Energy Update: Week of October 26

Friends,

Well eight minutes of climate talk last Thursday night in the Presidential debate certainly spun up a lot of writing.  While the President clearly misplayed the enviro justice question, Joe Biden’s pledges to transition the country from oil to renewable energy caused even more of a kerfuffle.  There was lots of great coverage on it though including this NYT front-pager from our friend Lisa Friedman and a good column from Axios’ Amy Harder.

One week to Election 2020…I have to say, for those that have waited four years for this day, it is hard to believe it is almost here – and in fact already here for almost 50 million people including myself who have already voted.  And yes, the bizarre 2020 COVID year has translated over to the election cycle.  Just another push for our Bracewell team’s regular Presidential/Election analysis – especially the series of “post-game” webinars, insights and materials that we have scheduled for Wednesday, November 4^th.  And on this week’s Bracewell Podcast, our team discusses the number of articles and hot takes going around comparing the happenings of today to where we were at this time 4 years ago. The Lobby Shop team talks about what we know now about 2016 and it gives us perspective on what's happening now.

Speaking of our election team, Liam Donovan joins a major election event tomorrow at Noon hosted by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, the Clean Energy Business Network and Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group to explore possible national election outcomes, as well as potential impacts on the clean energy economy and prospects for federal action on energy and climate change.  A week out, Liam offers his expertise and insights while a follow-up panel will look at clean energy implications and includes our friend, NHA CEO Malcolm Woolf.

As for the rest of the week, tomorrow is a big day.  AGA holds its annual natgas Winter Outlook forum tomorrow at 10:00 and EPRI launches a three-day expert workshop on decarbonization at 10:30 each day, ACORE holds its Hydrogen webinar at 2:00 p.m. and MIT’s Oil & Gas/Climate Index is released also at 2:00.

On Wednesday – while I will be heading to Transylvania University in Lexington, KY with Olivia for the final school recruiting visit of my life – there are still events here, including an 11:00 a.m. Cleantech Group webinar on nuclear innovation/deep decarbonization with DOE’s Rita Baranwal and NASA’s James Hansen, a Bracewell-sponsored OurEnergyPolicy forum on energy justice, an Axios energy webinar with our friend Amy Harder at 12:30 p.m. and a 1:00 p.m. SEJ web event on what role environmental issues are playing in Election 2020 featuring environmental pollsters, advocates and reporters including our friend Rich Powell of ClearPath.

The remainder of the week includes an RFF event on energy storage and CRES web forum on future emissions trends – both Thursday – and the National Press Club hosting Erin Brockovich on Friday afternoon, as well as farm labor/women’s rights leader Delores Huerta Next Monday.

Finally, a major alliance of construction unions on Friday endorsed Joe Biden, giving him a boost from a crucial bloc of blue-collar voters in the final days of the campaign.  Perhaps President Trump shouldn’t have focused on all the freebies to ethanol groups. I will be on Bloomberg’s Sound On with Kevin Cirilli today at 5:00 p.m. if you want to tune in.  99.1 in DC and online everywhere.  I hope you are watching the Dodgers and the Rays playing in the World Series… It has been really compelling.  Feel free to call with any questions, stay safe & healthy. 

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

 

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“The rapid development and deployment of CCS technology on a worldwide scale is a must if we are going to do something that actually addresses global climate emissions, while preserving as many traditional energy jobs as possible. This bill will give our scientists and researchers the means to step on the accelerator in their efforts to get this technology to a point where it can be widely available. The UMWA is in full support, and we urge others in Congress who are developing legislation associated with addressing climate change to consider this bill a beacon for what can and must be done.”

United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts in comments about climate legislation from Reps. McKinley and Schrader.

“In the face of flawed reliance on unreliable animal tests, Andrew Wheeler took action.  PETA’s grant honors the administrator and his team for pioneering a shift toward superior, non-animal testing approaches—and enables scientists to bring them to fruition.”

Dr. Amy Clippinger, director of PETA’s Regulatory Testing Department announcing the creation of the Pat C. Wheeler Scholarship—a tribute to his late mother, a lifelong advocate for the humane treatment of all animals.

ON THE PODCAST

Dave Roberts Joins “Let’s Hear It” Podcast – In this week’s Let’s Hear It podcast, host Kirk Brown sits down with David Roberts, the outspoken energy and climate change writer for Vox, to talk about power, climate, and (Kirk’s favorite) conspiracy theories. David started writing in 2000 when he answered a Craigslist ad for a new environmental publication called Grist, and he has been blowing our minds ever since with his engaging writing on energy and climate – a “beacon in the smog”, as Grist used to say. David has some amazing takes on how to inspire the left and on the shortcomings of philanthropy. His words might scandalize nonprofit purists, but they ring true nevertheless. 

FUN OPINIONS

Dingell, Blair Hit China On Transportation – In an  opinion piece in Bloomberg, Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell and former Intelligence Director Dennis Blair write that China is consolidating control of emerging technologies of immense strategic and economic importance—including electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and 5G. They say ceding leadership in these technologies seriously threatens our national security and privacy, and outline four critical U.S. responses, including bipartisan action in Congress.

FROG BLOG

FT: China Rare Minerals Dominance Raises Concerns – A blog in FT’s Commodities Note by military and security experts James Conway and Peter Ackerman that says Chinese rare earths dominance is just the tip of the iceberg. The country has gained—and is determined to retain—a tight grip on a broad swathe of minerals that form the foundations of tomorrow’s most important industries.

IN THE NEWS

Senators Urge RFS Volume Restraint for 2021 – A group of 15 United States Senators sent a letter to EPA’s Andrew Wheeler urging restraint in establishing RFS targets for 2021 in light of sharp declines in U.S. motor fuel consumption due to the ongoing pandemic.  Led by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and representing a broad geographic swath of the country, the 15 senators pressed Wheeler to increase certainty for the troubled refining sector, account for the real-world constraints of the biofuel “blend wall” in EPA’s 2021 blending targets, and appropriately factor in the drastic drop in U.S. demand for core products like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel due to the pandemic. “The ongoing suppressed demand for fuels and broader economic disruption arising from the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to continue well into 2021 and dictates that the RVO must be reduced to prevent outstripping the ‘blend wall,’ an unprecedented rise in the cost of Renewable Identification Number (RIN) offset credits, or both,” wrote the senators. At the end of last week, RINs prices averaged 51.6 cents, a full 250% higher than at the beginning of 2020.  RINs comprise a significant additional burden for refineries, which have periodically been forced to spend more on compliance costs than the cost of payroll for a refinery’s entire workforce. The Senators joining Moore include Mike Enzi (WY), Mike Crapo (ID), John Cornyn (TX), John Barrasso (WY), Roger Wicker (MS), James Risch (ID), Pat Toomey (PA), Mike Lee (UT), Ted Cruz (TX), Bill Cassidy (LA), James Lankford (OK), Steve Daines (MT), John Kennedy (LA) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS)

Letter Dings Mexico for Violating USMCA on Pemex – A bipartisan letter signed by over 30 House members and Senators says that Mexico's preferential treatment of its state-owned petroleum company Pemex violates “the spirit, if not the letter" of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The letter calls on President Trump to work with Mexico to restore market conditions put in place during that country's 2014 energy reform. It was led by Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) and signed by Texas' two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz.

NYT Poll Points to Support for Biden $2T Climate Plan, But Does It? – A recent poll from the New York Times and Siena College said that 66% of voters in their recent NYT/Siena Poll supported Democratic Candidate Joe Biden’s $2 trillion climate plan.  Good, right? Except reviewing the cross tabs you notice that Question 36 posed to voters was “whether you support or oppose each of the following: A two trillion dollar plan to increase the use of renewable energy and build energy-efficient infrastructure.”  Not really a surprise that question was able to gain a wider majority and it underscores major flaws in environmental polling issues. 

Energy Group Issues Studies on Top Energy Universities, Silicon Valley Influencers – The American Energy Society released two reports recently that look at interesting aspects of the energy research space: 

1. A ranking of all energy-universities in the US (and Report) – This report provides a critical reference point for what is happening in U.S. research universities and colleges today. This go-to resource helps folks track the next generation of disruptive energy technologies, rising top talent of energy professionals, key universities and initiatives to watch, sub-sector developments relevant to targeted areas of interest, potential collaborative relationships and strategic partners.
2. Silicon Valley Energy Ecosystem (Report, including ranked Influencers) – This report is a comprehensive review of the Silicon Valley energy economic system and identified 1,465 unique energy enterprises, including 253 “influencers” in a variety of subsectors. This report shares insights on general trends and provides deeper analysis of energy subsectors hat are surging or falling behind. Central to the report is it interactive map which AES partnered with Stanford’s Precourt Energy Institute.

PETA Honors EPA, Wheeler with Research Grant Name – In the strange world category, animal rights group PETA is honoring EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler for preventing countless animals from being used in chemical tests. PETA is creating the Pat C. Wheeler Scholarship—a tribute to his late mother, a lifelong advocate for the humane treatment of all animals. This first-of-its-kind PETA research grant will support scientists seeking to develop effective methods for testing chemicals without harming animals. The $5,000 award is being presented to U.K.-based testing laboratory XCellR8, an entirely animal-free facility that conducts tests for companies to meet the requirements of the EPA and other regulatory agencies around the world.  Wheeler’s team of scientists at the EPA and PETA scientists have been working to move the EPA toward reliable, non-animal testing methods that protect humans and the environment. Under Wheeler’s leadership, the EPA announced that it would end its reliance on toxicity tests on mammals—and has since taken steps to do just that.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

MOST EVENTS SCHEDULED ARE NOW ONLINE WEBINARS

Forum Launch’s Report on SDG Issues – P4G releases its “State-of-the-Art” Awards and WRI will launch a report tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. on transformative partnerships to accelerate Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This global webinar explores how multi-stakeholder partnerships can help accelerate the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The webinar will include the live presentation of the 2020 P4G State-of-the-Art Partnerships Award Winners, the findings of WRI's new report, A Time for Transformative Partnerships, and a high-level discussion on how to accelerate the progress of multi-stakeholder partnerships for the SDGs.

WRI Forum Looks Green Energy Transition – The World Resources Institute, in partnership with leading clean energy company Ørsted, is working on new research (to be published in 2021) to identify concrete steps for governments across the world to address selected barriers to unlock private investment, de-risk decarbonization and get the world to a clean and prosperous future. They will discuss the issues in a forum tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in a digital dialogue with representatives from global governments and the private sector as we explore these solutions.

AGA to Discuss Winter NatGas Outlook – The American Gas Association’s (AGA) holds its annual media briefing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on the upcoming winter to release its Winter Outlook.  The natural gas pipeline network, delivering a significant portion of our nation’s energy mix, provides more than three times as much energy on the coldest day of the year than the electrical grid delivers on the hottest day of the year. This and other data analysis will be part of the observations on the natural gas market as the U.S. moves into the 2020-2021 winter heating season.  Speakers will include AGA CEO Karen Harbert and market analysts Richard Meyer, Juan Alvarado and Brendan O’Brien. 

EPRI-IEA Expert Workshop Focuses on Decarbonization – Tomorrow to Thursday at 10:30 a.m., the 7^th annual EPRI-IEA Challenges in Energy Decarbonization workshop will focus on the role of decentralized resources in decarbonizing the energy system in the short- to mid- term.  Rapid advances in the electricity system have led to improvements in both centralized and decentralized energy systems. Distributed variable renewable energy, local flexibility markets, and new ways of utilizing buildings and vehicles in order to manage the grid are but a few of these advances. These and other developments have created both challenges and opportunities for customers, utilities, new business entrants, and regulators. Speakers include: California Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister, Commissioner, DOE Building Technologies Office Director David Nemtzow, FERC’s Jignasi Gadani, NYSERDA’s David Sandbank and many more. 

Forum to Look at Housing, Energy Enviro Justice Issues – The Columbia SIPA’s Center on Global Energy Policy will host a panel tomorrow at Noon on energy and environmental justice in the context of urban housing and energy efficiency retrofits to improve performance and livability. DOE EERE State Energy Planning official Sage Green is among the panelists.

BCSE to Look at Election Scenarios, Impacts for the Clean Energy Economy – The fifth installment of Powering Forward, hosted by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and the Clean Energy Business Network, will be held in partnership with Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. The webinar will explore possible national election outcomes, as well as potential impacts on the clean energy economy and prospects for federal action on energy and climate change.  As part of the webinar, the BCSE will discuss an updated set of Principles and Recommendations for Energy and Climate Change Policy, to inform advocacy and consideration of policy and legislative proposals in the next Congress and administration.  My colleague Liam Donovan will offer his expertise and insights on the election while follow up industry panel will include National Hydropower Association CEO Malcolm Woolf, National Grid’s Emily Duncan, Trane’s Nanette Lockwood, Chris Mathey of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) and Jim Wrathall of New Energy Equity.

ACORE to Look at Hydrogen – In its next State of the Industry webinar tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., the quarterly series produced in partnership between ACORE and BloombergNEF will dive into the potential role hydrogen might play in achieving 100% renewable energy targets.  The panel will also address opportunities and challenges around the vision of renewable hydrogen and gas pipelines working together to expand renewable demand, reduce curtailment and enhance resilience, as well as approaches to overcome financing barriers to achieve scale and foster deep decarbonization. The webinar will include a policy update from ACORE, a markets update from BloombergNEF, and featured speakers from Baker Botts, Morgan Stanley, Ørsted and True North Renewable Energy.

MIT Forum to Look at Oil, Gas Index – The MIT Energy Initiative holds an event tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. looking at the Oil and Gas Climate Index.  The event will analyze the varying climate impacts of global energy resources. Deborah Gordon, a senior fellow at the Watson Institute at Brown University, will discuss the Oil and Gas Climate Index, which uses open-source engineering systems analysis and satellite data to estimate supply-side GHGs from production, processing, refining, and shipping emission intensities.

Forum to Look at Nuclear – The Cleantech Group is hosting a webinar at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday on nuclear innovation and deep decarbonization transform the global energy system. Speakers include DOE’s Rita Baranwal and NASA’s James Hansen are among the speakers.

Forum to Look at Affordable Energy Sector – OurEnergyPolicy hosts a forum on Wednesday at Noon on Energy Justice featuring a conversation on creating a more equitable and affordable energy sector.  The event will be moderated by UC Berkeley professor and former State Dept Science Envoy Dan Kamman.  The event has Bracewell and API among its sponsors.

JHU to Discuss Oil Nationalizations – The JHU SAIS  program holds a forum on WEdnersday at Noon looking at extractive resource nationalization. In this webinar, Paasha Mahdavi advances a novel theory of nationalization based on his new book, Power Grab, and describes how we can apply lessons from the oil sector to the politics of extractives needed for the clean energy transition.

Axios Forum to Tackle Energy Transition, Recovery – Axios holds a webinar Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. on America's energy transition, focusing on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the environment and energy industry. The event will unpack how these shifts — lower carbon emissions, changing energy patterns, and new technologies — will have a lasting impact on the private sector’s approach to renewable energy. Axios Energy & Climate Reporter Amy Harder will host one-on-one conversations with Sunrun CEO Lynn Jurich and Deputy Secretary for Energy and Environment in NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office Ali Zaidi. Then, Axios Chief Revenue Officer Fabricio Drumond will host a View from the Top segment with Cognite CEO John Markus Lervik.

SEJ holds Election, Polling Webinar – The Society of Environmental Journalists holds a web event on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. featuring environmental pollsters, advocates and reporters who will discuss what’s at stake this November and what role environmental issues are playing in the final stretches of this unique and unpredictable campaign season.  Speakers include ClearPath’s Rich Powell, LCV’s Gene Karpinski, Edward Maibach of GMU’s Center for Climate Change Communication President and Pew Research Center’s Alec Tyson. 

Forum to Look at Western Grid – Advanced Energy Economy AEE) holds a webinar on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. exploring how an expanded regional wholesale market can make the western grid clean and resilient.

USEA, DOE Forum Looks at NatGas – On Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., USEA is hosting a webinar in partnership with DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) on its report “U.S. Oil and Natural Gas: Providing Energy Security and Supporting Our Quality of Life”.  This report discusses the critical role of advanced energy technology innovation in maintaining U.S. economic success and providing a sustainable domestic energy supply for the future, while recognizing the important benefits the oil and natural gas sector provides in our daily lives.

WM Hosts Sustainability Forum – Waste Management holds the first of its two-part virtual conversation on sustainability on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Speakers will include Jasmine Crowe, CEO of Goodr and former UN climate official Christiana Figueres to talk about what’s changed since they last held their forum.  Part II runs on December 9^th.

ClearPath, CATF Holds University Nuke Event – On Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., ClearPath and the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) hold an online event looking at several universities starting to explore new nuclear energy technologies to power their campus.  The event looks at reactor projects at Abilene Christian University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

Cybersecurity Forums Continue on Info Sharing – On Thursday at 9:30 a.m., the USEA and USAID continue its forum series to discuss key elements of trusted collaboration and information sharing. An Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) is an industry-specific organization that gathers and shares information on cyber threats to critical infrastructure. ISACs also facilitate the sharing of data between public and private sector groups. NERC operates one and this webinar will explore their mission and how they operate. 

Forum Looks at Eurasia Energy Issues – The Atlantic Council holds a webinar Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on the U.S.-Europe energy bridge and the evolution of U.S. Agency for International Development's Energy Sector Assistance in Europe and Eurasia. Brock Bierman, USAID assistant administrator for Europe and Eurasia will provide the keynote address, followed by a short presentation by Dr. Steven Burns, chief, energy and infrastructure for USAID’s bureau for Europe and Eurasia. Following the remarks, an expert panel will discuss USAID’s evolving role in promoting energy security in Europe and Eurasia, with a focus on the next five years of the Bridge initiative.

Web Event to Look at Test Reactor – The Versatile Test Reactor team is hosting a webinar on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. looking at advancing U.S. nuclear research and development.  The briefing and discussion will address the VTR to share information about the project, research capabilities and next steps as a follow up to the recent announcement by DOE that it has approved Critical Decision 1. The panel will focus on U.S. competitiveness, energy, new innovation capabilities and other drivers.

Forum to Offer Geopolitical Outlook – The Columbia SIPA’s Center on Global Energy Policy will host a discussion Thursday at Noon featuring a panel of former career intelligence officials and scholars who will offer their views, assessment, and outlook for geopolitics in the next 18 months. Focusing on topics as diverse as East Asia, Africa, Europe, cybersecurity and the Middle East, they will make brief presentations followed by a conversation moderated by Mike Dempsey, CGEP Non-Resident Fellow and the former Acting Director for National Intelligence.

RFF to Look at Energy Storage – Resources for the Future continues its Advanced Energy Technologies Series on Thursday at Noon with a discussion on the future of energy storage, which many experts look to as a critical complement to intermittent energy sources like solar and wind. Energy storage expert Marc Chupka (Energy Storage Association) will share information on the current state of short-duration and long-duration storage technology, what challenges remain in both development and deployment, and policy drivers impacting the future of energy storage in the United States. RFF Senior Fellow and Future of Power Initiative Director Karen Palmer will then moderate a Q&A session.

CRES Forum Looks at Future Techs – CRES Forum hosts an online panel on Thursday at Noon to discuss technological innovations, such as the use of renewable hydrogen, which could help radically decarbonize heavy industry. Panelists will also address trade issues and policy avenues currently in development that would prevent emissions from simply moving elsewhere, and how the U.S. should respond to the planned European Union carbon boarder adjustment.  CRES’s Charles Hernick moderates Michael Mehling, deputy director at MIT’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Laura Nelson of the Green Hydrogen Coalition and Blaine Collison of the Renewable Thermal Collaborative.

Forum Looks at Advanced Nuclear, Security – The Atlantic Council and Third Way are co-hosting a virtual event on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. highlighting the potential global market for advanced nuclear technologies, and the important role safeguards and security must play in ensuring US reactors are ready to compete. The event will feature keynote remarks by Dr. Brent Park, Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at the National Nuclear Security Administration. Immediately following his remarks, Third Way will present a first-of-a-kind international advanced nuclear map and global market analysis, and we will host a panel discussion on the critical role US clean energy innovation can play in reducing emissions in the US, addressing energy poverty around the world, and the challenges and opportunities presented by applying safeguards- and security-by-design to the next generation of nuclear energy technologies.

Forum Look at Decarb Techs – The New Buildings Institute holds a web event at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday to discuss decarbonization technologies. In this webinar, moderated by Clay Nesler, a report will be provided on Johnson Controls' recent Energy Efficiency Indicator Survey. Presenters will then share developments in heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, induction cooking, renewable energy, and energy storage systems, and discuss the options for full electric kitchens and how equipment needs differ in residential vs. commercial kitchens. This session will also provide a high-level view of needs and drivers for renewables, including renewable gas, and various forms of storage devices such as batteries and thermal storage options.

Event Targets Electrification of Transportation – The Regulatory Assistance Project holds an event on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. that looks at electrification of the transportation sector.  RAP produced a Roadmap for Electric Transportation, which includes legislative examples of how states around the US have approached transportation electrification. The Roadmap includes a policy guide, fact sheet and detailed legislative options as a resource for legislators and stakeholders. The webinar explores the Roadmap in further detail. Panelists Camille Kadoch, David Farnsworth, Mark LeBel and Frederick Weston will discuss the variety of ways states have addressed EV planning and incentives, removed barriers and empowered regulatory agencies as a means to increase transportation electrification. Clara Summers of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators will moderate the discussion. After the presentation, there will be ample time for questions.

EESI Report to Look at Resilience of Great Lakes – On Thursday at 3:00 p.m., the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) will hold the launch of its new report, A Resilient Future for Coastal Communities: Federal Policy Recommendations from Solutions in Practice, and a discussion of federal actions that can improve coastal resilience along our ocean and Great Lakes shorelines. The report highlights policy levers available to Congress, with 30 policy recommendations and case studies gathered from EESI’s year-long, 16-part briefing series on regional coastal resilience. The series featured 42 policy experts and coastal resilience practitioners from nearly every coastal state, from Maine to Wisconsin to Hawaii, covering topics from data-gathering to living shorelines to coastal retreat. This online briefing will be conducted as a moderated discussion of coastal issues and policy solutions with four expert speakers from the briefing series.

Web Event Look at Columbian Shale Issues – On Thursday, 3:30 p.m., the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center holds a public discussion on the future Colombia’s shale development. The event will launch a GEC report titled “Colombia’s Shale Resource Potential” by John D. Padilla, which is part of the Global Energy Center’s ‘The Future of Shale’ Project. 

Stakeholder Relations Expert Talks Impacts –On Friday at 10:00 a.m., the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center will host Michelle Brechtelsbauer, director of stakeholder relations at the Energy Impact Center. She will discuss how OPEN100 provides open-source information intended to streamline the nuclear power plant design and licensing process. Launched in February 2020, OPEN100 provides an open-source power plant design and supporting information for a standardized 100 MW pressurized water reactor, including engineering schematics, construction, and detailed economic analysis. Brechtelsbauer will explain how the platform is detailed enough for any utility to begin early site studies with and abstract enough to allow for site-specific engineering details to be added

New Report on Evolving Role of Companies in a Post-Election World – A new report from Morning Consult takes a deep-dive into Americans' changing expectations around brands' engagement with politics, and the issues consumers care most about as they relate to corporate social responsibility and political activism. The report will be featured in a web discussion on Friday at 1:00 p.m. featuring Morning Consult’s Victoria Sakal, Managing Director of Brand Intelligence.

Brockovich to Address Press Club – On Friday at 2:00 p.m., the National Press Club hosts a book event with Erin Brockovich to discuss her new book Superman’s Not Coming focused on the crisis of contamination of water systems around the nation, and show how ordinary people can create meaningful change.  In “Superman’s Not Coming,” Brockovich lays out the dire condition of America’s municipal water system, citing cities like Flint, Michigan and Newark, New Jersey, where environmental poisons have turned water supplies into silent killers inside the home. Brockovich shares stories of citizen activists like the moms in Hannibal, Missouri who forced the town to prohibit ammonia in public drinking water.

IN THE FUTURE

Farm Labor Leader Huerta to Address Press Club – On Monday November 2^nd at 6:00 p.m., the National Press Club hosts Dolores Huerta, American labor leader and civil rights activist who, with Cesar Chavez, is a co-founder of the National Farmworkers Association (which later became the United Farm Workers). Huerta will join NPC President Michael Freedman to discuss the Dolores Huerta Foundation, current efforts to gain Senate passage of the HEROES act, and the Latino vote.

ELECTION DAY – November 3^rd

Cybersecurity Forums Continue on Info Sharing – On Wednesday November 4^th at 9:30 a.m., the USEA and USAID continue its forum series to discuss address a variety of communication strategies and practices that energy regulators and utilities can adopt to prepare for and respond to a cyber-attack.

Bracewell Holds Election Wrap Up – Bracewell's Policy Resolution Group holds its award-winning political and policy analysis virtual event Wednesday, November 4^th at 10:00 a.m.: The PRG Pulse 2020 Post-Election Webinar. The complimentary event will feature PRG lobbyists, attorneys and strategic communications professionals – as well as some special guests.  Listen live and ask questions as our team of Washington insiders breaks down what the 2020 election results mean for stakeholders in industries from energy and environment to consumer product safety to trade. 

MD Clean Energy Looks at Nuclear – The MD Clean Energy Group holds a forum on Thursday November 5^th at 10:30 a.m. to look at nuclear energy as a zero-carbon electricity generator. Given the vision of sustainable nuclear power, this webinar then explores the choices confronting Maryland (and others) today.  NEI’s John Kotek moderates a panel of experts including Exelon’s Lara Pierpoint among others.

Group to Look at Election Impacts – On November 5^th at Noon, K&L Gates Public Policy and Energy, Infrastructure & Resources practice groups will host a panel on Elections 2020, discussing the possible implications of the election on energy and environmental policy.  

Forum to Look at Green Hydrogen – Green Hydrogen 2020 will be a Virtual Conference on November 5^th and 6^th and brings together experts and decision-makers in green hydrogen technologies.  The event will discuss the challenges and solutions of green hydrogen production, zero-emission, Carbon Capture, Utilize and Storage, hydrogen transportation, and the development of infrastructure.

Forum Looks at Climate, Global Food Supply – Michigan State University holds an event on Thursday November 6^th at 1:00 p.m. on climate change and its impact on the global food system

GTM to Host Energy Storage Summit – Greentech Media will host the Energy Storage Summit on November 9^th through the 12^th.  The event includes senior executives from ISO New England, Fluence, Eversource, NYISO, Leyline Renewable Capital, Portland General Electric as well as LS Power.  The virtual sessions will touch on the latest technology advancements for both li-ion and non-li-ion batteries, the impact of COVID-19 and supply constraints on technology prices, US state policy developments, DER aggregation strategies.

Offshore Wind Forum Set – The Business Network for Offshore Wind holds a virtual conference November 9^th to the 11^th on R&D in the offshore wind sector.  Speakers will include DOE EERE’s Dan Simmons, Danielle Merfeld of GE Wind, NREL’s Walt Musial and many more.  

S&P Forum to Look at NatGas Price Index – S&P Global Platts team holds a webinar on Tuesday November 10 at 10:00 a.m. on the future of Natural Gas Index development.  The event will demonstrate the capabilities of Platts Trade Vision price submission platform, the future of index development in North America.

SP to Look at Hydrogen – S&P Global is hosting major new conference on November 10^th at Noon that focuses on the growth of hydrogen as part of the move toward decarbonization. The event will look at near-term growth potential, industry supply chain, pricing trends, and future market dynamics, and will feature presentations, panel discussions and audience Q&A with speakers.

Hydrogen Event Set – The Green Hydrogen Coalition, in collaboration with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB), is hosting its 2^nd annual Green Hydrogen Visions Conference on November 17-18^th.  The event brings together policymakers, industry leaders, utilities, and non-governmental organizations to accelerate progress for green hydrogen market and infrastructure development in the Western United States and beyond.  Speakers will include DOE’s Dan Simmons and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti.

SE Renewables Forum Set – On November 17^th to 19^th, the 5^th annual Southeast Renewable Energy Summit will be held to investigate the future buildout of renewables in the Southeast.  Speakers include Dominion’s Katharine Bond, TVA’s Chris Hansen and Duke’s Laurel Meeks.

Infocast Hosts Mid-Atlantic Renewables Forum – The Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Virtual Conference will be held on December 8^th to 10^th by Infocast and will feature current insights from top regulatory officials, utility and public power leaders, and developers in the region.