Climate Change Solutions - July 20, 2021

Hello and welcome to the Infrastructure Issue of Climate Change Solutions!

Infrastructure is the talk of the town this week as the Senate gears up to vote on two major infrastructure bills—the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and the $3.5 trillion package crafted by the Senate Budget Committee led by Chair Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.). Both bills seek to advance the Biden-Harris Administration's American Jobs Plan for economic recovery.

In light of these legislative happenings, this week we discuss what defines infrastructure and outline the Biden-Harris Administration's work so far to link climate and workforce development.

We reached back through EESI's online archive to pull together recent infrastructure-related resources into articles about nature-based solutions, financing, disaster resilience and equity, and the workforce. And each article includes a round-up of those resources for you to dive deeper!

We also focused in on three major aspects infrastructure negotiations with an article on improving broadband access in rural areas, a video short on a national climate bank, and highlights from our recent briefing series on modernizing America's transmission network.

And finally, if you need a break from infrastructure, you can tune into our last podcast episode of Season 1 where we introduce you to our newest staff members Savannah Bertrand and Emma Johnson!

Have you heard? Our 2021 Congressional Clean Energy EXPO and Policy Forum is just 6 days away! Have you RSVP'd yet? Join EESI and the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses as we showcase technology and policy solutions to today’s climate and energy use challenges.

RSVP here: www.eesi.org/briefings/view/expo2021

Have a climate solutions? Send tips to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff.

Headlines The Urgency of Climate Change Calls for an Open-minded Definition of “Infrastructure” [2 min. read] Depending on who is doing the asking and who gets to answer, “infrastructure” can mean just about anything. So what is “infrastructure”? EESI Executive Director Daniel Bresette writes that addressing climate change is an economy-wide challenge: "We must ensure we have everything we need to support this critical transition—the infrastructure to lift up the vulnerable and marginalized—and emerge from it better and more prosperous." [click for more]   Improving Access to Broadband Would Open Doors for Climate Solutions [5 min. read] At least 14.5 million Americans lacked broadband access, with rural communities and tribal nations the most likely to be disconnected. The inaccessibility of broadband leads to the “digital divide” phenomenon—the gap between communities that have reliable access to the Internet and all the opportunities it brings, and others that do not.  Click to read how rural broadband access can benefit customers, communities, and the climate. [click for more]   For White House, Climate Action and Job Creation Go Hand-in-Hand [2 min. read] Using climate action to accelerate recovery from the economic fallout from COVID-19 has been a top priority during the first seven months of the Biden-Harris Administration. These considerations have been incorporated into infrastructure legislation on the Hill as policymakers seek to build and upgrade American infrastructure in a way that provides job and training opportunities and is adaptive to a changing climate. [click for more] Article Series: Infrastructure Policy and Programs This week we analyzed how climate considerations can be incorporated into infrastructure plans. Below find a series of articles looking at infrastructure in terms of nature-based solutions, financing, disaster preparedness, and the workforce.  Nature-Based Solutions [4 min. read] Nature-based solutions contribute to climate resilient infrastructure by providing protection against extreme heat and coastal storms, while also supplying co-benefits like wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration. [click for more] Financing [5 min. read] Building and maintaining infrastructure requires capital, and several funding mechanisms could leverage, replenish, and maximize government and private investments in infrastructure. [click for more] Disaster Resilience and Equity [7 min. read] Trillions of dollars could be allocated towards infrastructure this year in an effort to address community needs and boost economic recovery. With such a huge investment, it is imperative that projects facilitate community buy-in and take climate change into account to increase their longevity and effectiveness. [click for more]   Workforce Development [6 min. read] Many programs are training workers for careers in clean energy, conservation, and other sustainability-oriented fields, and there are multiple opportunities for more such initiatives to bolster long-term growth in green sectors. [click for more]

On the Hill From July 5 to 16, Congress focused on building a two-track infrastructure package to support investments in both physical and social infrastructure.  In late June, a group of Senators agreed on a $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework which includes funding for electric vehicles, water, and broadband. Last week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced Senator Joe Manchin’s energy bill, which will likely be included in the bipartisan infrastructure package. While infrastructure remained a major focus in the Senate, several notable bills were also introduced in the House: H.R.4381 would set limits on the use of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS). H.R.4372 would appropriate funds for the Department of Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency for the 2022 fiscal year. H.R.4444 would provide grants to reduce food waste H.R.2467 would require the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) See EESI's full environmental legislative tracker for July 5 to July 9 here. See EESI's full environmental legislative tracker for July 12 to July 16 here.

EESI News, Briefings, and Fact Sheets   Video Short: Scaling up Climate Solutions through a National Climate Bank [1 min. watch] Over 20 green banks currently exist in the United States, providing flexible and affordable financing for a wide range of clean energy projects that lower emissions and boost climate resilience. Because of their unique, mission-driven mandates to address social and environmental issues, these entities are well-positioned to provide targeted investments in rural areas, low- and moderate-income communities, and communities of color that are disproportionately affected by polluting facilities and climate change impacts and are often unable to access traditional funding sources.  [click for more]   Briefing series: Modernizing the U.S. Energy System: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Path Forward Highlights for all three of EESI's recent series on U.S. energy system modernization are now available. Towards the Energy System of Tomorrow Panelists discussed the state of play for the nation's energy system and presented opportunities for improvement using real-world examples of solutions in actiono. Panelists also discussed the role of Congress, the Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and state and local entities in creating the energy system of tomorrow. [click for more] Modernizing America's Transmission Network Panelists discussed what is needed to modernize the transmission network, including developing transmission infrastructure for offshore wind and increasing cooperation between states. The briefing also covered how the transmission network can be constructed and maintained to maximize ecosystem conservation, respect Tribal lands, and increase the resilience of neighboring communities. [click for more] Leveraging Grid Edge Integration for Resilience & Decarbonization The energy system is rapidly transforming, especially at the "grid edge " where "smart" building technologies, electric vehicles, and distributed energy generation combine and interact in new ways. Briefing panelists will discuss policy opportunities such as federal energy efficiency resource standard, state level efforts, and the nexus between buildings, transportation, energy storage, and the grid. [click for more]   From the Infrastructure Archives: By Air, Land, and Sea: Navigating the Climate Future In November 2020, EESI held a briefing series on climate mitigation and adaptation in the transportation sector. The series covered ports, aviation, and public transit, with experts in each field presenting case studies, programs, and policies working to build climate action into transportation infrastructure. [click for more] Podcast: Episode 17 - Meet Our New Team Members: Savannah Bertrand and Emma Johnson [25 min. listen] For our final episode in Season 1, we wanted to take a minute (or twenty) to introduce you to our newest team members, Savannah Bertrand and Emma Johnson! Emma and Savannah both joined EESI in the spring and are bringing an immense amount of expertise to our communications and policy teams. Listen to learn what brought them both to EESI and what gets them up in the morning! [click for more]

EESI Around Town   EESI's Executive Director Daniel Bresette was quoted in E&E news discussing the importance of investing in renewable infrastructure/ EESI's high-speed rail fact sheet was cited by the Environment + Energy Leader.    Congressional Climate Camp #5 discussing the Congressional reconciliation process was cited in an article by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.   EESI briefing on Natural Climate Solutions was cited in a recent article by Grist. Upcoming Events   2021 Congressional Clean Energy EXPO and Policy Forum July 26 2-5pm EDT The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (REEE) Caucuses invite you to join us for this year’s Virtual Congressional Clean Energy Expo taking place Monday, July 26. This year’s half-day conference will run from 2:00pm to 5:00pm EDT and will feature three sessions, including a mid-day panel featuring the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus Co-Chairs, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) . Senate REEE Caucus Deputy Co-Chairs Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and House REEE Co-Chair Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wisc.) will also provide remarks. [click for more] Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions: Sydney O'Shaughnessy - Layout, Design, and Content Editor Emma Johnson - Communications Associate 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