EESI Impact

2020 EESI Impact Report (Published July 2021)

July 13, 2021

Table Of Contents


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    Climate Action Is Urgent, Pandemic or Not
     

     

    For almost 40 years, EESI has been a source of timely, relevant climate change information for Congress and policymakers. Thanks to your commitment, we navigated the challenges of the pandemic and ended 2020 ready to meet the urgency and immediacy of climate action in the new political environment of 2021.

    We were ready with the Congressional Climate Camp online briefing series to inform new staff about achievable climate change solutions and legislative procedures needed for enactment. And we organized support for critical federal programs to help rural utilities provide low-cost financing to their customers for cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades.

    No matter what the future holds, we will continue to ensure Congress has everything it needs to act urgently on climate change, and I am so glad you are an important part of this.

    - Daniel Bresette, Executive Director

     
    Key Achievements 
     
    Focus on Decarbonization

    Decarbonizing the energy sector is critical for many climate solutions.

    With increasing electrification, carbon-free energy is necessary to avoid catastrophic surges in greenhouse gas emissions. The challenges of decarbonization are as much about people as they are about technology.

    To speed the transition to a decarbonized, clean energy economy, the future has to be better. That involves retraining fossil fuel workers and preparing the next generation for climate-friendly jobs.

    New policies and programs are needed to keep energy costs low for everyone and expand access to equitable, inclusive climate solutions.

     

    Project Spotlights: Coastal Resilience and Electrification

    Showcasing Federal Policy Needs for Coastal Resilience

    In October 2020, EESI published A Resilient Future for Coastal Communities. As coastal communities across the country face increased uncertainty and risks from intensifying climate change impacts, we recognized the need to inform policymakers and the public on this pressing issue. This report is based on the solutions from around the country highlighted in EESI’s regional coastal resilience briefing series.

    Major Recommendations:

    • Design projects and programs in partnership with communities.
    • Show special attention to the many cultural heritage sites and traditions threatened by climate impacts.
    • Collect locally specific, actionable data about climate impacts, risks, and vulnerabilities—and communicate these findings to the public in accessible ways.
    • Reduce the negative impacts of future natural disasters by using proactive mitigation and resilience techniques.
    • Increase government financing through revolving loan funds and a national green bank, prioritizing communities that face systemic underinvestment.

     

    Electrification and Energy Efficiency for Everyone

    Rural, islander, low-income, and under-resourced communities are among the most vulnerable to the worst impacts of climate change. Yet, they are also the least prepared to deal with extreme weather events. On top of that, rural residents pay on average 40 percent more for energy than their urban counterparts.
     
    By implementing an equitable screening and payment process, on-bill financing programs make clean energy upgrades more accessible to low-income communities and help expand clean energy adoption nationwide. 
     
    To spread the word about the importance of equitable approaches, EESI’s Miguel Yanez wrote a peer-reviewed paper, Inclusive Financing Programs for Solar and Electrification. It features two case studies of programs in Hawaii and Washington State, exploring why this approach should be replicated across the United States.
    Financial Overview

     

     

    EESI By the Numbers

     

     

    Briefing Series Takeaways
     

     

    WORKFORCE WEDNESDAYS

    • Conservation corps and high school career and technical training can set young people up for success in low-carbon careers.
       
    • Opportunities exist to grow green American innovation and manufacturing jobs beyond renewable energy technologies.

    CLIMATE ADAPTATION DATA

    • Climate change threatens cultural heritage, which must be protected by unique data products and decision-making processes.
       
    • Often, an abundance of data delineating community risk to climate change is available. Policymakers need to find the best ways to make the data useful and widely available.

    TRANSPORTATION

    • Marine terminals are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Designing with adaptation in mind can lower the carbon footprint of ports and prepare infrastructure for rising seas.
       
    • Electrifying commercial passenger planes is extremely challenging, but opportunities to lower the greenhouse gas emissions from aviation exist. For example, low-carbon biofuels can replace fossil fuels.
    Projects in Process

     

     
    What We Are Creating Together
     

     

     

    The Environmental and Energy Study Institute is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1984 by a bipartisan Congressional caucus dedicated to finding innovative environmental and energy solutions.

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