Energy Update: Week of November 28th

Friends,

What a great Thanksgiving weekend…  I hope you had a chance to hang with friends and family and are enjoying the World Cup! There have been some great games and big surprises. And with Saturday’s 0-0 tie with powerhouse England, the US must beat Iran tomorrow (1:00 p.m. on Fox) to advance out of Pool B to the Round of 16, especially after Iran beat Wales 2-0. And how about those Michigan Wolverines taking their 2^nd straight victory in The Game on the road in Columbus.  After trailing 20-17 at the half, the Wolverines overpowered Ohio State with a 28-3 second half to win 45-23. The Game drew more than 17 million viewers and was the most-watched regular-season college game of 2022.    

Besides a White House announcement on Saturday granting permission for Chevron to produce and export oil from Venezuela, we made it out of last week without any major announcements or “news-hole” surprises.  The Senate returns to Washington this evening, while the House is back tomorrow with a packed agenda of must-pass bills and legislation Democrats want to get off President Biden’s plate before Republicans take the House majority next year, including end-of-year funding—which runs out on December 16^th with either an omnibus or another continuing resolution. Most experts, including my colleague Liam Donovan, say they expect little action until the December 6^th Georgia Senate Runoff, which means the CR deadline will likely slip until the December 23^rd. So stay tuned for a possible Christmas Eve session (which has happened before!) 

On the energy side some of the things we are watching include Joe Manchin’s permitting push (not likely in short-term), the next phase of the Renewable Fuels Standard, water issues in the west, key issues around the Auxin Solar tariff case and FERC Chair Rich Glick’s status.

Tomorrow, the Senate Enviro Committee holds a business meeting on nominees including EPA Air office head Joe Goffman, while Wednesday morning the WaPo hosts Sen. Martin Heinrich and Cathy Zoi on the energy transition and in the afternoon, the Electrification Coalition and ZETA hold a nonpartisan recap of 2022’s EV policy developments and major industry milestones. Then, Thursday morning, IEA holds an embargoed virtual discussion led by Brian Motherway, Head of the IEA’s Energy Efficiency division and the lead authors of a new Energy Efficiency report which will be released on Friday morning Paris time.

If you are a Washington Insider, check out this piece in Washington Monthly by SAFE’s Robbie Diamond that says new Infrastructure Czar John Podesta could look to Harold Ickes Sr., the one-man brain trust, confidant and brass-knuckled enforcer for FDR, as a model for how to navigate his new White House challenge.  And App State’s Alex Holcomb highlights how and why refineries can and will “go green” in the Houston Chronicle.

Finally, tomorrow morning, I will jump back on Sirius XM POTUS 124’s Mason Mornings with Julie Mason around 6:20 a.m. to talk energy in the lame duck and next year. Also, the White House Christmas Tree lighting is on Wednesday, so if you are in DC, plan accordingly for the brutal traffic. Call with any questions about lame duck, election follow up, politics or COP27. Happy to help.

 

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“I think it’s probably time to stop calling renewables ‘alternative energy.’ We are very mainstream at this point.”

Meghan Nutting, EVP at US International solar developer SunnovaEnergy at a panel during the Baker Institute’s Annual Energy Summit in Houston last week.

 

ON THE PODCAST

COP27 Outcomes with Stavins, Billy Pizer – Robert Stavins’ Harvard Podcast Environmental Insights hosts RFF expert Billy Pizer, VP for Research and Policy Engagement at Resources for the Future. Pizer says the agreement by negotiators at the COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, earlier this month on a mechanism to provide funding for particularly vulnerable nations suffering from climate change was a significant outcome, while the negotiators’ inability to achieve substantive commitments by nations to increase their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) was a disappointment. Pizer offers those views and much more in the latest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program,” a podcast produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

RFF Talks Coal Towns in Energy Transition Leader – Speaking of RFF, this week’s episode of Resources Radio is a good one as host Daniel Raimi talks with Kelli Roemer, a PhD candidate in earth sciences at Montana State University. Roemer discusses a small town in Montana called Colstrip, which historically has been dependent on coal mining and coal-fired power generation. Their conversation examines the importance of the local coal industry to Colstrip’s community and how local stakeholders are planning for the possible closure of the Rosebud Mine and power plant in Colstrip.

 

FUN OPINIONS

Refiners Ready to Go Green – In an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle, Appalachian State economist Alex Holcomb argues that refiners are ready to go green with the appropriate incentives. Projections show that gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles are set to dominate our streets well into the proximate future. Thus, America’s fleet of refineries—the industrial facilities that produce those liquid transportation fuels—will necessarily continue to serve as indispensable elements of the United States’ energy infrastructure. If we’re actually serious about cutting greenhouse gas emissions over the coming years — and we must be if we are to realize the carbon-neutral economy of the future — it’s essential that both public and private sector decarbonization efforts address an industrial sector that will remain a critical piece of the American economy for the foreseeable future.

 

FROG BLOG

FDR’s Ickes Should Be Podesta Role Model for Instructure Push – In an opinion piece in Washington Monthly, SAFE head Robbie Diamond writes that new Infrastructure Czar John Podesta could look to Harold Ickes Sr., the one-man brain trust, confidant and brass-knuckled enforcer for FDR, as a model for how to navigate his new challenge. “Like Ickes, Podesta will have to bulldoze through the bureaucracy and reach out beyond traditional political allies and ideological comfort zones. As importantly, and like the curmudgeonly New Dealer, Podesta will need to work constructively with industry—including mining firms, heavy manufacturing, and energy companies associated with fossil fuels—that are traditional political adversaries. Ultimately, an effective energy transition will require building a secure and reliable supply chain among the U.S. and its close allies and trading partners that is not dependent on China or Russia.”

 

FUN FACTS

Social Media Reality Check: Thanks to our friends at Axios for this fun set of social media reality facts. The chief reason so many people seem nuts or unhinged is because Twitter, cable TV and TikTok amplify your Thanksgiving drunk uncle. The uncle gets liked, followed and invited back, so he has an irresistible incentive to get nuttier. This loop creates the false impression that more people than we think are crazy. Hence, two stats to savor when you think the world has lost its mind:

1. 75% of people in the US never tweet.
2. On an average weeknight in January, just 1% of U.S. adults watched primetime Fox News and 0.5% tuned into MSNBC.

The bottom line: Everyone else is too busy being ... normal.

 

IN THE NEWS

Sempra, CP Add LNG at Port Arthur – Sempra, Sempra Infrastructure and ConocoPhillips have executed a 20-year Sale and Purchase Agreement for 5 million tons annually of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Phase 1 of the proposed Port Arthur LNG project under development in Jefferson County, Texas. The parties have also entered into an equity sale and purchase agreement whereby ConocoPhillips will acquire 30% of the equity in Phase 1 of Port Arthur LNG, and a natural gas supply management agreement whereby ConocoPhillips will manage the feedgas supply requirements for Phase 1 of the proposed liquefaction facility. Sempra Infrastructure recently announced it is expecting to make a final investment decision (FID) for Phase 1 of the liquefaction project in the first quarter of 2023. Additionally, the company announced last month that it had finalized an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Bechtel Energy for Phase 1. Under the terms of the EPC contract, Bechtel will perform the detailed engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, startup, performance testing and operator training activities. The Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project is permitted and expected to include two natural gas liquefaction trains and LNG storage tanks, and associated facilities capable of producing, under optimal conditions, up to approximately 13.5 Mtpa of LNG. A similarly sized Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 project is also competitively positioned and under active marketing and development. Development of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Port Arthur LNG project is contingent on completing the required commercial agreements, securing all necessary permits, obtaining financing and reaching an affirmative final investment decision, among other factors.

API, Biofuel Groups Call for E15 Standard – In a letter to Senate and House leaders as well as chairs of key congressional committees, agriculture, biofuels and petroleum interests are calling on lawmakers to pass a legislative fix for year-round E15. The groups want equal regulatory treatment for all gasoline blends containing 10% ethanol or more, including gasoline with 15% ethanol. "By ensuring uniformity across the nation's fuel supply chain, federal legislation will provide more flexibility and result in more consistent outcomes than a state-by-state regulatory landscape," the letter said. "In the absence of such legislation, we could see gasoline marketplace uncertainty and political disputes over E15 that would continue to resurface every summer. Thus, we urge Congress to act quickly to adopt legislation that will bring certainty and consistency to the fuel market, while also finally resolving long-standing differences among many stakeholders about fuel volatility regulations." 

AL, Total to Produce Renewable/Low Carbon Hydrogen – Air Liquide and TotalEnergies are converting a biorefinery of the TotalEnergies’ Grandpuits site, to produce and valorize renewable and low-carbon hydrogen. Under a long-term contract, committing TotalEnergies to purchase the hydrogen produced for the needs of its platform, Air Liquide will invest over 130 million euros in the construction and operation of a new unit producing hydrogen. This unit will partly use biogas from the biorefinery built by TotalEnergies and will be delivered with Air Liquide’s carbon capture technology, CryocapTM. These innovations will prevent emissions amounting to 150,000 tons of CO2 a year compared to current processes. TotalEnergies’ biorefinery will use the unit’s hydrogen to produce sustainable aviation fuel. In line with the two companies’ shared ambition to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, this project is based on an innovative sustainable and circular approach: Air Liquide will build and operate at the Grandpuits site a new hydrogen production unit with an annual capacity of more than 20,000 tons. By recycling, in part, residual biogases from Grandpuits’ biorefinery as a substitute for the natural gas traditionally used, the hydrogen produced by this unit will be partly renewable. In addition, this unit will include, from its start-up, an Air Liquide Cryocap™ H2 carbon capture unit. This will enable to capture, for reuse in agri-food and industrial applications, over 110,000 tons of CO2 per year contributing to reducing the site’s carbon footprint. Most of the renewable and low-carbon hydrogen produced will be used by the biorefinery to produce sustainable aviation fuel. This hydrogen could also be used to support sustainable mobility in the Ile-de-France region.

China Protests Push Oil Prices Down on Demand Concerns – Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices fell nearly 3% in early Monday trading, hitting lows not seen since Jan. 4 and Dec. 22, respectively, as protests against strict COVID-19 restrictions in China sparked worries about the demand outlook in the biggest importing nation. On top of growing concerns about weaker fuel demand in China due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, political uncertainty, caused by rare protests over the government's stringent COVID restrictions in Shanghai, prompted selling.

 

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

EU Energy Leader Hosts by WaPo – Washington Post Live holds a virtual discussion today at 11:00 a.m. with European Commission Director General for Energy Ditte Juul Jorgensen on the EU Climate Agenda and results of the COP27 climate talks.

Senate EPW to Hold Goffman Meeting – Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Environment Committee will hold a business meeting on nominees including EPA Air office Head Joe Goffman. Also, on Wednesday, the Committee will hold a hearing on the infrastructure law, getting views from the private sector.

CSIS Looks at G20 Meeting Results – The Center for Strategic and International Studies holds a discussion tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. focused on assessing the 2022 G20 Summit and perspective on Bali outcomes. In this event, the CSIS Economics Program and the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) will host a virtual armchair conversation with Michael Pyle, U.S. deputy national security advisor and G7 & G20 sherpa, about the outcomes from the 2022 G20 Heads of State and Government Summit in Bali.

Forum Focused on Climate – The KPMG Government Executive Media Group holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on modern governments being keyed in on climate. In the third installment of its Modern Government series, GovExec and KPMG host experts in climate policy and governance to better understand the ever-evolving climate-related regulatory landscape, how best to avoid and mitigate risk and where there are opportunities to seize momentum for transformation in a net-zero world.

Forum to Look at Conservation, Security in Africa – The Brookings Institution holds a virtual discussion on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. looking at conservation and security challenges and opportunities at the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit.

Senate Enviro to Look at Infrastructure Impacts on Private Sector – The Senate Environmental Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on private sector perspectives on the infrastructure law. Road Builders head Dave Bauer, Highland Electric Fleets Matt Stanberry, Associated General Contractors Ali Mills, EVgo’s Jonathan Levy and construction company exec Gary Johnson all testify.

Forum to Focus on South Asia – The US Institute of Peace holds a virtual discussion Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. on after COP27 and next steps for South Asia. USIP holds a conversation with Ambassador Daniel Feldman, the former chief of staff and counselor to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry. Ambassador Feldman, who attended COP27, will offer his insights from the trip, discuss how the conference’s focus on climate justice, climate financing and debt-for-climate swaps will impact South Asian countries.

Heinrich, Zoi Join WaPo Live to Talk Climate – On Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) and former DOE official Cathy Zoi, CEO of the electric charging company EVGo will join Washington Post Live to discuss how far the legislation goes in helping the country meet its carbon reduction goals and this month’s COP27 climate talks.

RFF Looks at Wildfire Insurance – Resources for the Future (RFF) holds an RFF Live event on Wednesday at Noon exploring wildfire insurance, the third in the “Sparking Solutions” webinar series. In this session, experts will discuss the important role that insurance plays in sending signals about risk, how to balance that with equity and affordability, and what options exist for handling the growing problem of insuring wildfire risks.

Forum to Look at EV Habits – The World Resources Institute holds a forum on Wednesday at 12:00 pm looking at shifting EV charging habits and EV adoption in the US. New research from WRI and Honda aims to help close that research gap. This webinar will highlight the report's main findings and include a facilitated panel discussion on what's needed to accelerate smart charging in the United States, including interventions from electric utilities and vehicle manufacturers, ways to address consumer concerns, and ensuring EV infrastructure meets the needs of all drivers.

Discussion Looks at China NGO, Biodiversity – On the eve of the Convention on Biological Diversity COP15, Peng Kui from the Beijing-based Global Environmental Institute will sit down on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. for a Green Tea Chat with the Wilson Center’s China Forum expert Jennifer Turner. As the manager of GEI’s Ecosystem and Conservation & Community Development Program, Kui will share stories of GEI’s projects in China and their work over the past six years to set up cooperative networks on conservation with environmental, Indigenous peoples, women, youth, and private sector groups in ASEAN and Africa.

Forum to Look at Arctic Climate Techs – The Daniel Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, Canadian Armed Forces and the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute host an event on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. on the intersection between technology and the cryosphere (i.e., the frozen parts of the earth).  Marisol Maddox will frame the Arctic climate security problem set to illuminate the critical issues. Kimberley Miner with discuss risks and impacts from cryosphere degradation. Leslie Canavera will describe examples of how we can use a blend of Indigenous knowledge and western data with specialized artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to forecast climate change and translate knowledge into action.

Forum to Look at EVs, Bipartisan Support – On Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., the Electrification Coalition and ZETA Education Fund hold a nonpartisan recap of 2022’s EV policy developments and major industry milestones. Panelists will also discuss their post-midterms predictions and goals for legislation in 2023.

Senate Energy Holds Legis Hearing – The Senate Energy Committee holds a legislative hearing on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. on S. 3112 (117), the "Hydrogen for Industry Act of 2021"; S. 3152 (117), to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to disqualify certain borrowers from receiving a guarantee for a project, as well as a number of other bills. See the full list HERE.

Forum focuses on Business Innovation – The US Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with the U.S. Energy Association (USEA), launched the Business Innovation Partnership (BIP) to create global network of utility thought leaders, designed to assist USAID partner utilities as they navigate some of the most pressing challenges within a rapidly evolving industry. In this session on Thursday at 10:00 a.m., USAID’s Director of the Center for the Environment, Energy and Infrastructure Jaidev Singh will provide remarks. Linda Apple of Southern California Edison and Tracey Evers of Tetra Tech will present their business innovation and change management experiences and updates on latest action plans.

ACCF Hosts WSJ Finance Beat Expert – On Thursday at 12:00 Noon, American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) will host a conversation with Jon Hilsenrath, Editor at The Wall Street Journal, on his new book, Yellen: The Trailblazing Economist Who Navigated an Era of Upheaval. Hilsenrath is a senior writer for the WSJ, where he has written about economics and finance since 1997. Jon was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2014 for his coverage of the Federal Reserve; was part of a WSJ team that was a Pulitzer finalist in 2009 for coverage of the financial crisis; and contributed on-the-ground reporting to the WSJ’s 9/11 coverage, which won a Pulitzer in 2002.

Forum to Look at Storage in SW – The Clean Energy States Alliance holds a forum on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. on energy Storage in the Southwest. New solar+storage systems have been installed at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico and in the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority in Arizona. Both projects will be presented in this webinar.

Brookings Hosts Infrastructure Forum – On Thursday at 2:00 p.m., Brookings Metro and Service Year Alliance will host an event to explore this infrastructure workforce opportunity, with an emphasis on clean energy workers. The event will examine how current service year programs are undertaking energy transition work and have established strong relationships with state partners. It will dive deeper into what is working well and how programs, state energy agencies, and state service commissions can better work together to accomplish shared goals around infrastructure investment, clean energy transitions, and workforce development. Speakers from the local, state, and federal levels will provide more context on the clean energy talent pipeline in light of the current wave of investments and explore steps toward greater collaboration.

Forum Looks at Energy Landscape – On Thursday at 4:00 p.m., the National Bureau of Asian Research hosts a forum at the Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill on changing energy landscapes.  The event describes the evolving geopolitics over the past year that have drastically altered the market dynamics for certain fuels. Prolonged conflict between Russia and Ukraine has incurred devastating and far-flung repercussions, and as the strife continues to escalate into colder months, governments may have to reformat their energy plans to accommodate price surges for energy.

IEA Looks at EE Market – The International Energy Agency will launch its new Energy Efficiency Market Report on Friday at 7:00 a.m. Paris time. IEA holds an embargoed virtual discussion on Thursday at 8:00 a.m. led by Brian Motherway, Head of the IEA’s Energy Efficiency division and the lead authors of the report.

POLITICO Reporters Talk Energy – In the second installment of the ‘Navigating the New Congress’ series, POLITICO reporters hold a discussion on December 2^nd at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the impact of the new congress on energy legislation moving forward. Reporters include Marianne LeVine, Kelsey Tamborrino, Annie Snider and Josh Siegel.

EESI Looks at COP27 Results – On Friday at 3:00 p.m., the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds a briefing to review what took place during the international climate negotiations in Egypt (COP27) and why it matters for Congress. Panelists will provide perspectives and key takeaways from the federal government, U.S. states, philanthropy, and nongovernmental organization perspectives.

 

IN THE FUTURE

USEA Looks at Circular Economy for Utilities – The US Energy Assn holds a forum at 9:00 a.m. next Monday at 9:00 a.m. The forum looks at the Advancing Modern Power through Utility Partnerships (AmpUp) Program, which will  feature a panel discussion including Arizona State University to introduce a practical framework for asset circularity for an electric utility, utility Salt River Project will focus on transformer shortages and mitigation strategies for grid-connected customers, and energy solutions provider Engie Energy Access will discuss circularity for solar home systems and mini-grid assets for off-grid customers.

BOEM Plans Dec. 6 Leasing Round for CA Offshore Wind – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has confirmed it will hold a leasing round for five offshore wind tracts in California's Morro Bay and Humboldt Bay areas on December 6. The sites could support 4.5 gigawatts of capacity and would support both the Biden administration and California's offshore wind targets.

Wilson to Look at Water Issues – Next Tuesday morning, the Wilson Center is partnering with the Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership to feature transdisciplinary approaches to preventing water-related security risks. As climate change compounds insecurity in new and dynamic ways, the tools used to prevent and respond to insecurity must also evolve. The event will launch the WPS partnership’s early warning tool for conflict, which allows policy makers to anticipate conflict relating to water, food, and energy up to 12 months in advance, creating space for preventive action and a framework developed by the Wilson Center and NOAA to improve predictive capabilities for climate security risks.

Heritage to Look at Europe Green Energy Problems – The Heritage Foundation holds a forum on Tuesday December 6^th at 11:00 a.m. to look at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how it has shaken up 30 years of European climate and energy policy and blown up the green consensus. Benny Peiser, director of the London-based Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), joins Heritage’s Dr. Nile Gardiner and Diana Furchgott-Roth to break down the economic and political lessons.

WRI Looks at Carbon Free Energy – Next Tuesday December 6^th at 11:00 a.m., the World Resources Institute holds its fourth in a series of WRI-hosted webinars on 24/7 CFE, will spotlight key data challenges surrounding 24/7 CFE, as well as approaches and solutions to these challenges. It will feature panelists from Iron Mountain, a global storage and information management services company committed to 24/7 CFE; FlexiDAO, a software and solutions provider that helps energy buyers reach their 24/7 CFE goals; and Electricity Maps, a platform for understanding the carbon impact of electricity consumption in real-time.

ELI to Look at Water Issues – The Environmental Law Institute holds a webinar on Tuesday December 6^th at 12:30 p.m. featuring the perspectives from three distinguished experts who will provide an in-depth exploration how courts are handling issues of water quality, water quantity and water equity. Speakers include Chief Judge Manuel I. Arrieta of the 3^rd Judicial District Court in New Mexico, Judge Mary Kate Appleby (ret.) of the Utah Court of Appeals and John Thorson, Federal Water Master for the Lummi Decree.

Forum to Release New Trade Policy Report – The Atlantic Council holds the virtual launch Tuesday, December 6^th at 7:00 p.m. for the Council’s new report, The impact of merging climate and trade policy on global demand for nuclear energy. As countries around the world embrace an increasingly ambitious climate agenda, the importance of trade policy tools that prevent leakage to economies whose climate regulations are less stringent is becoming evident. Mechanisms that charge a fee at the border for more emissions-intensive imports from other countries and thus increase their price in the domestic market have gained traction. These tools, if used by the G7, would likely have enough heft to set a de facto international price on carbon. David Banks moderates a panel of experts.

DC Energy Conference Set – The 3^rd annual, IN-PERSON Energy Transition Forum will be held on Wednesday and Thursday December 7 and 8^th at the Cosmos Club of Washington, D.C. The main focus of this year’s Forum is the US response to the global energy crisis. The Forum is an opportunity to gain market intelligence on the latest energy infrastructure such as LNG infrastructure, gas storage, O&G pipelines, power grids and power plants, renewable energy projects, upstream production, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen production, storage and transportation. Nearly 25 members Congress and other business leaders will speak.

Forum to Look at Children, NDCs – On Wednesday December 7^th at 8:00 a.m., the World Resources Institute holds a forum featuring an overview of UNICEF’s latest research brief “Child-Sensitive Climate Policies for Every Child” to explore how Nationally Determined Contributions can be more inclusive and rights-based for children and young people and ensure child-critical social services are climate and disaster resilient. A youth representative will open the session, and experts from UNICEF will share the key findings from the research brief. Next, WRI staff will give a live demonstration of Climate Watch to explain how the tool can be used to visualize data from the brief.

Forum Looks at Vietnam Renewables – The Stimson Center holds a discussion on Wednesday December 7^th at 8:30 a.m. looking at a recent report, Delivering on Vietnam’s COP26 Commitments. The report explores how Vietnam can implement its climate energy commitments through supporting the renewable energy transition at home, sharing lessons learned with neighbors, and coordinating on electricity trade to minimize environmental impacts.

USEA Forum Looks at Grid Planning, DERs – The US Energy Association holds a forum on Wednesday December 7^th at 10:00 a.m. looking at the integration of Distributed Energy Resources onto the Grid. Experts from NREL, CAISO and XM will discuss how to incorporate DERs in ISO planning, modeling, scheduling and operations.

Forum Looks at Post COP27 Solutions – on Wednesday December 7^th at 12:00 p.m., Future Tense, Knowable Magazine and Annual Reviews hold a conversation about how governments, banks and investors can fund a greener future—and why that’s a smart investment. Speakers include IMF’s Tobias Adrian and WRI’s China Finance Director Shuang Liu.

Forum Address SEC Disclosure – The American Enterprise Institute holds a forum on Wednesday December 7^th at 2:00 p.m. the SEC climate disclosure rules.  AEI’s Benjamin Zycher, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, and a panel of experts, including two former SEC commissioners, for a conversation about this complex and controversial rule.

Energy Future to Release Report – On Thursday December 8^th at 11:00 a.m. in the Capitol Visitors Center, the Energy Futures Initiative’s (EFI) releases its latest report, CO2-Secure: A National Program to Deploy Carbon Removal at Gigaton Scale, outlines a federal program for scaling CDR in the United States. CO2-Secure builds from two proposed pieces of legislation, the Federal Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act and the Carbon Removal and Emissions Storage Technologies Act, either of which could act as a precursor pilot program for CO2-Secure. To launch a discussion on CO2-Secure, EFI is hosting experts and influencers in the CDR space, including EFI CEO Ernest J. Moniz and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY 20th District), who will initiate the session. EFI staff will follow with key report takeaways, a panel discussion with other CDR experts and a Q&A period.

Forum to Focus on Verifying GHG Emissions – The GWU Security and Sustainability Forum holds a webinar on Thursday December 8^th at 11:15 a.m. to look at science-based measurement and reporting using big data to verify GHG emissions.

Event to Look at Net Zero Strategy – The Global Carbon Budget hosts an event on Thursday December 8^th at 1:00 p.m. to look at last year’s carbon emissions trends and how leaders can use this date to drive net zero strategies.

RFF Hosts Energy Insights 2022 – On Thursday and Friday December 8^th and 9^th, RFF’s holds its Energy Insights 2022 event, an day-and-a-half-long conference focused on cutting-edge research to inform decisionmaking on energy and the environment. The event will engage a diverse community of academic, government, corporate, and nongovernmental organization experts in conversations about the future of energy policy in the United States, building upon research evidence and lessons learned across a range of research disciplines.

Forum Addresses Solar Storage – On Friday December 9^th at 2:00 p.m., the Clean Energy States Alliance hosts a forum on state leadership in Solar+Storage. The event features examples from Maryland and Oregon. In this webinar, representatives from the Maryland Energy Administration and the Oregon Department of Energy will present their programs and answer questions.

EXIM Bank Conference Set – The EXIM’s 2022 Annual Conference will be held on December 13^th. The conference will bring together leaders in business, finance, government, policy and media to highlight the importance of U.S. manufacturing, supply chains, economic security through exports, critical minerals and transformational exports, clean energy technology, small businesses, doing business in Africa, and much more. The speakers include DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Houston Mayor Syl Turner, US Trade Rep Katherine Tai, our friend Yahoo Finance reporter Kevin Cirilli, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Presidential Energy Advisor Amos Hochstein and many more.

Methanol Conference Set – On December 13^th at 10:00 a.m., Transport Energy holds a forum on the future of methanol. The event will discuss the foregoing questions as well as policy implications globally will be Greg Dolan, CEO of the Methanol Institute, Ayça Yalcin, Director Market Development at Methanex and Berit Hinnemann, Head of Green Fuels Sourcing for A.P. Moller - Maersk.

WH to Hold Electrification Summit – On Wednesday, December 14^th at 1:00 p.m., the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) will host a White House Electrification Summit to explore how electrification can help the United States meet its climate and equity goals. This event will convene energy and environmental leaders from government, industry, academia, and stakeholder groups to showcase the unprecedented opportunities for inclusive electrification created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act and have robust conversations about an updated electrification innovation strategy.

State of American Energy Set – The annual State of American Energy address from the American Petroleum Institute will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. at Capital Turnaround.