Energy Update: Week of November 6th

Friends,

Well tomorrow is election day in Virginia and a few other places.  Given the brutal barrage of TV advertising in the DC market, I am glad it ends tomorrow. The only problem is that I think this only a small harbinger for what we will expect next year, especially next Fall.  Every Republican is a MAGA extremist that wants to ban abortion, while every Democrat is raising your taxes, causing inflation and wants to defund the police.  So hard to watch and hear.

Congress continues it roll through funding bills this week trying to tick off the next three this week. The House approved the Legis Branch and Interior/Environment bills, bringing its tally to seven bills passed, but delayed a vote on the Transportation-HUD bill until this week when they also hope to finish Financial Services, Commerce/Justice/State and Labor-HHS (a tall order given the controversies on the last two).  Bottomline, these are the House’s take and will not  pass the Senate. But the House is at least further ahead on its work than the Senate, which has only approved its first three bills of the cycle—MilCon-Veterans, Transportation-HUD and Ag in Wednesday’s “minibus.” Only 11 days until another budget deadline.

As for hearings this week, tomorrow House Ways/Means tackles ESG issues, House Small Business looks at DOE regulations impact on small businesses and Senate Environment addresses water infrastructure in disadvantaged communities on Wednesday and Senate Energy looks at Coal community revitalization programs on Thursday. Finally, also Thursday, FERC hosts a discussion on the impact of EPA’s proposed rule under section 111 of the Clean Air Act on electric reliability.

Important events this week include a US and Canadian Chambers of Commerce forum tomorrow afternoon and Wednesday morning on critical minerals strategies and challenges with speakers that include DOE’s Abby Wulf, SAFE head Robbie Diamond (who recently signed a private-public partnership with the State Department), Interior’s Steve Feldgus, Sen. Manchin and Reps. Bill Johnson and Eric Swalwell. WAPO Live hosts Ali Zaidi Wednesday morning and EFI releases a new report on transforming energy Innovation Wednesday.  Then on Thursday, the US Energy Assn holds a discussion on DOE Carbon Utilization Procurement Grants.

Finally, excited to hear of the launch of USEA’s Power Sector Podcast featuring our friend Dr. Herman Trabish will host and connect with prominent power sector leaders. Topics will range from when, where, and how generation and transmission should be expanded to what resources and technologies are needed to ensure distribution systems remain reliable.

Only three or so weeks to COP in Dubai and this week the loss and damage discussion seems to be in a rut. We are tracking, but that cannot be good. Call with questions.

                                                                                                      

FRANKLY SPOKEN   

"America doesn't have any of those existing plants that could process our nodules."

Metals Company CEO Gerard Barron to Axios when discussing potential processing of deep-sea minerals in the United States.

 

ON THE PODCAST

USEA Launches New Energy Transition Podcast – In its first episode of the new US Energy Association’s new Power Sector podcast, host Dr. Herman K. Trabish featuring Associate Director of Policy & Markets at North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center Autumn Proudlove looking at the top state-led national grid modernization effort and electric vehicle policy trends.

 

FUN OPINIONS

FERC Chair, NERC Head Raises Concerns about LNG Marine Terminal in New England – In an open letter, FERC Chair Willie Phillips and NERC CEO James Robb write they remain concerned about the potential loss of the Everett Marine Terminal (Everett) in New England and the consequences that it might have for the reliability and affordability of the region’s energy supplies. “With respect to the natural gas system, we recognize that the reliability needs turn, at least for the foreseeable future, largely on facilities subject to the New England states’ jurisdiction.”

 

FROG BLOG

Grid Woes Must Be National Priority – In an opinion blog in Real Clear Energy, SAFE grid expert Thomas Coleman write when it comes to predicting extreme weather, what’s past is no longer prologue: “black swan” events are becoming the new normal.  Coleman says the U.S. needs additional grid infrastructure to meet today’s demand and reliability requirements. More than 70% of the nation’s transmission lines and power transformers are over 25 years old, yet experts say the nation will need to expand the system 60% by 2030 and triple capacity by 2050 to meet projected demand. This scale of transmission build-out requires commonsense permitting reform to streamline the regulatory process.

 

FUN FACTS

Low-Carbon Energy Market Headwinds:  The chart here tracks one metric, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN), against the wider market. Several other renewables funds are also down this year.

 

IN THE NEWS

SoCalGas Launches Direct Air Capture Pilot – Southern California Gas said this morning that after nearly two years of development, an innovative carbon removal technology called Hybrid Direct Air Capture (HDAC) is being brought online in Bakersfield, CA. This technology is being developed by Los Angeles based startup Avnos, with a pilot project to demonstrate how the technology removes carbon dioxide from the air and generates water using only electricity. SoCalGas is also partnering with Avnos, Inc. on a larger pilot project designed to demonstrate how this technology could be scaled up 1,000% from its current iteration. The technology was conceived at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and is a hybrid form of Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology designed to simultaneously capture CO2 and water from the air. The two-stage system removes water vapor and then captures CO2 from the dry air stream. It then compresses the CO2, allowing for transport, storage, or utilization, and condenses the water vapor into liquid water for reuse.

State Dept, SAFE Sign Major Partnership on Critical Minerals – The U.S Department of State and SAFE signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Wednesday formalizing the nonprofit as the Department’s sole NGO partner in a new initiative to spur investment in critical minerals supply chains. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Jose Fernandez, Assistant Secretary Geoffrey Pyatt, Special Representative for Global Partnerships Dorothy McAuliffe and SAFE head Robbie Diamond met at a formal signing ceremony to officially kickoff the Minerals Investment Network for Vital Energy Security and Transition, or MINVEST, initiative, which aims to: 

• Bring the private sector to the table to support the goals of the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP);  
• Encourage investment in strategic mining, processing, and recycling opportunitiesdomestically and abroad; and  
• Create more secure, sustainable, and diverse critical minerals supply chains that are not over-reliant on one country.  

SAFE, through its Ambassador Alfred Hoffman Jr. Center for Critical Minerals Strategy (Minerals Center), has already been working with the State Department to diversify U.S. critical minerals supply chains.  SAFE has proven to be a valuable partner and implementer for State Department in prior short-term engagements and events, including a private sector roundtable at UNGA in September, and organizing and leading workshops with the Battery Councils of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on ways to spur private sector investment and build regional capacity for strategic mining, processing, recycling, and battery production. In its March report, “A Global Race to the Top: Using Transparency to Secure Critical Mineral Supply Chains,” SAFE’s Minerals Center outlined a vision for how the United States can work with its partners and allies to create higher standards in critical minerals supply chains through radical transparency, from the mine to the final product. 

Industry Trades Pushback on Expected PM NAAQS – The US Chamber of Commerce, National Assn of Manufacturers and more than 70 other trade association heads including the American Petroleum Institute (API) today urged the Biden administration to maintain the existing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). In a letter to White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, the organizations warned that moving forward with EPA’s proposed revisions would jeopardize American jobs and risk substantial economic harm.

The proposed revisions to the standard “would risk jobs and livelihoods by making it even more difficult to obtain permits for new factories, facilities, and infrastructure to power economic growth,” the groups wrote. “This proposal would also threaten successful implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the important clean energy provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act. Our members have innovated and worked with regulators to significantly lower PM2.5 emissions and further progress is being made as part of the energy transition investments.”

The letter emphasized the effectiveness of the current standards which have led to a 42% decline in PM2.5 concentrations since 2000, according to government data. In fact, the EPA reaffirmed only two years ago that the current standards are protective of public health and the environment. Now, without significant new health information, the agency is proposing revisions that will have dramatic effects on the U.S. economy. A recent Oxford Economic analysis commissioned by the National Association of Manufacturers found that the proposed standard would reduce U.S. GDP by nearly $200 billion and cost as many as one million American jobs through 2031.

“Lowering the current standard so dramatically would create a perverse disincentive for American investment,” the letter reads. “EPA’s proposal could force investment in new facilities to foreign countries with less stringent air standards, thereby undermining the Administration’s economic and environmental goals. We urge you to ensure EPA maintains the existing fine particulate matter standards to ensure both continued environmental protection and economic growth.”

 

EFI Report Highlights EPA 111 Rule Questions On CCS, Hydrogen – A new report from the Energy Futures Initiative focuses on the infrastructure needs of EPA’s (EPA’s) proposed rules for fossil-fueled power plant emissions reductions. This modeling-driven study analyzes the potential outcomes of EPA’s proposal on the energy system by region, including the costs of the potential electricity, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) infrastructure requirements. The report is the first in a new report series called the U.S. Hydrogen Infrastructure Action Plan, which analyzes the opportunities of hydrogen infrastructure for enabling market formation. This series is a follow-up to the February 2023 Energy Futures Initiative (EFI) report, The U.S. Hydrogen Demand Action Plan, which recommended policies for accelerating domestic hydrogen offtake. The EFI Foundation analyzed the possible infrastructure requirements of EPA’s proposal using the Sustainable Energy System Analysis Modeling Environment (SESAME) modeling platform. This report features three main takeaways: 

1) EPA’s proposal reflects the need for very aggressive power sector decarbonization: The proposal could reduce power sector emissions by more than 40 million tons (Mt) per year from 2028 and 2042, and it requires all existing coal plants and large natural gas generators to adopt new emission reduction technologies starting in 2030 and 2032, respectively.

2) EPA’s proposal creates challenging timeframes for scaling new clean energy resources: Across all EFI Foundation scenarios, major infrastructure deployments are needed in the next decade. Without these developments, implementing EPA’s infrastructure requirements could be limited, especially due to the highly decentralized nature of fossil generators and regional electricity structures. Complementary permitting reform for electricity, hydrogen, and CO₂  systems will be necessary for implementation. And

3) EPA’s proposal creates opportunities to advance CCS and clean hydrogen deployment: EPA’s current proposal faces major implementation challenges, considering the amount of infrastructure that could be needed in the next decade to support potentially hundreds of new and existing generators throughout the country. EPA should consider ways to add flexibility, and more regionality, to its approaches to ensure large-scale decarbonization efforts are deployed moving forward. This report provides examples of how EPA and other relevant federal and state agencies can support CCS and clean hydrogen in electric sector decarbonization. It also helps evaluate the systemwide impacts of EPA’s proposal, especially in terms of the scale, timing, and feasibility of potential infrastructure requirements. 

Cassidy Intros New Legislation to Improve Permitting – Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led the introduction of judicial reform legislation. The Revising and Enhancing Project Authorizations Impacted by Review (REPAIR) Act will streamline the permitting process for U.S. energy, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure projects.

“It’s impossible to permit energy and manufacturing in the U.S. Well-funded radical groups are hijacking the justice system to send critical infrastructure projects they don’t like into legal purgatory,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Commonsense judicial reform removes unnecessary roadblocks while preserving the right to challenge projects. Doing so provides certainty and shortens permitting timelines.”

The REPAIR Act makes many vital changes to the judicial review process of an approved permit. The judicial process created by the REPAIR Act ensures all laws related to permitting have the same review process, scope of adjudication, rules for standing, and statute of limitations. The bill removes the ability to file a suit based on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), instead focusing lawsuits on the statute for which the permit was issued. In the case of a judicial remand or other court action, the REPAIR Act establishes a mediation process that allows the project developer and the permit-issuing agency to directly address the challenge in order to allow the project to move forward. Additionally, the bill increases transparency in ongoing court challenges to permits in an effort to highlight the unnecessary delays caused by the judicial process. Cassidy is joined by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Jim Risch (R-ID), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) in introducing the judicial reform legislation. The legislation is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Petroleum Institute, and ClearPath.

“…this legislation that would help drive more predictability in the federal permitting of critical infrastructure projects from offshore wind, hydrogen pipelines, roads, and bridges, to broadband projects—that often find themselves mired in legal delays caused by an antiquated permitting process—threatening our economy and diminishing our global competitiveness. It is a powerful step in the right direction so we can provide greater certainty in the permitting process and unleash private sector investment to build the infrastructure, and the economy, of the future.”

Chad Whiteman, VP, Environment and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“A transparent, timely and consistent permitting process is vital to build on the progress made in the Fiscal Responsibility Act and enable the development of all energy infrastructure, from natural gas and oil to wind and solar projects. By establishing clear timelines and a more reasonable legal process with appropriate checks and balances, Senator Cassidy is working to ensure developers have certainty to build the projects needed to expand American energy leadership.”

Dustin Meyer, Sr VP of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs, API.

“Too many clean energy projects experience delays of years, sometimes decades, largely because of a broken permitting system, and obstructive litigation practices. Senator Cassidy’s bill strikes the right balance – allowing legitimate judicial review while halting the never-ending cycle that is impeding America’s ability to deploy billions of dollars of capital to the energy projects our country desperately needs.”

ClearPath Action CEO Rich Powell.

Interior Delays Lease Sale – The Interior Department postponed an offshore oil lease sale it had scheduled for next week pending direction from an appeals court, which drew immediate criticism from the chair and ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Lease Sale 261 will be on hold until the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5^th Circuit rules on legal challenges oil companies and the Louisiana AG filed against Interior’s initial decision to leave 6 million acres out of the sale in an effort to protect the endangered Rice’s whale. API’s VP of Upstream Policy Holly Hopkins

“From issuing the weakest 5-year program for offshore leasing in U.S. history to repeatedly delaying congressionally-mandated lease sales, the Department of the Interior continues to demonstrate its willingness to ignore the clear and growing need to expand American energy leadership and reduce reliance on foreign energy sources. Beyond the sale that was postponed today, there will be no offshore sales until 2025 – the longest gap in offshore sales since 1966. The U.S. oil and natural gas industry stands ready to support the nation's energy security through reliable, lower carbon-intensive energy produced here in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, but the Interior Department’s inconsistent policies undermine the certainty needed to invest in future production.”

In September, the Biden administration issued a final 5-year program for federal offshore leasing that included 3 offshore lease sales over the next 5 years, the lowest number of lease sales in the history of the program. Lease Sale 261 is the final offshore lease sale mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act and is the only offshore sale scheduled to take place until 2025. According to the U.S. EIA, Gulf of Mexico federal offshore oil production accounts for 15% of total U.S. crude oil production and federal offshore natural gas production in the Gulf accounts for 5% of total U.S. dry production. The U.S. Gulf of Mexico produces some of the lowest carbon intensity barrels in the world. Constrained production in this basin could be replaced by higher carbon intensity barrels from elsewhere in the world.

NOAA Denies Petition on Rice’s Whale – In addition to the Lease news, NOAA recently denied the petition for rulemaking to impose speed limits on all vessels operating in the Rice's whale core habitat area in the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA concluded that there were a series of actions needed, including conservation tasks, drafting a species recovery plan, and conducting a quantitative vessel risk assessment before NOAA would even consider a rulemaking on the vessel restrictions. Interior conducted none of these actions in their attempt to target oil and gas vessels through placing vessel restrictions as lease stipulations in Lease Sale 261, as well as issuing a Notice to Lessees recommending various restrictions on oil and gas vessels.

 

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Forum Looks at Chile, Energy Transition – The Woodrow Wilson Center holds a day-long forum today and tomorrow on US-Chile climate action and the energy transition. Senior US and Chilean officials and private sector leaders will address public policies to attract investment–including for critical minerals, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and clean energy technologies–and to maintain high environmental standards and empower civil society actors.

House Ways/Means Looks at ESG – The House Ways and Means Committee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on ensuring protecting seniors and savers from ESG activism.

EESI Talks COP28 – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds a briefing tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. on what Congress can expect during the upcoming international climate negotiations in Dubai (COP28). Panelists will unpack the overall process of international climate negotiations, discuss the key topics on the agenda, review possible climate policy outcomes, and explore pathways for subsequent Congressional action. Rep. Nan Barragan is among the speakers.

Forum Look sat Ocean Carbon Removal – The AU’s Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy hold another forum tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on the potential role of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty in ocean-based carbon dioxide removal. Given the fact that many ocean-based carbon dioxide removal approaches will either be deployed in the open oceans or could have impacts in these areas, the BBNJ may prove to a key regulatory framework for the emerging industry.

E&E NEWS Looks at New Carbon Economy -- E&E News hosts a virtual discussion tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. on the new carbon economy. Reporters Marc Heller, Anne Mulkern and Corbin Hiar discuss the challenges companies face in tracking carbon and provide insights into the status of this new carbon effort.  

SAFE Forum Looks at Avs, Noise/Air Pollution Reductions – Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., SAFE’s Center for Automated Transportation Technology (CATT) holds a webinar discussion focused on how autonomous vehicle technology can reduce urban air and noise pollution.

White House, SAFE Headline Chamber Critical Minerals Forum – The US and Canadian Chambers of Commerce will hold a forum tomorrow afternoon and Wednesday morning on critical minerals strategies and challenges.  Speakers include DOE’s Abby Wulf, SAFE head Robbie Diamond (who recently signed a private-public partnership with the State Department), Interior’s Steve Feldgus and many more. Sen. Manchin and Reps. Bill Johnson and Eric Swalwell are expected to speak.

Forum Looks at Sustainable Aviation – The Meridian International Center holds a discussion on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. on sustainable aviation as part of its Diplocraft series. Speakers include GE Aerospace’s Allen Paxson, Thomas Michels of United Airlines and Kristian Hedberg, Minister counsellor for mobility and transport at the Delegation of the European Union to the United States

WaPo Hosts Climate Event with Zaidi – The Washington Post Live will hold a This is Climate: How We Live news program on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. in The Post's D.C. headquarters featuring Eileen Fisher CEO Lisa Williams, White House National Climate advisor Ali Zaidi and Oyster Oyster chef Rob Rubba, who will discuss the ways ordinary citizens can help reduce the world’s carbon footprint. In a segment presented by WM, Tara Hemmer, chief sustainability officer for WM, discusses the unique role WM has in the circular economy when creating environmental solutions for its customers of all sizes – including some of the largest companies in North America.

Forum Looks at Climate Resilience – The Henry L. Stimson Center holds a webinar on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. on closing the resource divide on climate resilience. The costs of building climate resilience in developing countries are immense, in the range of $160-340 billion annually by 2030. A panel of experts will explore what gaps still exist in the climate financing landscape and what needs to be done at COP28 to fill them.

Forum Looks at Climate Services – The US Global Change Research Program holds a Climate Services Forum on Wednesday morning at the Department of Interior’s Yates Auditorium. This Forum supports recommendations from the National Science and Technology Council’s Federal Framework & Action Plan for Climate Services, which recognizes the need to enhance the scope & integration of federal climate services in a whole-of-government framework.

EFI Report to Look at Energy Innovation – On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., the Energy Futures Initiative Foundation hosts an event premiering a new analytical report on opportunities to build upon current initiatives underway to further enhance DOE’s organizational structure and internal processes for an even more effective energy innovation enterprise. Former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and former Congresswoman, Secretary of the Air Force and current President of UTEP, Heather Wilson will speak.

House Small Biz Look sat DOE Reg Impacts – The House Small Business Committee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. examining the effects of DOE regulations on America's small businesses.

Senate Environment Tackles Water Infrastructure – The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds a hearing on "Accessing Clean Water Infrastructure Servicing Disadvantaged and Underserved Communities.

Forum Looks at Nuclear – The Environmental Law Institute holds a webinar on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. on Nuclear Energy in 2023 looking at where it is and where it is headed. Nuclear energy advocates argue that the increased use of nuclear power is integral to combatting climate change and transitioning to clean energy. However, there are many concerns about nuclear energy’s risks, including environmental justice & nuclear waste management. Our friend and former NRC Commissioner Jeff Merrifield is among the speakers.

Forum Looks at Decarb of Heavy Industries – The NYU Law School’s Institute for Policy Integrity holds a forum on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. on research insights on industrial decarbonization. Panelists will share preliminary findings from their research and policy work focusing on efforts to decarbonize various industrial processes, including steel and chemicals manufacturing. The discussion will address the technological and policy changes needed to achieve these shifts as well as the role of academic research in the policymaking process.

Forum Looks at Energy Security Issues – The National Bureau of Asian Research holds a forum on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. on the revenge of energy security. Leading experts will discuss regional dynamics in Asia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including the impact of the Russia-China relationship and supply chain disruptions on future U.S. energy and economic security.

FP Looks at US China Relations – Foreign Policy and the Quincy Institute are hosting a series of dialogues on how a shifting U.S.-China relationship could affect global norms, multilateral institutions, military spending, and the health of the planet for the coming decades. The first is Thursday morning at the Columbus Club at Washington, DC’s Union Station.  The event will unpack U.S.-China relations in the lead up to the Biden-Xi meeting at APEC. Rep. Adam Smith and Sen. Chris Van Hollen are among the speakers.

FERC Holds EPA Power Plant Rule Forum – FERC will convene its annual Reliability Technical Conference on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The conference will include Commissioner-led and staff-led panels. The purpose of this conference is to discuss policy issues related to the reliability and security of the Bulk-Power System.  The conference will also discuss the impact of EPA’s proposed rule under section 111 of the Clean Air Act on electric reliability.

Capito Visits with Punchbowl Pop-Up – Punchbowl News managing editor Heather Caygle will interview Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) in a fireside chat on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. about measures to address the opioid crisis. It is expected SMC will also address energy issues as well. 

Forum Looks at European Energy Security – The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies holds a virtual discussion on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. looking at European energy security and shifting global dependencies.

Senate Energy Looks at Coal Reclamation Programs – The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Water and Power Subcommittee holds a hearing on "Implementation of Federal Coal Mine Land Reclamation and Abandoned Coal Mine Land Economic Revitalization Programs.

Forum Look sat US-Ukraine Cooperation on Energy – On Thursday at 11:00 a.m., Georgetown University SFS Energy Club holds a forum at the Intercultural Center on a conversation on US-Ukraine energy cooperation. The conversation on energy security and US-Ukraine cooperation with special guests Oleksiy Chernyshov, CEO of Naftogaz Ukraine, and Laura Lochman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources at the U.S. Department of State.

BPC Looks at Hospital Emissions – The Bipartisan Policy Center and Commonwealth Fund holds a virtual discussion Thursday at 12:00 p.m. on cleaner health care, reducing hospital greenhouse gas emissions. Former Senate Majority Leader Dr. Bill Frist, also a BPC Fellow, will keynote.   The event features a discussion focused on how hospitals can safely reduce their GHG emissions while protecting and promoting patient health and safety.

USEA Looks at DOE Carbon Utilization – The US Energy Association holds a virtual discussion on Thursday at 12:30 p.m., on DOE Carbon Utilization Procurement Grants. Speakers include Joe Stoffa, Technology manager at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and Emily Connor, Program manager of CO2 removal and conversion at DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.

CAP Looks at Climate Florida – The Center for American Progress and the CLIO Institute hold a virtual discussion on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. tackling the climate crisis and building resilient and equitable communities.  The event will focus on climate change effects in Florida and how to respond. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava will speak.

Forum Looks at China Climate Action – The Wilson Center's China Environment Forum holds a discussion Thursday at 2:30 p.m. unpacking China's climate action. At this CEF meeting, panelists will unpack some of China’s progress or slippage in climate action since 2021, with some comparison to trends in the United States. Lili Pike (Freelance Writer) will discuss the impact of deteriorating US-China relations on climate action in both countries. Kyle Obermann (Environmental Photographer) will highlight insights from his US-China Journey to Net Zero documentary. He will also discuss China’s expanding nature-based climate solutions through national park planning and wild-land protection.

USEA Looks at Appalachia, CO2 Storage – The US Energy Association holds a virtual discussion on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. looking at Appalachia's next energy revolution, direct use of natural gas in manufacturing with capture and permanent geological storage of CO2. They will do a fireside chat with Perry Babb, CEO of KeyState Energy.

 

IN THE FUTURE

Forum to Focus on APEC Summit – On November 13^th at 9:30 a.m., the Brookings Center for East Asia Policy Studies and the Japan Economic Foundation (JEF) will host a group of experts to assess the goals and potential outcomes of this year’s APEC summit. The first panel will focus on climate change and energy security, and the second panel will address the international trading system and supply chain resilience. This event will be open to attend in person or to watch online. Online viewers can submit questions via e-mail to events@brookings.edu or via Twitter using #APEC.

WCEE Looks at Transmission – The Women’s Council on Energy & the Environment holds a forum at Cheniere Energy next Monday at Noon featuring transmission and DOE’s Grid Deployment Office.  The speaker Gretchen Kershaw will talk about how DOE’s Grid Deployment Office is furthering its mission to maintain and invest in critical generation facilities; improve and expand transmission and distribution systems; develop high-capacity electric transmission lines nationwide.

Gas Forum Set for San Antonio – The 7^th Annual US-Mexico Natural Gas Forum is set for San Antonio on November 13^th to 15^th at the Westin Riverwalk. This Forum focuses on exporting gas to Mexico, including the many elements involved in mobilizing U.S. production to satisfy growing Mexico natural gas and power demand.  

USEA Hosts Advanced Energy Technology Forum – The US Energy Assn hosts its Advanced Energy Technology Forum will be held on Tuesday November 14^th at 10:00 a.m.  The event delves into the realm of technological innovation within the energy sector, emphasizing research and development across corporate and government domains.  Speakers will include NREL’s Doug Arent, Idaho NL’s John Wagner, MIT’s Robert Stoner and our friend Rob Gramlich.

Forum Looks at Net Zero Techs – The Business Council for Sustainable Energy and GTI Energy holds a forum next Tuesday November 14^th at 11:00 a.m. leveraging current natural gas infrastructure for future energy systems. GTI Energy’s collaborative research effort, the Net-Zero Infrastructure Program (NZIP), was designed to help us understand how to evolve existing natural gas infrastructure to meet future energy needs.

Forum Looks at COP28 Expectations – Next Tuesday November 14^th at 1:00 p.m., the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht – Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Africa Center, and Global Energy Center host a discussion to understand what the COP28 conference should deliver, and how we should measure its success.

CSIS Looks at Adaptation, Resilience – The Center for Strategic and International Studies holds a forum on the Launch of “Helping the World Prepare - A Primer on U.S. International Adaptation and Resilience” on Tuesday November 14^th at 2:00 p.m. The role of this event is to discuss the work that has been done to support the PREPARE Action Plan and its importance as described in this new primer.

Forum Looks at Permit Reform – The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment holds a forum next Tuesday November 14^th at 2:00 p.m. on permitting reform. The forum will be looking at how best to combine accelerating the energy transition, protecting the environment and ensuring fairness. Experts in energy and energy politics will provide insights into the permitting process including how permitting and the environmental assessment process might be improved for completion efficiency and strengthened for environmental and human health and safety outcomes.

POLITICO Hosts Clean Fuels Conversation – On Wednesday November 15^th at 8:30 a.m. at the Royal Sonesta on Capitol Hill, POLITICO convenes leading officials from the administration, key congressional committees, states, and other stakeholders to explore the role of EVs, biofuels, hydrogen and other options in the clean fuel movement and how evolving consumer behaviors are influencing sustainable energy practices. We’ll also discuss barriers and solutions facing the clean fuel drive.

CSIS Forum to Look at Methane – On Wednesday morning November 15^th starting at 8:30 a.m., the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosts an event on cross-industry collaboration for methane reductions. The forum features Congressional speakers, industry leaders, and methane experts from academia and civil society. 

Forum Looks at State of Climate Action – The World Resources Institute holds a forum on Wednesday November 15^th at 10:00 a.m. on the state of climate action in 2023. The upcoming “State of Climate Action 2023” report translates the Paris Agreement’s temperature limit into 2030 and 2050 targets across power, buildings, industry, transport, forests and land, food and agriculture, technological carbon removal and climate finance.

Forum Looks at COP28 – On Thursday November 16^th at 10:00 a.m., the Middle East Institute’s Climate and Water Program holds a virtual event discussing the critical issues that will come to a head at COP28 as world leaders come together in Dubai to address the current and projected consequences of a rapidly warming climate.

SEJ Hosts Journalists Guide to Energy, Environment – The Society of Environmental Journalists hosts its 12^th annual edition of the Journalists’ Guide to Environment + Energy, on Thursday November 16^th at 3:00 p.m. in GWU’s Lisner Auditorium. At the event, leading environmental journalists from major news outlets will predict the top stories of the year ahead. Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, founder of the online news magazine Reasons to Be Cheerful, will discuss solutions journalism and environmental optimism. Indigenous student Shondiin Mayo will discuss the future of environmental journalism. TIME's Justin Worland will lead a panel discussion with top reporters from The New York Times, NBC, NPR and more. And the winner of the $10,000 Nina Mason Pulliam Award for Environmental Reporting will be announced and presented live.

Forum Looks at Global Energy Transition – Georgetown University’s Mortara Center for International Studies holds a forum on Thursday November 16^th at 3:00 p.m. on the global politics of climate change.  The event features a discussion of global progress on addressing climate change, focusing on the politics and policies of the green transition and industrial policy. Three guest experts will discuss these issues in the context of the US, the European Union and China.

RFF Talks with Zoi on Electrifying Transportation – On Wednesday November 29^th at 2:00 p.m., Resources for the Future President and CEO Richard Newell will sit down with former EVGo CEO and former DOE EERE Asst Sect. Cathy Zoi to share her reflections over the course of her impressive career in clean energy and public policy, her hopes and expectations for the future, and lessons learned for environmental and energy leaders on what is needed to get to a net-zero reality.

COP 28 Dubai -- COP 28 will take place from November 30^th until December 12^th in Dubai.