Energy Update: Week of May 3

Friends,               

So the Kentucky Derby didn’t quite turn out as planned… but Hot Rod Charlie and Mandaloun won me enough to keep me coming back. Kudos to Bob Baffert though who notched a record 7^th Derby in what was certainly a surprise.  Baltimore in two weeks!!!!  You might find me at the track on May 15^th, me thinks…

Friday was 100 days for the Biden Admin and it was featured in Sunday shows and will be the focus of a number of 100-day events this week.  But you only need one: the best and most informative Bracewell PRG webinar with our new partner and former senior Kamala Harris staffer Yasmin Nelson on Thursday at Noon. Sign Up Now here.

EPA is signing the HFC rule today that is being developed out the AIM Act, passed by Congress last December. The NY Times, the WaPo and the Wall Street Journal have coverage and AHRI President Steve Yurek said EPA’s action “will help create the certainty necessary for U.S. companies to maintain their natural technological advantage in the global HFC marketplace.  It continues our path of industry job creation, innovation and trade.  It sends a strong signal to the states and to other countries around the world.”

Most important action on the Hill this week is DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s budget Testimony Thursday at House Approps. Granholm will also join European commissioner for energy Kadri Simson on Thursday at a transatlantic panel hosted by the European Union’s delegation to the U.S. and The Atlantic Council.

The International Energy Agency will release a major new report on The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions on Wednesday morning Paris time. The new report will explore the risks and implications of a potential widening gap between demand and supply for the minerals that are essential for technologies like wind turbines, electricity networks and electric vehicles. There will be a press webinar on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Paris time/5:00 a.m. ET with IEA‘s Fatih Birol to review the main findings and implications of the report. Keep your eyes on this issues over the next few weeks… a lot going on here. Obviously we can help with resource and background.

Finally, look out for the UN methane assessment that is due out this week.  There was some reporting on is last week from the NYT and Reuters.  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 feel it is my duty to share my thoughts on another key threat to national security: the risk to critical metal supply for the electric vehicle (EV), renewable energy, steel making, aerospace and defense industries in the U.S.  Make no mistake, the critical metal supply chain is a matter of national security, a crisis that requires urgent attention at the highest levels of the military and federal government.  While the issue of climate change itself is a matter of national security, the U.S. simply cannot reduce its dependence on fossil fuels without a major increase in the domestic production of the critical metals needed for green energy technologies.

Former USS Cole Commander Kirk Lippold in a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin highlighting the need to shore up critical mineral supply chains, including deep-sea minerals.

ON THE PODCAST

RFF Chats with Former Interior Sect Jewell – RFF is releasing a new episode in its Policy Leadership Series Podcast, which highlights conversations with leading decisionmakers on environmental and energy issues at RFF’s flagship Policy Leadership Series events. In this episode, RFF President and CEO Richard G. Newell and former US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell discuss her policy priorities during the years she led the Department of the Interior in 2013–2017, the Biden administration’s ambitious conservation goals and how federal climate policy can drive meaningful change from corporate leaders.

FUN OPINIONS

AGA’s Harbert, Dominion’s Leopold Outlines NatGas Commitment to Cleaner Future – In an op-ed in the Washington Examiner, AGA head Karen Harbert Dominion’s executive Diane Leopold say you can be assured that your local natural gas utilities are rising to the challenges of demand, reliability, affordability and environmental stewardship. Nearly 180 million people depend on natural gas every day to heat their homes and businesses, and they can count on utilities to deliver when it counts the most. Reliable and resilient service is essential for hospitals, doctors’ offices, and senior centers. These critical facilities use natural gas for cooking and heat and other lifesaving services like sterilization. Many of them have efficient gas-powered generators so that in the event of an unexpected power outage, doctors and nurses can continue providing care to those who are most vulnerable.

FROG BLOG

ACORE’s Wetstone: Plan Can Drive Growth, Protect Climate – In In an op-ed in Morning Consult, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) President Greg Wetstone highlights the immense opportunities to boost the renewable energy sector, revitalize our economy, and address the threat of climate change through President Biden's American Jobs Plan. Wetstone outlined a pragmatic plan to accelerate the transition to renewable power while catalyzing economic recovery: establishing a comprehensive federal strategy like President Biden's Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Standard, expanding and updating our outdated grid infrastructure through an advanced Macro Grid, and reforming our nation's tax code with a long-term, scientifically driven tax policy. "With these policies in place, we can achieve the dramatic renewable energy growth President Joe Biden has called for, heal our economy and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. It’s time to deliver the clean energy future Americans want and deserve."

FUN FACTS

DERBY FACTS – In honor of Saturday’s 147^th running of the Kentucky Derby:

• The record low temperature at the race (held on the first week of May every year) was 47 degrees in 1935 and 1957. The record high was 94 degrees in 1959.  So much for the global warming argument.
• The 2018 event set the record for the wettest Kentucky Derby in history, with 3.15 inches of rainfall according to the National Weather Service.  Maybe there is some climate change.
• The amount of food consumed at the Derby on includes 142,000 hot dogs, 18,000 barbecue sandwiches, 13,800 pounds of beef, 32,400 jumbo shrimp, 9,000 scallops, 8,000 pounds of potatoes, 30,000 cookies and 300,000 strawberries. And let’s not even think about the amount of ethanol consumed (522,000 beers, 120,000 Mint julips)
• The Derby has never been cancelled or postponed due to inclement weather. But it has for war and COVID
• The amount of waste produced by a horse in one day is 50 pounds.

IN THE NEWS

Bipartisan Sens Call for Pipeline Permit Reform – Sen. Energy Chair Joe Manchin and Republican Committee member John Hoeven, led a bipartisan group of 25 senators in pressing FERC to act on vital energy infrastructure projects by reviewing, without further delay, the 14 natural gas pipeline infrastructure projects that are currently pending before FERC. In the letter to the FERC chairman and commissioners, the senators also outlined the importance of reviewing the projects using current FERC guidance under the Policy Statement in place and acting to advance projects that create jobs and bring other economic and environmental benefits to communities.  The 14 pipelines pending before FERC include projects in North Dakota, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

AGs Urge Limits for GHG Authority – A coalition of 19 Republican attorneys general last Thursday asked the Supreme Court to step in and rule now on EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases from power plants, an effort to head off the Biden administration’s plan to write a new version of the rule struck down in January by an appellate court. The coalition argues the lower court erred in using a small provision of federal law to grant EPA broad authority – without congressional input – to unilaterally decarbonize virtually any sector of the economy, including factories and power plants, as well as the millions of homes and small businesses that use natural gas for heat.  WV AG Patrick Morrisey reminded that they prevailed in urging the Supreme Court to block a similar attempt by President Obama, and now he cites that victory and the insurmountable costs of President Biden’s proposals in arguing for the Supreme Court to step in and define the reach of EPA’s authority once and for all.

IEA: EV Sales Increasing – The International Energy Agency found in new research that global first-quarter electric car sales were up by around 140% year-over-year.  Significant sales in China and in Europe largely drove the increase in global sales, though the U.S. also saw sales double compared to the first quarter of last year. Last year, even as the pandemic dampened overall car sales, electric car registrations rose by 41%, and Europe surpassed China as the largest electric vehicle market.  The IEA expects electric vehicles will continue to grow as a share of the overall global vehicle fleet, reaching about 7% in 2030 with existing policies. If governments put in place policies to more aggressively drive electric vehicle adoption, the IEA says electric cars could reach 12% of the global vehicle stock.  This is hard data that underscores the challenges with expanding EVs that would be needed to meet the Biden NDC targets though.

Cole Commander Tells DoD Sect Boost Critical Minerals Supply Chain Says Boost – Speaking of EVs, former USS Cole Commander Kirk Lippold wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that underscores the need to shore up mineral supply chains as a matter of national security and the unique role harvesting of unattached seafloor minerals can play in achieving that result and in strategic planning. Austin recently spoke to the importance of addressing climate change and supply chains for our national security during the President Biden’s recent Leaders Climate Summit. The letter was filed in response to a DOD request for information similar to an earlier request from Energy Sect Jennifer Granholm for DOE.  

US Drilling, Oil Recovery Looking Strong – US drilling and completions activity continued to accelerate in the first quarter, bolstered by stronger commodity prices, leading to a jump in the number of drilled-but-uncompleted wells that have been drilled in the past 90 days. Young DUCs in the Permian Basin climbed from a record low of 675 in October 2020 to 1,076 this month, while young DUCs in the Eagle Ford Shale rose from 125 in October to 259 in April, according to Platts Analytics data. They also see both rigs and frac crews heading higher for the remainder of 2021, as WTI prices of $55/b to $65/b will allow operators to produce in a profitable cash flow environment. The 12-month forward curve for natural gas ranges from $2.03 to $2.83/Mcf. 

1Q Oil Profits, Jobs/Air Travel Also Show Recovery – First Quarter earnings from BP, Shell, Chevron, Exxon and Total were strong in a bullish sign for the recovery from the pandemic-driven price and demand crash. Shell reported $3.2 billion in profits and raised its dividend (after slashing it last year for the first time since World War II), while Total said its earnings returned to pre-pandemic levels. Exxon posted its first profit since 2019, reporting $2.7 billion, while Chevron notched $1.4 billion in profit. The upstream oil sector has added 12,000 jobs since September, bringing the total drilling and oil extraction employment in Texas to 169,700.  Finally, EIA says increasing air travel in the past few weeks is boosting US jet fuel consumption, which averaged more than 1.2 million barrels per day in the four weeks ending April 9, up nearly 200,000 bpd from the four weeks through March 26

Manchin Urges Banks to Look at Technology Innovations – Sen. Energy Chair Joe Manchin says banks are taking a "harsh approach" in their plans to pare back financial support for fossil fuel companies "and shutting down the opportunities to continue to provide the energy that we need in this country to remain energy-independent." Manchin said banks should turn their attention to helping create technology that would reduce carbon dioxide instead of limiting support for the fossil fuel industry. In an appearance before the Independent Community Bankers of America, Manchin said larger financial institutions should resist a "knee-jerking approach" as they roll out plans in response to pressure from shareholders.

Global Cooling Awards Presented – A global coalition initiated by the Government of India, Mission Innovation and RMI announced the winners of the Global Cooling Prize, an international innovation competition to develop super-efficient and climate-friendly residential cooling solutions. Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai with partner Tsinghua University; and Daikin with partner Nikken Sekkei Ltd. emerged as the two winners among eight Finalists after shattering the perceived ceiling of performance. These companies have produced prototypes that have five times (5X) less climate impact than standard air conditioning units available in the market today. When scaled, such technologies can prevent 132 GT of CO₂ -equivalent emissions cumulatively between now and 2050 and mitigate over 0.5°C of global warming by the end of the century. The announcement of the winners can be viewed here.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

MOST EVENTS SCHEDULED ARE NOW ONLINE WEBINARS

Regan Joins Climate Leaders Forum – Climate Leaders Live is hosting EPA's Michael Regan today at 1:00 p.m. for a look at the US's recent carbon emissions commitment as part of the global climate summit, environmental justice, clean economy jobs, and more.

Reps Blunt-Rochester, Welch Headline EE Forum – Energy Efficiency Global Forum 2021 will be held tomorrow on-line. Every year, EE Global Forum brings together the brightest minds in energy efficiency to discuss pressing issues, identify emerging trends, and connect with peers from dozens of countries around the globe. This year, the EE Global Forum will return to a one-day session full of headliner panels, industry insights, and virtual fun and networking.  Putting energy efficiency at the center of our recovery provides a brighter economy and environment for everyone. This year’s EE Global Forum will focus on how to “Build Back Brighter”.  Reps. Peter Welch and Lisa Blunt-Rochester are among the speakers. 

Forum Looks at Climate in Asia, Pacific – The Center for Global Development holds a webinar tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. on fiscal policies to address climate change in Asia and the Pacific. CGD) is hosting this panel discussion on the role of fiscal policies in tackling climate change in Asia and the Pacific. James Daniel will present the IMF’s latest study which explores the challenges and opportunities in addressing climate change and how fiscal policies can support both mitigation and adaptation measures for long-term sustainability. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion featuring fiscal and climate policy experts and sustainable development experts with experience on Asia and the Pacific.

Forum Looks at Food, Climate – The Center for Strategic and International Studies and FAO of the United Nations hold a webinar tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. looking at a new era for climate change and food security. The event will bring together expert panelists to discuss changing perspectives on climate change and its impact on global food security, highlighting outcomes of President Biden’s Leaders Summit on Climate.

House Science Panel Looks at DOE Climate/Science Research – A House Science subcommittee will hold a hearing tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. looking at the DOE’s climate and energy science research.  Witnesses will include Arizona’s Xubin Zeng, Brookhaven National Laboratory's Esther Takeuchi, MIT’s Fikile Brushett, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Kristin Persson and Yale’s Narasimha Rao.

Arctic Conference Set – The Icelandic American Chamber of Commerce in New York in partnership with the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute, Greenland Representation in Washington DC, Embassy of Iceland in Washington DC, Embassy of Iceland in Ottawa, Consulate of Iceland in New York, Consulate of Iceland in Nuuk, and the Arctic Economic Council hold a conference starting tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. to look at Arctic issues.  This conference will discuss Iceland's chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2019-2021, the Greenland and Iceland in the New Arctic Report published in January 2021 by the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs, investment opportunities between and within Iceland and Greenland as it relates to Canada and the United States. The conference will as well address Doing Business in the Arctic, status and outlook organized by the Arctic Economic Council. It will provide the opportunity for attendees to network virtually and meet new connections doing business in the Arctic.

DOE Forum Looks at Solar Industry Workforce Equity Issues – Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) holds a virtual roundtable with special guests to discuss how to increase equity in the solar workforce and community solar efforts. Secretary Granholm and EERE head Kelly Speakes-Backman will speak.

Punchbowl Hosts Buttigieg Conversation – Tomorrow at 11:30 a.m., Punchbowl News is hosting a pop-up virtual interview with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is playing an integral role in President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan. The event will discuss his work and the effort to rebuild and modernize the country’s infrastructure, expand broadband, boost U.S. manufacturing, how the pandemic has impacted the airline and cruise line industry, and the future of electric and autonomous vehicles.

House Banking Looks at Housing Resilience – The House Financial Services Housing, Community Development, and Insurance Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at Noon examining housing resilience in the face of climate change.  Witnesses include NRDC’s Shelley Poticha and Harris Co TX Commissioner Rodney Ellis, among others.

Forum to Address US Mexico Future Relations – Inter-American Dialogue holds a webinar tomorrow at 12:00 p.m., on 100 days of the Biden-Harris Administration and U.S.-Mexico ties.

ELI to Look at Texas Power Issues –Tomorrow at Noon, the Environmental Law Institute holds an in-depth exploration of how to ensure energy grids are fit for the unique emerging challenges of this century. Leading panelists will illuminate how energy law and policy must navigate these complex and intersecting governance imperatives highlighted by the ERCOT outages.

Forum to Look at Food Systems Emissions – Following the recent Leaders Summit on Climate, the Columbia Center on Global Energy Policy will host a dialogue tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the food system while promoting public health, rural livelihoods and other important goals. Former Clinton Climate official David Sandalow, moderates a discussion with USDA’s William Hohenstein, NASA Goddard’s Cynthia Rosenzweig and David Wallerstein, Chief Exploration Officer of Tencent. 

IEA to Release Critical Minerals Report – The International Energy Agency will release a major new report on The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions on Wednesday at 7:00 AM Paris time. The new report will explore the risks and implications of a potential widening gap between demand and supply for the minerals that are essential for technologies like wind turbines, electricity networks and electric vehicles. There will be a press webinar on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Paris time/ 5:00 a.m. ET with IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol to review the main findings and implications of the report.

SP Global Conference Shows Hydrogen as Critical Path For Decarb – The S&P Global Platts Hydrogen Markets Americas Virtual Conference on Wednesday and Thursday is its second annual conference on hydrogen growth as part of the move toward decarbonization. The event looks at near-term growth potential, industry supply chain, infrastructure build-out, and hydrogen markets expansion.

House Oversight Looks at Pipeline Operations – On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., the House Oversight Committee holds another hearing about specific pipeline and how they are harming landowners.  This hearing looks at Cheniere’s Midship Pipeline, a nearly 200-mile, 36-inch diameter natural gas pipeline connects gas production from the STACK and SCOOP plays in Oklahoma’s Anadarko Basin to growing Gulf Coast and Southeast markets via deliveries to existing pipelines. When it comes to public and landowner engagement, Midship put their values into action by having respectful interactions with all our stakeholders and recognizing opportunities where we can do good or do better and take steps to make things right. Developers engage with our local communities from early project development through all phases of permitting, construction and operations.  Former Obama DOE official Christopher Smith, now with Cheniere, will testify.

House Energy Panel Looks at Transpo Portion Climate Legislation – The House Energy subcommittee will have a hearing Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. on the transportation aspects of Democrats’ marquee climate legislation, the CLEAN Future Act.

Forum to Look at ESG, Energy – OurEnergyPolicy holds an upcoming webinar on Wednesday at Noon looking at environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) and Energy issues. The event will feature an expert panel discussing the scope of emerging ESG practices in the energy sector. Speakers will include AEP’s Sandra Nessing, NAACP’s Jacqueline Patterson and Adam Zurofsky of Rewiring America.  Bracewell and API are sponsors of OEP seminars.

CSIS to Look at Oil, Gas Investment – The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) will hold a forum on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. featuring a conversation examining the risk that under-investment in the oil and gas sector may create future supply shortages. The first expert panel will summarize investment trends of the past five years and consider the cumulative impact of capex cuts by the industry. The second panel will feature company executives to provide their perspectives on investment trends and access to capital.  Pioneer CEO Scott Sheffield and Shell President Gretchen Watkins will be among the speakers.

NRC Hosts Reactor Safeguards Meeting – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission holds a meeting of the Advisory Committee on reactor safeguards on starting Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and running to Friday.

Forum to Look at Hydrogen Solutions – POWER Magazine holds a forum on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. focused on hydrogen and whether it can be a renewable reliability gap solution.  This webinar will touch on new hydrogen opportunities, technology and solutions that could make financial sense.  Speakers include NETL’s Briggs White and Justin Kramer at Orlando Utilities Commission, among others. 

Atlantic Hosts EU-US Future Forum – On Wednesday to Friday, the Atlantic Council, in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States holds the EU-US Future Forum (EUFF), a unique convening of leaders and stakeholders in dialogue to develop a new transatlantic agenda and momentum for EU-US cooperation. A key moment will be on Thursday when US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson participate in a session on alignment strategies and actions for climate leadership between the United States and the European Union.  Other speakers include State’s Wendy Sherman, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Murphy and Jim Risch and former Secretary of State (and Wellesley alum) Madeleine Albright.

USEA Annual Policy Forum Set – The US Energy Assn holds its annual membership meeting and Public Policy Forum on Thursday.  Speakers include Deputy Energy Sect David Turk, FERC Commissioner Allison Clements, HIS Markit’s Dan Yergin, TVA’s Justin Maierhofer and Utility Tech Council CEO Sheryl Osiene-Riggs.

Forum Addresses Solar Geoengineering – On Thursday at 9:30 a.m., the Wilson Center, the Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment, and the Union of Concerned Scientists hold a panel discussion on a new National Academy of Sciences Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) report and its implications for the future of solar geoengineering.  The Report, Reflecting Sunlight: Recommendations for Solar Geoengineering Research and Research Governance, aims to provide policymakers and researchers with recommendations on the development of a robust, equitable, and responsibly governed solar geoengineering research program. 

Forum to Address Offshore wind Transmission – Reuters holds an event with Black & Veatch on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. looking at resolving transmission constraints with US offshore wind deployment.  This session will discuss the efforts to support integration of Offshore Wind power resulting from solicitations which are presently underway.  Speakers include PJM’s Ken Seiler, ISO New England’s Al McBride and our old friend Eric Thumma, Avangrid Renewables Offshore Wind Director.

House Science Highlights NSF – The House Science, Space and Technology Committee, Research and Technology Subcommittee holds a hearing Thursday at 11:00 a.m. on the National Science Foundation advancing research for the future of US innovation. Witnesses include UCLA’s  Roger Wakimoto, Intel’s Gabriela Cruz Thompson, Arizona State’s Mahmud Farooque, Gerald Blazey of Northern Illinois University and Barry Butler, President of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Forum Looks at Carbon Border Adjustments – On Thursday at 11:00 a.m., the Niskanen Center holds a discussion on the new developments in carbon border adjustments in the U.S., EU, and Canada. International Institute for Sustainable Development expert Aaron Cosbey, CLC’s Catrina Rorke and Niskanen’s Shuting Pomerleau all speak. 

National Journal Looks at Biden 100 Days – National Journal holds a web event Thursday at 11:00 a.m. to look at progress on the four key policy items for the Biden Administration.  In the event, the Vignette team examines the ongoing actions to deliver on President Biden's four core policy priorities—COVID Relief, The Economy, Equity, and Climate—and what to expect in the near term now that the first 100 days of the Biden administration are in the books.

Bracewell Talks 100 Days With former VP Harris Staffer – On Thursday at Noon, Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group holds a special one-on-one conversation with Yasmin Nelson, the newest member of the PRG team. Yasmin, who joined the firm as a senior principal in April 2021, is a former senior policy advisor to then-Senator Kamala D. Harris. In this one-hour event, Yasmin will discuss the Biden administration’s first 100 days and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Tune in for topics including finance and tax, trade, technology and environmental justice. The event will begin with opening remarks from Scott Segal followed by the conversation with Yasmin and PRG’s Dee Martin.

USEA Talks Hydrogen – The US Energy Assn holds a forum on Thursday at Noon on the developing hydrogen economy.  This webinar brings together industry leaders to discuss the state of hydrogen as a fuel for industry, heavy transport, power generation and more. Orrick Partner Peter Connors will co-moderate the panel discussion with USEA Program Director Michael Moore. The webinar will cover sectors ideally suited for a transition to hydrogen, where progress is currently being made and challenges the industry will need to overcome to supplant its conventional counterparts and scale-up hydrogen production and deployment.

Granholm Heads to House Approps Subpanel – The House Appropriations Energy-Water Subcommittee hosts Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. to discuss DOE’s budget proposal for FY 2022.

ACORE, BNEF Look at Offshore Wind – The, the American Council on Renewable Energy and BloombergNEF will hold a "State of the Industry" webinar on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. on the offshore wind sector.  While offshore wind is still a fledgling industry in the United States, it is one that the Biden administration has embraced, having recently set a goal of 30 GW of wind capacity by 2030 and billions in offshore wind loan guarantees. ACORE’s Greg Wetstone and BNEF’s Ethan Zindler present while panelists include Brandon Burke of the Business Network for Offshore Wind, Equinor’s Elisabeth Treseder and Ørsted’s Eric Wilkinson.

Forum to Explore Microreactors – The Advanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance (ANWA) is hosting an event on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. on Microreactors.  The event will look at how they can power the U.S. strategic nuclear deterrent and modernizing our defense nuclear infrastructure through energy resiliency.  Speakers include Rep. Ken Calvert and former Obama DOE official Dan Poneman, among others.

NARUC-DOE Nuclear Forum Looks at Challenges, Opportunities – On Friday at 2:00 p.m., NARUC and DOE hold a forum on the state of nuclear, looking at current challenges and opportunities.  The webinar will evaluate state and federal regulatory and policy landscapes, nuclear reactor technologies, solutions to manage waste, and the role of nuclear energy in achieving climate goals. Time will be reserved for Q&A. The webinar will be moderated by Commissioner Anthony O’Donnell of Maryland, and Commissioner Tim Echols of Georgia.  EPRI’s Heather Feldman and NEI’s Matt Crozat are among the speakers.

Forum Addresses Natural Climate Solutions – On Friday at 2:00 p.m., the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and U.S. Nature4Climate (USN4C) hold a briefing on the role natural climate solutions can play in both mitigating climate change and stimulating the economy. Panelists will provide an overview of the diverse range of climate-sensitive strategies that can be implemented in America’s farms and ranches, forests, grasslands and urban communities. They will also discuss the many economic benefits—from jobs to increased land productivity to new income for landowners—that can be derived by implementing natural climate solutions. The event will also feature on-the-ground practitioners who are already unlocking these benefits in both rural and urban communities. Finally, it will explore how major U.S. corporations are supporting the adoption of natural climate solutions to help meet their sustainability goals and improve their bottom lines.

Forum looks at Transatlantic Arctic Security – The Woodrow Wilson Center's Polar Institute holds a webinar on Friday at 3:30 p.m. to understand the new dimensions of Transatlantic Arctic security. The purpose of the discussion is to gain a diversity of views from current and retired military officers who have unique insights on the emerging defense and security environment across the Transatlantic Arctic region.  

IN THE FUTURE

WRI Looks at Climate Nature-based Solutions – Next Monday at 9:00 a.m., WRI holds a forum on Nature-based solutions” (NbS).  They are increasingly touted as a solution to the intertwined climate and biodiversity crises. In the lead-up to COP26 in November, countries are increasingly focusing on the role that NbS can play in national commitments for mitigating the effects of climate change.

WCEE Hosts Chat with USEA Head – Next Monday at 2:00 p.m., Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE) President Barbara Tyran holds a fireside chat with USEA's acting Executive Director Sheila Hollis as we explore 'resilience'.  USEA convenes, educates and provides a nonpartisan forum for American energy stakeholders. Internationally, USEA supports global energy development by expanding safe, affordable, and clean energy access in participation with the US Government. A former WCEE President and Woman of the Year, Sheila will discuss her initial impressions of Washington, the role of resilience in facilitating many successful professional transitions, and how leading USEA inspires and embodies her life's work. 

Book Launch: Energy's Digital Future by Amy Myers Jaffe – On Tuesday May 11^th at Noon, the Center on Global Energy Policy will host Amy Myers Jaffe, Research Professor and Managing Director at the Climate Policy Lab at Tuft University's The Fletcher School and Co-Chair of the CGEP Women in Energy Steering Committee, for a discussion of her new book, Energy’s Digital Future: Harnessing Innovation for American Resilience and National Security. Following her presentation, Amy will be joined by Jason Bordoff, CGEP Founding Director and Professor of Professional Practice in International and Public Affairs, Columbia University and David Sandalow, CGEP Inaugural Fellow, for a conversation moderated by Dr. Melissa Lott, CGEP Director of Research and Senior Research Scholar.

ANS Holds Sandia Event – The American Nuclear Society holds a spotlight event on Sandia National Labs next Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. in its 10^th installment of the ANS Young Members Group Spotlight on National Labs series.

RFF Chats with United CEO – Resources for the Future (RFF) holds a Policy Leadership Series event with United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby on Tuesday, May 11^th at Noon. RFF President and CEO Richard G. Newell will sit down with Kirby to discuss United’s decarbonization strategy—which focuses on developing sustainable aviation fuels and investing in advanced clean energy technologies—as well as a range of energy and climate issues.

Biden Climate Advisor Join Yale Enviro Dialogue – On Tuesday, May 11^th at 5:00 p.m., the Yale Environmental Dialogue at the Yale School of the Environment holds an online discussion with Jahi Wise, President Joe Biden's senior advisor for climate policy and finance in the Office of Domestic Climate Policy. The conversation will be moderated by Dan Esty,

ITIF Holds Event on Public Partnerships for Innovation – The information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) holds a discussion next Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. of non-profit, non-governmental foundations that work with them to advance their missions.  This prospect, embodied in the proposed Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act, which has won bipartisan, bicameral sponsorship. The discussion will focus on advancing Clean Energy techs.

Forum Looks at Gas Regulation in Energy Transition – The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) holds a web event next Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. on gas regulation for a time of transition. Megan Anderson, Max Dupuy and Mark LeBel, co-authors of Under Pressure: Gas Regulation for a Time of Transition, will speak at interactive webinar as they detail their policy recommendations and how regulators can use them to navigate the changing landscape of fossil gas use. Richard Sedano, RAP’s president and CEO, will moderate the discussion.

BPC Looks at Smarter, Better Infrastructure – Next Tuesday at 3:00 p.m., the Bipartisan Policy Center holds a forum on how private investment supports smarter, cleaner, faster infrastructure. This session will explore examples of clean infrastructure projects that are currently being delivered through public-private partnerships and identify strategies for expanding the role of the private sector in delivering smarter, cleaner, faster infrastructure that can benefit all Americans. Featured participants include former Reps John Delaney, and Eric Cantor. 

RFF Hosts Forum on Energy Equity – On Wednesday May 12^th at Noon, Resources for the Future (RFF) and the Urban Institute will host the second event in Exposure, a six-part webinar series on environmental justice. A panel of experts will address issues of energy justice, energy poverty, green jobs, and energy transition communities. The conversation will cover issues that arise on both ends of the energy system—equity in household energy services as well as just transitions for communities whose livelihoods depend on the fossil fuel industry.

EPRI Climate Forum Set – The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) holds its 24^th Energy and Climate Seminar on Wednesday and Thursday May 12^th and 13^th from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. both days.  This long-running event covers key energy and environmental topics of significant interest to the U.S. energy sector related to climate science, policy perspectives, decarbonization technologies, and research priorities.  It provides an opportunity for decision-makers and stakeholders interested in the latest in energy and environmental research to discuss issues and policy drivers in a deeply technical way, specifically with an eye toward their implications for the utility industry.  Speakers include Kelly Speakes-Backman (EERE), Dan Sperling (UC-Davis + California ARB), Arshad Mansoor (EPRI CEO), and many others from academia, government, and industry.

Forum to Look at NDC – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) will hold a forum on Wednesday May 12^th at 2:00 p.m. to focus on the new Biden NDC to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030. Experts will discuss the new emissions reduction goal, why it matters, and how it can be used as a guide for domestic federal policy development and design. The briefing will also explain how the U.S. NDC fits into the overall architecture of international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to climate impacts.  Speakers include Ceres’ Anne Kelly, Washington U Law Tracy Bach and UCS’s Rachel Cleetus.

Forum Looks at EV in China, US – On Wednesday May 12^th at 3:00 p.m., the Wilson Center holds a forum on EVs and carbon Neutrality in China and the US. At this panel Ilaria Mazzocco (Paulson Institute) will lay out the drivers and bumps on the road for China’s aggressive push to shift completely to electric vehicles; An Feng (Innovation Center for Energy and Transportation, iCET) will evaluate the economic and climate benefits of the regional plan for EVs in Guangdong Province and the Greater Bay Area that was part of the 14th Five-Year Plan. Camron Gorguinpour (ENGIE Impact) will highlight EV trends in the United States and dive into expanding Vehicle Grid Integration projects; Shelley Francis (EV Hybrid Noire) will delve into the importance of utilizing e-mobility best practices and discuss best practices for engaging diverse NGOs, communities, and more to work towards inclusive and equitable solutions for small and large E-mobility in the United States.

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

Forum to Feature Intel Exec – The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University holds a webinar on Thursday May 13^th at 12:30 p.m. featuring Todd Brady, Intel’s Director of global public affairs and sustainability. The seminar will examine this topic from the lens of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, Intel Corporation, and will discuss both the challenges ahead as well as the opportunities that digitalization presents.

AU Carbon Neutral Web Series Continues – The AU Center for Enviro Policy webinar series concludes on Thursday May 13^th at 5:30 p.m. looking at old and new actors in the race to carbon neutrality.  In the final webinar of the Pathways to a Decarbonized Economy and a More Livable Planet series, Angela Churie Kallhauge, Scott Sklar, Sha Yu, and Elizabeth V. Sturcken will discuss what carbon neutrality means for both old actors and new in industries as varied as government, business, civil society, and academia.

Report to launch Review of Asia Energy, Critical Minerals Issues – On May 18^th, Energy Innovation Reform Project will release a new study focuses on Asia and energy, including addressing the critical mineral Supply chain Challenges.  The report was co-chaired by Bush State Department climate official Paula Dobriansky and former Obama DOE official Dan Poneman, as well others like former US Sen. Mary Landrieu, CSIS expert Mark Harris and oil expert Robin West.

Colombia President, GE Renewable CEO, others Address Inaugural Chamber Global Forum – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce holds its inaugural Global Forum on May 18^th and 19^th. Led by U.S. Chamber CEO and President Suzanne Clark, the Global Forum will focus on economic recovery and will bring together leaders from business and government to discuss the opportunities and impediments to a dynamic global recovery. Speakers include Colombia President Iván Duque, GE Renewable Energy CEO Jérôme Pécresse and Venture Global LNG CEO/Founder Michael Sabel, among others. Speakers will share their views on how public-private partnerships are driving efforts to combat the global pandemic, the impact of U.S. trade relationships on business innovation and job creation, and why diversifying energy sources is good for both the environment and future economic growth.

Columbia Energy Conference Set – The Center on Global Energy Policy holds its 7^th annual Columbia Global Energy Summit virtually on May 18-20^th.  Energy experts from around the world gather for the Summit, which will focus on understanding trends shaping our current energy system, and what's ahead for energy policy, energy markets, geopolitics, technology and efforts to reduce emissions and address climate change.  Among the speakers will be IAE’s Fatih Birol, White House Advisor Gina McCarthy, Hydro-Quebec’s Sophie Brochu, CPS Energy’s Paula Gold-Williams, BP’s Bernard Looney and many more – including SIPA experts like Jason Bordoff, former FERC Chair Cheryl LaFleur and CARB head Mary Nichols. 

Plug’s Marsh to Address Forum – On May 28^th at 11:30 a.m., the Security and Sustainability Forum's Leadership in Our Time webinar series, co-hosted with George Washington University will host Sixty Minutes with Plug Power CEO, Andy Marsh, looking at the Is the hydrogen revolution and implications the future of fuel cells.

ANS Holds Annual Meeting – The 2021 American Nuclear Society will holds its Virtual Annual Meeting on June 14-16. Among the Speakers are NEI Maria Korsnick, X-energy CEO Clay Sell, form DOE Nuclear Office Head Rita Baranwal and NRC Chair Christopher Hanson.

ACORE Finance Forum Set – The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), hosts the ACORE Finance Forum on June 15^th and 16^th where they will examine how the renewable energy transaction landscape will evolve to meet this growing demand. The event brings together experts from across the renewable energy marketplace, including the sector’s largest and most influential investors, developers, utilities, manufacturers, advisors, and buyers to provide you with insights on the next stage of renewable energy finance and investment.

Washington Oil, Gas Policy Forum Set – US Energy Stream holds IN-PERSON its 6^th Washington Oil & Gas Forum 2021 on June 16 & 17 at the Cosmos Club of Washington, DC. The Forum is an annual market intelligence platform that brings together powerful U.S. Congressmen, Senators, government leaders, top energy executives, and investors. The main topic of this year’s Forum is the dual challenge of meeting the world’s oil and gas demand while addressing emissions and climate change.  Speakers include FERC Chair Rich Glick, Sens. Ted Cruz, Bill Cassidy Steve Daines and Roy Blunt as well as Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-OR of McKinley-Schrader) Scott Peters, Bruce Westerman, Lizzie Fletcher, Mike McCaul, Sheila Jackson Lee, Michael Burgess, John Curtis, Vicente Gonzalez, Kelly Armstrong, Port of Corpus Christi CEO Sean Strawbridge and many more.