Energy Update: Week of October 11th

Friends,               

Hope you’re enjoying Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day.  For my fellow Italians, especially in Boston, Providence or parts of New England (where I was this past weekend), it is a pretty huge celebration.

It is not Patriots’ Day, but it is Boston Marathon Monday for the COVID-delayed 2021 Boston Marathon.  This followed yesterday’s delayed Chicago Marathon, two of the biggest Marathons in the world.  Congrats to those who ran yesterday and good luck to all those running today, including AZ Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (who is likely to get some flak from protesters) and our friend and former Riverside P-E reporter Dave Danelski.

And since we are talking Boston, if you are there for the Marathon or today’s ALDS Red Sox-Rays game and work on offshore wind, you might as well stay since Boston will host American Clean Power Association’s annual Offshore Wind Conference Wednesday through Friday.  Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is keynote speaker. 

Congress is out so things in DC are taking a much needed “deep breathe” or “pause”.  The action will get heavy when they return as Democrats try to lock up the President’s budget and the bipartisan transportation initiative.  There are a few hearings though including the mark up in the House Natural Resources Committee of two bills aimed at offshore drilling given the spill in California, as well as a follow up oversight hearing on Thursday.  And House Science hosts Nation Weather Service Director (and others) on forecasting.  And next week, Senate Energy has new FERC nominee Willie Phillips and our friend Brad Crabtree at DOE.

The annual meetings of both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank take place today through next Friday October 17^th, both virtually and in-person in Washington, D.C.  Other good events include a ConservAmerica forum tomorrow at where panelists – including NWF CEO Collin O’Mara – will explore the challenges and opportunities for species conservation, the role of innovation and private landowners.  On Wednesday, our friend Rich Powell of ClearPath joins a Middle East Futures Forum panel on the future of energy. And Thursday, the Chamber’s Global Energy Institute continuing its EnergyInnovates series with an in-depth discussion on cybersecurity and the energy sector, while BCSE holds a forum looking at private sector action doing its part to demonstrate leadership on climate action.

Keep your eye out for the Portland Cement Association’s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality which will be released tomorrow morning.  More on this tomorrow…

Finally, we are only three weeks out from COP26 fast approaching, we are going to hear all kinds of crazy things about emissions, climate issues and the energy transition.  With all that talk, I wanted to share with you an important piece by Bloomberg’s Javier Blas – one of the most respected energy journalists out there today – writing about the reality of our current energy/climate challenges.  

Stay Safe and healthy.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“We need to be clear about one thing: This is the market. Carbon prices are not the source of the problem and are responsible for ‘one-fifth’ of the total value of electricity bills,”

Franz Timmerman, the EU Green Deal chief, trying to shift blame away from EU climate policies when discussing the high natural gas and gasoline prices across Europe while talking to reporters at a meeting of EU environment ministers in Luxembourg.

“The climate crisis is real, energy transition is a necessity, and we must accelerate it — but it’s not a flick of a switch. If we want to solve climate change we need to do so while at the same time insulating the global economy from extreme energy shocks.”

Amos Hochstein, U.S.’s top energy diplomat. 

ON THE PODCAST

RFF Talks Methane Emissions – In a recent RFF Resources Radio episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Arvind Ravikumar, a professor at the Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. Ravikumar describes the challenge of reducing methane emissions from oil and gas production, given that the sources of emissions can be diverse and that systems for monitoring methane leaks can be improved. Elaborating on a recent journal article he coauthored, Ravikumar describes how the process of tracking methane emissions used by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which informs methane control policy across the globe, underestimates the extent of the problem.

FUN OPINIONS

FORBES: Energy Companies Face Growing Cyber Threats, Matrix Of Solutions – In her Forbes Column this week, our friend Dee Bhambhani writes that cybercrime and threats to U.S. energy companies have surged in the past year, costing millions of dollars in losses and ransoms paid, billions of dollars of investment in cybersecurity software, and executive and legislative branch intervention. Meanwhile in 2020, investor-owned utilities spent $120 billion for capital investment for the grid, which includes cybersecurity, money for resilience and grid modernization.

FROG BLOG

Air Liquide CEO Weighs in on Hydrogen Day – In a commentary on National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day (October 8^th), Air Liquide CEO Mike Graff writes because of hydrogen’s versatility as both a fuel source and energy storage medium, it has the potential to support decarbonization efforts across economic sectors.  Hydrogen also represents a significant economic opportunity for the energy industry to continue evolving and thriving.  By 2030, it is estimated that the United States’ hydrogen market could generate an estimated $140 billion in revenue per year and support 700,000 jobs.

FUN FACTS

Natural Gas States – Top five natural gas-producing states and share of total US natural gas production:

1. Texas (24%) 
2. Pennsylvania (20%)
3. Louisiana (9.3%)
4. Oklahoma (8.5%)
5. Ohio (7.7%)

RECONCILIATION REPORT

Please find below the latest addition of the Policy Resolution Group’s FY2022 Budget Reconciliation & Infrastructure Update. Click here for full summaries of the House Energy & Commerce and House Ways & Means markups, plus a full document library of related items.  

State of Infrastructure and Reconciliation Negotiations

Negotiations over the Build Back Better reconciliation package continued to make progress this week, with most of the action taking place behind closed doors, and with little definitive progress on what will be included in the final bill. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) continued to reiterate his desire for a reduced top-line number and cautioned that sweeping social safety net spending without work requirements would “turn our society into an entitlement society.” Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) has remained publicly quiet about her demands for a final bill, but she has seemingly raised objections to corporate tax increases and provisions to lower prescription drug prices. Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) once again expressed significant frustration with both of the Senators and demanded that they clarify their demands on what programs be cut and by how much.

As negotiations continue, Democrats must make difficult choices over which provisions to cut out of the agreement in order to satisfy the moderate wing of the party. President Biden has seemingly accepted that a final reconciliation bill will likely end up costing about $1.9-$2.3 trillion over 10 years, but there are growing concerns that it will be difficult to finance that number without significant tax increases that are likely to be opposed by moderates. It could be necessary for Democratic leaders to cut certain programs entirely and significantly pare back most other provisions. Backdoor negotiations over the next few weeks will provide further direction on the eventual form this bill will take, but we can expect more hand wringing from progressives that the bill doesn’t invest enough in the American people and from moderates that the bill represents irresponsible government spending.

Liam Donovan’s Bottom Line

Bottom Line: A (Side) Show About Nothing. The U.S. Senate engaged in the Seinfeld of stand-offs this week, as Republicans and Democrats stared each other down over procedural minutiae amid the specter of market fallout related to ongoing flirtation with the federal debt limit. The gratuitous game of chicken was resolved with a fitting anti-climax: a short-term punt to the end of the year, setting up a newly unified fiscal cliff for early December. Senate Democrats crowed about the GOP “cave,” while Republicans—ultimately more concerned with preserving the filibuster—settled for forcing the majority to back a debt figure rather than a mere suspension. The underlying disagreement over a long-term debt limit increase continues, and we can expect to be back in the same position within a matter of weeks.

The debt limit drama served as a welcome interlude to fractious Democratic negotiations over the Build Back Better reconciliation package. And while the exercise of standing up to a common political enemy appears to have provided a short-term boost to morale, reality intruded within hours of claiming victory, as Senators Sanders and Manchin traded public barbs over the size and scope of the partisan reconciliation bill. After failing to secure a desired framework deal that would have allowed for passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill (BIF) by the end of September, the party finds itself no closer to such an agreement a week later. House and Senate leadership both publicly committed to a new target date for passing both bills on October 31, when the new surface transportation authorization patch is set to expire. This new date would carry slightly more weight than the original September deadline in that the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) is in need of a cash infusion, something that would be difficult to win GOP support for with a 5-year highway bill (BIF) sitting in the House.

Practically speaking, the reconciliation package almost certainly will not be passed this month, as the current congressional calendar alone can attest—members won’t be returning to Washington until the week of the 18th. But a framework deal by Halloween is critical to ensuring that the final bill can be negotiated, crafted, scored, and otherwise vetted in time to be comfortably passed and signed into law by the end of the year. Also looming is the Virginia gubernatorial election in early November that could serve as a canary in a political coalmine for Democrats’ midterm fortunes. A disappointing result could further depress the appetite for a bigger, bolder package, while a sweeping victory could give Biden a boost in his quest to deliver a $2 trillion plus deal. Simply put, the longer these talks drag on, the smaller the topline is likely to get, and the more contentious the fights will be over how to triage the agenda. Senators Manchin and Sinema remain elusive, despite ongoing engagement with the White House, and their policy concerns, while complimentary, are unique. Getting them to yes will be a challenge that is compounded by the need to sell any deal to newly emboldened progressives. President Biden has already made clear that his target range is $1.9-2.3 trillion, telegraphing the necessary expectations adjustment, but even that range could prove out of reach.

Ultimately President Biden’s decision to hand progressives a public victory on the linkage of the BIF could be the medicine that helps the myriad of substantive concessions go down. The wild card to watch remains the practical, political, and philosophical calculus that informs a slimmed down bill: will Democrats pick a few core programs and priorities to enact for as long as possible, or will they pack in as much as they can, even if it means doing so for only a few years?

Follow Liam on Twitter: @LPDonovan

The Breakdown with Yasmin Nelson

The Breakdown: Congressional Showdowns. It’s week two of behind the scenes negotiating on multiple big ticket items including reconciliation and the debt limit. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell have successfully negotiated a short term debt limit extension until December. While Majority Leader Schumer is walking away feeling like he won, the short extension means they will be right back at it in a few weeks. When that happens, Democrats hope and believe that they will be in a stronger negotiating position now that Minority Leader McConnell has been forced to cooperate on the short extension.  

In other significant news, Democrats are continuing to negotiate within the party to come to a consensus on an overall price tag for the reconciliation package. Earlier this week, President Biden shared with Progressive Democrats that the topline number should be around $1.9 trillion to 2.3 trillion. Progressives seemingly understood the assignment and did not vocally push back on President Biden.  However, there is a strong desire for firm commitments from Senate Democrats like Manchin and Sinema before progressives completely back down. President Biden is fully invested in this process, holding what seems like daily conversations at the White House and by phone with each faction of his party. As Democrats look to trim the reconciliation bill, the outlook and the process is still yet to be determined. This is what you can count on: we will be talking about reconciliation through October— and potentially up to the holidays.

Follow Yasmin on Twitter: @YasminRNelson

IN THE NEWS

EIA Projects Increases in Global Energy Consumption, Emissions through 2050 – EIA projected last week that, absent significant changes in policy or technology, world energy consumption will grow by nearly 50% between 2020 and 2050. In its International Energy Outlook 2021 (IEO2021), EIA projects that strong economic growth, particularly with developing economies in Asia, will drive global increases in energy consumption despite pandemic-related declines and long-term improvements in energy efficiency. If current policy and technology trends continue, global energy consumption and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions will increase through 2050 as a result of population and economic growth. According to the IEO2021 Reference case, which projects future energy trends based on current laws and regulations, renewable energy consumption has the strongest growth among energy sources through 2050. Liquid fuels remain the largest source of energy consumption, driven largely by the industrial and transportation sectors.

SoCalGas Successfully Tests 20% Hydrogen Blend in Household Appliances – Hydrogen blending is becoming an increasingly popular technology to power household systems and appliances with California set to benefit from successful tests in this area. Southern California Gas has successfully tested a blend of 20% hydrogen through a closed loop natural gas system which now paves the way to decarbonize household systems. Tested at the groups Engineering Analysis Center and Centralised Training Facility, technicians measured the performance of common household appliances, such as stoves and wall heaters, when they had been fueled with a blend of hydrogen and natural gas. It is expected that the testing of the hydrogen blend uses similar engineering and technology that will later be used to blend hydrogen into the natural gas grid in the future. This could decarbonize vast stretches of urban areas by utilizing a clean fuel for everyday operations. The test also provides key operational and safety experience, including testing for pipeline leaks, that will enable SoCalGas to implement larger scale hydrogen blending demonstrations.

AEE Calls for Utilities to Focus on Development of Western RTO – Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is calling on electric utilities in the West to support the development of a regional transmission organization (RTO) for Western states. Several energy companies recently announced plans to explore market options in response to state momentum for a regional solution to energy resilience challenges, a process AEE says should be done expeditiously and lead to the creation of a western RTO. A West-wide RTO could result in nearly $1.3 billion in annual savings for participating states in 2030 relative to a real-time energy market, according to an independent, state-led market study of RTOs published in July. These benefits are primarily driven by the more efficient dispatch of low-cost generation resources over a broader geographic footprint.

Survey Shows OPEC Countries Short of Production Quotas – The latest S&P Global Platts survey of OPEC+ crude oil production, which finds that many countries are still struggling to hit their quotas, with compliance at 111.5%.

• Overall OPEC+ output rises 470,000 b/d in September
• 19 members with quotas were a combined 570,000 b/d short of allocations
• Nigeria, Angola, Malaysia well below quotas
• Saudi Arabia at 9.66 mil b/d; Russia 9.86 mil b/d

Report: Hydrogen Export Opportunities Create Momentum – On Friday as part of Hydrogen Day, ClearPath released a new report focused on the export opportunity for decarbonized hydrogen, going in depth on big trends like EU and Japan’s clean hydrogen supply gaps, Russian/Middle East’s efforts to dominate the market, the competitive role the USA can play in exporting clean hydrogen and emerging U.S. hydrogen hubs that could meet both domestic and international demand.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Urban Land Institute Fall Meetings Set – The Urban Land Institute holds its Fall meetings on October today to Wednesday. 

USEA Hosts India Energy Author – The US Energy Assn holds a forum tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. featuring India Energy expert Padu Padmanabhan to discuss his book First Fuel.   The book is an invaluable account for not only energy-sector professionals, but anyone interested in understanding what it takes to achieve energy efficiency and why we need to urgently adopt such practices. It recommends vital policy and regulatory changes and, in so doing, presents a radical new vision for energy and all its users living in the most critical of times.

Reuters Hosts Downstream Hybrid Event in Houston – Reuters will host the Downstream Expo 2021 digital conference tomorrow through Friday, with an in-person conference and exhibition to follow in Houston the next week.

FT Forum Looks at Climate Financing – The second FT Race to Net-Zero forum will be held tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. to explore the ever-expanding world of climate finance and dissect the challenges and opportunities that come with transitioning to a greener path of climate change investment.

WaPo Live Hosts Climate, Business Discussion – The Washington Post Live holds a virtual discussion tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on the role of business and investing on climate issues. Mark Carney, U.N. special envoy on climate action and finance, and Anne Simpson, managing investment director of CalPERS, examine the role of sustainable investing and how businesses are tackling the climate crisis.

USEA-AID Host Forum Cyber in Electricity – As energy systems continue to advance technologically, they have become increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. In response to this threat, tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., USEA is partnering with USAID to share some key tools and resources to improve cybersecurity in the energy sector. This webinar will draw on lessons learned and present a discussion on how participant utilities plan to implement these best practices in their own organizations. Two of the speakers recently completed an online course based on the webinar series and are planning to develop a cybersecurity roadmap/framework within their organization.

Forum Looks at Hydrogen –Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., the Global American Business Institute holds a forum on the future of hydrogen.  Speakers include NREL hydrogen expert Keith Wipke and Tae-Hyun Yang, the Director of the Hydrogen Energy Research Division at Korea Institute of Energy Research.

Bracewell to Host ESG Seminar – Bracewell experts host another informative and timely presentation tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. looking at what is happening in the world of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG).  My Colleague Becky Baker looks at intersection of employment Laws and ESG while Fernando Rodriguez-Marin & Luiz Gabriel Todt de Azevedo ESG components.

CCS Report Released – Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., Global CCS Institute will launch its annual flagship report. The 2021 Global Status of CCS Report demonstrates the vital role of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies as the world accelerates on the path to net zero and documents the current status and important milestones for the technology this year. The Global Status report remains the preeminent resource for carbon capture and storage around the world.

ConservAmerica to Look at Wildlife – ConservAmerica holds at forum tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. where panelists will explore the challenges and opportunities for species conservation, the role of innovation and private landowners, and the implications for RAWA passage. Speakers will include NWF CEO Collin O’Mara, Missouri Department of Conservation Director Sara Parker Pauley, LandCan’s Amos Eno and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Martha Williams.

Columbia Forum Looks at Fusion – The Center on Global Energy Policy hosts the Columbia Energy Technology Revolution Forum, a new webinar series hosted by former DOE Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar. The series will focus on frank, practical, scientific and technological discussions on the prospects of new technologies in the energy world. Each session will bring together experts to focus on a different energy technology.  The first session tomorrow at Noon will feature Sir Steven Cowley, Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, one of the DOE’s 17 National Labs, and the lead lab in the area of fusion energy. He will be joined by Commonwealth Fusion Systems CEO Dr. Robert Mumgaard, an MIT spin out looking to have a net-out fusion plant before the end of the decade.  The discussion will focus on the state of fusion technologies, how fast until we get to a net-out containment, and energy policies to drive from net-out containment to commercial fusion plants.

Forum to Look at Caribbean, Latin American Climate Solutions, Finance – With COP26 fast approaching, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) tomorrow at Noon are holding the virtual launch of a report series published by the IDB and WRI on NBS adoption across Latin America and the Caribbean and how to chart a pathway to increase investment in NBS. The event will feature an opening keynote conversation between WRI President and CEO Ani Dasgupta and IDB President Mauricio Claver-Carone on climate challenges and opportunities in the region today and the Bank’s renewed focus on enabling sustainable, green growth, including through innovative financing and private-sector mobilization. A panel discussion will follow on the valuable role nature-based solutions will have in transforming LAC's economies and future.

BPC Looking at Farm Bill Discussion – The Bipartisan Policy Center is hosting a public virtual event on tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. to look at enhancing the resilience of our nation’s farms, rangelands, and forests to the increasing threat of wildfires, droughts, and other climate-driven risks. Former Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Saxby Chambliss, co-chairs of BPC’s Farm and Forest Carbon Solutions Task Force, will discuss the task force’s priorities for innovative federal agriculture, forest, and climate policies that can deliver substantial economic and environmental benefits. Additional speakers will discuss the pragmatic, evidence-based policies needed to protect America’s natural infrastructure, as well as looking ahead to the upcoming Farm Bill negotiations taking place next year.

Forum to Look at Ocean Upwelling, Carbon Removal – Tomorrow at 5:00 p.m., the Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy and the Environmental the Policy & Culture Program at Northwestern University host a webinar that will examine the prospects for two potential ocean-based carbon removal approaches artificial ocean upwelling and downwelling, to effectuate large-scale sequestration of carbon dioxide. Artificial Ocean Upwelling refers to approaches that seek to boost the primary production of marine organisms that take up carbon dioxide, including phytoplankton and macroalgae, by moving nutrient-rich waters upward in the water column. Brian von Herzen, Executive Director of the Climate Foundation, will make the case that marine permaculture can help to restore natural upwelling using marine solar, wave, and wind energy, as well as providing co-benefits, including improved food security.

Pershing Speaks to Middle East Energy Forum – The Middle East Institute and Foreign Policy host the inaugural Middle East Futures Forum tomorrow through Friday. This four-day virtual conference will bring together experts and practitioners at the cutting edge of finance, energy, technology, and defense in the US and Middle East to examine major trends and drivers that will shape the Middle East for years to come.  Climate Envoy Jonathan Pershing speaks while our friend Rich Powell of ClearPath join a panel on the future of energy on Wednesday.

Wilson Event to Look at COP26 – On Wednesday at 9:00 a.m., the Wilson Center holds another forum on the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which will take place in Glasgow, this November. With less than a month until this meeting, the forum will include government representatives, business leaders and civil society from Brazil, the United States and other countries, to discuss what is at stake, the anticipated outcomes of COP26 and the possible impacts on the future of the environment and business.  State’s Jonathan Pershing will speak.

Forum to Look at Global Energy, Transit – The Port of Corpus Christi holds the Second Annual Texas Energy Day on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. E focused on navigating the global energy economy and transit.  The event will feature Congressional leaders and energy sector experts to provide insight on the importance of maintaining high-quality, resilient and reliable energy for markets around the world.

House Resources Looks at Oil Spill Legislation – Never on to waste a good oil spill crisis, the House Natural Resources Committee holds a markup Wednesday at Noon of H.R. 2643 (117), the "Offshore Pipeline Safety Act"; and H.R. 570 (117), the "Offshore Accountability Act."

Forum Looks at Carbon Removal Innovation – On Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., the Brookings Center on Regulations and Markets’ “Reimagining modern-day markets and regulations” series will hold a forum on an all-hands-on-deck approach to achieve the necessary reductions in greenhouse gases to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Forum to Look at Advanced Nuclear – On Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., Third Way and the Breakthrough Institute hold an event on forging near-term pathways for licensing advanced reactors. The event will explore how the first steps in the industry can guide how advanced reactor technologies are regulated and licensed. Trailblazing advanced reactor companies will discuss their licensing strategies and applicable lessons for other developers. Former NRC commissioners will look at how the Commission can best enable the licensing and deployment of new technologies.  Former Commissioners Stephen Burns, Bill Magwood and William Ostendorff all speak. 

WCEE Book Event Focuses on Climate Truths, Solutions – The Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE) holds a book event on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. WCEE will read “All We Can Save – Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis”.  There are several essays in the book; the following three have been selected for discussion including Litigating a Time of Crisis, Harnessing Cultural Power and An Offering from the Bayou.

CSIS Global Forum Set – On Thursday and Friday, the Center for Strategic and International Studies holds its virtual 2021 Global Development Forum.  A Thursday panel at 11:00 a.m. will look at energy transition issues.  Among the speakers are our friend Frank Fannon and Chevron’s Bruce Niemeyer.

Chamber Energy Forum Addresses Cyber, Energy – The Chamber’s Global Energy Institute continues its EnergyInnovates series on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. with an in-depth discussion on cybersecurity and the energy sector.  This virtual forum will focus on the threats, lessons-learned, and rapidly evolving cyber landscape impacting the convergence of our energy industries’ informational and operational technologies. Featured Speakers include Sen. Angus King and Rep Jim Langevin.  Other panelists will include Southern CEO Tom Fanning, Siemens Energy’s Jonathan Tubb, Robert Lee of Dragos, Exelon’s Betsy Soehren-Jones and Trevor Rudolph of Schneider Electric.

House Science Looks at Forecasting – The House Science, Space and Technology Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. looking at the future of forecasting and building a weather-ready nation. Witnesses include NWS Director Dr. Louis Uccellini, GAO Natural Resources and Environment Director Cardell Johnson, National Weather Service Employees Organization President John Werner and Erik Salna of the Florida International University’s International Hurricane Research Center.

House Resources Looks at Oil Spill Oversight – On Thursday at 12:00 pm and following the Wednesday mark up in Full Committee, the House Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will host a remote oversight hearing on the impacts of abandoned offshore oil and gas infrastructure and the need for stronger Federal oversight.

CFR Forum Looks at Climate Crisis – On Thursday at Noon, the Council on Foreign Relations holds an on-the-record discussion on current and projected climate change, options for reducing emissions, and policies to help communities adapt to a changing climate. Speakers will include CFR’s Alice Hill, Katharine Mach of the University of Miami and former ARPA-E head Arun Majumdar.

Forum to Present Coastal Risk Reporting – On Thursday at Noon, the Future of Land and Housing program at New America and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting presents new research from Dona Stewart on climate change and coastal risk. The event will discuss how coastal communities and local and federal decision-makers are adapting to climate change, with a focus on managed retreat.

BCSE Forum Looks at Business Climate Solutions – The Business Council for Sustainable Energy holds a forum on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. looking at private sector action doing its part to demonstrate leadership on climate action – through both corporate commitments, and by also providing and innovating the solutions to the challenges posed by climate change.  This panel will explore the role of public-private partnerships, corporate procurement, supply chain management, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies. The economic and job creation benefits of climate action will also be discussed – including the creation of a more inclusive workforce and ensuring the equitable distribution of benefits of the transition towards a net-zero future.

Forum to Look at EV Supply Chain – The Hudson Institute’s Hamilton Commission on Securing America’s National Security Industrial Base holds a timely discussion on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. to look at advanced batteries and the supply chain.

GW Forum Features Danish Minister – The George Washington University and the Security and Sustainability Forum holds its 8^th webinar in the Leadership in Our Time webinar series.  This session on Friday at 8:00 a.m. will feature Danish Minister of Climate, Energy, and Utilities Dan Jørgensen, who will be interviewed by Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Ambassador András Simonyi. Topics include European Commission 2021 "Fit for 55" legal framework to achieve climate goals, Denmark's pioneering role in energy transition, transatlantic climate and energy cooperation, and preparation for COP26.

EESI Forum Looks at COP26 – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds another forum on Friday at 1:00 p.m. for a briefing series on what Congress needs to know in the lead-up to the 26^th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Climate adaptation is one of the priority work areas for COP26. This briefing will focus on the initiatives launched or scaled up in recent years that underpin the momentum on adaptation and resilience and that will inform conversations at COP26. Speakers will discuss national adaptation plans, country dialogues on adaptation, early-warning systems, and locally-led adaptation. The briefing will explore how these efforts advance work towards the global goal on adaptation ‘to enhance adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability.’

IN THE FUTURE

Milken Global Conference Set for LA – The 24^th annual Milken Institute Global Conference will be held In Los Angeles from October 17^th to 20^th.  The event is one of largest and most influential gatherings of experts reinventing finance, health, technology, philanthropy, industry and media. 

WRI Looks at Green Jobs in Paper – Next Monday at 10:00 a.m., World Resources Institute, New Climate Economy, and International Trade Union Confederation will launch a new working paper which provides evidence that climate-friendly investments create more jobs that unsustainable investments on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The paper provides job creation estimates for investments in clean energy, public transportation, electric vehicles, and nature-based solutions compared to alternatives. It also offers recommendations for how to improve job quality in green sectors including wages, work security, and accessibility for excluded groups. This webinar will present the paper’s main findings and a panel discussion with representatives from around the world working on issues of green jobs, job quality, and just transition.

Forum to Look at COP26, Science – Next Monday at 12:30 p.m., the Global Council for Science and the Environment (GCSE) and the Security and Sustainability Forum (SSF) hold a cross-cutting discussion exploring the science informing the IPCC report and COP26.  The forum will look at The role of science In the policy debate surrounding climate.  Speakers include UCSD expert David Victor.

Senate Energy Holds FERC, Other Nomination Hearing – The Senate Energy Committee holds a hearing on Tuesday October 19^th at 10:00 a.m. to consider the nominations of Willie Phillips to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Brad Crabtree to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Fossil Energy and Carbon Management) and Charles Sams III to be Director of the National Park Service.

Brouillette Headlines Houston Gas, LNG Forum – The IN-PERSON 4th Houston Gas & LNG Forum 2021 will be held on October 18^th and 19^th at the Petroleum Club of Houston, TX. Former Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, currently President of Sempra Infrastructure, will headline.   Other speakers include Reps. Greg Pence, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Randy Weber, Pete Sessions and Paul Gosar, as well as several others.

Forum to Focus on Global Innovation Report – Next Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., the Information Technology & Innovation Forum (ITIF) holds a forum to release the latest edition of its Global Energy Innovation Index, a multi-faceted assessment of national contributions to the global energy innovation system, and a discussion about how to push the pace with leading energy innovation policy experts.

Forum to Look at Cyber Electricity issues in Ghana – Next Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., the US Energy Assn and US AID hold a forum looking at cybersecurity in Ghana’s electricity sector.  This webinar will present a discussion on how participant utilities plan to implement best practices in their own organizations. Two of the speakers are planning to develop a cybersecurity roadmap/framework within their organization. 

Forum Presents Winter Energy Outlook – On Tuesday October 19^th at 1:00 p.m., the Nat’l Assn of State Energy Officials, in partnership with the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), will host the 2021 – 2022 Winter Energy Outlook Webinar. The webinar will include a presentation on EIA's Winter Fuels Outlook, as well as presentations from well-known industry representatives and energy experts who will provide their views on factors that will affect energy markets this winter in the United States and globally.  EIA’s Tim Hess and NOAA’s Dave DeWitt present.

USEA Forum Looks at Boundary Dam – Next Tuesday at 2:00 p.m., USEA hosts a discussion on the Boundary Dam CCS project. Beth (Hardy) Valiaho from the International CCS Knowledge Centre will join in a discussion about how the organization has seen positive momentum from applied learning of the Boundary Dam CCS facility and increased buy-in globally on CCUS as a part of net-zero commitments. Additionally, Beth will speak to the recent announcements and opportunities that have put Canada back on the map in terms of next generation CCS opportunities.

Brookings Forum Looks at Climate Regulations – On Tuesday October 19^th at 3:00 p.m., the Brookings Center on Regulations and Markets will bring together three leading researchers studying climate-related regulations across a variety of settings. Each researcher will provide an overview of recent research insights within their field of expertise. Simone Borghesi, director of the Florence School of Regulation – Climate at the European University Institute, will bring lessons from the European Union on emission trading schemes; Meredith Fowlie, professor at the University of California, Berkeley, will share insights from her work on the regulation of electricity markets; and Johannes Stroebel, David S. Loeb professor of finance at New York University’s Stern School of Business, will bring his perspective on climate risk in financial markets. A Q&A session moderated by Sanjay Patnaik, fellow and director of the Center on Regulation and Markets, will follow.

Climate Watch Training Set – On Wednesday October 20^th at 9:00 a.m., WRI holds an interactive training to learn how to use Climate Watch to gain insights on countries’ climate commitments, generate custom visuals and access raw data for further analysis. Climate Watch is a free online platform designed to empower policymakers, advocates, researchers, media and other stakeholders with the open climate data, visualizations and resources they need to gather insights on national and global progress on climate change. It includes a number of tools that will be particularly helpful to stakeholders attending or closely following the COP26 climate negotiations in Glasgow.

Forum to Look at Climate Financing – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) continues its briefing series on what Congress needs to know in the lead-up to the 26^th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. On Wednesday October 20^th at Noon, it will look at international climate finance is a critical tool to increase access to climate mitigation and adaptation resources to address the growing threat of climate change. The briefing will discuss the current state of international climate finance, the role and status of the Green Climate Fund and other funding mechanisms, and Congress’s role in meeting U.S. climate finance commitments. Panelists will also describe how international climate finance dovetails with ongoing efforts of the State Department, Department of Defense, and the U.S. Agency for International Development to address the impacts of climate change abroad.

US-Mexico Chamber Holds Annual Conference – The United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Board of Directors Meeting, Conference, and “Good Neighbor” Awards Gala on October 20^th at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.  Keynote speakers include Mexican Secretary of Economy Tatiana Clouthier and former long-time US Chamber head Tom Donahue.

House Foreign Affairs Looks at COP26 Prep – The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations and Global Corporate Social Impact holds a hearing on Thursday October 21^st at 10:00 a.m. looking at preparing for COP26 and the US strategy to combat climate change.

Forum Looks at Climate Investment – Foreign Policy magazine, in partnership with the Climate Investment Funds, convene global policy leaders and experts at the intersection of finance, sustainable development and climate action on Thursday October 21^st at 11:00 a.m. for a dialogue about mobilizing green investment. The event will explore what governments and global institutions are doing to overcome risks to pursuing climate investments and how emerging economies can empower growth through driving climate-smart development.

Panel Looks at Energy Cybersecurity – On Thursday October 21^st at 11:30 a.m., the Women’s Energy Network DC chapter hold a one-hour virtual lunch panel discussing views from cyber experts in the Power & Utilities and energy space on the key elements needed to ensure secure delivery of our energy. The panel will discuss the latest directives along with the current regulator and energy company perspectives.  NYPA’s Angela Gonzales, TVA Melissa Livesey, Exelon’s Betsy Soehren-Jones and BGE’s Marriah Barnett will all speak.

BCSE Forum Looks at Business Climate Solutions – The Business Council for Sustainable Energy holds a forum on Thursday October 21^st at 1:00 p.m. looking at private sector action and how it can increase the competitiveness of the U.S. economy and put American companies in the driver’s seat of the global race to the top for market share on clean energy technologies & solutions. This panel of U.S. companies will dive into the range of policies and investments that would bolster competitiveness – from manufacturing, supply chains, carbon border adjustments, workforce development and more.

Forum Looks at Bid Data Decarbonizing – On Thursday October 21^st at 1:15 p.m., LightWorks at ASU and SSF hold a 90-minute discussion about data, trust, and reducing industry's carbon footprint by exploring the concepts of a "Library for Carbon Data" and other methods to make data sharing attractive to those who own it and those who need it to make climate-smart decisions.

NYT Forum Looks at Climate Action, Change – As the world prepares for COP26 negotiations in November, all eyes are on businesses, governments and their respective plans for tackling climate change, reaching net zero by 2050, and closing the gap between commitment and action for good. On Thursday October 21^st at 1:30 p.m. the NYT Net-Zero Forum series discussion looks at the fundamental systemic risk that climate change poses and if that can prompt a new kind of solution-building. 

R St. Holds Forum on Electric Competition – The R Street Institute holds a forum next Thursday October 21^st at 1:30 p.m. on electric competition in a crisis.  The February blackouts in Texas have led many to second guess the benefits of electricity competition. But new studies reveal that competitive areas in Texas and other regions outperformed monopoly utilities during Winter Storm Uri—as well as during routine circumstances, like operating power plants economically. The event will look at how competitive entities compare with their non-competitive counterparts on issues such as reliability and operational costs.

EESI Forum Looks at COP26 Negotiation Issues – On Friday October 22^nd, EESI continues its briefing series on what Congress needs to know in the lead-up to the 26^th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This briefing will bring together experts to explain the key areas of negotiation expected to be at play at COP26, review possible outcomes, and explore what it all means for Congress.

National Academies Host EV Workshops – The National Academies for a four-day virtual workshop on October 25-28^th from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. each day to learn about the latest developments in electric vehicle technologies. Speakers from industry, academia, NGOs, and government will address how widespread EV deployment could affect vehicle manufacturing and the electric grid, and ways that EVs can meet the transportation needs of all consumers. Workshop discussions will encompass policy, technical, and market strategies to help federal agencies and other stakeholders plan for the future.

Princeton Energy Forum Set – The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment holds its 2021 Annual Meeting on Wednesday, October 27^th starting at 9:00 a.m. virtually and in-person at Maeder Auditorium in Princeton University.  The Annual Meeting catalyzes dynamic discussions on the global transition to net-zero emissions. Speakers from the financial, energy services, oil and gas, and renewables sectors will share their experiences, and offer insights on the opportunities and the challenges as they navigate the transition.

WIRES Sets Fall Meeting – WIRES holds its Fall Meeting on October 27^th and 28^th and will feature a keynote from FERC Commissioner Allison Clements and two expert panels. The first of our two panels will involve multiple perspectives on the FERC ANOPR from a number of industry experts. The second panel will feature a lineup of former FERC Commissioners as they discuss their experiences on the Commission, as well as the new direction FERC is moving with the recent ANOPR.

WRI Releases Climate Action Report – On October 28^th, the World Resources Institute holds a launch event for the State of Climate Action 2021 report, which will answer these fundamental questions. Developed by partners contributing to the Systems Change Lab, the report identifies 40 indicators across key sectors that must transform to address the climate crisis and assesses how current trends stack up against targets for 2030 and 2050 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees C. The analysis will highlight both encouraging bright spots that are witnessing exponential change as well as sectors that are well off track and demand urgent attention. Coming out just before the G20 Summit and the COP26 climate summit, the State of Climate Action 2021 report will arm countries, businesses, philanthropists, and others with a clear-eyed view of where we stand sector-by-sector, and what supportive measures and finance are necessary to accelerate the world toward a safer, prosperous and more equitable future.

USEA Energy Supply Forum Set – USEA's 13^th Annual Energy Supply Forum is set for October 28^th at 9:30 a.m. and will feature dynamic presentations from leading industry experts and policy leaders on the state of energy exploration and production, electricity generation, and energy fuel supply.

FP Hosts Forum on Resilience – Foreign Policy, in partnership with Chemonics International, holds a forum on Thursday October 28^th at 11:00 a.m. to examine the nexus of climate and migration and the role of international development in tackling this challenge. A panel of experts will discuss how advances in climate modeling and data analysis are shaping the future of global development and how these tools can be applied to mitigate the root causes of environmental migration. The event will also explore approaches that harness on-the-ground expertise to forecast and manage risks and design mitigation and adaptation strategies that generate local solutions to climate change. Speakers will include Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer of Freetown, Sierra Leone, US AID’s Center for Resilience Jami Montgomery and several others.

COP 26 Launches in Glasgow – The UN Climate Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 will launch on October 31^st and run through November 10^th in Glasgow, Scotland.