Energy Update: Week of September 7

Friends,               

L’Shana Tovah 5782…. Wishing all a happy and sweet New Year today.  Welcome back from a glorious Labor Day weekend, starting the Fall energy/enviro/climate run up to the December COP26 in Glasgow, although our friend Brady Dennis reports today that a coalition of activists from around the globe are calling for the postponement of the climate summit in Scotland because of the combination of vaccine inequity, exorbitant travel/lodging costs and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  The group is saying these factors could exclude important voices from small and developing nations hit hardest by global warming.

Still paying attention to the challenges left by Hurricane Ida in Louisiana and up the East Coast.  We are closely following the power situation and refinery restart issues.  More than a week after landfall on Louisiana's coast, Entergy has restored power to more than half of the roughly million customers who lost power. Meanwhile, more than 80% of the Gulf's oil and gas production remains shut in and investigators are looking into a pipeline leak close to Port Fouchon. 

Not much happening this week with the Jewish holiday, but Thursday the US Energy Assn holds its 3^rd annual Advanced Energy Technology Forum from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. exploring technological innovation in the energy sector. The event focuses on research and development in the corporate and government sectors, including national labs and universities. FERC Commissioner Allison Clements, DOE's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Jennifer Wilcox and NARUC President Paul Kjellander all speak.

Finally, the world’s largest direct air capture plant, called Orca, is on track to launch Wednesday and is expected to capture 4000 tons of CO₂ per year.

Saturday is the 20^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  Just thinking about the many people that were impacted and how that has changed our lives in so many ways.  Let’s try to get those vaccine shots if you can.  Stay Safe and healthy.

Best,

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

 

FRANKLY SPOKEN

““It’s PR. This is not going to reduce prices.”

Pavel Molchanov, an oil industry analyst at Raymond James commenting on the Biden Administration push to anti-trust policies to limit increasing prices.

ON THE PODCAST

Dana Perino Featured in New Madam Policy Podcast – My colleague Dee Martin has a new podcast called Madam Policy which is really getting into its own after five episodes.  Madam Policy is a podcast by, about and for women shaping policy and creating history. This Week’s episode features Fox News host, former White House Press Secretary and Bracewell friend Dana Perino. Perino has an idea a minute and has always shaped policy and created history. Dee and Caitlin talk with Dana about her barrier-breaking work as White House press secretary—on the frontlines explaining policy—and her groundbreaking work now as Anchor of America’s Newsroom and Co-Host of The Five at Fox News Channel—analyzing policy for millions of viewers. Dana shared lessons she learned during her time as Press Secretary for George W. Bush, the importance of having a regimented schedule, why she believes you should always be reading, and what she enjoys about her successful podcast Everything Will be Okay.

FUN OPINIONS

Yergin Discusses Challenges for EV Growth – Author and energy expert Daniel Yergin writes in POLITICO Magazine that it will take time for EV adoption to have a major impact on emissions as cars stay on the road for a long time — the average in the U.S. is 12 years. But as the shift to EVs speeds up, three big challenges stand out. One is the mining and supply chains to support that shift, which are dominated by China. The scale of what is required should not be underestimated. It will be a massive job to build up a supply system that supports the current 600,000 new EVs annually into one capable of supporting Biden’s goal of about 9 million annual new car sales by 2030. The second challenge is ensuring the infrastructure to support EVs in the post-gasoline era. That means the building of a ubiquitous EV charging infrastructure and the modernization and expansion of the electric grid, which also has to be 100% reliable. The third challenge involves the public — the people who buy automobiles. For most people, their biggest capital expenditure, after their homes, are their cars. It is simply too soon to know how eager people, beyond early adopters, will be to shift away from something they have always known — gasoline-powered cars — to something that is new for them: electric vehicles.

POLITICO Interviews Bracewell Expert Liam Donovan about Politics – POLITICO’s Ben Weyl interviews my colleague LIAM DONOVAN, one of our favorite Twitter follows, who has some savvy advice for Democrats about how they can avoid screwing up President Joe Biden’s agenda.

FROG BLOG

Infrastructure Climate Provisions – In a blog post in FORBES, energy author Robert Bryce writes the latest data from Ember, the London-based “climate and energy think tank focused on accelerating the global electricity transition” shows that global electricity use soared by about 5% in the first half of 2021. That’s faster growth than was happening back in 2018 when electricity use was increasing by about 4% per year. The numbers from Ember also show that despite lots of talk about the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, coal demand for power generation continues to grow and emissions from the electric sector continue to grow: up by 5% over the first half of 2019. In addition, they show that while about half of the growth in electricity demand was met by wind and solar, overall growth in electricity use is still outstripping the growth in renewables.

FUN FACTS

COVID Slow Down in Real Terms:  In 2020, US annual production of associated natural gas (or, natural gas produced from oil wells) declined for the first time since 2016. (Note: of the five major US production regions, the Permian still produces 50+% of all natural gas.)

IN THE NEWS

EU Exceeding Green Hydrogen Targets – Despite all the ridiculous back and forth over “Blue” hydrogen, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson told a POLITICO LIVE event today that proposed hydrogen schemes vying for recognition from Brussels have a combined capacity for green hydrogen production that surpass the targets set out in the EU’s Hydrogen Strategy. “The number of proposed electrolyzer projects already exceeds the 40 gigawatt target that we have set for 2030 for renewable hydrogen,“ Simson said, adding that EU industry has shown it’s “ready to deliver concrete projects at scale.” Hydrogen Europe CEO Jorgo Chatzimarkakis said more than 400 plans are attempting to gain Commission recognition as Important Projects of Common European Interest, a designation that would enable them to gain streamlined access to public funds.

Tax Foundation Study Highlights Biden Issues – The Biden administration has announced a number of tax proposals to fund new government investments such as infrastructure, education and family programs. From analyzing the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan to the U.S. Treasury’s international tax proposals, Tax Foundation experts continue to serve as trusted thought leaders, providing research, modeling, analysis, and commentary on how these new policies will impact U.S. competitiveness, economic growth, tax revenue, and everyday taxpayers. Tax Foundation research and analysis on a variety of recently announced tax proposals, including changes to individual income taxes, corporate taxes, international taxes, and capital gains taxes can be seen HERE.

Enviro Groups Say No Gas in Clean Energy Plan – A coalition of liberal environmental groups led by the Sunrise Movement launched a campaign calling on Democrats to keep natural gas out of the “Clean Electricity Payment Program” that is the centerpiece climate policy of their planned reconciliation package.  This may be among the dumbest and most unrealistic policies these groups have ever come up with as if it were approved, it would guarantee failure for any Clean Energy Standard.  It is also unlikely to get support from all Democrats, knowing that many value natgas as a real way to reduce emissions. 

CA Not Doing Enough on Transmission – A coalition of environmental groups and labor unions said this week California needs to prioritize transmission planning to meet its renewable-energy goals and reduce impacts on disadvantaged areas from fossil fuel generation.  The groups wrote the state Legislature August 31^st, requesting urgent action on the matter with the argument that a lack of transmission requires natural gas-fired generation to remain on line longer to fill in after the sun goes down and solar fades on the California electricity grid. They raise a problem that has been recognized by others over the years: that energy planning is too complex and divided up between the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission and the California Independent System Operator. Signatories to the letter include the Natural Resources Defense Council, Audubon, Environmental Defense Fund, the California Wind Energy Association, the California Community Choice Association, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 12, The Nature Conservancy, Southwest Carpenters and others.

Biden Taps Crabtree For DOE CCS Role – The Biden Administration is tapping longtime carbon management expert Brad Crabtree to head DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.  Biden has pushed back on pressure to keep CCS out of his plans for carbon reductions. Crabtree serves as vice president for carbon management at the Great Plains Institute and director of the Carbon Capture Coalition, which is managed by the institute and supports commercial-scale deployment of carbon capture technologies.

Report Looks at Emissions In States – From 2005 to 2018, the United States reduced its CO2 emissions from the energy sector by 12 percent, but the national average masks wide variation in performance. Declines in emissions were dramatic in some states; in others, emissions changed little or even grew. What explains this variation? What might policymakers learn from the states reducing emissions? This new report from the Clean Resilient States Initiative examines state policies that aim to reduce emissions or boost low-carbon energy. The first section describes facts about greenhouse gas emissions in the 16 states sampled: where they fell, by what magnitude, etc. The second assesses how specific policies might have affected these outcomes. The third section looks at equity and environmental justice. A final section presents the report’s main conclusions. 

Wolak to Lead Fuel Cell/Hydrogen Group – The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA), the national association representing over sixty leading companies and organizations, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Frank Wolak to serve as President/CEO.  Wolak will be replacing the retiring Morry Markowitz after an outstanding ten-year term. Wolak was most recently Senior Vice President for Government Affairs and Market Development at FuelCell Energy, Inc., a long-standing FCHEA member, and previously served as FCHEA’s Board Chair. During his tenure at FuelCell Energy, Mr. Wolak initiated and developed some of the most innovative and largest fuel cell technology applications in the world and worked closely with the U.S. Department of Energy and Congress to define and sustain programs for hydrogen and fuel cells. In addition to his business and federal-level successes, Mr. Wolak has been instrumental in defining state-level policies to enable the growth of fuel cell and hydrogen markets.

ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

MOST EVENTS SCHEDULED ARE NOW ONLINE WEBINARS

Forum to Look at COP26 Issues – On Wednesday at 8:00 a.m., the Atlantic Council will hold an event COP26 and negotiating the future of international climate collaboration.  The event features the chief climate negotiators for Singapore and Norway on COP26 and will discuss the evolving dynamics surrounding the negotiations and what is at stake if the rulebook once again fails to be finalized.

NRC to Hold Reactor Safeguard Meeting – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards kicks off a three-day meeting tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. in Rockville. 

CSIS Looks at Semiconductors – On Wednesday at 9:00 a.m., the CSIS Economics Program holds a high-level discussion about the opportunities for cooperation between the United States and Republic of Korea to develop more resilient supply chains for semiconductors and batteries.  The event will feature keynote remarks from Commerce Department Deputy Secretary Don Graves. Other speakers include LG Energy Solution Michigan President Denise Gray, Semiconductor Industry Association CEO John Neuffer, President and Naomi Wilson of the Information Technology Industry Council.

Forum Look at Road to COP26 – Running ahead of the U.N. General Assembly, Climate Week NYC and Global Goals Week, the third edition of 3BL Forum: Brands Taking Stands – LIVE! will explore the business role on the road to these pivotal negotiations at COP 26 this Thursday at 1:00 p.m. The event will discuss how companies can cut their own emissions, engage with governments, suppliers and peers on climate-smart policies, and ensure climate justice for at-risk communities worldwide.

IEA to Hold Dialogue on Clean Energy – On Thursday, the International Energy Agency will hold a ministerial dialogue on clean energy transitions and economic resilience in the Middle East and North Africa region at 9:00 a.m. CEST.

USEA Hosts Advance Energy Tech Forum – The US Energy Assn will holds its 3^rd annual Advanced Energy Technology Forum on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. exploring technological innovation in the energy sector. The event focuses on research and development in the corporate and government sectors, including national labs and universities. FERC Commissioner Allison Clements, DOE's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Jennifer Wilcox and NARUC President Paul Kjellander all speak.

House Resources to Mark Up Budget – The House Natural Resources Committee holds a markup of the reconciliation package on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

Chamber to Look at Plastics –The U.S. Chamber of Commerce holds an EnergyInnovates virtual discussion on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. on establishing sustainable plastics recycling programs and policies.  The event address how businesses are leading in innovation to address these issues, managing plastic waste and how the U.S. can be better stewards of the environment.  Speakers include Dow’s Mary Draves, Sheryl Telford of Chemours, ACC’s Chris Jahn and Brent Heist of Proctor & Gamble.

ASE to Discuss Energy Efficiency – The Alliance to Save Energy holds a virtual discussion on Thursday at 10:00 a.m., on "The Main Street Efficiency Act," focusing on "making energy efficiency improvements in small businesses across the country, reducing their utility bills and freeing up revenue to spend on payroll and expanding operations." Rep. Peter Welch will speak.

S&P Global Conference Looks at Biodiesel – On Thursday at Noon, S&P Global Platts holds a conference to look new opportunities for growth in renewable diesel fuels made by hydrotreating vegetable oils or animal fats. The event will look at major refiners’ efforts to build renewable diesel projects and what this initiative means for biofuel markets.

ACORE to Release Study on Grid – On Thursday at 1:00 p.m., American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), ICF, regulatory officials and industry leaders join together for a webinar release and commentary on a new study by ICF.  The webinar will present modeling of recent transmission upgrades assigned to new wind and solar projects through the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and Southwest Power Pool generator interconnection (GI) processes. ICF’s modeling finds that many of these upgrades, if built, would have delivered significant benefits to the shared grid systems that the beneficiaries would not have paid for. Under current GI cost allocation rules, new energy projects in both regions are responsible for paying for nearly all the cost of these upgrades, potentially violating the “beneficiary pays” principle and the Federal Power Act’s “just and reasonable” requirements.

C2ES Looks at Business, Carbon – The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) holds a forum Thursday at 1:00 p.m. on reducing embodied carbon form industry. In this webinar, we will hear from companies investing in ways to reduce carbon footprints of materials with high embodied GHG emissions, and how businesses who are themselves end customers, leverage procurement and supplier engagement to reduce upstream GHG emissions. Companies will discuss how federal procurement specifically can unlock greater potential for investment. We will also hear from this Administration on its focus on reducing emissions from the built environment.

Forum Looks at Procurement Practices – The Regulatory Assistance Project and RMI holds an interactive webinar on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. that will discuss a “next-generation” approach to utility procurement and evolving best practices, based in part on recent work done by RAP and RMI. The webinar will offer recommendations on how to design clear rules for procurement processes that consider all available resources, are aligned with both utility and public-policy objectives, and result in outcomes that offer the least regrets.

Forum Looks at Climate, EJ – On Thursday at 4:00 p.m., the Friends Committee on National Legislation holds a forum on climate and environmental Justice.  FCNL’s Legislative Director for Sustainable Energy and Environment Clarence Edwards will look at the issues, how we are working with partners to address the issue.

Forum to Address Carbon Removal in Europe – The Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy holds a forum on Friday at 8:00 a.m. to parse out key messages from a recent study in the journal Energy & Environmental Science which sought to quantify the potential of Bioenergy and Carbon Capture with Storage (BECCS) in Europe: “Assessment of carbon dioxide removal via BECCS in a carbon neutral Europe.” The study seeks to assess the technical potential biogenic carbon dioxide removal in Europe through consideration of seven different BECCs configurations that do not draw upon purpose-grown bioenergy plantations. In this upcoming webinar, one of the study’s authors will discuss these scenarios, including the need for continent-wide cooperation in terms of storage and transportation of biomass to optimize sequestration.

CATF’s Cohen to Discuss Nuclear, Decarb – The Global America Business Institute holds a forum Friday at 9:00 a.m. to look sat nuclear’s role in decarbonization.  The event will feature our friend Armond Cohen, co-founder and Executive Director of the Clean Air Task Force, which he has led since its formation in 1996. In addition to leading CATF, Armond is directly involved in CATF research and advocacy on the topic of requirements to deeply decarbonize global energy systems.

US-India Launch Climate Discussions – The CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program on Friday at 9:00 a.m. holds a high-level discussion between U.S. and Indian government officials on energy cooperation.  The US and India will formally launch the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership there. In support of this partnership, CSIS is organizing this side event to discuss the key elements of this new bilateral platform. The event will also be the U.S. launch of the report, Accelerating post-pandemic economic recovery with clean energy infrastructure and jobs in India. This report (prepared by EY and FICCI) can serve as a useful tool for financial institutions and bilateral partners to help India meet its target of installing 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030 while creating millions of new jobs.

WCEE Hosts Lubchenco – The Women’s Council on Energy & the Environment will host an event on Friday at 4:00 p.m. with Jane Lubchenco, Deputy Director for Climate and Environment at the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President and WCEE’s 2012 Woman of the Year, as our keynote speaker.  The event will include an opportunity to break out into virtual rooms so you can connect with leaders, members, and invited guests. Past WCEE board leaders and honorees will participate in the networking sessions.

IN THE FUTURE

Forum to Discuss Methane Regs – As the EPA prepares to regulate methane emissions, the AAAS Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues hosts a forum next Monday at 2:00 p.m., to learn more about policy approaches from researchers, practitioners and engineers. Improved methane monitoring and assessment will speed strategic decision making and innovation to reduce methane emissions. Noted experts and practitioners will discuss the scientific evidence that can inform federal, state, regional, and local efforts to mitigate methane emissions and their contributions to changing climatic conditions and to identify the most pressing issues related to potential changes in the regulation of methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. This is an interactive event designed to share existing information, surface knowledge gaps, and discuss constraints to the implementation of evidence-informed solutions.

USEA Looks at Cyber – The US Energy Assn will hold a forum on Tuesday September 14^th at 10:00 a.m. with USAID to share some key tools and resources to improve cybersecurity in the energy sector. This effort culminated in a series of cybersecurity webinars, launched in June 2020, aimed at the utility sector of USAID partner countries working on this issue, or looking at how to get started. Following this 15 webinar series, we added 2 industry panels, and most recently, a handbook, based on the webinars, that identifies an overview of what is available, what is necessary, identifying free resources, potential solutions, and ideas on how to get started. This webinar aims to give an overview of what the handbook offers and how to use it, as well as share some of the specific parts of the handbook that might be a good starting point for cybersecurity efforts.

Forum to Look at Electrification – Penn’s Kleinman Center for Energy Policy holds a forum on Tuesday September 15^th the potential and challenges of electrification. Visiting Scholar Lucas Davis will lead a discussion that explores the potential economic cost of an electrification mandate for new homes.

Forum Looks at EVs – Next Tuesday at 1:00 p.m., ICF hosts an engaging conversation on the electrification of vehicles in underserved communities through the lens of utilities, partnering with state and local governments, electrifying public transit, the public health benefits of EVs, and incentives targeted at diverse drivers.  The webinar will explore some best practices for making EV adoption a more attainable reality for greater numbers of people. Representatives from Exelon and Highland Electric will share their experiences in expanding the use of EVs in underserved communities and the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) will discuss their research into ways utilities across the country can ensure increased EV adoption benefits these communities.  Finally, the Greenlining Institute will provide an overview of the mobility needs within underserved communities and the benefits of EVs, including financial and public health.

AU Forum Looks at Extraction Issues – Next Tuesday at 1:00 p.m., the American University School of International Studies Professors hosts a discussion on the origins of this new volume “Our Extractive Age – Expressions of Violence and Resistance” and how the spectrum of violence associated with natural resource extraction permeates contemporary life.

WCEE to Chat with Paula Glover – Next Tuesday at 2:00 p.m., WCEE Past President Barbara Tyran will be joined by Alliance to Save Energy President Paula Glover for a fascinating discussion with a national energy leader.

Senate Enviro to Move EPA Nominees – On Wednesday September 15^th at 9:30 a.m., the Senate Environment Committee will hold a business meeting and hearing on EPA nominees.

Climate Event Honors Halstead – On Wednesday September 16^th at 11:00 a.m., the Climate Leadership Council hosts the inaugural event in honor of the late policy entrepreneur and founder of New America and CLC Ted Halstead. This new event series will bring together business, environmental, and political leaders to discuss the most relevant climate policy topics of the day and explore opportunities for lasting solutions. This fall could be the most consequential period for major climate action, ever. The tribute to Ted Halstead will feature a discussion with distinguished former officials from three administrations on how Congress and the Biden administration might meet this moment to achieve lasting climate progress.

Forum to Look at Federal Land Policy – On Wednesday September 15^th at 1:00 p.m., ConservAmerica holds a timely conversation on federal land protection policy and the importance of striking a balance between protecting special places for future generations and respecting states' rights, private property, and individual freedom. Speakers include our friends Nick Loris of C3 and former Senate Energy CoS McKie Campbell, as well as King Cove, AK City Administrator Gary Hennigh, Washington State DNR official Todd Myers and PERC Policy Director Hannah Downey.

Hill Forum Continues Truck Emissions Discussion – In the final installment of its three-part electric truck series, The Hill will bring together lawmakers and business leaders on Wednesday September 15^th at 1:00 p.m. to discuss the future of zero-emissions trucks for shippers and fleets. Speakers will include Sen. Ron Wyden, Rep. Garret Graves, IKEA’s Steven Moelk, FedEx Express’ Russell Musgrove, CALSTART’s Jimmy O'Dea and several others.

Forum Focuses on Green Hydrogen – American Clean Power hosts a forum on Wednesday September 15^th at 1:30 p.m. on Green Hydrogen.  This session will bring together representatives from across the renewables sector and policy environment to discuss what it takes to boost the U.S. green hydrogen industry, and how industry, government and investors can work together to unlock the potential of green hydrogen to deliver a cleaner and more sustainable future. Speakers include ACP’s John Hensley, Richard Clark of NextEra Energy Resources, Ørsted’s Robert Duncalf and Siemens Gamesa CEO Juan Gutierrez.

Forum Looks at Role of Solar – The World Resources Institute holds a discussion on Wednesday September 15^th at 2:00 p.m. on the ways that solar energy is currently considered and can be improved in utility long-term planning, and how customers are engaging in these plans to advance their clean energy goals. The event will highlight findings from new WRI research on the types of barriers that affect the treatment of solar in utility planning and opportunities for stakeholders to address these challenges. It will also feature a panel of representatives from local governments, companies and utility commissions to discuss the ways long-term utility plans affect customer clean energy goals and how customers can and have engaged in these processes to advance renewable energy.

Energy Forum Set – Siemens Energy holds a 2-day virtual conference on September 15^th and 16^th where leading experts, from government to energy producers and OEMs, will discuss the transformation of the energy industry, the impact of climate objectives, evolving technology innovations, and what this all means for North America.

BCSE Looks at Clean Energy – The Business Council for Sustainable Energy holds a forum on Friday September 17^th at 2:00 p.m. that will explore strategies to strengthen diversity and inclusivity in the clean energy economy.  In addition to exploring these topics broadly, we will discuss a case study with respect to the U.S. Department of Energy’s American-Made Solar Prize, a $4.6M prize competition to help innovators rapidly develop new solar technology and software solutions. Now in its fifth round, this year’s prize competition particularly seeks to recruit a diverse pool of applicants. Additionally, a subset of the prize focuses on software solutions to help promote greater justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in solar access.  

Clean Energy Week Set for Sept – The 5^th annual National Clean Energy Week begins September 20-24^th.

Transmission Conference Set – Global Transmission's 5^th conference on Offshore Wind Transmission US, being held on September 21-22^nd at Conrad New York Downtown. The mission of the conference is to highlight the opportunities in the US offshore wind sector and discuss technologies and solutions for the development of the related transmission infrastructure.

Forum to Look at Women Leaders in Nuclear – The American Nuclear Society hosts the newest collaboration of AtomicAllies (ANS, NAYGN, WIN and NEI) with a panel discussion on Wednesday September 22^nd at 1:00 p.m. on empowering women to succeed.  The event will feature some of the brightest stars of the industry sharing their keys to success.  The line-up is keynoted by Rosemary Yeremian, an experienced professional with 25 years in the industry, recently published the book “Step Up: The Key to Succeeding in Male-Dominated Businesses.” Rosemary will share lessons from her book and moderate a panel discussion of fellow leaders around strategies and tactics to help women succeed in their careers in the nuclear field. Panelists include Exelon’s Amber Von Ruden, GE Hitachi’s Jhansi Kandasamy, Luminant’s Sarah Camba Lynn and NEI’s Kaitlin Rekola.

Forum Look at Stakeholder Engagement – NARUC holds a forum on Friday September 24^th at 1:00 p.m. on enabling robust stakeholder engagement at Public Utility Commissions. In a challenging decision-making environment, some PUCs are embarking on stakeholder engagement processes that not only prioritize affordable, safe, and reliable utility services, but also consider these newer and more expansive policy objectives. These emerging processes have the potential to enable more informed decision-making by creating inclusive forums for stakeholder participation. This webinar will explore the approaches PUCs can take to create robust and inclusive stakeholder processes.

Forum to Focus on Clean Energy – On September 28^th, the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia hosts Clean Energy Summit that will focus on the path to decarbonization. This hybrid event will feature multiple panels and keynotes featuring federal, state, local, and industry leaders who will come together to answer questions and open a discussion as to how we chart a path to a clean energy future.

Forum to Look at China Research Paper on Net Zero – On Wednesday September 29^th at Noon. Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy will be releasing a pair of reports on this China Net Zero issues. One report, by Dr. Erica Downs, analyzes how Chinese oil and gas firms are preparing for a lower-carbon future. The other report, by Edmund Downie, examines early responses to the peaking and neutrality pledges from Chinese firms in coal power, steel, and cement. The event webinar will feature the key findings of these reports followed by a moderated discussion with sector experts.

Chamber to Look at Hydrogen –The U.S. Chamber of Commerce holds an EnergyInnovates virtual discussion on Thursday September 30^th at 10:00 a.m. on looking at a blueprint for the hydrogen economy.  The webinar will explore the challenges, opportunities, and policy dynamics associated with realizing hydrogen’s full potential in our future energy system.