Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

In this issue, we’re tracking the climate, energy, and environment hearings that took place on the Hill in January and February. Plus, check out our latest article highlighting how a rural electric co-op in Colorado is working to completely offset its greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. 

Finally, don’t miss the very last installment of our Climate Camp briefing series. This Thursday, EESI will host The Process and Path Forward for a Bipartisan Surface Transportation Bill at 3:00 p.m. EDT in room 2168 (Gold Room) of the Rayburn House Office Building. Be sure to RSVP!

On the Hill in January and February 2025: A Breakdown of Climate, Energy, and Environment Hearings
[3 min. read]

Lawmakers kicked off the 119th Congress with 28 climate, energy, and environment-related committee hearings throughout January and February. The House of Representatives held 22 of these hearings, while the Senate held six. Hearing topics ranged from agriculture and mining to the National Labs and increasing energy production.

House Approves Agency Research Collaboration: The House passed the Department of Energy and Small Business Administration Research Act (H.R.788). Reps. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.), and Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) introduced the bill to boost joint research activities between the two agencies and the National Laboratories.

Rural Drinking Water Modernization Bill Reintroduced: Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) reintroduced the Assistance for Rural Water Systems Act (S.783). If passed, the bill would help rural communities repair and modernize drinking water and wastewater infrastructure by administering accessible loan options through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Bipartisan Bill Marries Public Recreation and Habitat Restoration: Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) reintroduced the Voluntary Public Access Improvement Act (S.704/H.R.1565). The bill aims to reauthorize and increase funding for the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program. Through grant funding, the program expands access to recreational activities on public lands while working to recover wildlife and restore habitat.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for February 24-28 and March 3-7.

The Process and Path Forward for a Bipartisan Surface Transportation Bill
Thursday, March 13
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EDT
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room) and online
RSVP here

The surface transportation bill reauthorizes federal highway, transit, and rail funding and programs. This final briefing of EESI’s Congressional Climate Camp series will provide a breakdown of everything decision-makers need to know ahead of the bill’s upcoming reauthorization. 

2025 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook 
Tuesday, April 1 
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EDT
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room) and online
RSVP here

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) invite you to a briefing about the 13th edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The Factbook provides valuable year-over-year data and insights on the U.S. energy transformation, featuring an in-depth look at the energy efficiency, renewable energy, and natural gas sectors, as well as transmission, digitalization, microgrids, offshore wind, hydrogen, and renewable natural gas.

Latest Media Coverage

• CarbonCredits.Com cited EESI's article on orphaned oil and gas wells in a piece about Zefiro, an environmental services company, collaborating with tech firms to find and repair methane leaks for carbon credit certification.