Energy Update: Week of October 4th
Energy Update - October 04, 2021
Friends,
It is October and that means Halloween decorations and candy in stores, fall leaves changing, Football/NHL hockey/Baseball Playoffs/(and field hockey), PUMPKINS SEEDS (which I will be making special batches starting soon) and the Fall Term of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). This fall, the Court takes up some big ticket political items (abortion, 2nd Amendment) but also look out for interesting environmental cases that we expect to play out.
After last week’s delay on the Infrastructure and budget bills, Democrats internal clashes continue to take center stage. Progressive Democrats continue to resist attempts to cut the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, while conceding on Sunday shows that some reductions to the proposal will likely be needed to bring moderates on board. More of the ins and outs in the Bracewell Reconciliation report here and below.
House is not in session this week and the Senate’s Fall Break next week is under threat if they can’t come together on a debt ceiling resolution, but there are several hearings including tomorrow’s Senate Energy investigation into the Mining Law of 1872 and a House Oversight hearing on hurricane response. Wednesday hearings include Senate Energy on drought conditions, Senate Environment with Army Corps officials on hurricane response and House Transportation discussing PFAS chemicals.
Some other interesting events include tomorrow when Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm plans to join civil rights and labor leader Dolores Huerta for an Instagram Live roundtable marking National Hispanic Heritage Month. Look for the broadcast at 5 p.m. from Granholm’s account (@SecGranholm).
And speaking of Energy Secretaries, former Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, now President of the Sempra Infrastructure will visit with ACCF on Thursday at Noon. Also Thursday, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy holds a COP26 discussion on businesses leading on climate to bolster US Competitiveness. On Wednesday morning, CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program will host a forum on EIA’s International Energy Outlook for 2021 featuring EIA Head Stephen Nalley.
Finally, if you’re looking for a cool Rock ‘n Roll event this week, tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. WaPo Live hosts Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters founder Dave Grohl to share stories from his new book about the journey from being a kid with big dreams in the Virginia suburbs to making music on the world stage. And starting this Thursday is the WORLD FAMOUS US Power Boat Show in Annapolis, which of course If followed next weekend by the US Sailboat Show. If you are a boater, you will need to check them out.
Special props to my colleagues Dee Martin (20 years) and Molly Butkus and Lytch Gutmann (10) for their Bracewell firm anniversaries. And on a sad note for us (but good for him), our PRG colleague John Lee has left us to head Chicago-land Congressman and rising star Sean Casten’s policy/legislative shop. Congrats to all…Stay Safe and healthy.
Best,
Frank Maisano
(202) 828-5864
C. (202) 997-5932
FRANKLY SPOKEN
Sen. Bernie Sanders on ABC's "This Week" Sunday.
ON THE PODCAST
RFF Connect with EPA’s Regan – In a new episode in its Policy Leadership Series Podcast, Resources RFF’s Richard Newell sat down with EPA Administrator Michael Regan to discuss the Biden administration’s climate priorities, the importance of economics in environmental regulations and how environmental justice informs Regan’s leadership. The Policy Leadership Series is RFF’s flagship event series, featuring conversations with leading public and private decisionmakers on environmental and energy issues.
FUN OPINIONS
LNG Leader Visits with POLITICO – Charif Souki, who has been at the forefront of the U.S. LNG industry for decades as founder of Cheniere Energy and now as executive chairman of Tellurian, visited with POLITICO's Ben Lefebvre to discuss the state of U.S. energy climate policy, and he's not impressed. Souki called the bipartisan infrastructure bill a “good start,” though he added that “it's so small if you look at the scale of what is needed.”
FROG BLOG
Columbia Expert Focuses on Methane – In a commentary, Columbia Center of Global Energy Policy expert Robert Kleinberg examines the potential to reduce emissions of methane from oil and natural gas infrastructure. It begins with a brief history of natural gas regulations and the effectiveness of rulemaking, before exploring unregulated and underregulated sources of methane. This is followed by a discussion about improvements in measurement capabilities and how regulations could be used to more effectively address methane emissions.
FUN FACTS
Energy Poverty: 770 million people worldwide had no access to electricity in 2019, 75% of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly half of Africans did not have access to electricity in 2018 and “around 80% of sub-Saharan African companies suffered frequent electricity disruptions leading to economic losses.”
RECONCILIATION REPORT
Please find below the latest addition of the Policy Resolution Group’s FY2022 Budget Reconciliation & Infrastructure Update. Click here for full summaries of the House Energy & Commerce and House Ways & Means markups, plus a full document library of related items.
State of Infrastructure and Reconciliation Negotiations
The past week featured a series of twists and turns in negotiations over the bipartisan infrastructure framework and reconciliation package. While Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) had initially committed to a vote on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on September 27, the Congressional Progressive Caucus delayed the vote by threatening to vote against the bill without stronger commitments from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) regarding what provisions they would support in a partisan reconciliation package.
Democratic leadership in both the House and Senate will continue to try and break the logjam between moderates and progressives over a reconciliation framework. Sen. Manchin has said that he is unlikely to support a bill with a price tag above $1.5 trillion, but progressives have reiterated that that investment would be insufficient to combat climate change and to deliver on the social safety net portions of President Biden’s agenda. Sen. Sinema’s priorities are still fairly hazy, causing significant consternation among progressives who believe she is not negotiating in good faith. As negotiations enter crunch time, Democrats must build trust and form a consensus on a reconciliation framework to unlock the rest of President Biden’s agenda.
Liam Donovan’s Bottom Line
Bottom line: The beginning of the end (game). After a turbulent week of promises, power plays, and surprise reveals, Democrats continue to negotiate a path forward on their reconciliation package, with the fate of the bipartisan infrastructure bill hanging in the balance.
Following a series of weekend audibles by House leadership, ranging from a promised vote on the yet unfinished Build Back Better Act to a delay in consideration of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, it became clear that Speaker Nancy Pelosi would have her work cut out for her in wrangling the votes, something she built in several days to do. With no immediate developments in the negotiations or cover from President Biden, an emboldened progressive caucus sensed weakness and exploited the vacuum, forcing further delay of a vote that Pelosi had insisted would occur late into Thursday night.
If progressives have a spring in their step over their newfound clout, however, they're also grappling with the revelation that West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin's demands have been clearer and less robust than they had imagined. POLITICO on Thursday published what amounts to a term sheet for Manchin's reconciliation demands, dated in late July and countersigned by Leader Chuck Schumer. The understanding of those terms is what secured Manchin's vote for the budget resolution with instructions that enabled the Democrats much larger $3.5 trillion framework.
While the revelation of the slimmed topline was hardly met with enthusiasm by progressives, it did seem to expedite what had been stalled negotiations with little clarity over the scope or scale. Negotiators from the administration, congressional leadership, and the relevant caucuses worked into the night to seek a "framework" agreement, and have reconvened this morning in search of a breakthrough. In the meantime, Speaker Pelosi has extended the previous legislative day (September 30) to comply with the underlying rule, signaling her continued intention to pass the bipartisan bill.
There are two missing links in all this. The first is Senator Kyrsten Sinema, whose demands have always been more opaque and more oriented around tax concerns than Manchin's. Could Sinema support the Manchin terms as written? Perhaps, but her position against many of the proposed tax hikes make even the $1.5 trillion figure difficult. And second, President Joe Biden. There is no deal without the President's vocal support, nor will said deal facilitate passage of the bipartisan bill without his strong backing. All of which means that the President will have to determine how badly he needs a win, and at what cost. Currently, the White House seems determined to bring the holdouts up to $2 trillion, and would likely declare victory in that event. Manchin would seem like an easier get than Sinema, but neither seem inclined to go that high. And to the extent there's an appetite in the White House to take a lesser deal, say in the mid to high $1 trillion range, it could take time for that reality to set in, particularly as he must sell it to progressives.
At any rate, all eyes are on President Biden as we enter the endgame. The storybook ending would be for the old lion of the Senate to serve as the closer, sealing the deal, uniting the clans, and selling the framework as the key to enacting his agenda, with passage of the bipartisan bill as the next step toward Building Back Better. Whether we've reached that chapter yet remains to be seen, and with the debt limit impasse encroaching on the schedule, that page may have to be dog-eared unless an agreement can be reached in the coming days.
Follow Liam on Twitter: @LPDonovan
The Breakdown with Yasmin Nelson
The Breakdown: Whoever blinks first loses. Congress managed to temporarily avert a government shutdown yesterday, extending government funding to December 3. Big cheers because this was not easy. The next big vote is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIF). To the dismay of House Progressives, it seems as though Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing through on her plans to separate the BIF and the reconciliation package, even with the threat from Progressives to kill the BIF. As you know, the original plan was to vote on the BIF and reconciliation bill in tandem. It is not clear whether Pelosi is hoping Democrats will come together on this or will look to Republicans to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill. She doesn’t need 218 from her party, meaning she could lose several votes on the floor, but not too many or she risks the bill not passing. Democrats will need to pick up somewhere around 12 Republicans votes should Speaker Pelosi not be able to unite the entire caucus.
In the Senate, Senators Manchin and Sinema have shared that the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package is too expensive, potentially threatening the Biden-Harris domestic policy agenda. Progressives will not support the BIF without also voting on the reconciliation package. Revealed today was a document Manchin shared with Leader Schumer on July 28 cutting the reconciliation bill down from $3.5 trillion to $1.5 trillion, among other propositions from the West Virginian.
There’s a lot left to be determined however, we may know more after this weekend. I don’t expect Speaker Pelosi to put a bill on the floor if she doesn’t have the votes, so if you see a vote on the BIF happening, she likely has created some kind of deal with Progressives or another path to passage with help from the Republicans.
Follow Yasmin on Twitter: @YasminRNelson
Where We Are With Energy Tax by Timothy Urban
Notwithstanding this dramatic period of conflict amongst different factions of the Democratic party over the contours of the FY2022 budget reconciliation package, we continue to believe that the outlook for enactment of an energy and environment tax title looks positive. Since negotiations among the principals are proceeding today (Friday, October 1) it is likely that circumstances will require that PRG transmit another update soon. However, as a reminder, the fundamentals remain the same: Democrats control the White House, the Senate, and the House; the legislation described in the FY2022 budget reconciliation package constitutes a very high priority for the President; there is a legislative procedure that allows Democrats to process this package without GOP votes and without fear of a GOP filibuster; everyone acknowledges that a failure to bring this process to fruition could hurt the party in the upcoming midterm elections; and this President, more than some of his predecessors, has a demonstrated proficiency at bringing Members together and concluding legislative deals.
In the absence of a final reconciliation tax agreement upon which to comment, here are some additional thoughts about outstanding, and interesting, energy and environmental tax policy issues that lawmakers must resolve along the way to a House-Senate conference agreement:
- Clean energy tax incentives - looking at a possible hybrid structure: Over the last few years, many energy companies and trade associations have weighed in on the Wyden tech-neutral structure linking tax incentives to environmental performance (see the Clean Energy for America Act). Most people praise the potential energy and environmental benefits that could accrue to implementation of this aspirational regime, which provides tax benefits based upon empirical environmental performance rather than arbitrary technology-specific categories - but, the concerns sometimes voiced relate to the need for a possibly protracted adjustment period required so that taxpayers can plan and the Internal Revenue Service can promulgate regulations. Recently, Hill staff have begun to question whether there might not be an opportunity to meld the House GREEN Act with the Clean Energy for America Act by using the House blueprint as a multi-year transition.
- Plastics tax proposal runs into complicated reality: On August 5, 2021, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the REDUCE Act (The Rewarding Efforts to Decrease Unrecycled Contaminants in Ecosystems Act of 2021, or S. 2645) for the purpose of accelerating the adoption of plastics recycling by placing a new 20 cent per pound excise tax on virgin plastic resin. The concept is straightforward: Change the economic relationship between the price of new and recycled plastics - leading to increased adoption of recycled materials. As one might expect, the proposal has found its way into the debate over the revenue raisers being assembled to pay for the FY2022 budget reconciliation package. However, just this week, an industry letter was sent to the Hill painting a more nuanced picture of the realities behind the plastics markets. Specifically, industry officials suggested that a broad cross-section of the plastics and foam sector agrees with the need to do more to support plastics recycling, but asserted that at the current time there is not a safe and sufficient supply of recycled plastic material with which to supplant the virgin material. (As an aside, if one presumes that manufacturers will pass the tax on to consumers, it would be interesting to see whether this new tax might disproportionately fall on Americans with incomes below $400,000, as do many excise taxes on tobacco and consumer products). How this will be resolved will depend upon both how effectively the industry recruits champions amongst House and Senate Democrats, and also upon how big a bill is agreed to and how much revenue is required in its offsets.
- Further jostling regarding carbon capture tax credits: In past newsletters we noted that companies and coalitions organized to advocate on behalf of enhancements to current law sec. 45Q. These groups were lobbying for extension of the credits with increased rates (see for example The CATCH Act, H.R. 3538) and removal of any House and Senate proposed facility-level minimum capture requirements. Now, in addition to those marquee issues, some in the sector are looking to ensure that rules requiring contemplation of any subsidized energy financing are taken off the table as well. Given the administration’s record of supporting carbon capture as an important ingredient to national decarbonization of the energy sector, and given Senator Manchin’s well-known interest in strong CCS incentives, this is another issue that may be far from over.
Summary of Comments by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) on CEPP During the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing on FERC Jurisdiction
Earlier this week, Chairman Manchin and Republicans used the Senate Energy Committee’s hearing on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission—FERC—as an opportunity to voice their concerns that the Clean Electricity Performance Plan (CEPP) would have a detrimental effect on reliability and, despite the clean electricity grants, would result in higher prices for consumers. Also noteworthy, in his closing statement, Chairman Manchin voiced concern that the CEPP’s clean electricity grant would be paying utilities for clean electricity that they plan to deploy anyway. As currently drafted, the House CEPP would only pay eligible utilities for clean electricity above a 1.5% increase—the 1.5% increase being what they have set as the business as usual deployment of clean electricity. Chairman Manchin’s comments could signal that he thinks this rate is too low. See the full text of Chairman Manchin’s closing statement below:
Chairman Joe Manchin (D-WV)
“I can tell you all have lively discussions and maybe you all should have a fifth [FERC Commissioner confirmed]. Commissioner Danly, I see that you are often on the other side of all this and I know how you feel from experience. You know what I’m referencing. I’m concerned about the Clean Energy Standard. You don’t have to comment but it’s the concern I have as we start paying utilities to do what I think they are going to do anyway. I look at the transition that is going on now and what has happened since 2000-2020. We have transitioned to a completely new delivery system and we did not pay the utilities to do it. If we are going to do anything with utilities and transmission I know there is an awful lot of money to be made in transmission. Probably more money to be made in transmission then there is in production. That being said, if you build a line you have to share in the resources. Don’t give me the “everyone is stopping you.” I put a line in that basically shared with the counties that it went through. And we just shared the revenues. Now we are going after the new areas and I’m not understanding the connectivity from the standpoint of the federal government will give you a loan to go out into the desert for wind, solar, or whatever it may be. But there should be a period of time when that is going to be profitable. I’m taking all the risk away from the front end, but until it is inter-connected and starts making money, then the Treasury should get its money back. They want to give the money as a grant up front. That makes no sense to me. I just can’t for the life of me keep writing checks from our Treasury to let publically traded companies with investors keep benefitting off of us with nothing in return to the taxpayer. That is the biggest problem I have. I’ll be calling on you all to help me through this and seeing if there is a way. I want to build out, the customers are demanding it. I think the statement was made that if we give and pay them incentives, we basically change their portfolio by 2030. Reliability could be the big loser because we are moving faster than where it is. I guarantee the utilities will take every dime you want to give them but they will not commit or be held accountable for reliability and they will have to buy it somewhere. And the consumer is going to pay. That is my problem. That is my big problem. In my state, forget it, what are we going to do? 93% on coal? I’ve said this before, if a coal plant doesn’t have scrubbers, spoilers, back houses for mercury, then they shouldn’t be operating. That technology is available. Until we have carbon capture, and find out a way to have utilization through some type of technology that we come up with that makes it feasible, it will be very difficult. There aren’t a lot of states like mine that are left are there?”
Commissioner Christie: “West Virginia has the highest percentage of coal.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Our transition is going to be much different. I can tell you that the transition is going to happen. People in West Virginia realize that, just don’t leave us behind. We can do something. I’m trying to get the legislature in West Virginia to change the code so that we can go nuclear. I have a perfect platform for nuclear, basically where the old coal fire plant was. Transmission, everything is there. We can’t even do that yet. We all have to get together.”
*PRG has crafted a full summary on this hearing. Please reach out to dylan.pasiuk@bracewell.com should you wish to receive a copy.
IN THE NEWS
IEA Report: Decisive Govt Action is Critical For Hydrogen Growth – The International Energy Agency says Governments need to move faster and more decisively on a wide range of policy measures to enable low-carbon hydrogen to fulfil its potential to help the world reach net zero emissions while supporting energy security in a new report released today. Currently, global production of low-carbon hydrogen is minimal, its cost is not yet competitive, and its use in promising sectors such as industry and transport remains limited – but there are encouraging signs that it is on the cusp of significant cost declines and widespread global growth, according the IEA’s Global Hydrogen Review 2021. When the IEA released its special report on The Future of Hydrogen for the G20 in 2019, only France, Japan and Korea had strategies for the use of hydrogen. Today, 17 governments have released hydrogen strategies, more than 20 others have publicly announced they are working to develop strategies, and numerous companies are seeking to tap into hydrogen business opportunities. Pilot projects are underway to produce steel and chemicals with low-carbon hydrogen, with other industrial uses under development. The cost of fuel cells that run on hydrogen continue to fall, and sales of fuel-cell vehicles are growing.
Group Hits Steel Tariffs –The anti-tariff coalition CAMMU issued a press release on the latest SteelBenchmarker steel price report that showed that the gap between the price of hot-rolled steel in the U.S. and the rest of the world continues to widen. See below and attached. As negotiations between the US and EU on the Section 232 tariffs continue, we want to remind policymakers and the media that US manufacturers are facing steel supply shortages and long lead times, and paying for more for steel than their overseas competitors. The EU has stated that a deal must be made by November 1 or it will double the retaliatory tariffs it has placed on a variety of US exports.
Groups Raise Supply Chain Concerns – A coalition of four major manufacturing associations – the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) – are urging immediate action by the Biden administration to address supply chain challenges outlined in a newly released white paper. The paper follows a series of meetings among coalition members and Capitol Hill and administration staff centered around issues important to the coalition’s member companies, such as the Section 301 China tariffs, Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, supply chain concerns, labor shortages, increased costs for shipping containers and increased shipping times, and semiconductor shortages. The paper explains how supply chain disruptions, which are compounded by trade distortions and the COVID-19 pandemic, are hurting the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers and stalling the U.S. economic recovery. Combined with increased demand for appliances and equipment, supply chain bottlenecks have negative consequences, including increased costs, lost sales, delayed deliveries of critical products to consumers in the face of supply chain backlogs, and even shutting down manufacturing plants. The paper acknowledges that many supply chain issues will require long-term solutions, but the coalition also requested immediate relief from policymakers through tariff removal and fair allocation of semiconductors to all industries. Quick implementation of these and other policy solutions outlined in the paper may help prevent a continued worsening of the availability of manufactured products in the U.S., while increasing productivity and stemming product cost inflation.
ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
Forum to Look at Climate Policy – The Breakthrough Institute hosts Ecomodernism 2021 today and tomorrow. The event is taking place between a new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report and the next United Nations Climate Change Conference and will consider whether quiet policy is enough. And if it is not, what will supplement it or, even, take its place.
Forum Looks at Infrastructure for Net-Zero –Today at Noon, the Center on Global Energy Policy will examine energy infrastructure more broadly both within and outside the United States to identify niches around the globe where one can utilize existing energy systems to facilitate a net-zero future. Panelists will discuss ways to improve the environmental performance of energy systems around the world to make them more compatible with a decarbonizing future and where investments in these systems should be directed and how to address the real risks of fossil fuel lock-in. Panelists include former DOE official Melanie Kenderdine, T. Rowe Price’s Maria Elena Drew, the World Bank’s Demetrios Papathanasiou and Shell’s Maarten Wetselaar.
Forum Looks at Polar Mapping – Today at 2:00 p.m., the Wilson Center’s Polar Institute and the Embassy of Finland hold a discussion exploring how science and technology help the United Nations, Finland and the United States increase awareness about the changes occurring in the polar regions.
Forum Hosts Siemens Cyber Official – Today at 2:00 p.m., the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center will host Leo Simonovich, Vice President and Global Head of Industrial Cyber and Digital Security at Siemens Energy, who will discuss why new artificial intelligence- based monitoring and detection technologies must serve as the foundation for securing the energy transition and our digitally driven industrial economy from the persistent threat of cyberattacks.
Latin Energy Conference Set – Tomorrow morning, the Dialogue hosts the Fifth Annual Latin America Energy Conference will convene energy company executives, US and Latin American government officials, and international and nongovernmental organizations to discuss the most pressing energy policy issues in the hemisphere.
Senate Energy Looks at Mining Law – The Senate Energy Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to consider updating the nation’s 1872 law that governs hardrock mining on federal lands. Witnesses include Trout Unlimited CEO Chris Wood, National Mining Association’s Katie Sweeney, Taxpayers for Common Sense VP Autumn Hanna, Rich Haddock pf the Barrick Gold Corporation and Wyo-Ben CEO David Brown.
Forums Look at COP26 Expectations – The Stimson Center and the British Embassy Washington host a discussion tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. featuring two distinguished Ambassadors on the urgent need to mobilize more climate finance to build resiliency, fund innovative nature-based projects, and sustain meaningful climate ambition beyond the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November. As COP26 co-hosts, UK Ambassador Karen Pierce and Italian Ambassador Mariangela Zappia will offer perspectives on what we can expect as the world gathers to address the climate crisis.
House Oversight to Look at Hurricanes, Resilience – Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., the House Oversight and Reform Committee hold a hearing on Hurricane Ida response with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
Forum to Look at Climate Resilience – The Center for Climate and Environmental Solutions (C2ES) holds a webinar tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on building the case for Federal support for climate resilience programs. In this webinar, experts will discuss the needs and opportunities for local climate resilience and actions that the federal government can take to better support resilient improvements in communities across the country. C2ES will also provide an overview of our forthcoming brief outlining recommendations for federal resilience policy.
Senate Energy to Look at Drought Conditions – The Senate Energy Committee’s Water and Power panel will hold a hearing tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. on the ongoing drought conditions in the West. Witnesses will Include Interior’s assistant secretary for water and science Tanya Trujillo, Arizona Department of Water Resources official Tom Buschatzke, Julie Schaff Ellingson of the North Dakota Stockmen's Association and Jennifer Pitt of the National Audubon Society Colorado River.
CSIS to Host EIA's International Energy Outlook 2021 – The CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program will host a forum on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. featuring Stephen Nalley, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and Angelina LaRose, Assistant Administrator for Energy Analysis, for a presentation and discussion of the EIA's International Energy Outlook 2021 (IEO2021). A panel of EIA experts will take questions after the presentation. The IEO2021 presents long-term projections of world energy supply and demand by region and primary energy source; electricity generation by energy source; and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.
Wilson Event to Look at COP26 – On Wednesday at 9:00 a.m., the Wilson Center holds a forum on the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which will take place in Glasgow, this November. With less than a month until this meeting, the forum will include government representatives, business leaders and civil society from Brazil, the United States and other countries, to discuss what is at stake, the anticipated outcomes of COP26 and the possible impacts on the future of the environment and business. State’s Jonathan Pershing will speak.
DOE Holds Cyber Awareness Event – To kick-off National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), DOE Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response (CESER), industry partners, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will host a virtual roundtable on Wednesday October 6th at 10:00 a.m. to discuss an exciting new initiative that will catalyze cybersecurity solutions for the nation’s clean energy grid of the future.
Senate Energy Hosts Corps Leaders to Discuss Hurricane Response – On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee holds a hearing to discuss response to Hurricane Ida with Army Corps of Engineers leaders. Witnesses include Army Corps of Engineers deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations Maj. Gen. William Graham, North Atlantic Division commanding general Brig. Gen. Thomas Tickner and New Orleans District commander
Col. Stephen Murphy.
Senate Energy Pushes National Park Bills – A Senate Energy and Natural Resources panel will consider legislation on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. that would create four new national heritage areas in Alabama, Illinois, Maryland and Virginia. The proposed sites are included in a docket of 30 bills that the Subcommittee on National Parks, led by Sen. Angus King (I-Maine).
Axios Visits with McMorris-Rodgers – Axios holds a virtual event on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. on the future of autonomous vehicles in shaping the next century of transportation, labor and the economy. We will discuss how the AV industry is preparing for commercial deployment with trucks, tractors and cars, expanding accessibility and impacting the critical movement of goods. Axios Transportation Correspondent Joann Muller will host one-on-one conversation with House Committee on Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers and John Deere Chief Technology Officer Jahmy Hindman.
Resources to Look at Puerto Rico Energy Issues – The House Resources Committee will hold a Hearing on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. on Puerto Rico's ongoing energy challenges, including problems with both distribution and generation.
Forum to Look at Climate Investments in WV – The Center for Climate and Environmental Solutions (C2ES) holds a webinar tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on climate investments in West Virginia. This webinar will include a brief presentation of these recommendations and feature a discussion with West Virginians about how climate-related investments could affect the state’s economic future.
Forum to Look at Climate Tipping Points – Woodwell Climate Research Center holds an event on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. on tipping points. This gripping event will explore what we know–and need to know–to avoid going over the cliff.
JHU Hosts China Belt/Road Initiative – On Thursday at 11:00 a.m., JHU hosts a forum to examine the energy mix of China’s overseas electricity investments and their environmental implications across Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) recipient countries, with a focus on two key case studies: Pakistan and Indonesia.
Forum Looks at Climate, Courts – On Thursday at Noon, the Center for American Progress holds a discussion on the current state of climate-related litigation in the federal courts and what is needed to safeguard new environmental protections moving forward.
BCSE to Look at Road to COP26 – The Business Council for Sustainable Energy holds a forum on Thursday looking at the Road to COP 26 and the role business of leading on climate and bolstering U.S. competitiveness. This panel of U.S. companies will dive into the range of policies and investments that would bolster competitiveness – from manufacturing, supply chains, carbon border adjustments, workforce development and more.
Forum Looks at World Bank, Global Challenges – On Friday at 9:00 a.m., the Center for Global Development joins with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as part of the World Bank 2021 Annual Meetings to hold a forum on how the World Bank can better deal with global challenges. Lord Nicholas Stern is among the speakers.
EESI Looks at COP 26 – On Friday at 11:30 a.m., the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds a briefing to explore cross-cutting challenges—climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution—facing the United States and countries around the world, and how policymakers are finding and implementing solutions to these challenges. This briefing kicks off EESI’s Congressional briefing series, What Congress Needs to Know in the Lead Up to COP26. To sign up for the briefings in the series, visit www.eesi.org/1021cop26. Speakers include Robert Watson and former UN climate head Christiana Figueres. This starts a series of meetings that will continue on October 15th, October 20th and October 22nd.
IN THE FUTURE
Urban Land Institute Fall Meetings Set – The Urban Land Institute holds its Fall meetings on October 11th to 13th.
USEA Hosts India Energy Author – The US Energy Assn holds a forum Tuesday October 12th at 6:30 a.m. featuring India Energy expert Padu Padmanabhan to discuss his book First Fuel. The book is an invaluable account for not only energy-sector professionals, but anyone interested in understanding what it takes to achieve energy efficiency and why we need to urgently adopt such practices. It recommends vital policy and regulatory changes and, in so doing, presents a radical new vision for energy and all its users living in the most critical of times.
USEA-AID Host Forum Cyber in Electricity – As energy systems continue to advance technologically, they have become increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. In response to this threat, next Tuesday October 12th at 10:00 a.m., USEA is partnering with USAID to share some key tools and resources to improve cybersecurity in the energy sector. This webinar will draw on lessons learned and present a discussion on how participant utilities plan to implement these best practices in their own organizations. Two of the speakers recently completed an online course based on the webinar series and are planning to develop a cybersecurity roadmap/framework within their organization.
Forum Looks at Hydrogen – Next Tuesday October 12th at 10:00 a.m., the Global American Business Institute holds a forum on the future of hydrogen. Speakers include NREL hydrogen expert Keith Wipke and Tae-Hyun Yang, the Director of the Hydrogen Energy Research Division at Korea Institute of Energy Research.
Bracewell to Host ESG Seminar – Bracewell experts host another informative and timely presentation on Tuesday October 12th at 9:30 a.m. looking at what is happening in the world of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG). My Colleague Becky Baker looks at intersection of employment Laws and ESG while Fernando Rodriguez-Marin & Luiz Gabriel Todt de Azevedo ESG components.
CCS Report Released – Next Tuesday October 12th at 10:00 a.m., Global CCS Institute will launch its annual flagship report. The 2021 Global Status of CCS Report demonstrates the vital role of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies as the world accelerates on the path to net zero and documents the current status and important milestones for the technology this year. The Global Status report remains the preeminent resource for carbon capture and storage around the world.
BPC Looking at Farm Bill Discussion – The Bipartisan Policy Center is hosting a public virtual event on Tuesday October 12th at 1:00 p.m. to look at enhancing the resilience of our nation’s farms, rangelands, and forests to the increasing threat of wildfires, droughts, and other climate-driven risks. Former Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Saxby Chambliss, co-chairs of BPC’s Farm and Forest Carbon Solutions Task Force, will discuss the task force’s priorities for innovative federal agriculture, forest, and climate policies that can deliver substantial economic and environmental benefits. Additional speakers will discuss the pragmatic, evidence-based policies needed to protect America’s natural infrastructure, as well as looking ahead to the upcoming Farm Bill negotiations taking place next year.
Forum to Look at Ocean Upwelling, Carbon Removal – On Tuesday October 12th at 5:00 p.m., the Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy and the Environmental the Policy & Culture Program at Northwestern University host a webinar that will examine the prospects for two potential ocean-based carbon removal approaches artificial ocean upwelling and downwelling, to effectuate large-scale sequestration of carbon dioxide. Artificial Ocean Upwelling refers to approaches that seek to boost the primary production of marine organisms that take up carbon dioxide, including phytoplankton and macroalgae, by moving nutrient-rich waters upward in the water column. Brian von Herzen, Executive Director of the Climate Foundation, will make the case that marine permaculture can help to restore natural upwelling using marine solar, wave, and wind energy, as well as providing co-benefits, including improved food security.
Wilson Event to Look at COP26 – On Wednesday October 13th at 9:00 a.m., the Wilson Center holds another forum on the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which will take place in Glasgow, this November. With less than a month until this meeting, the forum will include government representatives, business leaders and civil society from Brazil, the United States and other countries, to discuss what is at stake, the anticipated outcomes of COP26 and the possible impacts on the future of the environment and business. State’s Jonathan Pershing will speak.
Forum Looks at Carbon Removal Innovation – On Wednesday October 13th at 2:00 p.m., the Brookings Center on Regulations and Markets’ “Reimagining modern-day markets and regulations” series will hold a forum on an all-hands-on-deck approach to achieve the necessary reductions in greenhouse gases to mitigate the effects of climate change.
WCEE Book Event Focuses on Climate Truths, Solutions – The Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (WCEE) holds a book event on Wednesday October 13th at 5:30 p.m. WCEE will read “All We Can Save – Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis”. There are several essays in the book; the following three have been selected for discussion including Litigating a Time of Crisis, Harnessing Cultural Power and An Offering from the Bayou.
CFR Forum Looks at Climate Crisis – On Thursday October 14th at Noon, the Council on Foreign Relations holds an on-the-record discussion on current and projected climate change, options for reducing emissions, and policies to help communities adapt to a changing climate. Speakers will include CFR’s Alice Hill, Katharine Mach of the University of Miami and former ARPA-E head Arun Majumdar.
Forum to Present Coastal Risk Reporting – On Thursday October 14th at Noon, the Future of Land and Housing program at New America and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting presents new research from Dona Stewart on climate change and coastal risk. The event will discuss how coastal communities and local and federal decision-makers are adapting to climate change, with a focus on managed retreat.
Forum to Look at EV Supply Chain – The Hudson Institute’s Hamilton Commission on Securing America’s National Security Industrial Base holds a timely discussion on Thursday October 14th at 2:30 p.m. to look at advanced batteries and the supply chain.
GW Forum Features Danish Minister – The George Washington University and the Security and Sustainability Forum holds its 8th webinar in the Leadership in Our Time webinar series. This session will feature Danish Minister of Climate, Energy, and Utilities Dan Jørgensen, who will be interviewed by Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Ambassador András Simonyi. Topics include European Commission 2021 "Fit for 55" legal framework to achieve climate goals, Denmark's pioneering role in energy transition, transatlantic climate and energy cooperation, and preparation for COP26.
EESI Forum Looks at COP26 – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) holds another forum on Friday at 1:00 p.m. for a briefing series on what Congress needs to know in the lead-up to the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Climate adaptation is one of the priority work areas for COP26. This briefing will focus on the initiatives launched or scaled up in recent years that underpin the momentum on adaptation and resilience and that will inform conversations at COP26. Speakers will discuss national adaptation plans, country dialogues on adaptation, early-warning systems, and locally-led adaptation. The briefing will explore how these efforts advance work towards the global goal on adaptation ‘to enhance adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability.’
Milken Global Conference Set for LA – The 24th annual Milken Institute Global Conference will be held In Los Angeles from October 17th to 20th. The event is one of largest and most influential gatherings of experts reinventing finance, health, technology, philanthropy, industry and media.
Brouillette Headlines Houston Gas, LNG Forum – The IN-PERSON 4th Houston Gas & LNG Forum 2021 will be held on October 18th and 19th 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.
US-Mexico Chamber Holds Annual Conference – The United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Board of Directors Meeting, Conference, and “Good Neighbor” Awards Gala on October 20th 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.
FP Hosts Forum on Resilience – Foreign Policy, in partnership with Chemonics International, holds a forum to examine the nexus of climate and migration and the role of international development in tackling this challenge. A panel of experts will discuss how advances in climate modeling and data analysis are shaping the future of global development and how these tools can be applied to mitigate the root causes of environmental migration. The event will also explore approaches that harness on-the-ground expertise to forecast and manage risks and design mitigation and adaptation strategies that generate local solutions to climate change. Speakers will include Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer of Freetown, Sierra Leone, US AID’s Center for Resilience Jami Montgomery and several others.
COP 26 Launches in Glasgow – The UN Climate Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 will launch on October 31st and run through November 10th in Glasgow, Scotland.