Energy Earthshots and Tracking Environmental Hearings
Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)
Ideas. Insights. Sustainable Solutions.
Hello and welcome to?Climate Change Solutions!
In this issue, we’re?tracking?the climate, energy, and environment hearings that took place on the Hill in January and February. Plus, check out our latest?article?highlighting how a rural electric co-op in Colorado is working to completely offset its greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.?
Finally, don’t miss the very last installment of our Climate Camp briefing series. This Thursday, EESI will host?The Process and Path Forward for a Bipartisan Surface Transportation Bill?at 3:00 p.m. EDT in room 2168 (Gold Room) of the Rayburn House Office Building. Be sure to?RSVP!
The Latest Solutions
On the Hill in January and February 2025: A Breakdown of Climate, Energy, and Environment Hearings
[3 min. read] Lawmakers kicked off the 119th Congress with 28 climate, energy, and environment-related committee hearings throughout January and February. The House of Representatives held 22 of these hearings, while the Senate held six. Hearing topics ranged from?agriculture?and?mining?to the?National Labs?and?increasing energy production.
Colorado Cooperative Leverages Federal Resources to Make Rural Homes More Energy-Secure??
[7 min. read] Holy Cross Energy, a rural electric cooperative in Colorado, leveraged federal loans and tax credits and an on-bill financing program to increase access to high-resilience batteries, lower its members' energy costs, and move toward offsetting its carbon emissions.
Podcast: Shooting for a Clean Energy Economy
[25 min. listen] The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy Earthshots Initiative sets technical and financial goals to scale up clean energy. This week’s?podcast episode?features one of the leaders who helped catapult the Earthshots at DOE, Dr. Geraldine “Geri” Richmond. She served as the agency’s under secretary for science and innovation during the Biden-Harris Administration. Geri sat down with us to share her vision for public-private partnerships to continue advancing the Earthshots, and her insights on women in STEM and international scientific cooperation.
On the Hill
House Approves Agency Research Collaboration:?The House passed the?Department of Energy and Small Business Administration Research Act?(H.R.788). Reps. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.), and Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) introduced the bill to?boost?joint research activities between the two agencies and the National Laboratories.
Rural Drinking Water Modernization Bill Reintroduced:?Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) reintroduced the?Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act?(S.783). If passed, the bill would?help?rural communities repair and modernize drinking water and wastewater infrastructure by administering accessible loan options through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Bipartisan Bill Marries Public Recreation and Habitat Restoration:?Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) reintroduced the?Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act?(S.704/H.R.1565). The bill aims to reauthorize and increase funding for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. Through grant funding, the program?expands access?to recreational activities on public lands while working to recover wildlife and restore habitat.
We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill.?See the full legislative trackers for?February 24-28?and?March 3-7.
Upcoming Events
The Process and Path Forward for a Bipartisan Surface Transportation Bill Thursday, March 13 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EDT Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room) and?online; RSVP here
The surface transportation bill reauthorizes federal highway, transit, and rail funding and programs. This final briefing of EESI’s Congressional Climate Camp series will provide a breakdown of everything decision-makers need to know ahead of the bill’s upcoming reauthorization.?
2025 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook? Tuesday, April 1? 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EDT Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room) and?online; RSVP here
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) invite you to a briefing about the 13th edition of the?Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The Factbook provides valuable year-over-year data and insights on the U.S. energy transformation, featuring an in-depth look at the energy efficiency, renewable energy, and natural gas sectors, as well as transmission, digitalization, microgrids, offshore wind, hydrogen, and renewable natural gas.
In Case You Missed It
Briefing Video Now Available | Clean Manufacturing in America ?
This briefing highlighted the ways in which onshoring the manufacturing of clean energy, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle components increases American competitiveness, secures U.S. supply chains, and creates jobs.?Click here?to watch the full briefing and download the speakers’ presentation materials.
Benefactor Establishes GWU Fellowship in EESI’s Name ?
An anonymous benefactor has established a new endowment in EESI’s name to support graduate students at George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. The fellowship’s first recipient is Amelia Lindsay-Kaufman, a geoscience researcher who will specialize in environmental policy. Read the full press release?here.
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