Energy Update: Week of September 23

Friends,

Welcome to Fall…. It is hard to believe, but as we were sleeping, watching football or the Emmy’s (or me, field hockey), we rolled through the Autumnal Equinox.  See this informative primer on 9 Things you need to know.

Exciting times this week as UN Climate/National Clean Energy Week launch.  I almost made it through the climate traffic shutdown unscathed this morning, but no…  After zig-zagging the entire way in using shortcuts, I managed to get stuck just two blocks from office, when a rolling protest took out M St, Rhode Island and Connecticut just as I was pulling up!!!! Got to hand it to them on the sailboat at 16^th and K. Of course I avoided it, so maybe I would have felt differently had I been stuck there.

UN speeches (including CA Governor Gavin Newsome) and climate protests are today and tomorrow while the main policy event for Clean Energy Week will be on Thursday at the National Press Club.  The event features a number of prominent speakers including FERC Chair Neil Chatterjee, Sens. Whitehouse, Duckworth, Braun and Romney, as well as Reps. Garrett Graves, Paul Tonko and Matt Gaetz.  BCSE’s Lisa Jacobson moderates a panel and other speakers include ClearPath’s Jeremy Harrell, NHA’s Malcolm Woolf and many more.  DOE and ClearPath also hosts its Atomic Wings Lunch tomorrow at Noon featuring House Science Chair Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Chamber’s Dan Byers and CRES’s Heather Reams, there is a young professional happy hour tomorrow and the big dinner on Wednesday evening.

It is also a busy week on Capitol Hill.  Senate Energy will hold a meeting to move legislation on Wednesday that will feature Shaheen-Portman and energy storage bills, while Senate Environment also moves legislation and the nomination of USFWS Director Aurelia Skipworth.  On Thursday, the House Climate Committee holds a hearing on industrial impacts for clean energy that will feature Jeremy Gregory, while in the morning House Science looks at understanding, forecasting and communicating extreme weather.  Meanwhile, Senate Appropriations subpanel will markup of the Interior/EPA funding bill tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. with full Committee action on Thursday.

Off the Hill and outside of Clean Energy Week, the biggest event is BPC’s forum on disaster resilience on Thursday morning with an all-star line-up that includes former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and MIT resilience expert Jeremy Gregory.  The National Press Club will host a Headliners luncheon on Wednesday at Noon featuring Corteva Agriscience CEO Jim Collins (Corteva is the newly independent publicly-traded spin-off of DowDuPont). 

Finally, the Supreme Court kicks off its Fall Term next week, so on Thursday there are a couple of good previews from the Environmental Law Institute (up at Harvard) and the Heritage Foundation.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5845

C. (202) 997-5932

 

FRANKLY SPOKEN

“This is a much-needed first step in the process of modernizing PURPA. FERC’s rules implementing PURPA today promote the uneven, unplanned, and uneconomic development of facilities and provide subsidies that promote these facilities at the expense of our members, system reliability and other more affordable resources.”

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson responding to FERC’s announcement to reform PURPA.

ON THE PODCAST

Platts Discusses Saudi Attack, Market Response with Jaffe – In today’s Platts CAPITOL CRUDE podcast, Brian Scheid and Meg Gordon discuss the attack at Abqaiq and the market response with Council on Foreign Relations expert Amy Myers Jaffe.  Jaffe believes that the market should be far more skeptical of Saudi claims on output recovery and needs to brace for more frequent and more substantial attacks on Middle East oil supply. The attack on the Saudi's Abqaiq oil facility was once thought of as "unthinkable,” she said. Now, disruptions of massive amounts of supply in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE and Kuwait are increasingly possible, she said. Much of the Middle East's oil supply, Jaffe believes, is now a hostage in a conflict with no clear end.

FUN OPINIONS

CNN: Heritage Expert Highlights Importance of Nuclear in Climate Discussion– A new op-ed piece on CNN, Heritage Foundation senior policy analyst for energy and environmental issues Katie Tubb highlighted how important nuclear power is to meeting the growing electricity demands of the world, expanding energy access and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

FROG BLOG

EPA Data Proves the RFS Has Become a Foreign Fuel Mandate– A new blog from refinery and union advocates released as energy-state Senators where heading to the White House to meet with the President on the RFS policy solutions, says if any more evidence was necessary to prove that increasing RFS RVOs is a bad policy, recent EPA EMTS data  proves that the RFS  is and will continue to  mandate excessively more ethanol than can be produced and consumed in the domestic market.  Despite continued growth in the overall ethanol blend rate, significant percentage growth in E15 and E85 use last year and increased domestic bio‐ and renewable diesel production and consumption, the RFS has ended up mandating an average of one billion gallons of imported biofuel per year for each of the last three years. Even with the E15 summertime RVP waiver, flat to declining domestic gasoline demand coupled with significant vehicle and infrastructure constraints will inhibit ethanol consumption from being sufficient to meet the RFS requirements in 2019.  As a result, any real or de facto increase in the RFS, via fewer small refiner exemptions (SREs) or higher requirements on obligated parties, will only result in an even larger foreign biofuel mandate

IN THE NEWS

Duke Ups Climate Strategy Goals – Duke Energy made a major announcement of an updated climate strategy with a goal of net-zero carbon emissions from electric generation by midcentury and a near-term goal by cutting its carbon dioxide emissions by half or more from 2005 levels by 2030. This follows strong progress the company has made in reducing carbon emissions 31% since 2005. The reduction Duke Energy has already achieved meets or exceeds the standards of the former Clean Power Plan and the 2025 U.S. commitment to the Paris Agreement.  The company’s 2017 goal to reduce carbon emissions 40% by 2030 was one of the industry’s most ambitious at the time. Since then, sustained, low natural gas prices and declining costs for renewables and storage have allowed the company to accelerate that goal to at least 50% by 2030.

Duke Energy to Renew Nuclear Plant Licenses in Support of Carbon Goals – As part of the increased focus on climate goals, Duke also said it will seek to renew the operating licenses of the 11 reactors it operates at six nuclear stations in the Carolinas for an additional 20 years. The first Duke Energy nuclear power plants will approach the end of their current operating licenses in the early 2030s. Rigorous, ongoing preventive maintenance programs across the nuclear fleet and technology upgrades and investments over the years at all stations have contributed to their continuing strong operating performance. In 2018, Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet marked its 20^th consecutive year with a fleet capacity factor – a measure of reliability – greater than 90%.  Duke expects to submit the license renewal application for Oconee Nuclear Station in 2021, followed by its other nuclear stations. Oconee is the company’s largest nuclear station, with three generating units that produce more than 2,500MWs. 

FERC to Revisit PURPA – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to revisit its rules and regulations implementing the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). Issuance of the NOPR opens a public comment window.  PURPA was enacted during a national oil crisis to promote increased energy conservation, efficiency, and the growth of renewable energy. Forty years later, and thanks in part to the influence of the original PURPA, renewable energy has grown dramatically, and the costs of those renewables continue to fall.  Many utilities strongly support the reforms.  Chamber Global Energy Institute VP Heath Knakmuhs said “reforming PURPA will save consumers money and provide for the cost effective and fair integration of renewable energy resources into our grid.”

Dominion to Build Large OSW Project – Dominion Energy detailed plans last Thursday to build a 2.6GW offshore wind project off the Virginia coastline. It’s the largest offshore wind project put forward so far in the accelerating U.S. market.  Dominion plans to construct the project in three 880-megawatt phases from 2024 to 2026, completing one phase per year some 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. Dominion will draw from the lessons it learns from its 12-megawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project, which recently began construction and is due online next year — likely becoming the second U.S. project to cross the finish line.

Co-Op Using New Wind/Solar Hybrid System – The Lake Region Electric Cooperative, a rural coop which serves west-central Minnesota, is buying electricity that is being produced from the first Juhl Energy hybrid system, a new concept that pairs two wind turbines and an array of solar panels to generate electricity that flows into the local energy grid.  Juhl’s wind turbine and solar array hybrid near Rothsay, Minn., has only been operating since March, but LREC CEO Tim Thompson said he expects his co-op will save about $150,000 annually because the electricity is cheaper than the market price the co-op pays for the rest of the electricity it uses. 

Energy Announces CCS Funding – DOE announced approximately $110 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development (R&D) projects under three funding opportunity announcements (FOAs).  Approximately $75 million is for awards under the two FOAs announced earlier this fiscal year; $35 million is for a new FOA.  These FOAs further the Administration’s commitment to strengthening coal while protecting the environment. Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is increasingly becoming widely accepted as a viable option for fossil-based energy sources—such as coal- or gas-fired power plants and other industrial sources—to lower their carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

UN Climate Summit Set for NYC – UN Secretary-General António Guterres will host the 2019 Climate Action Summit today in New York City. The Summit will showcase a leap in collective national political ambition and it will demonstrate massive movements in the real economy in support of the agenda.

RFG, Biodiesel Conference Set – The OPIS RFS2, RINs & Biodiesel Forum kicks off today to Wednesday in Chicago. The conference will examine the legal landscape for the RFS with a panel of attorneys providing a rundown on how Washington policy may change in the upcoming election year, as well as current cases before the courts, including the oil refining industry challenge to the E15 rule.

DOE’s Simmons Headlines SPI – The Solar Power International conference kicks off today through Thursday in Salt Lake City.  The event features keynotes from Daniel Simmons, the Energy Department’s assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy, and Solar Energy Industries Association President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper.

National Clean Energy Week (NCEW) set for September – The National Clean Energy Week (NCEW) described by POLITICO as “a veritable who’s who of the Clean Energy World” will be this week.  National Clean Energy Week was conceived with the goal of advancing support of the nation’s energy sector through new methods of market development, policy change, and technological innovation.  ClearPath will be involved, celebrating and raising awareness for reducing emissions through clean energy technologies.  The main policy event will be on Thursday at the National Press Club and will feature a number of prominent speakers including FERC Chair Neil Chatterjee, Sens Whitehouse, Duckworth, Braun and Romney, as well as Reps. Garrett Graves, Paul Tonko and Matt Gaetz.  BCSE’s Lisa Jacobson moderates a panel and other speakers include ClearPath’s Jeremy Harrell, NHA’s Malcolm Woolf and many more.  There will also be a Young Professionals Happy Hour tomorrow evening.

CSIS Expert to Speak at Forum at Bracewell – This evening at our BRACEWELL offices, the Washington, DC chapter of the Women's Energy Network and Clean Energy Week hold a dialogue on clean energy policy, celebrating and encouraging successful women in the field. Center for Strategic Studies (CSIS) Senior VP and Director and Senior Fellow of the Energy and National Security Program, Sarah Ladislaw will join leaders from the DC chapter of the Women’s Energy Network for a candid discussion about clean energy. Sarah and the moderators will discuss transitions across US clean energy technology and policy and the resulting opportunities to strengthen national security and preserve the environment.  The panel of speakers will also discuss and answer questions on challenges and opportunities for women working in energy in Washington, DC. This event is jointly organized with Clean Energy Week, which highlights US capacity for secure and reliable energy generation and promotes dialogue between industry and government in pursuit of a cleaner and more reliable future.

Carbon Forum Set for NYC – The International Emissions Trading Assn hold its Carbon Forum North America 2019 in New York tomorrow and Wednesday at the Explorers Club.  The event looks at carbon pricing and markets.

Ag Forum to Look at Conservation – The Farm Foundation holds a forum tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. on incentivizing conservation in agriculture at the National Press Club.  A panel of speakers will discuss related topics—implementing, challenges, limitations, feasibility and benefits, and there will be time for questions and answers. Panelists include Joseph Somers of IHS Markit (formerly Informa Agribusiness Consulting), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service acting Associate Chief Kevin Norton, Kris Johnson of The Nature Conservancy and Gary Price, a Texas rancher and member of the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium Steering Committee.

CSIS to Host EIA International Energy Outlook – The Center for Strategic & International Studies hosts EIA's International Energy Outlook 2019 tomorrow starting at 9:00 a.m. EIA Administrator Linda Capuano will present the IEO 2019.  The IEO2019 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.  Panel discussions will examine uncertainties related to the future of global energy consumption and trade, with ClearView’s Kevin Book and Rapidan’s Leslie Palti-Guzman, among others.

Forum to look at Climate Security – The Center for Climate and Security, in partnership with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, holds the 2019 Climate and National Security Forum: A Climate Security Plan for America tomorrow. This year’s forum will focus on the risks that climate change presents to U.S. military bases and operations, and on the launch of the Climate and Security Advisory Group’s 2020 Climate Security Plan for America, which outlines steps that would help U.S. leadership manage the impacts of climate change on national security.  The Keynote Address will be from retired U.S. Air Force General Ron Keys, who also serves as the board chair for Center for Climate and Security. 

Senate Interior, Enviro Approps to Mark Up – The Senate Appropriations Interior-Environment Subcommittee will hold a markup of the Interior, EPA and Related Agencies Appropriations bill tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in 124 Dirksen.   Full Committee moves on the same bill on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Resources to Look at Fossil Incentives, Water Issues –The House Natural Resources Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on fossil fuel development and looking at industry incentives and whether they should be eliminated.  The hearing will look at four bills aimed at undercutting incentive for coal, oil and gas development.  The Committee’s Water Subcommittee holds a legislative markup on 2:00 p.m. on 10 water bills.  The Full Committee holds a markup on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. featuring 10 more (including a couple from the previous day)  Some of the witnesses will include GAO’s Frank Rusco, , former director of the Montana Department of Revenue Dan Bucks, Taxpayers for Common Sense president Ryan Alexander, Kathleen Sgamma of the Western Energy Alliance, USFWS policy deputy Stephen Guertin and David Smith of the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

DOE, ClearPath to Host Nuclear Lunch – Tomorrow at Noon as part of National Clean Energy Week ClearPath and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy are hosting an Atomic Wings Lunch and Learn briefing on nuclear with House Science Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Chamber’s Dan Byers, C2ES’s Doug Vine and CRES’s Heather Reams.

Forum to Look at Electric Vehicles – The Edison Foundation’s Institute for Electric Innovation hosts a forum on advancing electric transportation featuring Sen. Debbie Stabenow, DOE’s Mike Berube Southern’s Nicole Faulk and retired Navy Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn.

House Rules Looks at Resilience – The House Rules Legislative and Budget Process Subcommittee holds a hearing tomorrow at 2:45 p.m. that will discuss ways to increase community resilience and natural disasters’ impacts on the budget process.  Witnesses include Katherine Hamilton of the Advanced Energy Management Alliance, Palm Beach County Director of Emergency Management Bill Johnson, John Piotti of the American Farmland Trust, GWU’s Marvin Phaup and former Greenville, MS mayor Heather McTeer Toney.

Moniz to Headline Aspin Carbon Forum – Tomorrow evening in NYC, the Aspen Institute hosts a forum on carbon removal technology in New York at the Canadian Consulate.  The event features former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz as well as a panel with Carbon Engineering Ltd. CEO Steve Oldham and former DOE official Julio Friedman.

Senate Enviro to Move Nominees, Legislation – The Senate Environment Committee will hold a Business Meeting Wednesday at 9:15 a.m. to consider nominations and Legislation including Aurelia Skipwith to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Katherine Lemos to be Chair of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

Senate Energy to Move Legislation – The Senate Energy Committee will hold a business meeting on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. to consider pending legislation, including energy storage and Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency legislation.

NJ Webinar Features Climate Plans – The National Journal will hold a webinar on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. exploring how climate policy will be impacted by the 2020 election.  Presentation Center analysts and NJ reporter Brian Dabbs will come together to discuss candidates’ plans to address climate change, pathways that a Democratic president could use to achieve their climate goals, and lessons that can be learned from President Trump’s attempts to reform environmental policies.

Press Club to Host Ag Company CEO – The National Press Club will host a Headliners luncheon in the club’s Holeman Lounge on Wednesday at Noon featuring Corteva Agriscience CEO Jim Collins.  Corteva is the newly independent publicly traded spin-off of DowDuPont.  Collins will deliver an address on the trade, regulatory, environmental and innovation issues facing U.S. farmers and the subsequent threat these issues pose to the food security of American consumers and the growing global population.  Promoting Corteva as “America’s newest agriculture company,” Collins will discuss the specific actions the company is taking to help create a sustainable food system that will benefit farmers, consumers and the environment. Additionally, Collins will share details of an upcoming global initiative Corteva is leading to foster a “climate-positive” global agriculture industry.

Drillers Hold Onshore 101 – The International Association of Drilling Contractors hosts "Onshore Drilling 101" snack and learn on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in Senate Visitors Center 215.

Senate Enviro Panel to Look at Emissions – The Senate Environment Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee holds a hearing on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. looking at reducing emissions while driving economic growth.  Witnesses include Heritage’s Nick Loris, API’s Eric Milito, Todd Wilkinson of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and Andrea Dutton of the University of Wisconsin, Madison

NAS Workshop to Look at PFAS – The National Academy of Sciences holds a workshop on Thursday to identify opportunities to understand, control and prevent exposure to PFAS Substances.  It is the first workshop of the Environmental Health Matters Initiative (EHMI) that will explore human exposure to PFAS, discuss options for controlling PFAS exposures, and consider innovative approaches for preventing PFAS exposures.

BPC to Look at Natural Disaster Impacts, Costs – The Bipartisan Policy Center holds a forum on Thursday on reducing natural disaster costs through building better and stronger.  This event will feature a discussion of how the federal government can promote safer and more sustainable communities, while also more responsibly investing limited fiscal resources and includes an all-star lineup.  IEM CEO Madhu Beriwal keynotes followed by panels with former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, CBO’s Terry Dinan, MIT disaster resilience expert Jeremy Gregory, former HUD official Pam Patenaude and Meridiam’s James Rubin.

House Science to Look at Weather Forecasting, Extreme Events – The House Science Committee holds a hearing Thursday at 10:00 a.m. on understanding, forecasting and communicating extreme weather in a changing climate. Witnesses include Marshall Shepherd of the University of Georgia, James Done of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Columbia’s Adam Sobel, University of Oklahoma National Weather Center director Berrien Moore and Ann Bostrom of the University of Washington.

House Climate Panel to Look at Clean Energy, Industrials – The House Climate Committee to Look at Emissions from Industrial Sectors – Following last week’s Energy panel on a similar subject, the House Climate Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday at 2:00 p.m.  Witnesses will include MIT’s Jeremy Gregory, Great Plains Institute Brad Crabtree (who is also Co-Director of the Carbon Capture Coalition),

David Gardiner of the Combined Heat and Power Alliance and Renewable Thermal Collaborative and Cate Hight of the Rocky Mountain Institute.

Resources to Look at Interior Oversight – The House Natural Resources Committee holds an oversight hearing on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. looking at Interior's cooperation with Congressional Oversight requests.

Carbontech Event Set for CapHill – Third Way, Carbon180, and XPRIZE will host the second annual “Carbontech on the Hill” event, on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. which brings together carbontech innovators from across the country to share their work and progress toward building a new carbon economy. The briefing will explore the tremendous opportunity for carbontech in the United States, and what it could mean for American businesses, workers, and climate efforts.

IN THE FUTURE

Offshore Wind Forum Set – The POET/Infocast Pacific Rim Offshore Wind Summit will be held on September 30^th to October 2^nd in the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco.  The event will evaluate markets, influence the energy and environmental policy road map, and explore the potential to form Trans‑Pacific partnerships.  Speakers include BOEM’s Necy Sumit, Equinor’s Sebastien Bringsvaerd, Lars Pedersen of Vineyard Wind, Japanese Trade Minister Takuya Yamazaki and Magellan Wind’s Jim Lanard. 

Thorium Conference Set for Oak Ridge – The Thorium Energy Alliance will hold its 10^th annual conference at the Pollard Technology Conference Center in Oak Ridge, TN on October 1^st.  Speakers, representing academia, private sector manufacturing and federal agencies, will present brief overviews of past achievements, current projects and future paths forward within the Thorium Energy landscape. The TEAC 10 Conference will take place the day prior to the Molten Salt Reactor Workshop occurring at Oak Ridge National Labs (ORNL).

Argonne to Host Innovation Summit – Industry leaders from the energy, transportation, manufacturing and healthcare sectors, and researchers from DOE's National Laboratories will gather at Argonne National Laboratory Summit on October 2^nd and 3^rd to discuss how advanced artificial intelligence tools and techniques. The summit is the fourth in DOE's InnovationXLab series that showcases the remarkable assets of the national laboratories and its partnerships.

Conference to Look at Tech Change, Innovation – Greentech holds its inaugural transformative technological change conference on October 2-3 in downtown Seattle at the Bell Harbor Conference Center at Pier 66. Leaders from some of the world’s most innovative companies will engage with policymakers, lawmakers, technologists and NGO’s to explore environmental protection in an era of innovation and technological change. Our friends Lisa Jacobson of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and C2ES head Bob Perciasepe will join former EPA head Bill Reilly and others as speakers. 

USEA Hosts Energy Supply Forum – The US Energy Assn hlds its 12^th annual Energy Supply Forum at the National Press Club on Wednesday October 2^nd.  is a full-day event featuring dynamic presentations from high-level industry experts and policy leaders on the state of energy exploration and production, electricity generation, and energy fuel supply.

USEA to Host DOE Geothermal Official – The US Energy Assn hosts a forum on Wednesday October 2^nd at 11:30 a.m. featuring DOE’s Dr. Susan Hamm, Director of the Geothermal Technologies Office.  Hamm will discuss the findings of the Department of Energy’s report: GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet. In addition to addressing the state of geothermal energy in the U.S., the report highlights the opportunities for geothermal to have a sizable role in meeting the nation’s 21st-century energy demands. The report provides a pathway forward for the future of geothermal and what needs to be done to increase the presence of geothermal in the energy sector.

Chamber Hosts Digital Conference – The U.S. Chamber Foundation and Tata Consultancy Services will be hosting its third Digital Empowers regional forum in Chicago, IL on October 3, in partnership with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. This event will convene business leaders, technical experts, and on-the-ground partners that are shaping the future of innovation and social impact in Chicago. The event will also feature emerging issues like artificial intelligence and ethics, civic technology, data and blockchain, and financial literacy. 

SEJ Set for Colorado – The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) holds its annual meeting in Ft. Collins, CO at Colorado State University on Wednesday October 8^th through Sunday the 13^th.   Colorado simultaneously boasts and suffers from a population explosion in Denver and other cities. It is also fertile ground for both clashes and collaborations among parties vying for rights to land, water and air, whether to preserve it for wildlife and human recreation or to use it for energy.   Of course, Bracewell Hosts its Thursday reception for the 19^th straight year

Chatterjee to Keynote AWEA Finance Conference – The AWEA Wind Energy Finance & Investment Conference is set for New York on October 10 and 11^th at the TimesCenter.  This year, the agenda includes sessions led by experts from across the sector who will be sharing their experiences, perspectives and outlook for the future of wind energy finance & investment.  FERC Chair Neil Chatterjee will keynote.

AEE Holds Western States Energy Conference – The Advance Energy Economy (AEE) holds its first annual Western Regional energy policy conference in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 16^th and 17^th.  The event brings together business leaders and policymakers from across the region to identify ways to achieve this goal, state by state and through a regional grid, powered by advanced energy growth from New Mexico to Washington State. Topics will include regionalizing electricity markets in the West, utility action for an advanced energy future, Electric Vehicles (EVs) as assets for cleaning the grid, challenges and opportunities for siting renewable energy projects and grid modernization. 

ACORE Forum Set for SF – ACORE’s 2019 Renewable Energy Grid Forum will take place on October 17^th in San Francisco at the Hilton Financial District.   The event will feature a discussion on the reliability and resilience of 100% clean energy.  Event co-chair and Edison International’s Senior Vice President of Strategy & Corporate Development Drew Murphy will hold a fireside chat on the role of utilities in America's transition to renewable energy moderated by ACORE’s President and CEO Greg Wetstone.  Our friend Rob Gramlich also speaks.

Offshore Wind Conference Moves to Boston – The American Wind Energy Assn holds its annual Offshore WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition on Tuesday October 22^nd and Wednesday the 23^rd in Boston at the Park Plaza.  The event has cultivated a dedicated and thriving global community of top developers and experts, making it the largest and most successful gathering of offshore wind energy professionals in the United States.  The decision to grant small refinery hardship is a legal decision, not a political one, and we’re pleased that USDA’s influence didn’t cause EPA to depart from the rule of law. Small Refiners hurt by broken #RFS #ethanol.

ELI Annual Dinner to Honor Patagonia Leaders – The 2019 Environmental Law Institute Awards Dinner will take place on Tuesday, October 22^nd at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.  ELI will honor 2019 award winners, Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Rose Marcario, Patagonia's president and CEO.  Bracewell is a major sponsor of the event.