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Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!
We hope you had a happy Earth Day! There are many climate and environment solutions to celebrate this week. We’ve got our eyes on the announcement of $7 billion in Solar for All grant awards, which will allow 60 selectees across the United States to deliver solar energy to disadvantaged communities. This EESI article explains Solar for All’s parent program, the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA's) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), and how it will invest in clean energy in frontline communities. You can read more about the latest IRA and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act updates later in this newsletter.
This spring and summer will be full of exciting new Congressional briefings. Our May 1 briefing, Dams in Every District: Challenges, Opportunities, and What’s Ahead, will take a look at the current state of dam infrastructure and dam safety in America. And later, we have Cities Leading the Way on Nature-Based Solutions on May 23 and Maximizing the Impact of Natural Climate Solutions on June 11. Finally, our Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum is scheduled for July 30—don’t forget to get your RSVPs in!
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Implementation Update: How Has the IRA Advanced Conservation on Farms?
[5 min. read]
Agricultural producers face the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events such as droughts and flooding. Climate-smart agricultural practices, such as cover crops, agroforestry, no-till farming, rotational grazing, and soil amendments, can not only protect crops, but also lessen greenhouse gas emissions. Funding from the IRA is unlocking greater implementation of climate-smart agricultural programs. [click for more]
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[6 min. read]
For the past 40 years, EESI’s role has been to connect the people advancing national-level policy to the enormous amount of information on climate change topics. To support our mission of advancing science-based solutions, EESI seeks out briefing panelists, podcast guests, and article interviewees from national labs, universities, tribes, state agencies, and beyond to provide timely, relevant information from experts with diverse perspectives. [click for more]
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Podcast: All Fired Up for Innovation in Wildfire Risk Analysis
[30 min. listen]
Wildfires have already made national headlines this year, as Texans recover from the largest fire in their state's history. Rising temperatures and drought, exacerbated by climate change, have driven the increase in wildfire frequency and severity, which then contributes to air pollution, including carbon dioxide emissions. Co-hosts Daniel Bresette and Alison Davis are joined by Joe Scott of Pyrologix for a conversation about fire modeling and hazard assessment. [click for more]
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Happy Earth Day!
[5 min. read]
To keep the celebration going, check out some of EESI’s resources from the archives touching on this year’s theme, “Planet vs. Plastics.” Our briefing, The Climate Consequences of Plastics, discussed how plastic production releases high amounts of greenhouse gases and creates burdensome waste. Meanwhile, our article on the nonprofit Plastic Free Futures highlighted efforts to eliminate plastic pollution in systematically harmed communities. And finally, peek into findings from the Frontline film, Plastic Wars, with an episode from the first season of EESI’s podcast, “Can I Recycle That?”
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Migratory Bird Bill Flies Through Senate: The Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023 (H.R.4389) reauthorizes and increases Congressionally-mandated grant funding for bird habitat conservation, research and monitoring, and education. The Senate approved the bill—introduced by Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), and Mary Peltola (D-Alaska)—after it passed the House the week prior.
Cleaning Up Abandoned Hard Rock Mines: The Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2024 (S.3858), introduced by Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), passed the Senate. The bill aims to strengthen remediation efforts for hazardous abandoned hard rock mines by establishing a new Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains within the Environmental Protection Agency, and increasing federal funding and funding access for cleanup efforts.
Better Measurements for the Colorado River Basin: The Evapotranspiration Data Act (S.1118/H.R.2429) is scheduled for a Senate vote after passing out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bill, reintroduced by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Reps. Susie Lee (D-Nev.) Chris Stewart (R-Utah), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), and Burgess Owens (R-Utah), would codify the measuring, monitoring, and reporting of evapotranspiration levels in the Colorado River Basin. To learn more about data tools used to combat water scarcity in the Colorado River Basin, check out this EESI article.
Public Land Access Bill Passes House: The House passed the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act (H.R.6492). House Committee on Natural Resources Chair Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced the EXPLORE ACT, which aims to improve access to recreation on federal public lands and waters.
We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for April 8-12 and April 15-19.
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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 Biden-Harris Administration announced the availability of $1 billion in funding for the treatment and detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This funding will support states and territories in meeting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) new national drinking water standard for PFAS.
- The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced $830 million in grant funding for improving transportation infrastructure resilience to the effects of extreme weather and climate change.
- DOT also announced $316 million in funding for improving and modernizing passenger ferry service in the United States, including support for low-emitting and electric ferries.
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
- The EPA announced the 60 selectees of the GGRF's Solar for All grant program. All selectees have committed to the GGRF’s goals, including serving disadvantaged and low-income communities.
- The Department of Energy (DOE) announced 35 projects that have received a total of $1.93 billion in funding to reduce emissions in manufacturing and industrial processes through the IRA’s Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit, known as 48C.
- DOE announced that the first state has been approved for funding through the IRA’s Home Energy Rebates program. New York will receive $158 million in funding from the $8.8 billion program to provide rebates for energy efficient appliances.
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Dams in Every District: Challenges, Opportunities, and What's Ahead
Wednesday, May 1
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm EDT
North Congressional Meeting Room (CVC 268) and online
In partnership with American Rivers, this briefing will cover the state of dam infrastructure in the United States. Of the dams in the National Inventory, 85% have outlived their expected lifespan and many are no longer serving a purpose. This briefing will discuss the options dam owners have to manage this infrastructure challenge, including dam removal, which is a common approach to dam safety and river restoration. RSVP here
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Cities Leading the Way on Nature-Based Solutions
Thursday, May 23
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm EDT
North Congressional Meeting Room (CVC 268) and online
In the first installment in our briefing series about climate solutions from small- and medium-sized cities, speakers will discuss nature-based solutions in urban settings—from parks that help manage stormwater to urban trees that reduce summer temperatures across entire neighborhoods. Panelists will highlight equitable and community-designed climate solutions from the places they live and work and describe the intersection points with federal policy and programs. RSVP here
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Maximizing the Impact of Natural Climate Solutions
Tuesday, June 11
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
North Congressional Meeting Room (CVC 217) and online
Around 92% of people across the political spectrum are in support of implementing natural climate solutions to address climate change. In collaboration with U.S. Nature4Climate and the Bipartisan Policy Center, this briefing will foster discussion on natural climate solutions, which leverage natural processes to reduce carbon emissions, sequester carbon, and bring new income and employment opportunities to rural America. RSVP here
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2024 Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum
Tuesday, July 30
10:00 am - 5:00 pm EDT
Rayburn House Office Building Foyer and Gold Room (Room 2168) and online
EESI and the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses invite you to join us for the 27th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum (EXPO 2024). Top-level speakers will showcase technologies and solutions that reduce carbon emissions, save households money, improve the economy, build resilience, and protect our security interests. RSVP here
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Briefing Recordings Now Available | Demystifying Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal and Funding the Future: The Impact of Federal Clean Energy Investments
| Two of our latest briefings, Funding the Future: The Impact of Federal Clean Energy Investments and Demystifying Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal, are now available as video recordings on our website. Funding the Future discussed the latest updates in DOE’s research and innovations in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation; Demystifying Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), in partnership with the World Resources Institute, focused on the current state of ocean CDR, the policy and regulatory landscape, and research gaps. |
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Public-Private Cooperation for Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition
| EESI President Daniel Bresette spoke about renewable energy deployment at a panel, “Public-Private Cooperation for Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition,” at the AI: Powering the New Energy Era summit. The event, hosted by the Foundation for American Science and Technology, explored the role of artificial intelligence in the global shift toward sustainable energy. You can watch a video of the event here. |
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Latest Media Coverage
- EESI’s environmental justice topic page was cited in Blavity News’s article about Black-led organizations striving for environmental equity and sustainability.
- EESI's direct pay fact sheet was cited by KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220, a radio station based in Santa Clarita, Calif., in a story about partnerships to advance solar energy.
- Renewable Energy Magazine cited EESI as a source for its article on the growth of U.S. wind and solar energy since 2014.
- In an article about the need for more power transmission capacity, POWER magazine listed EESI as a general source for IRA and IIJA updates.
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