Climate Change Solutions - July 21, 2020

Hello and welcome to another packed edition of Climate Change Solutions!

In this issue, we continue to cover the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, focusing on workforce recommendations in the staff report and providing a recap of all the Select Committee hearings in 2019-2020.

We also highlight conservative climate action, how green banks are making energy efficiency accessible to rural America, and how utility shut-off moratoriums are impacting people across the country.

Don’t forget to register for our Annual Congressional Clean Energy EXPO and Policy Forum on July 30!

Since we last spoke:

• Congressman John Lewis, who passed away on July 17, is being remembered for his environmental and civil rights legacy
• The Supreme Court ruled that nearly half of eastern Oklahoma is Native American land, giving tribal communities a say in the oil industry's decision making
• The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission upheld state jurisdiction over net metering—the practice of paying homeowners with rooftop solar for the excess energy they contribute to the grid
• Morgan Stanley, one of the largest investment banks in the world, has committed to disclosing emissions associated with its loans and investments
• A coal-country utility, PacifiCorp, wants to cut coal and invest in renewable energy
• A photographer has developed a 'millennium camera' to help visualize climate change
• And scientists have found that beluga whales have complex social networks

Love our work? Join our team! The deadline to apply for our Policy Director position is TODAY—read more and apply here: www.eesi.org/jobs

If you have a climate solution, reach out to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff with tips and gossip... and be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for great climate content!

Video Short: Derek Brockbank Discusses Shoreline Preservation on the Gulf Coast American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) Executive Director Derek Brockbank talked to EESI about the importance of fighting coastal erosion on the Gulf Coast.   Headlines What Can Green Banks Do for Rural Areas? A key hurdle to the faster adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy is a lack of access for many households and small businesses to affordable financing. [click for more]   What Could Conservative Climate Action Look Like? The American Conservation Coalition (ACC) is an environmental advocacy group that hopes to “change the narrative” around the climate policy discussion by encouraging Republican leaders to craft and support legislation that proactively engages in climate solutions. [click for more]

On the Hill From July 2, 2020, to July 15, 2020, five bills were referred to committees in the Senate and seven in the House to address environmental and energy issues. In addition to the introduction of environmentally relevant legislation, the House reported on two bills. Highlights During this time period, Congress focused on water infrastructure. S.4188 and S.4189 would improve drought preparedness and water supply reliability. S.4206 would amend the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014. H.R.7575 would help conserve and develop water resources and improve U.S. rivers and harbors. Congress also focused on energy efficiency. H.R.7446 would establish the Financing Energy Efficient Manufacturing Program at the Department of Energy and H.R.7516 would advance innovation and deployment of zero-emission electricity technology. H.R.7579 would assist the energy sector in retaining jobs.   See EESI's full environmental legislative tracker for July 2 - July 15.   Workforce Recommendations in the Climate Crisis Report The report frames decarbonization as “a unique opportunity to build a new, clean energy economy on a foundation of equity and fairness for workers and their communities.” [click for more] Overview of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Hearings The House Select Committee, which was tasked with crafting climate policy recommendations for Congress, held 17 hearings between April 2019 and February 2020 to guide its work. [click for more]

EESI Briefings, News and Fact Sheets   Briefing: The Climate Crisis Report in Focus EESI's briefing examined the report, Solving the Climate Crisis, released by the majority staff of the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on June 30. The briefing focused on four core areas of climate policy: climate mitigation, climate adaptation, environmental justice, and public health. [click for more] Analysis: Households Are Caught in a Patchwork of Policies as Utility Shut-Off Moratoriums End In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 33 states and the District of Columbia suspended utility disconnections for gas, water, or electricity customers. However, as moratoriums expire, households now face repayment stress. [click for more]

EESI Around Town   EESI, along with other groups, filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit related to the Safer Affordable Fuel Efficiency Vehicle Rule (SAFER).   EESI was cited by EcoWatch in an article about the state of coral reefs in Florida. Upcoming Events   ONLINE-ONLY: 2020 Congressional Clean Energy EXPO and Policy Forum July 30 www.eesi.org/livecast The 23rd Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum will bring together more than 20 businesses, trade associations, and government agencies to showcase renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The bipartisan House & Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucuses are the EXPO's honorary co-hosts. RSVP Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions: Sydney O'Shaughnessy - Layout, Design, and Content Editor 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