Climate Change Solutions - March 16, 2021

Welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

Today, we're in the St. Paddy's Day spirit and taking a look at how one brewery in Iowa is adapting a historic building and using solar energy to benefit the local community and environment.

In recognition of Women's History Month, we are highlighting trailblazing women in the climate, energy, and environmental fields. We sat down with computer scientist Gracie Ermi about her work with machine learning and wildlife conservation. And we spoke with Linda Church-Ciocci, who led the National Hydropower Association for nearly 30 years, in our latest podcast episode. 

We also take a closer look at the CLEAN Future Act and what it would mean for the development of green banks in the United States. Our Executive Director reflects on the past year and looks to the post-COVID future. And one former intern reflects on her time at EESI and how her experience propelled her to pursue a clean energy future.

Also, be sure to read our latest fact sheet on the economic and environmental benefits of conservation corps programs!

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

Headlines Brewery’s Restoration Efforts a Win for Local Community and the Environment [4 min. read] The Wonder Bread building in downtown Waterloo, Iowa, spans an entire block. After the factory was shuttered amid Hostess bankruptcy proceedings in 2012, the Spanish Revival-style building sat empty, accumulating graffiti and maintenance bills. Today, the building has found a new life as a SingleSpeed Brewing restaurant, brewery, and retail center. And the historic character of the neighborhood isn’t the only thing the new business is saving—SingleSpeed has made strides in reducing the building’s carbon footprint by offsetting brewery operations with rooftop solar panels and by installing electric vehicle charging stations in the restaurant’s parking lot. [click for more] This article was originally published in C3 on February 9, 2021. Want more green beer? Check out our 2020 profile of another brewery, Atlas Brew Works: New Craft Beer Shows What is Possible with Solar Energy Q&A - How Can Computer Science Support Wildlife Conservation? [5 min. read] This Women’s History Month, EESI is celebrating women’s contributions to environmental and climate action and amplifying their voices. EESI sat down with Grace Ermi, a computer scientist at Vulcan Inc., to discuss her work in wildlife conservation, and how she is using her career to inspire the next generation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Vulcan Inc. seeks to improve ocean health, combat climate change, and support conservation. [click for more] The CLEAN Future Act Holds New Promise for Green Banks [4 min. read] The CLEAN Future Act would create the Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator, or national green bank, and capitalize it with $100 billion to invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean transportation technologies to reduce carbon emissions, particularly in “climate-impacted communities.” [click for more]   Podcast - Episode 9: The Most Influential Woman in Hydropower: Linda Church-Ciocci Reflects on her Career in the Industry [25 min. listen] This week, as part of our Women's History Month coverage, Sydney and guest host, Anna, sat down with hydropower leader (and EESI board member) Linda Church-Ciocci to discuss her career in clean energy and thoughts on the future. [click for more]

On the Hill From March 1 to 12, Congress introduced a total of 134 bills, resolutions, and amendments related to environmental and energy topics. Of these, 51 were in the Senate and 83 in the House. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R.1319) passed in the Senate and was signed into law on March 11. The Protecting America's Wilderness and Public Lands Act (H.R.803) was passed in the House on March 2. Committees in both chambers held several relevant hearings during this period. Highlights During this period, the  American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R.1319) was passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Biden on March 11. This $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package will provide relief to address the ongoing public health, economic, and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The act incorporates provisions to address energy insecurity and environmental issues in tandem with pandemic relief efforts. Congress proposed a host of bills on topics related to energy infrastructure in the last two weeks. In the Senate, S.704 aims to establish a grant program to improve the power grid’s resilience to natural disasters. S.507 seeks to increase access to electric vehicle charging stations in low-income communities and communities of color. Several hearings sought to address topics related to energy, the environment, and climate change, and many also addressed the economic crisis. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing to examine climate change in the electricity sector and ways to promote economic growth. The House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife held a hearing entitled “Building Back Better: Building Resilience for the Economy, Climate, and Ecosystems,” which sought to highlight a pathway to resilience in post-pandemic recovery efforts. See EESI's full environmental Senate tracker for March 1-12 here. See EESI's full environmental House tracker for March 1-12 here.

EESI News, Briefings and Fact Sheets   Reflection - One Year into COVID-19: What We’ve Learned and How We’re Planning for the Future [3 min. read] On Thursday, March 12, 2020, EESI transitioned to remote work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Executive Director, Daniel Bresette, reflects on what we've learned as an organization over the past year and details how we are planning for the future. "This pandemic has demanded massive changes in all of our lives and has forced us to completely rethink the way we operate. We have learned a lot along the way. And where we found lemons we tried to make lemonade," Bresette said. [click for more]   Fact Sheet - Conservation Corps: Pairing Climate Action with Economic Opportunity As policymakers consider how to revive the economy after the pandemic, make our communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change, and accelerate the transition to sustainable energy, many have taken a closer look at conservation corps. Conservation corps offer opportunities for Americans to get involved in shovel-ready projects on federal lands, providing participants with work experience, skills, and income while contributing to national climate and sustainability goals.⁠ ⁠ Our latest fact sheet examines the history of conservation corps in the United States, how these corps can help address the climate crisis, how they are currently funded, and recent legislation that helps—or would help—expand their impact, including President Joe Biden’s January 27 executive order calling for a new Civilian Climate Corps Initiative. ⁠ [click for more]   Reflection - Giving a Voice to All Climate Solutions: Reflecting on Lessons Learned during My Internship with EESI [3 min. read] Nicolette Santos interned with EESI in the spring of 2019, and she took what she learned into a clean energy career.  "One of my fondest memories of EESI was running around Capitol Hill, distributing fact sheets to legislative aides and helping organize Congressional briefings to educate staffers about the critical need to address climate change," Santos writes. [click for more]

EESI Around Town   EESI's fossil fuel subsidies fact sheet was cited by Lexology.   The Aspen Times cited EESI's fossil fuel subsidies fact sheet in a recent article.   EESI's transportation fact sheet was cited by Businesswire.  Upcoming Events   Congressional Climate Camp: Lessons Learned from Past Congresses and Current Public Attitudes Towards Climate Change March 26, 2-4pm ET eesi.org/livecast Join EESI for our third installment of Congressional Climate Camp, where experts will discuss the lessons learned regarding climate legislation from past Congresses and how current attitudes towards climate change can inform the legislative process. RSVP here! Reuters Transform USA 2021 May 4-5 Sustainability is no longer at the fringes of business strategy; it is intrinsic to any successful business’s future. We know what we need to do, and why, the question now is "how." The world’s most forward-thinking leaders will bring their passion, experience, and expertise to guide you through the most business-critical issues so that you can forge a robust and achievable roadmap to make your business clean, resilient, and just. RSVP here! Reuters Responsible Business Global 2021 June 1-3 Drawing on Reuters's global reach, voices from across the world will share strategies and solutions on how businesses can innovate, invest, and collaborate to become more sustainable. All discussions will be built around how we can take action now to accelerate the global transition to sustainability. 2021 is set to be a critical year in the sustainability space, with the fifteenth meeting of the parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, and the twenty-sixth meeting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. RSVP here! 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