Energy Update: Week of October 28

Friends,

Welcome to Halloween week…  The World Series rolls back to Houston after the visitors have won each of the five games.  Houston goes for the clinch tomorrow.  Game seven Wednesday if necessary.  As I said, Halloween Thursday so tell me what your favorite “treat” is.  I’ll take PayDay bars and Milk Duds any day…

This is a busy week, especially on ethanol/RFS issues.  Tomorrow, the House Energy panel will look at the RFS and EPA small refiner waivers.  AFPM’s Chet Thompson and RFA’s Geoff Cooper are among those testifying.  Then on Wednesday, EPA holds its 2020 RFS Public Hearing in Michigan.  We’ve heard farmers complaining for months despite the President offering them just about everything they’ve wanted.  But now, another key constituency for the President – union workers – have specifically called upon the Administration to continue granting SREs as required by law in order to protect and preserve thousands of industrial jobs across the country.  Environmentalists also warn against increasing the RFS volume obligations above what is actually required (which reallocation strategies for SREs would have the effect of doing).  Indeed, citing water, toxics, energy yield and other concerns, the Sierra Club and the Environmental Working Group continue to raise important objections about ethanol. 

Other hearings include a Wednesday hearing House Energy subcommittee on solutions for the US power sector building a 100% clean economy featuring NRECA CEO Jim Matheson, a nomination hearing at Senate Environment for EPA IG Sean O’Donnell, Senate Energy looking at water in the west and House Select Climate hearing on Agriculture in the afternoon.  Finally tomorrow, House Oversight looks at CAFE rules and California, while House Resources looks at plastic pollution featuring Cheers actor/Oceana Board Vice Chair Ted Danson.

On the legislation front, we still expect to see some Senate legislation on HFC reductions, perhaps as soon as tomorrow.  We also expect to see a scaled back version of the yearly National Defense Authorization Act as broader legislation remains stalled.

Other event include an MIT Climate Symposia in Boston tomorrow, a CSIS event with Senate Energy leaders Lisa Murkowski and Joe Manchin Wednesday morning and RFF forum in CVC on Clean Energy Standards Wednesday at noon, a Thursday BPC event on carbon removal and a Friday EESI event on adapting to climate change. 

Finally, we have heard Kelly Raymond will be headed to EPA’s Air office to take over the duties of Clint Woods as Special Assistant to the Air Administrator, Anne Idsal.  She is expected to start next Monday, Nov 4.   Kelly goes to EPA from the Air Conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).  She also worked previously at the National Assn of Manufacturers.  Over the years, she has worked closely with enviros, industry and Capitol Hill stakeholders. 

Call with questions.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“More than 200 mayors from 39 states are stepping up to defend the ITC. Mayors are increasingly turning to solar energy to fight the effects of climate change and generate millions of dollars of private investment in their cities. We’re thrilled to have their support as we fight to preserve one of the most successful clean energy policies in U.S. history.”

Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on the letter from 231 Mayors urging renewal of the Solar Investment Tax Credit. 

ON THE PODCAST

CapCrude Looks at 2020 Politics, Fracking Ban – On this week’s Capitol Crude podcast, Platts’ reporter Meghan Gordon discusses the 2020 fight over energy policy and investors already getting a bad case of heartburn over Democratic presidential candidates' proposals to ban all fracking in the US.  Gordon is joined by Katie Bays, who advises institutional investors as co-founder of Sandhill Strategy in Washington, joins us to share how her clients are viewing campaign trail promises to ban fracking, end leasing on federal lands and bring back restrictions on US oil and gas exports.  Bays says crude export projects under development on the Gulf Coast are potentially more vulnerable than LNG export facilities based on how Washington regulates the commodities differently.

FUN OPINIONS

Expert: Washington Becoming a Baseball City – A new opinion piece from our friend, former AP reporter and baseball author/expert Fred Frommer in the Washington Post says the Washington Nationals are making D.C. a baseball city again.  Frommer, who has written a history of Washington Baseball, says it’s now clear that Washington has turned into a full-throttle baseball town, and the Nats have eclipsed the Washington Redskins in the hearts of Washingtonians. Frommer: “It’s not just that this will be the Nats’ first World Series appearance in franchise history, and the city’s first since 1933. An equally important factor is all the negative energy from the football club — the poor product on the field, the empty seats in the stadium, the controversy over the team name and the unpopularity of owner Daniel Snyder.”

Former MI AG: MI Pipeline Tunnel Essential to Keeping Energy Costs Low – Former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette says a pipeline tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac is necessary to keep energy prices low while protecting the Great Lakes in an op-ed in the Marquette Mining Journal, the Upper Peninsula’s largest daily paper. Schuette argues that Michigan’s leaders should exhibit the same type of leadership that former Dem Governor Soapy Williams and GOP majorities in the legislature did in the 1950s when working together to build the Mighty Mack; the Mackinac Bridge.  Schuette says building the Mackinac Straits tunnel would be a bold and decisive action by today’s state leadership and a shining example of Michigan and American technology, fortitude and forward thinking.

FROG BLOG

Unions, Refiners: RFS Advocates Wrong on SRE Legal Status, Transparency – A new blog from the Fueling American Jobs Coalition looks at the week’s RFS hearings and tackles some key issues regarding the RFS claims of ethanol advocates.   Frist, the blog details the EPS Small refinery exemption program and its legal status saying “when EPA has attempted to use alleged discretion to restrict SREs when refineries can demonstrate disproportionate economic harm, courts have ruled against them three times.”  Secondly, it addresses EPA’s transparency in the process.  While protecting Confidential Business information of refiners, it has delivered on its promised transparency by creating a dashboard where it publicizes all the information about when a waiver is granted and circumstances around it. Finally, the blog focuses on regulatory structure secrecy under which large agri-business is subsidized, highlighting reports both taxpayer, sunlight, progressive and environmental groups .   

IN THE NEWS

Biodiesel Tax Credit Renewal Would Generate Billions in GDP, Farm Revenue –  The biodiesel blenders tax credit (BTC) could mean $15 billion in additional GDP and another $15 billion in agricultural revenues according to a new report from tax and agriculture experts at FTI Consulting.  The report says renewing the credit is critical to furthering the industry’s economic and environmental contributions to rural America and the economy. Report authors Ken Ditzel, Scott Nystrom and Mitch Derubis write with the BTC expired since January 1, 2017, cracks are starting to emerge that risk the significant economic gains in the industry and rural America if the BTC is not renewed. Farmers, who are also suffering from recent policy changes, stand to gain from a reinstatement of the BTC, with farm incomes rising substantially due to a combination of higher crop demands, and higher crop prices, the report added.  The report says in 2019, five producers have publicly announced the closure or idling of 330 million gallons of annual production capacity. “This represents a decline from 2.5 billion gallons of capacity in the beginning of 2018 to 2.2 billion gallons today,” the report says. “With the average facility losing approximately 25 cents per gallon of production prior to interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, current production levels are not sustainable, and further growth untenable, without the BTC.”

The Numbers on the BTC – FTI’s latest analysis shows that extending the BTC of $1 per gallon by January 2020 would increase biodiesel capacity up to 644 million gallons by 2024 in the highest scenario, resulting in the following incremental socioeconomic benefits over the next five years:

Farm & Crop Processing Revenues:

• $10 billion in additional farm revenues from increased demand and crop prices
  • 5.0 percent increase in soybean prices
  • 2.2 percent increase in corn prices
• $5 billion in additional grain and oil seed processing revenues

Employment & Labor Income

• 30,000 new jobs on average supported throughout the U.S. economy
• $1.8 billion per year in additional labor income

GDP & Capital Investment

• $15 billion in additional U.S. GDP
• $1 billion in new capital investment injected into the economy

Greenhouse Gas Reductions

• 18.4 million tons in additional GHG reductions by 2024

Significant Enviro, Climate Benefits – The credit also provides significant environmental and climate benefits as well.  The biodiesel industry also has provided sizable GHG reductions as it lowered them nearly 65 percent per gallon relative to petroleum-based diesel. In 2018, biodiesel enabled 17.7 million tons in GHG reductions, equivalent to taking 3.8 million cars off the road.

231 Mayors Ask Congress For Solar Tax Credit Extension – Speaking of tax extensions, a bipartisan group of mayors requested a five-year extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit, which they say could bring 113,000 jobs and $87 billion in economic investment by 2030. For years, mayors on both sides of the aisle have provided frontline support for major hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, polar vortices and more. They’ve pushed for sound, long-term solutions to these weather events, including the transition to renewable energy. In fact, 28 of the cities represented have 100% renewable energy commitments. The ITC, which is scheduled to start stepping down at the end of 2019, has a proven track record of success. Since its initial passage, the ITC has created more than 200,000 American jobs, added $140 billion in private sector investment, and grown solar deployment by 10,000%.

Three federal agencies Launch Resilience Effort – The Economic Development Administration (EDA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) announced an interagency challenge to accelerate innovations in disaster response and resiliency technology. The Accelerate R2 Network Challenge is a $1 million grant challenge, with full applications due in March. Officials with Commerce, under which the three agencies operate, said the challenge is designed to encourage innovation in the communications, technology, and equipment first responders use when responding to disasters and events; and also to help find new ways to build, protect, and connect networks and infrastructure to help communities recover and build readiness and resilience in the face of future disasters.

IEA Report Says Offshore Wind Poised to Boom – Offshore wind power will expand impressively over the next two decades, boosting efforts to decarbonize energy systems and reduce air pollution as it becomes a growing part of electricity supply, according to an International Energy Agency report.  Offshore Wind Outlook 2019 is the most comprehensive global study on the subject to date, combining the latest technology and market developments with a specially commissioned new geospatial analysis that maps out wind speed and quality along hundreds of thousands of kilometers of coastline around the world. The IEA finds that global offshore wind capacity may increase 15-fold and attract around $1 trillion of cumulative investment by 2040. This is driven by falling costs, supportive government policies and some remarkable technological progress, such as larger turbines and floating foundations. That’s just the start – the IEA report finds that offshore wind technology has the potential to grow far more strongly with stepped-up support from policy makers. Offshore wind currently provides just 0.3% of global power generation, but that could grow by 15 times, serving up 3.1% to 5.4% of electricity by 2040, depending on how significantly countries enact policies to reduce emissions. Offshore wind has historically been confined to European nations, but it is expanding thanks to falling costs, supportive government policies, and technological progress, such as larger turbines and floating foundations.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

Groups to Host Conversation with Senator Murkowski – EPIC and the Becker Friedman Institute hosted a conversation today with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at the Oriental Institute Museum.  See the video here.

Forum to Look at Climate, Developing Countries – The Johns Hopkins University’s SAIS holds a forum today at 4:00 p.m. to look developing countries vulnerabilities to the ramifications of environmental pressures — issues of food security and forced migration.  Panelists will include Devon Cone of Refugees International, WRI’s Christina Chan and JHU SAIS’s Jessica Fanzo.

USEA Forum to Look at Uganda – The US Energy Assn holds a briefing tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. on Uganda’s energy sector by top officials from the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL). The Ugandan delegation, led by Board Chairperson Njuki and Chief Executive Officer Mutikanga, will present information on the Ugandan energy sector, future energy targets, challenges, and lessons learned as Uganda aims to increase access to electricity from 22% to 80% by 2040.

House Energy to hold Hearing on RFS – The House Energy Subcommittee will hold a hearing tomorrow on the EPA’s RFS implementation with special focus on small refinery exemptions.  Witnesses include AFPM’s Chet Thompson, RFA’s Geoff Cooper, Gene Gebolys of World Energy and Siouxland Energy Kelly Nieuwenhuis. 

House Small Biz Look at Clean Energy Workforce – The House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation and Workforce Development will hold a hearing tomorrow on creating a clean energy workforce.  The clean energy workforce has skyrocketed to over 4 million jobs due to dropping technology costs, more demand for clean and efficient energy technology, and supportive policies and investment at the local and state levels. Neil James of Apex Clean Energy and the Solar Foundation’s Ed Gilliland are among those testifying. 

House Oversight Look at CA, Car Rules – The House Oversight Committee holds a hearing tomorrow on the effects of the Administration’s fuel efficiency changes on car companies and California. 

Resources Looks at Plastic Impacts – The House Resources Committee holds a hearing tomorrow the impacts of plastic pollution on oceans and wildlife. Cheers actor Ted Danson (vice chairman of Oceana board), Juan Parras of the Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, University of Georgia engineering prof Jenna Jambeck and Plastics Industry Association CEO Tony Radoszewski all testify.

Interior Officials Talk Offshore Energy at WCEE – Tomorrow at Noon, the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE) will host a forum on managing offshore energy development.  The event includes a discussion of the federal role in developing offshore energy projects and hear from federal program managers about how BOEM manages intensely competing priorities in its management of both new offshore wind energy projects and offshore domestic production of oil and gas.  Speakers will include Interior’s Kelly Hammerle and Michelle Morin. 

MIT Climate Forums Continue – Tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. in Boston, MIT holds its second Climate Action Symposia on the challenges of climate policy featuring Richard Schmalensee.  The forum will look at societal impacts and policy challenges of climate change; adaptations that could limit economic damages and national security risks; and potential solutions to overcome domestic and international political hurdles for addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Action Symposia series aims to advance our community’s understanding and expand our capacity to generate solutions for the urgent global challenge of climate change. Over the 2019-2020 academic year, the six symposia examine the current state of climate science and policy, as well as pathways for decarbonization of the global economy. We will also look at how universities can and should contribute solutions, including MIT’s efforts under our Plan for Action on Climate Change.

Crude Summit Set for Houston – Platts holds its 2^nd Annual North American Crude Oil Exports Summit tomorrow and Wednesday in Houston Marriott West Loop by the Galleria.  The US crude oil market is experiencing a sea change as production and exports continue to rise. US producers will rely on export markets to find the best home for light, sweet crudes coming out of US shale plays. The summit sets a unique global agenda, inviting international buyers and North American producers, midstream, and ports to examine the changing dynamics of US crude quality, connectivity, pricing, and new markets.

Experts Discuss Future Renewable Impacts – Greentech Media hosts its Power & Renewables Summit 2019 tomorrow and Wednesday in Austin, TX to look at how decarbonization will impact future power markets.  The event will feature remarks from our friends Spencer Hanes of Duke Energy Renewables, Equinor’s Michael Wheeler, Wood Mackenzie’s Ed Crooks (former FT Energy Reporter), Ameren’s Jeff Gibbs and PJM’s Craig Glazer, among many others.  

Renewable Energy Conference to Highlight SE Renewables – The Southeast Renewable Energy Conference will be held tomorrow and Wednesday in Atlanta and will look into the latest insights into the market in the region. The event look sat key trends impacting renewable energy project development, finance and investment and features Commissioners and utility procurement managers.  Among the speakers will be GA PSC Chair Lauren “Bubba” McDonald and SC PSC Commissioner Tom Ervin, as well as Southern’s Howard Smith and Duke’s Adam Nygaard. 

Murkowski, Manchin Head to CSIS – The CSIS Energy & National Security Program will host a discussion on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. with Senate Energy Leaders Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) for a conversation on energy policy priorities in the United States.  This discussion will center on the opportunities and challenges of harnessing U.S. energy resources and ingenuity to foster economic opportunities for U.S. businesses, workers, and communities.  Murkowski and Manchin are at the forefront of developing future energy policies across a wide range of crucial areas, including innovation, energy efficiency, and worker training.  This event is part of Energy in America, an ongoing project assessing the ways energy is contributing to or detracting from social and economic mobility across the United States. 

EPA holds RFS Hearing in Michigan – Once again, EPA returns to Ypsilanti Michigan for an RFS hearing on Wednesday, this time focused on its supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking seeking additional comment on the recently proposed rule to establish the cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel volumes for 2020 and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2021 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.   EPA will hold a public hearing on Oct. 30, 2019 followed by a 30-day comment period from the date of the hearing to receive public input on these issues. The agency will finalize this action later this year.

Forum to Focus on Water – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and World Bank hold the Business H2O Water Innovation Summit on Wednesday.   The focus is on water issues in the Middle East with speakers from Bechtel and there is a panel on “Promoting Investment in Water Infrastructure.”

House Energy to Look at Ways to Achieve Clean Energy Economy – The House Energy subcommittee will hold a hearing Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. on solutions for the US power sector to build a 100% clean economy. Witnesses will include NRECA CEO Jim Matheson, PSE&G CEO Ralph Izzo, Utility Workers Union Lee Anderson, RFF’s Karen Palmer AEE’s Jeff Dennis and Midwest ISO CEO John Baer.

Enviros to Discuss 100% Clean Energy – Prior to the Wednesday hearing, the Environmental Defense Action Fund and the Sierra Club will host a breakfast panel discussion Wednesday morning at the National Press Club with climate and public health experts and local leaders. The panel will discuss transitioning to a 100% clean economy as a vital solution to addressing climate change, the role of the United States in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, local action, and federal legislative tools, like the 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019, to achieve net-zero climate pollution by 2050.

Senate Energy to Look at Water in West – The Senate Energy Committee holds a hearing Wednesday on technology and innovation to increase water security and enable economic development in the West.  Witnesses include Arizona State University’s John Sabo, Amit Lang of EMS Mekorot Projects, Farmers Conservation Alliance’s Margi Hoffmann, Mary Beth Sewald of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce and Intel’s Stephen Harper.

Senate Enviro to Hear from EPA IG Nominee – The Senate Environment Committee holds nomination hearing for Sean O'Donnell to be EPA Inspector General on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

Forum to Look at China, Sustainable Energy – The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and the Bipartisan Policy Center hold an expert panel Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. that will look at China’s impact on the solar industry.  The event looks back at the recent past and future things that will impact lessons for clean energy innovations, such as direct air capture technology and advanced batteries.  Presenters will include Gregory Nemet of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, ITIF’s David Hart, GWU’s John Helveston and Sasha Mackler of the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Sen. Smith, Rep. Lujan Address RFF Clean Energy Standard Forum – Resources for the Future (RFF) hosts a briefing on Capitol Hill in SVC 202-203 of the Capitol Visitors Center on Wednesday for a lunchtime discussion on the effects of and policy considerations for Clean Energy Standards. The event will include remarks from Senator Tina Smith and Congressman Ben Ray Luján, a presentation from RFF comparing the effects of clean energy standards with other proposed policy approaches, and a panel discussion with a number of energy policy experts.

House Climate Committee to Address Ag Issues – The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis will hold a hearing on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. focused Agricultural issues and climate change.

RFF to Host Forum on Satellite Data – Resources for the Future (RFF) will hold a forum on Wednesday evening discussing past, present, and future opportunities in applications of satellite data.  Governments and private and nonprofit sectors use data from Earth-observing satellites to manage natural resources, achieve business and policy goals, and serve the public interest. The VALUABLES Consortium, a collaboration between RFF and NASA, will feature a panel of experts focus on applications of satellite data.  Speakers include AGU’s Robin Bell, Anne Hale Miglarese of the Radiant Earth Foundation and Ellen Stofan of the National Air and Space Museum.  WaPo’s Andrew Freedman moderates.

Moniz Headlines BPC Forum on Carbon Removal Technologies – The Bipartisan Policy Center holds a forum on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies that can help reduce the risks of climate change, by offering pathways for managing emissions from difficult-to-decarbonize sectors and taking back legacy emissions. Developing and scaling these technologies will require important contributions from both the public and private sectors. Former Energy Secretary Moniz will outline the conclusions from the Energy Futures Initiative’s 12-month study on how to build an aggressive CDR research program. The subsequent panel of commercial leaders will discuss how the energy sector can contribute to scaling industrial CDR technologies, such as direct air capture, and will feature a new report on emerging technologies for managing carbon emissions from the Institute of Clean Air Companies and include several members of BPC’s Direct Air Capture Advisory Council.

Event to Discuss Iraq Energy Outlook – On Friday at 9:00 a.m., the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative and Global Energy Center holds a conversation on Iraq’s political and energy outlook. As the two-year anniversary of ISIS’ territorial defeat in Iraq nears, recent protests underscore the many challenges Iraq must address despite the progress it has made. Iraq’s leaders must tackle unemployment, corruption, reconstruction, reconciliation, and ongoing security issues – particularly given rising US-Iran tensions – with the energy sector often at the core of it all.  Speakers include Ambassador Rend al-Rahim of the Iraq Foundation, State’s Joey Hood and Crescent Petroleum CEO Majid Jafar.

Forum to Look at Climate Adaptation Report – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) hold a briefing Friday at 9:30 a.m. in 2318 Rayburn on the Global Commission on Adaptation’s Flagship Report and Year of Action for climate adaptation. The Commission, which is chaired by Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Microsoft Founder Bill Gates, and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, seeks to accelerate adaptation action by elevating its political visibility and focusing on concrete solutions. The report also kickstarts a “Year of Action” on climate adaptation, starting in late 2019 and going through 2020, to advance the recommendations from the flagship report which include eight major areas of focus—agriculture, cities, finance, disaster risk management, nature-based solutions, infrastructure, water, and locally-led action. This concentrated effort will help accelerate adaptation action and support, thereby improving human well-being and resulting in better, more sustainable economic development and security for all. Briefing speakers will highlight key elements of the report and share how federal legislators can engage with the Year of Action for climate adaptation.

IN THE FUTURE

Forum to Look at Geopolitics of ME Oil – The National History Center will hold a forum next Monday at 9:00 a.m. looking at the geopolitics of Middle East oil.  The recent attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and Saudi oil refineries serve as a stark reminder of the global economy’s dependence on petroleum from this politically unstable region. This briefing, which brings together several leading historians of the subject, will explain how the Middle East oil industry assumed such importance in international affairs and American foreign policy.

Chamber GEI Climate Expert Eule to Speak at Risk Event – Next Monday at 4:00 p.m., the Institute of World Politics hosts a discussion on measuring energy security risk in a global energy market with our friend Stephen Eule, Vice President for climate and technology at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute.  Energy security has been a perennial concern since the early 1970s. But what exactly do we mean by energy security, and how do we know if it’s getting better or worse? This presentation discusses different dimensions of U.S. energy security and how they can be measured in an index. The presentation also will look at how the U.S. performs compared to other large energy-using countries.

Oil, Gas Forum Features TX, LA, AR Members – The 2^nd Houston Gas & LNG Forum 2019 will be held on November 4-5 at the Petroleum Club of Houston. The forum will focus on the role of American and Texan gas and LNG in fueling global economic growth while addressing the critical questions facing the gas and LNG industry in the new environment of Energy Abundance. Sen Ted Cruz and will headline with other speakers including Reps. Randy Weber, Kevin Brady, Bruce Westerman, Lizzie Fletcher, Brian Babin and Garrett Graves.

Danly, MacGregor Hearing Set for Senate Energy – The Senate Energy Committee holds a hearing next Tuesday, November 5^th on the nominations of James Danly to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2023; and Katharine MacGregor to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior.

Forum to Look at Ukraine, Energy – The Atlantic Council and the Razumkov Centre will hold an event next Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. on the state of Ukraine’s energy sector. At this event, the Atlantic Council will host Razumkov Centre experts to present a publication on the role of Ukraine’s energy sector in the global energy landscape. This will be followed by panel discussions which will explore the current state of energy in Ukraine, immediate and long-term strategies for reform and development, and Ukraine’s place in the global energy sector.

DOE’s Simmons, SoCal Gas Address Fuel Cell Conference – The Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy Exposition (FCS&EE) will be held on November 5-7^th in Long Beach.  The Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association and Business Council for Sustainable Energy event brings together hundreds of international manufacturers, fuel providers, customers, policy makers, supply chain, integrators, academics, investors, media, and other key stakeholders.  Speakers will include Reps. Ken Calvert and Mike Levin, DOE’s Daniel Simmons (EERE) and Sunita Satyapal (Fuel Cell Tech office), NASEO’s David Terry and a speaker from Southern Cal Gas.

SCOTUS to Hear Water Case – The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the Maui case on November 6^th. 

Forum to Look at Carbon-Neutral, Negative Technologies – On Wednesday, November 6^th at 12:00 p.m. in SVC 203 of the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, R Street will host a forum looking at understanding carbon-neutral and carbon-negative technologies. Scientists and engineers are in the process of testing breakthrough carbon-neutral and carbon-negative technologies like geothermal source heat and carbon capture and sequestration. These technologies, if given proper regulatory relief and investment, could go a long way toward dramatically cutting global emissions.  Panelists to discuss include Cornell Dean of Engineering Lance Collins, Lee Beck of the Global CCS Institute and former ClearPath ace and current Senate Energy staffer Spencer Nelson.  R Street’s William Murray moderates.

Forum to Look at Resilience in Louisiana – On Wednesday, November 6^th at 2:00 p.m., the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) will hold a briefing on community-centered resilience featuring an example from Louisiana which holds lessons for all regions of the country. Across the United States, communities are facing increased uncertainty from changes such as shifting agricultural growing seasons and intensifying coastal erosion. These changes hit close to home, and communities should be at the center of finding solutions to increase their resilience. Briefing panelists will discuss the process and outcomes of the LA SAFE initiative to date to provide attendees with an understanding of how this model can be applied in districts across the country.

Senate Environment Looks at NSR Reform – The Senate Environment Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday November 7^th on reforms to EPA’s New Source Review Program. 

CSIS to Host Cornyn on Energy – On Thursday November 7^th at 8:30 a.m., the CSIS Energy & National Security Program will host John Cornyn (R-TX) to share his views on domestic energy production in the context of U.S. energy policy and the dynamic geopolitical landscape.  The conversation will focus on the impact of recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities as well as domestic shale production policies on the U.S. position in the global energy market.

Forum to Look at Carbon Capture Techs – The US Energy Association hosts a forum on Thursday, November 7^th at 10:00 a.m. to look at active reservoir management technologies for carbon capture.  ARM has the potential to improve the commercial viability of geologic CO2 storage, and has applications to the geologic disposal of fluids associated with energy production and a broad cross section of other industries. Treatment and handling of brine or “high total dissolved solids” waters associated with energy production can be challenging and not readily or economically accomplished using conventional water treatment techniques. These fluids are typically disposed of through geologic injection.  John Hamling of the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) will speak. EERC has partnered with the DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory and Nuverra Environmental Solutions to establish a Brine Extraction and Storage Test (BEST) facility to research ways not only to improve the management of fluid injection (including produced water and CO2 storage) but also to develop technologies to treat those produced waters for beneficial use as an alternative to injecting them into a disposal well.

Forum to Look at Power Electrification for 2050 – On Friday, November 8^th at 9:00 a.m., Center for Strategic & International Studies hosts a forum to look at electrification pathways to 2050. The next several decades will see pivotal changes in how consumers use energy and how utilities supply electricity. The development of new technologies that could meet demand across major end use sectors - transportation, residential, commercial, and industry - will also have economic and climate change considerations for policymakers and industry. Through this high-level panel discussion, we will consider the challenges and opportunities in the electric power sector for 3 major economies: the United States, Japan, and the European Union.

Thanksgiving – November 28^th

BioEnergy Conference to be in Baltimore – The 15th World Bioenergy Congress and Expo will be Held in Baltimore On December 2^nd and 3^rd focusing on renewable energy issues.

AGU Celebrates 100 years at Meeting in SF – The American Geophysical Union marks its Centennial in 2019 by returning to San Francisco, the home of the AGU Fall Meeting for more than 40 years on December 9-13.  A diverse community will convene at the newly renovated Moscone Center to explore and develop research.

Grid Forum Set – The GridWise Alliance and Clean Edge hold the 3^rd annual gridCONNEXT 2019 in Washington, DC on December 10-12 at The Liaison Hotel.  The event will bring together technology, policy, utility, and business leaders to explore the most important topics impacting the electric utility industry. Speakers will include former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and former FERC Commissioner Nora Mead Brownell.  The full agenda is now available online.