Transportation Investments and Cool Surfaces

Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

This week, we have a triple slate of virtual briefings covering what Congress needs to know about COP29 , featuring What’s on the Table for Negotiations (Wednesday), Methane Mitigation on the Global Stage (Thursday), and U.S.-China Engagement and International Climate Diplomacy (Friday). Join us at noon each day online to hear from experts about what to expect at this year’s international climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan—RSVP here . For all things COP, EESI’s COP29 landing page is your one-stop-shop for articles, briefings, newsletters, and more. And don’t forget to sign up for COP Dispatch for daily updates from Baku!

We’re also featuring an article tracking Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) investments in transportation, and an article about the origins of EESI’s annual Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum. Plus, check out the latest episode of our podcast, The Climate Conversation, discussing how cool surfaces can help mitigate urban heat.

Last but not least, EESI is hiring for two roles: Communications Associate, and spring 2025 Communications and Policy Intern. Don’t miss your chance to join the team! Applications close this coming Sunday (October 27).

The Latest Solutions

Tracking Transportation Investments in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act

The?Inflation Reduction Act?and?Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act?provide historic support for transportation in the United States, funding projects that improve accessibility and explore new transit opportunities, all while reducing environmental impacts. However, further work is necessary to meet transportation greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and create an effective multimodal network.?[click for more]

EESI at 40: The Origins of the Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum

When the first Renewable Energy EXPO was held in April 1996, Congress had been debating sweeping cuts to clean energy research and development. To shore up durable bipartisan support for renewable energy on Capitol Hill, Rep. Dan Schaefer (R-Colo.) had established the House Renewable Energy Caucus a few months earlier in February. By the time of the first EXPO, the Caucus already boasted 70 members. This support was also evident at the EXPO itself, which attracted more than 600 visitors, including members of Congress and agency representatives. [click for more]

Podcast: Reflecting on the Climate Mitigation Potential of Cool Surfaces

The degree of solar reflectance (or “albedo”) of roofs, walls, and pavements, can impact local temperatures as well as the Earth’s energy balance. High albedo surfaces help to reduce the urban heat island effect, and a new report shines light on their effectiveness as a climate change mitigation measure. In this episode, EESI Board Member Kurt Shickman joins co-hosts Daniel Bresette and Alison Davis for a conversation with Seth Jacobson, climate solutions officer at the nonprofit Climate Resolve. [click for more]

On the Hill

The Grass Is Always Greener… with Conservation Grants: Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) introduced the North American Grasslands Conservation Act (H.R.9945 ). If enacted, the bill would mandate a grasslands conservation plan and create a grant program for grasslands management and restoration efforts, including a regenerative grazing program.

House Bill Would Support Tweety Program: Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) introduced the Urban Bird Treaty Act (H.R.9964 ). The bill would authorize $1 million annually for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Urban Bird Treaty program, which supports community-level bird conservation and works to reduce urban hazards to bird migration, such as toxins, building collisions, and invasive species.

FLOATing Flood Money: Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) introduced the Flood Loss Offset and Affordability Tax (FLOAT) Credit Act (H.R.10004 ) to address the increasing frequency and magnitude of extreme storms and flooding. Specifically , the bill would aim to improve flood insurance affordability for homeowners by providing buyers with a $1,000 annual tax credit.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for October 7-11 and October 14-18.

Implementation Updates

EESI is tracking recent announcements and updates about the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)

• The Department of Transportation announced $4.2 billion for the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega ) grant program and the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA ) grant program. The 47 projects receiving funding include bridge replacement, rail repair, port terminal resilience, highway reconstruction, and road resurfacing.
• The Department of Energy (DOE) announced $2 billion in funding for Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP ) projects. These projects will build out new transmission and increase the capacity of existing transmission lines, supporting grid resilience and reliability.
• DOE also announced up to $900 million in funding to be made available for Generation III+ small modular nuclear reactors, with applications due on January 17. The funding will likely be separated into two tiers based on project stage: “First Mover Team Support” and “Fast Follower Deployment Support.”

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

• DOE announced a $861.3 million loan guarantee through the Loan Programs Office to Clean Flexible Energy, LLC, to fund solar photovoltaic farms and battery energy storage systems in Puerto Rico.
• The U.S. General Services Administration announced the award of a $33.2 million contract to T1-RJS Joint Venture, LLC, for modernizing and expanding the Pacific Highway Land Port of Entry in Washington state. Funding comes from the IRA and IIJA, with IRA funding used for constructing lanes and canopies with low embodied-carbon concrete and steel .
• DOE announced that California has officially launched the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates segment of the Home Energy Rebates program, incentivizing the installation of energy- and cost-saving measures like heat pumps and insulation.

Upcoming Events

You are invited to a three-part briefing series, What Congress Needs to Know about COP29. Briefings will cover key issues at play in international climate negotiations and why they matter for U.S. efforts to address climate change. The briefings in this series are:

What’s on the Table for the Negotiations

• Wednesday, October 23, 2024
• 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Online only
• The first briefing in our COP29 series will be about what Congress can expect during the upcoming United Nations climate negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan. Thousands of events will take place over the course of the two-week U.N. session. Whether traveling to Baku or observing COP29 from D.C., this briefing will guide policymakers on how to engage effectively. Panelists will preview key issues on the negotiating agenda, unpack the complex process of international climate negotiations, review possible policy outcomes, and explore pathways for subsequent Congressional action.?RSVP here

Methane Mitigation on the Global Stage

• Thursday, October 24, 2024
• 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Online only
• The second installment of the COP29 series will discuss how nations can collaborate to monitor and mitigate methane emissions to improve air quality and meet emission reduction targets. Methane accounts for 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution and has 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide, making it a key lever in addressing the climate crisis. This briefing will cover policies nations are implementing to effectively reduce their domestic methane emissions in the energy, agriculture, and waste sectors. Panelists will check in on the implementation of the Global Methane Pledge, and highlight the role of technology in improving methane monitoring, compliance, and reduction.?RSVP here

U.S.-China Engagement and International Climate Diplomacy

• Friday, October 25, 2024
• 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Online only
• EESI's COP29 briefing series will conclude with an overview of the role of U.S.-China climate engagement in shaping the progress and outcomes of international climate governance. In 2023, ahead of COP28, the United States and China produced the Sunnylands Statement covering topics related to the energy transition, forest conservation, and non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions. They also kicked off a working group focused on “climate action in the 2020s,” which started meeting in the first half of 2024. Panelists will explain how these bilateral interactions play into the international negotiations on climate change, outline what to expect during COP29 and its lead-up, and discuss the effectiveness of diplomatic efforts in curbing greenhouse gas emissions.?RSVP here

Key Issues to Watch at COP29

• Thursday, October 24, 2024
• 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. EDT
• Online only
• EESI Policy Director Anna McGinn will moderate this webinar, hosted by Second Nature, the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3), and the Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organizations (RINGO) constituency. The session will cover critical issues on the negotiation agenda at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.?RSVP here

Double Exposure Film Festival

• November 7-10, 2024
• U.S. Naval Heritage Center and other venues
• Washington, D.C.
• Double Exposure is the United States’ first and only film festival dedicated to investigative reporting on film. It pairs four days of film screenings with a professional symposium that brings together watchdog journalists and filmmakers venturing into investigative storytelling. EESI is a festival partner; use the code “EESI” for 10% off passes and tickets when you?register here.

From now through spring 2025, EESI is hosting monthly virtual briefings on building river health and resilience in communities across the United States. RSVP and learn more about the full Resilient and Healthy River Communities series?here .

In Case You Missed It

Highlight Notes Now Available | Exploring the Policy Landscape of Carbon Dioxide Removal

Detailed notes are now available for EESI's briefing on carbon dioxide removal (CDR), hosted in partnership with the World Resources Institute. Expert panelists explored existing policies supporting different stages of CDR development, the level of CDR we expect to need, policy options to enable scaling to that level, and more. This event also featured a fireside chat with Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), who discussed the potential of CDR to deliver benefits for Colorado and the country. Click here ?for the full video, speaker presentation materials, and highlight notes.

The Mississippi River | Resilient and Healthy Rivers Series

Our latest briefing examined the environmental challenges facing the Mississippi River and solutions to address them. The Mississippi River and the communities that depend on it face many challenges that are exacerbated by climate change. Panelists discussed the role of federal policy in advancing strategies to improve both the health and climate resilience of the Mississippi River system. Watch it again, view photos, and access speaker presentation materials?here.

Latest Media Coverage

• State of the Planet, a student-run paper at Columbia University, interviewed Summer 2024 Development Intern?Gillian Murphy ?for a?profile piece ?about her experience with EESI.
• EESI President Daniel Bresette was quoted in a French article in?Ecologie 360 ?about how innovation and climate progress exist amidst climate skepticism and oil and gas interests in the United States. [Subscription only]
• The?Cool Down?cited background information included in EESI's aviation?issue brief ?in an?article about recent hurricane disinformation.