Climate Change Solutions - July 11, 2023 | Newsletter

Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

At EESI, we’re busy preparing for the 26th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum, which returns to the Hill on Tuesday, July 18!

To get you up to speed on the topics of the EXPO, we’ve put together an issue full of EESI resources that dive deeper into its panel themes, ranging from workforce development to national security.

Learn more about the EXPO and RSVP here. All are welcome!

Applications are open for EESI's fall policy internships. Be sure to apply by July 16!

Energy Efficiency Essentials

Fact Sheet | Renew America’s Nonprofits Grant Program

The Renew America’s Nonprofits program was established with funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to help nonprofits improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. This fact sheet provides guidance to nonprofits regarding the structure, timeline, and criteria of the program’s grant application. [click for more]

Article Series | Energy Efficiency for Nonprofits

The IIJA will award $50 million in grants over five years to help nonprofits adopt energy efficiency measures. This article series highlights eight case studies of nonprofits across the United States that have benefited from implementing energy efficiency measures in their buildings. [click for more]

Briefing | Energy Efficiency Means Business 2022

Energy efficiency programs under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, stimulate job growth, cut consumer costs, strengthen community resilience, and alleviate strains on an aging national energy system. During this briefing, panelists discussed how DOE programs have been implemented at the federal and state levels, across the private sector, and in communities. [click for more]

Clean Energy Opportunities in Rural Communities

Briefing | Unlocking Rural Economies: Farm Bill Investments in Rural America

The Farm Bill plays an important role in helping rural America develop strong economies and build climate resilience and mitigation. During this briefing, panelists discussed how Congress can bolster key programs, such as the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), and water and wastewater technical assistance programs. [click for more]

Article | USDA Investments in Clean Energy for Rural Businesses

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allocates $1 billion in funding to REAP to help farmers, rural small businesses, and rural electric cooperatives reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase climate resilience, support economic development, and lower energy costs. [click for more]

Article | Microgrids and Energy Improvement in Rural Areas
Renewable energy resources, such solar-powered microgrids, can power rural areas during weather-induced outages, bolstering community resilience while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. [click for more]

Report | Inclusive Financing Programs for Solar and Electrification

On-bill financing programs, which allow people to pay for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades as a line item on their electricity bills, help finance the up-front costs that often bar rural households from making energy upgrades. This makes it easier for rural communities to increase their energy efficiency and install clean energy systems. [click for more]

Training the Workforce for the 21st Century Clean Energy Economy

Podcast | Building Up Adaptation Jobs to Rise to the Climate Challenge
As the impacts of climate change increase in intensity, vulnerable areas will require the expertise of a trained, climate-smart workforce to deploy adaptation solutions. This podcast shed light on the under-documented yet growing adaptation job sector and discussed ways to strengthen it. [click for more]

Podcast | Powering Up the Electrification Workforce for an Equitable Clean Energy Future
The national transition to a carbon-free economy will require widespread electrification, from utilities to home appliances. In this podcast episode, guests emphasized the growing need for a workforce to implement these changes on the ground, and they discussed the challenges and opportunities of growing this workforce equitably. [click for more]

Fact Sheet | Climate Jobs

Both the climate crisis and the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic have spurred the demand for climate-related jobs. This fact sheet explores job growth potential and trends across the renewable energy, clean transportation, and climate adaptation and resilience sectors. [click for more]

Toward the Energy System of the Future

Article | The Promise and Potential of Solar Canals
The strategic placement of solar panels over canals offers climate solutions by way of clean energy generation, reduced land use, and reduced water losses to evaporation. [click for more]

Briefing | Investments in Clean Energy and Transportation Innovations in the Federal and Private Sectors
This briefing highlighted federal programs and partnerships that bolster innovations in energy efficiency and sustainable aviation fuels, expand the clean energy workforce, and advance environmental justice and equity. [click for more]

Article | Spurring Clean Energy Development on Reclaimed Mine Lands

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorized $500 million to help construct clean energy projects on current or former mine sites across the United States. This article discusses the numerous benefits of clean energy development on reclaimed land, including the ability to power about 6.7 million homes. [click for more]

Briefing Series | Modernizing the U.S. Energy System: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Path Forward

The aging of the U.S. energy system has presented challenges to affordable, reliable, equitable, and climate-resilient energy delivery. This three-part briefing series explored the benefits, challenges, and path forward to nationwide grid modernization. [click for more]

Clean Energy and National Security

Podcast | Representative Ro Khanna on the CHIPS and Science Act
The 2022 CHIPS and Science Act seeks to invest billions of dollars in clean energy technology, to strengthen American manufacturing and address the climate crisis. In this podcast episode, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) discussed how bipartisan support for the CHIPS Act grew out of a shared desire to strengthen national security by increasing self-reliance in advanced green technologies. [click for more]

Briefing | The State of Play for Nuclear Energy in the United States
Recent legislation has created funding, research, and development opportunities for future and existing nuclear energy resources. Panelists at this briefing reviewed existing federal programs around nuclear energy, as well as strategies for its continued deployment. [click for more]

Accelerating Sustainable Transportation

Fact Sheet | The Future of the Trucking Industry: Electric Semi-Trucks
Diesel-fueled semi-trucks account for 18 percent of U.S. vehicle emissions. This fact sheet details the benefits of electric semi-truck use, and explains how state and federal initiatives address existing barriers to the transition to zero-emission trucks. [click for more]

Article | Federal Electric School Bus Awards Drive a Cleaner, Greener Future for Kids Nationwide
Nationwide school bus electrification promises to reduce emissions and improve public health. This article dives into the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program, and highlights the program’s climate, health, and economic benefits. [click for more]

Issue Brief | The Growth in Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Commercial Aviation
Commercial aviation is the highest and fastest-growing source of individual emissions. This issue brief examines how increases in global shipping and access to air travel have fueled the sector’s rising carbon footprint, despite improvements in aircraft and flight efficiency. [click for more]

Article | Ethanol Can Help Reduce Toxic Gasoline Aromatics
Internal combustion engine vehicles are expected to outnumber EVs on the road beyond 2050. While the transition to EVs slowly unfolds, biofuels such as ethanol are a readily available solution to cutting down on toxic aromatics in gasoline. Biofuels can also improve vehicle efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [click for more]

Briefing | The State of Play for Public Transit
As public transit systems recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector is presented with opportunities to rebuild a more climate-resilient system. In this briefing, panelists discussed ongoing efforts to reduce emissions and increase sustainability within public transportation, and they shared the numerous community benefits of investing in improved transit infrastructure. [click for more]

Driving the Transition to Electric School Buses: Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) introduced a bill (H.R.4455) to support the development and expansion of charging infrastructure for electric school buses, to be funded through direct loans and grants to communities. Currently, more than 90 percent of the country’s school buses are powered by diesel fuel. The buildout of charging infrastructure will increase the feasibility of transitioning to zero-emission buses.

Protecting Crops from Disaster: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) introduced the Restore Agricultural Investment, Stability, and Expansion (RAISE) Act of 2023 (H.R.4464) in the House. The bipartisan bill, which is designed to be included in the 2023 Farm Bill, would allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue block grants to help producers following disaster-induced losses of high-value crops. Throughout EESI’s recent briefing series, Farm Bill in Focus, panelists highlighted the need for expanded resources to support farmers.

Digging Deep into Soil Health: Reps. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), James Baird (R-Ind.), and Max Miller (R-Ohio) introduced the Weather Information for Agriculture Act (H.R.4373). The bill proposes the establishment of a national, uniform soil moisture monitoring network. Standardized monitoring schemes provide accurate knowledge of soil conditions and help agricultural workers prepare for drought. EESI’s recent briefing, Conservation Practices from Farms to Forests and Wetlands, discussed the benefits of maintaining soil health and the ways conservation can be advanced through research, technical assistance, and financial support.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for June 26-30 and July 3-7.

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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $278 million for water infrastructure improvements for Indigenous communities, including specific funding for Alaska Native villages.
The Department of the Interior announced $660 million in grant funding for cleaning up the legacy pollution of orphaned oil and gas wells.
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selections for the first round of the Renew America’s Schools grant program, which will provide $178 million in funding to schools to improve their facilities and create healthier and more energy-efficient environments. EESI’s Back to School briefing discussed some of the ways schools can catalyze climate action.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

The EPA announced the launch of the Solar for All grant competition, which will award $7 billion in grants to improve access to solar energy for low-income and disadvantaged communities.
The DOE released a Notice of Intent to invest $2 billion into scaling up U.S. electric vehicle manufacturing.
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced the creation of a Climate Resilience Regional Challenge, which will distribute $575 million through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help coastal and Great Lakes communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

26th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum

Tuesday, July 18
9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Hart Senate Office Building, Room 902 (9th Floor)

EESI and the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus invite you to join us for our annual policy EXPO! Speakers will showcase technologies and solutions that reduce carbon emissions, save households money, improve the economy, build resilience, and protect U.S. security interests. The EXPO will be in-person and free to attend. Panels will also be streamed live. RSVP here.

Highlight Notes Are Now Available on the State of Play for Nuclear Energy in the United States

Check out the detailed highlight notes on EESI's April briefing, in which panelists discussed the Department of Energy’s current approach to nuclear energy, the evolution of nuclear reactor deployment in the United States, and the path ahead for DOE’s nuclear energy work. [click for more]

Two Sets of Highlight Notes Are Now Available from our Farm Bill in Focus Series

In the first briefing of this series, The Process and Path Forward for Passing a Bipartisan Farm Bill, panelists gave an overview of bipartisan opportunities for climate-smart provisions in the 2023 Farm Bill. Our second briefing, Climate, Energy, and Economic Win-Wins in the Farm Bill, explained how Farm Bill programs can bolster both climate change mitigation and adaptation while creating economic opportunities for rural communities. [click for more]

Latest Media Coverage

EESI's topic page about fuel cells was cited in a Supply Chain Quarterly article about offshore hydrogen production plant funding.
The International Review of the Red Cross used EESI's fact sheet about fossil fuel externalities as a source for their article on the destruction of natural resources in armed conflicts.

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Thanks to all EESI staff, interns, and fellows who contribute to Climate Change Solutions

Environmental and Energy Study Institute
Daniel Bresette, President

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.

Climate Change Solutions - July 11, 2023

It's All About the Clean Energy EXPO

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