Energy Update: Week of October 18th

Friends,               

Late Friday, our friends at the NYT reported that Joe Manchin has told the White House that he strongly opposes the clean electricity program.  As a result – and is making progressive and enviro activists seethe – White House staffers are said to be rewriting the legislation without that climate provision, trying to cobble together a mix of other policies that could also cut emissions.  With only two weeks to the COP26 meeting in Scotland, this is a tough blow. Already, it was going to be a difficult slog to meet the arbitrary target that President Biden announced earlier this year; this only steepens the climb.  Internationally, it deals Biden “a weakened hand when he travels to Glasgow in two weeks for a major United Nations climate change summit.” Politically, it is disastrous for comity among Democrats – already at maximum stress.  

Interestingly, the weekend follow-up also emerged: that Democrats and the White House are considering a carbon tax.  Still a lot to review here, but with opposition from most progressives because it isn’t tough enough and sure opposition from almost all Republicans, it seems like a political dead end.  Perhaps it could open the door for a more durable, bipartisan legislative solution…Can you think of any proposals that might be out there???

Before we get to the action, some breaking news this morning: the joint-venture Offshore Wind project between Equinor and bp in NY has selected Vestas as its preferred supplier for wind turbine generators for both Empire Wind I and Empire Wind II, one of the largest offshore wind projects in the US.

A load of hearings this week. Tomorrow, the Senate Energy Committee will review Willie Phillips' nomination to be commissioner alongside the noms of Brad Crabtree to be fossil energy assistant Energy secretary and Charles Sams to be Park Service director.  FERC also has its open meeting on Thursday.  Also Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Energy panel holds a hearing on offshore wind following last week’s Interior announcement at ACP’s Offshore Conference in Boston and House FR looks at prep for COP26. Finally, going on right now, two subcommittees of the House Resources Committee (Energy and Oversight) are holding a field hearing on the Southern California oil leak.

Other events include today at 2:00 p.m., the Wilson Center Supply Chain Initiative launches a paper that argues that the US must take a number of key steps to make the critical minerals supply chain more resilient. Of course, our friends at the Metals Company focused on key points related to critical minerals strategy.  From the perspective of collecting polymetallic nodules off the sea floor, the report makes some important findings including encouraging investment in and development of new processes and technology, and processing to support them like “Polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor represent a significant domestic opportunity for increasing U.S. supplies of nickel, with the added bonus that they also contain cobalt and manganese.” (p. 10).  Of course, nodules are also rich in copper.

Tomorrow, AGA holds a virtual media availability to release the major findings of the a year-end 2020 biennial report on the potential supply of US natural gas, while former Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette – currently President of Sempra Infrastructure – will headline the 4^th Houston Gas & LNG Forum 2021 at the Petroleum Club of Houston. Also, tomorrow to Thursday, EPRI and the International Energy Agency will host their 8^th annual Challenges in Decarbonisation workshop. 

The National Hydropower Assn will hold its annual Clean Currents conference and trade show in Atlanta on Wednesday and Thursday.  Also Wednesday, Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy hosts Eirik Wærness, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Equinor for a webinar to share insights from Equinor’s Energy Perspectives 2021.  Also, Wednesday, API and AXPC review the same PCG NatGas report.

The Business Council for Sustainable Energy holds a forum on Thursday to dive into the range of policies and investments that would bolster competitiveness – from manufacturing, supply chains and carbon border adjustments.

Finally, the US Energy Assn holds a briefing on Friday on natural gas as an essential grid stabilizer featuring EPRI CEO Arshad Mansoor and Commerce official Suriya Evans-Pritchard Jayanti, given its importance to electricity production (backing up wind and solar), its use as a versatile storage medium and its existing infrastructure could be repurposed for hydrogen., International energy counsel at the Commerce Department, both will speak.

NHL Hockey is underway with Washington Alex Ovechkin moving into 5^th on the all-time goal list on opening night.  And huge news on the referee side: my friend and fellow traveler in local rinks, Jackie Zee Howard was named one of the first 10 American Hockey League WOMEN officials, reffing her first game in Hershey yesterday! 

Less than two weeks to COP26.  Don’t forget about HFCs in your previews…it’s already a huge climate SUCCESS story with an impact of 0.5C reduction in global temps. 

Finally, mark your calendar for next Thursday October 28^th for the replay of the postponed National Press Club Forum with GE Renewables CEO Jérôme Pécresse.  Stay Safe and healthy.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

FRANKLY SPOKEN

 

““This isn’t the first time an out-of-stater has tried to tell West Virginians what is best for them despite having no relationship to our state.  I will not vote for a reckless expansion of government programs. No op-ed from a self-declared Independent socialist is going to change that.”

Joe Manchin responding to an op-ed in the Charleston Gazette-Mail by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

“No objective person is going to blame the administration for the current global energy crisis. But Democrats do have a challenge when this type of problem arises and it’s really bad timing for COP26.”

George David Banks, the former top international energy adviser for President Donald Trump in an interview with the Washington Examiner.

ON THE PODCAST

Capito Talks Infrastructure, COP26 – In the second episode of the new Plugged In podcast, Washington Examiner Reporter Josh Siegel and co-host Neil Chatterjee, former chairman of FERC sit down with WV Sen. and top Republican on the Senate Environment Committee Shelley Moore Capito.  Capito said President Biden and Democratic leaders were wrong to postpone a House vote on the bipartisan infrastructure legislation in a bid to link it to the reconciliation package. Capito said sitting on the bipartisan bill denies Biden a “win” he needs as his poll numbers are falling. “The president needs this,” said Capito, a Republican from West Virginia who voted for the bipartisan bill when it passed the Senate in August. “He's had a host of big negative items he is having trouble shaking. So a big broad infrastructure package would be to his best benefit.” Capito says Republicans should be present at the upcoming U.N. climate conference in Glasgow.  We know Reps. John Kurtis and David McKinley will be attending.

FUN OPINIONS

FORBES: CEPP is Bad Policy – In a his column in FORBES, energy author and expert Robert Bryce writes the Clean Energy Performance Program (CEPP) in the Budget Reconciliation Package deserves a lot more scrutiny than it is getting. Europe’s worsening energy crisis should be a five-alarm wake-up call to policymakers in the U.S. about the dangers of pushing renewable energy too hard. “If Washington policymakers want to see what happens when you push too far, too fast, they only need to read the news stories coming out of Europe. Last month, the Associated Press reported that “The European Trade Union Confederation, which represents 45 million members, said that 15% of the EU’s working poor - the equivalent of 2,713,578 people - lacks enough money to turn on the heating.” On Sunday, the news outlet Mucia Today reported that in Spain, “The cost of electricity is still a staggering six times more expensive than it was a year ago.” A day later, the Spanish steel producer, Sidenor Group, announced it was halting production at one of its plants in Spain “amid exorbitant electricity prices.” The company said it was paying about 227 Euros per megawatt-hour for electricity, which is nearly four times what it was paying at this time last year. 

FROG BLOG

Europe Energy Crunch Lessons for Climate – In a commentary on the C3 Blog this week, Jeff Luse writes  the energy issues in Europe show that sustainable climate solutions must be rooted in economic freedom and human prosperity, not top-down mandates. Luce writes in the coming weeks, all eyes will be focused on COP and how the international community will address global climate change. Policymakers would do well to learn from Europe’s energy shortages and embrace climate solutions that are rooted in economic freedom.”

FUN FACTS

Europe’s Energy Pinch – The electricity crisis in Europe in not hitting at a great time with the approaching UN COP26. The region is heavily invested in renewables, especially wind and solar, but recent weather patterns have significantly reduced output. European natural gas prices are soaring so high that hundreds of millions of people could be facing cold homes or inflated energy bills over the winter. Some facts:

• During the last week of September, Britain was generating some 46.5% of its electricity from wind farms; one week later, the share of wind in the energy mix had fallen to 35.67%.
• Electricity rates have hit record highs in Norway, and the lack of rain has left water levels in reservoirs at record lows.
• Spain has 14.6 GW in installed solar capacity - during the last week of September Spain was utilizing 0.52% of its 14.6 GW installed solar capacity (or 75 MW); a week later this had gone down to 0.13%.
• A German power plant, which relied heavily on renewable sources, just ran out of coal.
• Sweden restarted an oil-fired power plant despite no shortage of electricity.

RECONCILIATION REPORT

Please find the latest addition of the Policy Resolution Group’s FY2022 Budget Reconciliation & Infrastructure Update. 

IN THE NEWS

Empire Wind Selects Turbine Supplier – Empire Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Equinor and bp, has selected Vestas as its preferred supplier for wind turbine generators for both Empire Wind I and Empire Wind II, one of the largest offshore wind projects in the US.  The preferred supplier agreement – one of the largest of its kind to be announced in the US, is a key milestone for Empire Wind, an important step towards delivering its goal of providing offshore wind energy at scale to the state of New York. The deal would see Vestas deliver 138 V236-15MW wind turbine generators with a total generating capacity of around 2GW - for the two Empire Wind developments. Each rotation of a 15MW turbine will be capable of powering a New York home for about 1.5 days.

Unions Raise Concerns over Climate Provision – A group of labor unions representing energy, mining and steelworkers are voicing concerns to Democratic leaders over a signature climate change provision in the climate and social spending package. "We are deeply concerned that the electricity sector policies under consideration will effectively prohibit the deployment of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies," the letter said. "Any clean electricity program must not foreclose a realistic pathway for CCS for fossil fuel generation, including coal and natural gas.” Letter signatories include International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, United Mine Workers of America United Steelworkers, Utility Workers Union of America, United Association, North America's Building Trades Union, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers and the Ironworkers union. The letter also outlined unions' worries about ensuring workers in fossil fuel-dependent economies can maintain employment, either with their current employers or at new jobs with equal pay and benefits. Short of that, the unions said the federal government should offer measures such as education and training opportunities "for a new career during a multi-year transition period."

AGs Urge Congress to Reject Policies that Boost Energy Costs – A 19-state coalition of Attorneys General urged Congress to reject burdensome legislation that would increase fees on energy producers and hit American consumers with even greater price hikes as heating bills surge this winter.  The coalition’s letter, sent Thursday, called on leadership for two U.S. Senate committees to oppose legislation that would charge oil and natural gas producers $1,500 to $1,800 per ton of methane emissions above certain thresholds. The attorneys general cite data from industry experts showing that the more costly proposal could impose a cost of $14.4 billion and affect as many as 155,000 jobs.

Air Liquide, Faurecia to Boost Hydrogen for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Air Liquide and Faurecia announced a joint development agreement to design and produce on-board liquid hydrogen storage systems for the automotive industry. Through this technology partnership, the two companies will accelerate the deployment of zero-emission heavy-duty mobility. Particularly well-suited for long-haul applications, liquid hydrogen storage for fuel cell vehicles has a key role to accelerate the transition toward carbon neutrality. With this technology, the amount of hydrogen stored is double that of gaseous hydrogen. As a consequence, heavy duty trucks operating on liquid hydrogen have twice the autonomy of those operating on gaseous hydrogen, and benefit from a short refueling time and optimized payload. The partnership will leverage the companies’ complementary competencies from their respective core businesses which will be fundamental to accelerate the technology’s time-to-market. On one side, Air Liquide will bring its recognized expertise across the entire liquid hydrogen value chain, including extreme cryogenics, storage technology, refueling interface and infrastructure know-how. On the other side, Faurecia will bring its architecture and systems integration expertise, its recognized skill in automotive testing and simulation, its global automotive industrial know-how and footprint, as well as its strong intimacy with vehicle manufacturers.

Oil, Gas Activity in Central US Gains Momentum – The oil and natural gas economy in the 10^th Federal Reserve District expanded in the third quarter, with a gauge of drilling and business activity increasing to 39 from 33 in the second quarter, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas' latest quarterly energy survey. Respondents to the survey were bullish on oil and gas prices, but 60% said they don't expect domestic oil production to return to pre-pandemic levels. A majority of firms reported higher revenues and profits. Drilling and business activity expectations for coming quarters also increased, with participating executives noting strong demand and lofty oil and gas prices. The Energy Survey monitors energy firms located and/or headquartered in the Tenth District, with results based on total firm activity nationwide. The Kansas City Fed’s district includes the western third of Missouri; all of Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Wyoming; and the northern half of New Mexico.

Shapiro Jumps into PA Governor’s Race – Ahead of a tough midterm election in a swing state, Pennsylvania Democrats are poised to top their ticket with a foe of the state’s major oil and gas companies.  Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D) announced his candidacy for governor. He faces an open field for the Democratic nomination. 

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

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

Nuclear Science Week Activities Set – This week is Nuclear Science Week.  The week-long, D.C. event will draw local, regional and international interest on all aspects of nuclear science.

Forum to Look at COP26, Science – Today 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.

Brouillette Headlines Houston Gas, LNG Forum – The IN-PERSON 4th Houston Gas & LNG Forum 2021 will be held today and tomorrow 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.

Decarbonization Challenges in Resilient,  Net-Zero Future – Tomorrow to Thursday, EPRI and the International Energy Agency will host their 8^th  annual Challenges in Decarbonisation workshop.  This year's workshop, "Building a Resilient Net-Zero Future," will bring together representatives from government, system operators, utilities, business and academia leading global decarbonization efforts, including IEA Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol and EPRI CEO Dr. Arshad Mansoor.  Spread over three days the workshop series will include expert presentations and panel discussions over the course of three sessions including flexibility/resilience in Decarbonized Energy Systems, Promise vs Potential: A Holistic Look at Electrification and planning and forecasting for climate resilience 

Senate Energy Holds FERC, Other Nomination Hearing – The Senate Energy Committee holds a hearing tomorrow 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.

Forum to Focus on Global Innovation Report – Tomorrow 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 – Tomorrow 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. 

AGA to Release Winter Outlook – The American Gas Association (AGA) and the Potential Gas Committee (PGC) will hold a virtual media availability tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. to release the major findings of the PGC’s year-end 2020 biennial report: Potential Supply of Natural Gas in the United States.  Speakers include Dr. Alexei Milkov and Kristin Carter of the Potential Gas Committee and AGA Energy Markets, Analysis and Standards expert Richard Meyer.

WaPo Hosts Navajo Water Discussion – Tomorrow at 1:00 p.m., Washington Post Live will convene key Native American leaders who are working alongside the next generation of activists to help solve this water crisis at this pivotal moment. We will also hear from prominent young women involved in the water justice movement who are carrying on the fight for safe drinking water and sanitation across North America. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Navajo Water Project Executive Director Emma Robbins both speak.

Forum Presents Winter Energy Outlook – Tomorrow 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 – Tomorrow 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.

Senate Commerce Budget, Oil Spill Response – The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change, and Manufacturing Subcommittee holds hearing tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. on the Coast Guard's role to safeguard the nation's maritime interests, including budget oversight, oil spill response, marine safety, handling of sexual assault and harassment in the service, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Brookings Forum Looks at Climate Regulations – Tomorrow 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.

NHA Forum Set – The National Hydropower Assn will hold its annual Clean Currents conference and trade show in Atlanta on Wednesday and Thursday. Over 150 speakers confirmed, including Georgia Power CEO Chris Womack, Asst Sec. DOE EERE Kelly-Speakes Backman and GE Renewables Chief Technology Officer Danielle Merfeld.

Climate Watch Training Set – On Wednesday 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 South Africa Heat Season Issue – The Atlantic Council holds an event on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. to announce the appointment of Freetown, Sierra Leone's first Chief Heat Officer and the launch of #HeatSeason in southern Africa.

Senate Enviro Looks ta PFAS Issues – The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., looking at EPA’s response to the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in our environment, particularly in the nation's waters.  EPA’s Radhika Fox testifies.

Commerce Sect Addresses Semiconductor Challenges – Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) join Washington Post Live on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. to explore this perfect storm of supply and demand and bipartisan ways to address the semiconductor crisis. The impact of the shortage is being felt across manufacturing and the global supply chain. It also threatens to affect America’s competitive edge in science and innovation. Meanwhile, consumers are also facing price increases and shortages of products from TVs and mobile phones to cars.

House Resources Looks at Colorado Drought – The House Natural Resources Water, Oceans and Wildlife Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. looking at the Colorado River drought conditions and response measures.

Columbia Hosts Equinor Expert – The Center on Global Energy Policy will host Eirik Wærness, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Equinor, on Wednesday at Noon for a webinar to share insights from Equinor’s Energy Perspectives 2021, which presents three different scenarios for the future energy system. These scenarios highlight the potential impacts of the global recovery on our future energy systems. Following his presentation, Eirik will join a panel of experts for further discussion on the implications of this study’s findings, which elements drive the most uncertainty and what impact the upcoming COP might have on these future scenarios.

OEP Forum Looks at Coal, Energy Transition – OurEnergyPolicy hosts a forum on Wednesday at Noon on coal and the energy transition.  The event features a conversation about reliability, policy, jobs, communities, and the economics of the industry.  Speakers will include Suzanne Tegen of the Center for the New Energy Economy, the Ohio River Valley Institute’s Sean O’Leary and RMI’s Uday Varadarajan.

API, LNG Group, AXPC Also Look at NatGas Report –Following AGA’s event on the PGC natgas report, LNG Allies, API and AXPC will hold a forum Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the PGC’s 2020 assessment and receive natural gas resource updates from the Energy Information Administration and U.S. Geological Survey. LNG Allies Fred Hutchison, API’s Dustin Meyer and AXPC’s Anne Bradbury speak prior to a panel featuring Alexei Milkov, US Geological Survey Program Coordinator Alicia Lindauer and EIA’s Troy Cook.

Forum to Look at Climate Financing – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) continues its briefing series Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. 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 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.

SEJ Hosts Annual Awards Virtually – The Society of Enviro Journalists holds its annual awards ceremony virtually on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. to honor the best-of-the-best in environmental journalism, including the live announcement of the winner of the Nina Mason Pulliam Award and $10,000 cash prize.  See all the winners here. 

DOE, USEA Discuss Rare Earth Issues – The US Energy Assn and DOE will hold a series of events to look at the challenges facing rare earth mineral issues, starting Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. The Program Plan has been assembled after receiving substantial feedback from a diverse set of stakeholders over the past year, especially from a series of workshops coordinated by USEA. The Program Plan describes the primary work planned by the Division over the course of the next decade, focusing around 4 primary pillars: 1) Sustainable Resource Characterization and Technology Development, 2) Sustainable Resource Extraction Technology Development, 3) Processing and Refining of Critical Minerals and Carbon Ore Manufacturing, and 4) Crosscutting activities that include Standards development and outreach.

Book Event Explores Arctic – On Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute, with the Dartmouth Institute of Arctic Studies and Hart Leadership Program, hold a book talk and panel connecting policy, cultural safety, and food, water and environmental security in the Arctic region. Published in 2021, Michael Stith’s “Welp: Climate Change and Arctic Identities” explores the intersections of systemic racism, the Anthropocene, and environmental policy against the backdrop of Norway, Iceland, and the author’s Alaskan home.

House Climate Committee Looks at Private Sector Climate Issues – The House Select Committee on the Climate holds a hearing on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. on private sector perspectives on climate action. Witnesses include Volt Energy CEO Gilbert Campbell, Patagonia’s Corley Kenna, David Edsey of Zurich North America and former Deputy Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes.

Forum Looks at Geothermal Heat Pumps – The Atlantic Council holds a virtual discussion Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. on decarbonizing homes with geothermal heat pumps.  The event is part of the EnergySource Innovation Stream series. Heather Deese, director of policy and regulatory affairs at Dandelion Energy, discusses the role of geothermal heat pumps in decarbonizing the US housing stock.

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 Wednesday 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 at 10:00 a.m. looking at preparing for COP26 and the US strategy to combat climate change.

House Science Looks at DOE Nuclear Office – The House Science, Space and Technology Energy Subcommittee and Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee holds a hearing on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. looking at spending to enable success at DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy.  DOE’s Katy Huff leads the group testifying.

Reuters Forum to Look at Net-Zero – On the verge of COP26, Reuters Events in partnership with Schneider Electric will hold a discussion on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. with industry leaders as they provide guidance on understanding the climate imperative of net-zero and translate it into tangible targets and action.

House Energy Looks at Offshore Wind – The House Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee holds a hearing on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. looking at offshore wind by growing the domestic wind industry.

Forum Looks at Climate Science – The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) holds an in-depth discussion on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. looking at the future of climate and energy policy, featuring AEI’s Steven E. Koonin, who is the author of “Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn’t, and Why It Matters” (BenBella Books, 2021), and Rapidan Energy Group’s Robert McNally, author of the award-winning book “Crude Volatility: The History and the Future of Boom-Bust Oil Prices” (Columbia University Press, 2017).  The participants will cover the state of climate science as portrayed in “Unsettled” and the United Nation’s “Sixth Assessment Report,” the projected economic impacts of a changing climate, the recent energy crisis in Europe, the feasibility of the Joe Biden administration’s climate and energy proposals, and prospects for a rapid and successful energy transition.

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 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 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 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.

POLITICO Pro Forum Looks at Climate – POLITICO Pro journalists Jeremy Siegel, Ben LeFebvre, Matthew Choi and Catherine Boudreau will hold a live POLITICO Pro Premium roundtable on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. to focus on the future of Biden's climate agenda.

Forum Looks at Bid Data Decarbonizing – On Thursday 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 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 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.

Stimson Sits with IAEA Head – The Stimson Center holds an extended interview on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency as he tackles the threat of nuclear proliferation in the middle of a global pandemic. In this one-on-one conversation with Stimson Center President Brian Finlay, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi will discuss current challenges to nuclear nonproliferation, the impact of the pandemic and the IAEA's ongoing work for the secure and peaceful use of nuclear technology.

Forum to Look at Fossil Fuel Subsidy Paper – The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) will host a discussion on Friday at 9:00 a.m. looking at a newly-released paper by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), “Still Not Getting Energy Prices Right: A Global and Country Update of Fossil Fuel Subsidies,” which provides a global, regional, and country-level update of fossil fuel prices to reflect supply and environmental costs and subsidies implied by undercharging. The event will begin with a presentation by Vítor Gaspar, director of the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department. Ian Parry, one of the report’s lead authors, will then outline the paper’s findings.

Forum to Look at Fed Climate Focus – On Friday at 10:00 a.m., the American Enterprise Institute will hold a webinar the Federal Reserve and climate risk featuring Mary Daly, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Daly will join AEI’s Michael Strain to discuss how climate risk intersects with the Fed’s responsibilities of fostering stable prices, maximum employment, and a safe and sound financial system.

Forum Looks at NatGas as Grid Stabilizer – The US Energy Assn holds a briefing on Friday at 11:00 a.m. on natural gas as an essential grid stabilizer. Some players in the energy industry are seeking to reduce the role of natural gas. But natural gas is vital in electricity production, especially in backing up wind and solar. Also, gas is a versatile storage medium and its existing infrastructure could be repurposed for hydrogen. EPRI CEO Arshad Mansoor and Suriya Evans-Pritchard Jayanti, International energy counsel at the Commerce Department, both will speak.

EESI Forum Looks at COP26 Negotiation Issues – On Friday at Noon, 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.  IISD’s Jennifer Allen and Washington University’s Tracy Bach speak.

ACORE Hosts Brattle Presentation on ITC, PTC – On Friday at 1:00 p.m. ACORE holds a members-only webinar presentation by the Brattle Group featuring proprietary analysis on the cost of decarbonizing the U.S. electric sector. The Brattle presentation will include ten-year projections for system costs, emissions reductions and renewable deployment associated with three discrete federal policy scenarios: maintaining the policy status quo; ten-year extensions of the PTC and ITC, with PTC optionality for solar PV; and constraining carbon emissions by 80% from 2005 levels.

IN THE FUTURE

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.

OEP Forum to Look at Free Market, Energy Transition – OurEnergyPolicy is hosting a forum next Monday at Noon to Look at market-expanding policy options for COP 26 and beyond that can accelerate the energy transition.  Rep. Garret Graves speaks along with C3’s Drew Bond and Katie Tubb of Heritage.

Forum to Look at State Energy Programs – Next Monday at 1:00 p.m., NASEO will host a webinar featuring updates from DOE’s State Energy Program Office and from the Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program Office’s Partnerships and Technical Assistance Team. During the webinar, speakers will review news from SEP and explore new resources in U.S. DOE’s State and Local Solutions Center. 

EPA to Host Heat Pump Webinar – The EPA will host a webinar next Monday at 2:00 p.m. looking at an overview of heat pump technology, ENERGY STAR equipment specifications and available technical resources to support the purchase and installation of energy-efficient heat pumps. Then, state and local officials in New York will speak about how they are helping homeowners and businesses install highly efficient heat pumps to save energy and reduce emissions. In addition to explaining program fundamentals and results, the speakers will highlight workforce development, support for low to moderate-income residents and the role of heat pumps in meeting their climate and energy goals.

Wilson to Look at China, Clean Energy Transition – The Wilson Center holds a forum on Tuesday October 27^th at 9:30 a.m. to look at China’s difficult transition to clean energy.  In this webinar, panelists will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing China’s pivot away from coal both at home and in its investments along the Belt and Road abroad. Zhou Xizhou (IHS Markit) will tackle the tough questions on the multiple international and domestic factors fueling China’s current energy crunch and what it may mean for China meeting its coal cap and decarbonization goals. Our second speaker, Xi Wang (Western Washington University) will dive deep into the drivers of China’s coal overcapacity and how it continues to pose a challenge to decarbonizing the electricity grid. Cecilia Han Springer (Boston University) will explore Xi Jinping’s recent declaration to halt Chinese overseas coal investments and what this could mean for China’s Belt and Road Initiative moving forward.

Forum Looks at Consumption, COP26 – Next Tuesday at 1:15 p.m., the Security and Sustainability Forum and the Global Electronics Council in partnership with the Global Council for Science and the Environment hold a forum to delve deeper into the role of sustainable purchasing at COP26. Learn how the global demand for sustainable and circular technology products & services mitigate climate change, increase the health and wellbeing of individuals worldwide, provide equitable economic opportunity, and transform the technology sector. In addition, participants in the series will learn about the importance of systems thinking to transform their organizations' impact on Earth systems and social wellbeing. 

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.

GABI Forum Looks at Energy, Exports – The Global America Business Institute will host a discussion on Wednesday, October 27^th at 10:00 a.m. on challenges, cooperation and opportunities in energy and exports. Speakers include Robert Sweeney, who has worked in the energy and infrastructure industry for over 35 years with leading companies and David Gattie of UGeorgia’s College of Engineering. 

Brookings Looks at Tax Policy, Climate – Ahead of the 2021 UN Climate Conference in Glasgow, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and the Brookings Center on Regulation and Markets host a forum  on Wednesday October 27^th at 10:30 a.m. to bring together climate and tax policy experts to examine recent proposals for U.S. energy tax policy. Catherine Wolfram, deputy assistant secretary of climate and energy economics at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, will share her perspective on the Biden administration’s climate strategy. Following her keynote, an expert panel consisting of Gilbert Metcalf (Tufts University), Carole Nakhle (Crystol Energy), and Kurt Van Dender (OECD), moderated by Thornton Matheson (Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center), will further discuss the U.S. approach to energy tax policy. 

JHU Forum Looks at LNG – The Johns Hopkins SAIS will hold a forum on Wednesday October 27^th at 4:00 p.m. on the GHG implications of the trade of LNG. This forum will bring together important viewpoints on the greenhouse gas implications of LNG trade with high level speakers representing the European Union, the Environmental Defense Fund, Western States and Tribal Nations, Cheniere Energy, and academic institutions. The event will be hosted by SAIS and the Energy Technology and Policy Assessment (ETAPA) research group.

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 Looks at State of Climate Action in 2021 – The World Resources Institute holds a high-level launch event on Thursday October 28^th at 9:00 a.m. 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.

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.

Book Forum Looks at Green Initiatives – On Thursday October 28^th at Noon, JHU’s SAIS holds a book event on “Collaborative Advantage.” In the book, author Jonas Nahm examines the development of the wind and solar industries, two historically important sectors that have long been the target of ambitious public policy. As wind and solar grew from cottage industries into lucrative global sectors of geopolitical importance, China, Germany, and the United States each developed distinct constellations of firms with starkly different technical capabilities. 

Forum to Look at State of Solar Permitting – SEIA hosts a webinar on the future state of permitting on Thursday October 28^th at Noon. The expedited solar permitting platform is already making transformative changes in how quickly, safely, and confidently residential solar is permitted today. With a near future roadmap already in the works to include residential storage, small commercial, and residential retrofits, NREL and the solar coalition supporting the further expansion of the software’s scope are looking for your feedback and input on how the tool has been working for you so far and what you’d like to see in the longer-term future. 

NPC to Host GE Renewables CEO – The National Press Club hosts GE Renewable Energy CEO Jérôme Pécresse on Thursday October 28^th at 12:30 p.m. to address next steps in energy transition to meet UN climate goal.  Pécresse has said that GE sees the fastest path to decarbonization as a combination of renewable energy, gas and grid modernization to enable “a pragmatic transition that maintains reliable electric service while also meeting the urgent challenge posed by climate change.” As CEO of GE Renewable Energy, Pécresse leads a $16 billion business of more than 40,000 employees that has one of the broadest renewable energy portfolio in the industry.  GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 400 gigawatts of clean renewable energy and equipped more than 90%0 of utilities worldwide with its grid solutions.

Yale Sustainable Finance Forum Set – The Yale Initiative on Sustainable Finance (YISF) is hosting its 2021 Annual Symposium on October 29^th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Symposium will feature four panel discussions bookended by fireside chats from two high-level keynote speakers—Hanneke Smits and Sarah Bloom Raskin. In addition, the symposium panels will review critical issues of sustainable finance, from green bonds to biodiversity finance, where academics and practitioners from around the world will presents cutting-edge research.

Forum Looks at India, Working Women – In the Future of Development series, the Center for Global Development and the Georgetown University Initiative on Innovation, Development and Evaluation (gui2de) bring together development experts, scholars, and policymakers to address the big questions facing developing countries and help shape the agenda in global development over the next decade. In this edition, Ashwini Deshpande and Alice Evans will join host Shanta Devarajan to discuss the future of development in India, focusing on the work of women.

RFF to Look at EVs – Resources for the Future (RFF) holds a conversation on Friday October 29^th at Noon with leading experts and scholars as they examine how active reconciliation discussions may shape emissions reductions across the transportation sector. This RFF Live event will also examine the challenges to meeting President Biden’s goal of 50 percent EV market share, and the role that the federal government can play in overcoming these obstacles. Finally, the event will examine the implications of these efforts for overall US decarbonization—the feasibility and potential roadblocks, and the role transportation can play in meeting US targets under the Paris Agreement. Speakers include RFF’s Joshua Linn, GM’s Elizabeth Reicherts, EDF’s Beia Spiller and James Stock of Harvard.

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.