Phillips-Roy bill will be considered on the suspension calendar, passage will need buy-in from both parties’ leadership.

• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said she does not believe this PPP vote will undermine Democratic leverage in negotiations: “No, I’m not worried about that….But this has a sense of urgency about it.”
• In a possible indication of the coming showdown, Speaker Pelosi called the 75-25 rule “debilitating.”

Resolution unclear. While it’s good news that both chambers and both parties have identified the same problems and appear committed to fixing them in short order, it’s unclear how these differences will be resolved. The leverage may depend on who is able to pass their version first.

Next Phase of Relief

Timing. June remains the earliest kick-off for negotiations over the next phase, a timeline that is only reinforced if Congress passes a PPP fix that further relieves pressure for the GOP to come to the table. GOP Leaders Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) remain in lockstep with the Trump administration in their wait-and-see approach. Republicans know the CARES Act was not the end of the Congressional COVID response, but they don’t feel the same urgency as their blue state counterparts, who are staring down the end of the fiscal year.

Think of the ongoing pause as the GOP walking away from the legislative bazaar—blithely dismissing what they deem a liberal wish list, winding down the clock, and lowering the price on the inevitable next phase.

What’s missing from the immediate term is a forcing mechanism for legislative action. Democrats have one at the end of June, with the state budget crunch, and again at the end of July, with the expiration of the unemployment supplement. Until Republicans feel a similar urgency—or sense corresponding opportunity—they will continue to draw the process out.

McConnell sets a UI marker. Leader McConnell said on a call with his Republican colleagues this week that the next phase of stimulus would not include an extension of the $600/week enhanced Unemployment Insurance created by the CARES Act.

• This is easier said than politically done, particularly for the vulnerable GOP members whose fate will determine whether the Majority Leader retains that title, but the more convincing the McConnell bluff on a UI cliff, the more likely Democrats are to agree to wind down and/or restructure the benefit so that it does not create a disincentive to reopening. But by putting down this marker, Leader McConnell ensures that the HEROES Act proposition of a $600 federal supplement through next January is a non-starter.

With more than 38 million people joining the unemployment rolls since March, a significant dip in benefits represents real political and economic risk. Balancing relief for those who can’t safely work—or who no longer have an employer to go back to—with the challenges of reviving the country from an induced economic coma will be perhaps the chief policy challenge of the next phase of the congressional response. And, relatedly, its July 31 expiration may be the last best forcing mechanism for legislative action before August recess.

Plans abound. Proposals on how to square this circle continue to percolate. Here are some new ones that came across our radar.

• Portman Back-to-Work Bonus. In response to concern from small business owners that the generous UI provisions in the CARES Act create disincentives for employees to return to work, Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) proposed shifting the UI program to a “Back-to-Work Bonus” program.
  • Instead of extending the additional $600/week federal UI benefit, Senator Portman’s proposal would replace the federal supplement with a $450/week Back-to-Work Bonus.
  • The $450 number represents the average amount that would be needed to make a person earning the average minimum wage better off in the workforce than on unemployment.
  • Senator Portman argues that it would lessen the administrative burden on State unemployment systems and reduce the likelihood of fraud.
• Opportunity Zones. Reps. John Curtis (R-UT) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) introduced the COVID-19-Impacted Small Business Opportunity Zone Act, a bill to allow small businesses impacted by the pandemic to qualify for opportunity zone tax benefits. Some view the proposal as a supplement to the PPP.

White House messaging. The White House has begun to converge on a set of policy ideas that it will push to be included in any Phase 4/CARES 2 package. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told the Wall Street Journal that plans include a payroll tax cut and a capital-gains holiday:

• “It looks like the economy is picking up at a very rapid rate… In which case we could potentially move on to other things that the president has mentioned, like the payroll tax cut and potentially even a capital-gains holiday.”
• The President himself previously tweeted a rough outline of the Administration’s priorities:
  • “Well run States should not be bailing out poorly run States, using CoronaVirus as the excuse! The elimination of Sanctuary Cities, Payroll Taxes, and perhaps Capital Gains Taxes, must be put on the table. Also lawsuit indemnification & business deductions for restaurants & ent..”

While the White House is more of an arbiter of the federal response than a driver, its public messaging remains a useful directional indicator of the Administration’s priorities, and its sense of urgency. In this case, they remain oriented toward getting the country back to work, and resistant to any legislative measures that would maintain the status quo.

 

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

MOST EVENTS SCHEDULED ARE NOW ONLINE WEBINARS

Cato to Look at US-Mexico Trade Agreement – The Cato Institute holds a forum today at 3:00 p.m. on the US‐Mexico‐Canada Agreement (USMCA). The agreement is due to go into force on July 1, 2020, but much work remains to prepare for the transition from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rules. Luz María de La Mora, the Undersecretary for Foreign Trade in Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy will speak.

CSIS to Host Climate Series – The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosts its third session in the Climate Solutions Series on Decarbonizing Global Transport tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. This online event will examine the various aspects of the transportation sector and issues involved in its decarbonization.  Dan Sperling (UC Davis) will provide an overview of the transportation sector and his perspective on the “three revolutions” of electrification, automation, and ridesharing. Anand Shah (Ola Electric) will follow with remarks on decarbonizing personal transport. Dan McGrath (DHL) will discuss DHL’s perspective on decarbonizing freight and maritime shipping. The session will close with a panel discussion on the policy and technological aspects of the decarbonization of global transport, moderated by Nikos Tsafos (CSIS).

Forum to Look at Climate Countries Action – The International Copper Association hosts a webinar tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on the Three Percent Club.  Launched at the 2019 Climate Action Summit, the club is a coalition of countries and supporting companies and organizations that have committed to work together to put the world on a path to three percent annual energy efficiency improvement. This virtual roundtable will focus on the importance of maintaining climate and energy efficiency goals during the current public health and economic crisis. Presenters, including UNEP’s Mark Radka and IAE’s Ghislaine Kieffer, will discuss the Three Percent Club’s goals within the context of the COVID-19 crisis and how its collaborative platform can provide support to countries as they navigate the current economic and geopolitical situation and look ahead at plans for the coming recovery.

USEA to Host Discussion On Oil Markets – Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., the US Energy Assn will host London Economics International’s Chief Economist, Dr. Marie Fagan, who will present her paper, "Up the Down Staircase: What History Teaches Us About Oil Demand After a Crisis."   The paper is based on studies of global oil supply and demand shocks, using over 40 years of trends and indicators to project the future of oil demand.

Forum to Discuss Hydrogen – Tomorrow at Noon, the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center holds the next installment of EnergySource: Innovation Stream which will host Jan-Justus Schmidt, co-founder of Enapter, for a discussion about how the company is scaling green hydrogen production, which he insists is the oil of the 21st century. Randolph Bell, director of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center and Richard Morningstar chair for global energy security, will moderate the discussion.

Sommers to Discuss State of O&G Industry – Tomorrow at Noon, Our Energy Policy holds an Energy Leaders webinar on the state of the natural gas and oil industry. It will feature API head Mike Sommers, in conversation with Melanie Kenderdine, Principal at The Energy Futures Initiative. Sommers will discuss the industry's turbulent economics, its response to the pandemic, and climate position. 

Forum to Look at EV Infrastructure – The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) holds a forum tomorrow at 1:15 p.m. to look at growing demand for public EV charging infrastructure.  Two new reports from C2ES and Atlas Public Policy highlight the stakeholders retailers should engage during the infrastructure planning process and the financial scenarios and business models retailers should consider to maximize profitability. This video webinar will present these new reports and feature a panel discussion on ways retailers can work with their utility, charging station service providers, and customers to deliver an important benefit for both businesses and EV drivers. Georgia Power’s Todd Allums and EVgo’s Jonathan Levy speak in addition to the report authors. 

Sklar to Address Solar Webinar – Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., the American Solar Energy Society hosts a webinar with its SOLAR 20/20 Conference Chair Scott Sklar, who will speak about the way to maximize our resources and technology in order to reach a 100% renewable energy grid. The ASES webinar will feature a presentation on maximizing all resources and technologies in order to achieve a 100% renewable energy grid given by SOLAR 20/20 Conference Chair, Scott Sklar.  This webinar is directly related to the content being shared at our annual conference, SOLAR 20/20: Renewable Energy Vision on June 24 and 25. Learn more and register now at ases.org/conference.

SEJ to Host Webinar on Covering Disasters – The Society of Environmental Journalists hosts a webinar tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. covering complex emergencies and climate change in the era of COVID-19.  Our friend and longtime SEJ friend Mark Schleifstein of the New Orleans Advocate (one who certainly knows about reporting while in a disaster after winning Pulitzer Prize for his team’s coverage of Hurricane Katrina) will be among the speakers. My friend Judy Fahys moderates

Webinar to Look at Summer NatGas, Power Outlook – S&P Global Platts holds a webinar tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. looking at natural gas and power outlook for Summer 2020. Leading subject matter specialists from S&P Global Platts and Morningstar as they discuss what’s happening in the natural gas and power markets – how COVID-19 is impacting load prices and what’s coming for summer 2020. They will also examine coal to gas switching, crude oil production and infrastructure changes.

Report to Look at European Energy Security – The Atlantic Council Global Energy Center will hold a virtual launch for the new report, “European Energy Security and the Critical Role of Transatlantic Energy Cooperation: Final Report and Recommendations” Thursday at 8:00 a.m.   The launch will feature a keynote speech by Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director-General for Energy of the European Commission on the topic of the newly adopted European recovery package to counter the unprecedented impacts of the global COVID 19 pandemic, followed by remarks by our friend Frank Fannon, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) at the State Department.  DOE’s Ted Garrish will also speak.  A panel discussion with high-level government officials, as well as finance and private sector leaders will follow the remarks. The panelists will provide their comments on the report and discuss ways to effectively advance transatlantic cooperation.

ELI to Discuss Deep Decarbonization at During COVID – The Environmental Law Institute hold a web event on Thursday at Noon looking at prospects for deep decarbonization in the time of COVID-19. Speakers will address private/public initiatives, economic fallout and how companies respond. 

ACCF Hosts TX Dem Congressman – ACCF hosts another energy webinar with Texas Democratic Rep. Mark Veasey on Thursday at Noon.  Veasey is a moderate Democrat who represents a large portion of an energy constituency in Dallas and Tarrant Counties.   

EPA Webinar to Look at Air Quality – The EPA hosts a webinar on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. looking at air quality progress and remaining challenges. This webinar provides an overview of newly published research by EPA scientists and their colleagues that helps fill key knowledge gaps. The findings, published in leading scientific journals, offer new insights into the progress made to protect at-risk individuals with chronic health problems. The research also identifies remaining environmental health challenges, such as determining risks faced from sustained exposure to elevated PM2.5 from wildfire smoke, which is being observed due to more frequent and larger wildland fires in the United States.

Event to Focus on Nuclear Strategy – DOE will host a forum on Friday at Noon on the Trump Administration Strategy to restore American nuclear energy leadership.  Top leaders DOE, Industry, ClearPath, CSIS and other stakeholders will discuss the Administration's Nuclear Fuel Working Group Report outlining the strategy.

IN THE FUTURE

WRI Continues Look at ICAT Countries – Next Wednesday June 3^rd at 9:00 a.m., the World Resources Institute continues its look a developing countries and about the ICAT methodology to determine the emissions reduction impact of non-state and subnational actions. Speakers will discuss how the tools were used in Colombia, India, and the United States and give participants a sneak peek into a user-friendly calculation tool to aggregate impacts of such actions.

Web event to Look at CCS Technology Cost – The Global CCS Institute is hosting a webinar on Thursday June 4^th at 9:00 a.m. looking at the technology cost curve.  The event will discuss the 19 large-scale facilities, and many other smaller scale projects and installations utilizing carbon capture technology as well as a series of FEED studies which demonstrate lower costs for established technologies.

Web event to Look at Ocean Risk – The Stimson Center holds a discussion on Wednesday June 3^rd at 10:00 a.m. looking at innovative solutions for coastal resilience, including the launch of the Climate and Ocean Risk Vulnerability Index (CORVI). With the onset of hurricane season, citizens in coastal nations face the dual threat of climate change and COVID-19. With financial resources stretched as never before, decision makers need targeted risk information to build resilience where it matters most.  Speakers will include NOAA Ocean Service Acting Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf. 

Heritage to Look at US/India Nuke Agreement – The Heritage Foundation holds a webinar on Wednesday June 3^rd at 10:00 a.m. on the 15^th anniversary of the US/India historic civil nuclear deal. The agreement, and the ten-year defense partnership that accompanied it, provided a major boost to the emerging strategic partnership with India nurtured by the George W. Bush administration. It also jump-started the long process of welcoming India into the international club of accepted nuclear powers. This event will look back on the consequences and implications of that landmark agreement and review the ongoing challenges and opportunities in India-U.S. nuclear cooperation.

Forum to Look at CCUS in PA – The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) will hold a webinar on Thursday June 4^th at 1:15 p.m. on carbon capture and its pathway for meeting Pennsylvania’s environmental/economic goals. Energy producing states are looking at carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) as a useful option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring energy supply and spurring development of new markets for alternative fuels like hydrogen. However, deploying CCUS as a statewide strategy requires comprehensive planning and cooperation among state and federal agencies, along with the private sector. Can CCUS help Pennsylvania meet its dual energy and environmental goals? This webinar will explore how the state might develop a roadmap for deploying carbon capture to reduce emissions while developing and expanding energy markets to support economic growth.

DC Oil/Gas Forum Set – The 6^th Washington Oil & Gas Forum 2020 is set for June 10^th and 11^th at The Cosmos Club in Washington, DC.  The US leads global oil and natural gas production. U.S. shale revolution has reshaped the energy landscape in the United States and globally. The American Energy Revolution has delivered massive economic, environmental and geopolitical benefits. Today, the United States is the world’s top oil and gas producer and a leading energy exporter. The Washington Oil & Gas Forum is the foremost innovative and exclusive force for engaging oil and gas leaders in collaborative activities to shape the American and global oil and gas agendas.  Speakers include FERC Chair Neil Chatterjee, Sen Cruz, Reps. Randy Weber, Mike McCaul and Bruce Westerman.

AEE Holds Eastern Policy Conference Part II – Advanced Energy Economy will hold the second part of its annual Eastern Regional policy conference in an online seminar on June 18^th at 2:00 p.m. featuring RTO execs.  This panel of wholesale power market leaders and visionaries will look back at how we got here and look ahead to consider how RTO markets can evolve to meet the opportunities and challenges of an advanced energy future.

Renewable Conference Set – The American Solar Energy Society hosts its SOLAR 20/20: Renewable Energy Vision on June 24 and 25 as a virtual conference.