Climate Change Solutions - February 15, 2022 | Newsletter

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Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

In honor of Black History Month, we interviewed Kristal Hansley, the first Black woman CEO in the community solar industry, and discussed her mission to bring solar energy to under-resourced communities in D.C., Maryland, and Illinois.

The second installment of our four-part briefing series, Agencies in Action, continues on February 24 with Energy Efficiency Means Business. Our panelists will focus on a number of programs administered by the U.S. Department of Energy to help advance energy efficiency across the entire economy. The briefing will also include a discussion of DOE's recent reorganization to support implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law, so tune in to stay up to date! RSVP here.

If you are watching the Winter Olympics, you might be wondering about the climate impacts of the games, as well as how organizers are dealing with warming conditions. Our featured article this week examines how policy addressing super-polluting hydrofluorocarbons are helping curb greenhouse gas emissions from indoor ice rinks.

In addition, Executive Director Daniel Bresette breaks down the Biden-Harris Administration's latest move to reduce building sector climate impacts through building performance standards, and Policy Manager Anna McGinn makes the case for a national adaptation plan.

And the final two articles in our Sustainable Aviation Fuels series are now up, covering private sector commitments driving SAF innovation and international targets announced at COP26.

And check out the latest episode of The Climate Conversation podcast, which continues this week with an exploration of coastal resilience in Louisiana with Natalie Snider from the Environmental Defense Fund and Dr. Denise Reed from the University of New Orleans.

Have a climate solution? Send tips to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff!

EESI's Summer 2022 Internship is now accepting applications! Click here to read about the four positions available and apply!

Headlines As Winter Olympics Heat Up, Ice Rinks Can Exemplify Climate Policy in Action [4 min. read] Winter Olympic venues are warming, creating problems for event managers and athletes. Ice skating can more easily be protected from rising temperatures than snow sports because athletes compete indoors. On the other hand, operators must contend with the contributions rinks make to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions from super-polluting refrigerants. Policies and technological innovation can combine to drive down the climate impact of ice rinks. [click for more]
	Q&A: Diversifying Access to Clean Energy with Community Solar [7 min. read] Kristal Hansley, CEO of WeSolar, discusses the challenges of implementing community solar, the many benefits it can bring, and what it has been like to be the first Black woman leader in this industry. [click for more]
	New Building Performance Standards Coalition Aims to Pick Up Where Building Energy Codes Leave Off [3 min. read] Last month, the Biden-Harris Administration launched a nationwide coalition to boost building performance standards (BPS), a critical tool in driving down carbon emissions in the building sector. Such standards work by setting performance targets in energy and water efficiency; over time, these targets tend to apply to more building types. State and local governments participating in the Biden-Harris Administration's Building Performance Standards Coalition are committed to advancing BPS by Earth Day 2024 through regulatory, legislative, and administrative steps. [click for more]

Series: Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): A Critical Emissions Mitigation Strategy Gaining Momentum

	Corporations, Nonprofits, and Airlines Cooperate to Expand Sustainable Aviation Fuels Use and Capacity [4 min. read] The private sector is working together to bolster sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. Every major U.S. airline has invested in SAF through purchase agreements, while corporate contracts help foot the bill. [click for more]
	Sustainable Aviation Fuel on the Global Climate Agenda [5 min. read] Reducing emissions from aviation was part of the U.N. climate summit (COP26) agenda in Glasgow last year. The White House and Congress have followed up with policies to support the sustainable aviation fuel industry. [click for more]

On the Hill

Between January 31 and February 11, there was a wide range of activity in Congress related to climate policy.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on implementation of the Great American Outdoors Act, which was signed into law in August 2020. The same committee held another hearing on the opportunities and challenges of deploying clean hydrogen.

A House Agirculture Committee hearing was held on the environmental gains and economic viability of sustainability in the livestock sector.

The House passed the Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2021 (H.R.4521), which would establish a federal program to advance engineering biology research.

Two bills on disaster management were introduced in the Senate: The Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery, and Resilience Act of 2022 (S.3502) aims to improve disaster assistance for underserved communities and the Disaster Resiliency Planning Act (S.3510) would help federal agencies incorporate disaster resilience into their asset management and investment decisions.

In addition, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced bills (S.3621 and H.R.6654) to permanently authorize the U.S. Geological Survey National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers. The centers provide scientific information to communities to help them adapt to climate change.

See EESI's full environment and energy legislative trackers for January 31-February 4 and February 7-11.

EESI News, Briefings, and Fact Sheets

	A National Adaptation Strategy Could Guide the Way Towards a More Resilient Future [5 min. read] As states and municipalities across the United States develop various climate adaptation plans, experts and policymakers advocate for the creation of a national strategy to guide funding. [click for more]
	Agencies in Action: Federal Programs That Deliver Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Benefits Every Day The first briefing in our Agencies in Action series, Financing Inclusive Clean Energy Savings in Rural America, was held last week. Panelists discussed the importance of the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), which provides rural utilities and green banks with zero-percent loans to finance energy efficiency, beneficial electrification, and on-bill financing programs. In case you missed it, watch it here. Written highlights will be published soon!
	New Podcast Episode! Planning and Acting for a Resilient Coastal Louisiana [33 min. listen] Dan and Emma explore the benefits that wetland restoration can have for coastal resilience in Louisiana and the role that wetlands play in the planning and implementation of Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan. They are joined by Natalie Snider from the Environmental Defense Fund and Dr. Denise Reed from the University of New Orleans. [click for more]

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EESI Around Town

EESI Executive Director Daniel Bresette was on a radio segment from KVNF Community Radio in Colorado about cleaning up orphaned oil and gas well sites.

Communications Director Amaury Laporte was interviewed for a piece in Inside Climate News about why it is important that the International Energy Agency remove the paywalls from its data.

EESI's fossil fuel subsidies fact sheet was cited in an opinion piece about politicizing wind energy in Kansas published in The Topeka Capital-Journal.

An opinion piece from PennLive.com cited Senior Policy Fellow Jeff Overton's aviation fact sheet when talking about the emissions from big international sporting events.

Upcoming Events

Energy Efficiency Means Business

Briefing Series | Agencies in Action: Federal Programs That Deliver Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Benefits Every Day

Thursday, February 24
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

The second briefing in the Agencies in Action series will cover federal energy efficiency programs administered by the U.S. Department of Energy that support millions of jobs and deliver direct, meaningful savings to homeowners, consumers, and businesses—all while reducing the stresses and strains on the U.S. energy system. Energy efficiency also improves the sustainability and resilience of communities and contributes to near-term reductions in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Panelists will discuss how all these benefits play out on the ground from the state, private sector, and federal agency perspectives.

Electrification 2022: Building a Net Zero Future – For All
June 28-30, 2022
Charlotte, North Carolina

EESI is proud to be a supporting organization for the Electric Power Research Institute’s in-person Electrification 2022 International Conference & Exposition on June 28-30 (new dates!) in Charlotte, North Carolina. You’ll see old friends and make new ones as EPRI resumes in-person collaboration to explore efficient, equitable solutions for a low-carbon power sector and net-zero economy.

Follow #ElectricTogether on Twitter (@EPRINews) and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on the latest announcements and meet your fellow conference-goers. This year, we’re telling the inspiring stories of electrification leaders who plan to join us.

We’re energized about supporting Electrification 2022. Register today! #ElectricTogether

Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions:

Emma Johnson and Alison Davis - Layout, Design, and Content Editors

Amaury Laporte - Communications Director

As well as all EESI Staff, Interns, and Fellows who write and review content!

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Daniel Bresette, Executive Director

EESI is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1984 by a bipartisan Congressional caucus to provide timely information and develop innovative policy solutions that set us on a cleaner, more secure and sustainable energy path.

www.eesi.org

CFC #10627

Climate Change Solutions - February 15, 2022

Featuring content on community solar, the Winter Olympics, and coastal resilience in Louisiana

Table Of Contents

Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions: