Climate Change Solutions - May 10, 2022 | Newsletter

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Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

Appropriations season—when Congress sets out to decide on funding amounts for all federal agencies and programs for the following year—is in full swing on Capitol Hill. EESI's recent briefing series, Agencies in Action, explored the longstanding federal programs delivering a host of climate, environmental, economic, and social benefits nationwide. If you missed any of the briefings in that series, highlights and recordings can be found here.

Keep reading this issue for another installment of our agriculture and climate series—an udderly fascinating article on rotational livestock grazing. Want to learn more about opportunities for agricultural climate solutions? We are tracking the Congressional hearings leading up to the 2023 Farm Bill here.

Also, don't miss our electrifying Q&A with First Solar, the largest solar manufacturing company in the United States, and the Season 3 finale of EESI's podcast, The Climate Conversation, on the latest Yale Climate Opinion Maps. Last but not least, check out how a program in Dane County, Wisconsin, is training youth for careers in the green economy.

We have no shortage of Congressional briefings in May and June, so make sure you RSVP for our two ongoing briefing series: Living With Climate Change and Scaling Up Innovation to Drive Down Emissions. The next briefings in those series will be on sea level rise on May 18 and direct air capture on May 25.

Have a climate solution? Send tips to Savannah Bertrand!

Headlines

The Climate and Economic Benefits of Rotational Livestock Grazing
[4 min. read]

Rotational livestock grazing involves frequently rotating livestock between pastures to reduce overgrazing, improve soil health, and mitigate climate change. This sustainable practice can also provide economic benefits to agricultural producers by creating healthier herds, which results in fewer veterinary expenses; reducing maintenance and fertilizer costs; and improving pasture productivity. [click for more]

Q&A: First Solar Is Pioneering Responsible Solar Manufacturing in the United States
[7 min. read]

First Solar, the largest U.S.-based solar panel manufacturing company, is paving the way for domestic manufacturing in an industry otherwise dominated by China. EESI spoke with First Solar's Chief Manufacturing Operations Officer Michael Koralewski about the company's unique practices. [click for more]

Wisconsin’s Dane County Could Be a Model for High School Conservation Corps Programs
[3 min. read]

Operation Fresh Start, a program in Dane County, Wisconsin, is training at-risk youth in conservation and construction work as they earn a high school diploma. Part of Dane County’s future plan is creating a Civilian Climate Corps and securing stable funding. [click for more]

On the Hill

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing on the urgent need to scale up climate solutions. The hearing was held in response to the findings from the latest U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on creating a skilled broadband workforce, which is crucial for expanding broadband access—a key goal of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), which provides $65 billion for that purpose. To learn more about the connection between broadband and climate change, check out EESI’s issue brief, Closing the Digital Divide: How Rural Broadband Benefits Communities and the Climate.

On the topic of building electrification, Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Installing Clean Efficient Energy Hastens Our Transition Act (S.4144), which would create an incentive program for manufacturers and distributors that produce American-made building electrification products and would support the Biden-Harris Administration's Justice40 Initiative. To learn more about electrification, check out EESI's Beneficial Electrification Toolkit.

See EESI's full environment and energy legislative trackers for April 25-29 and May 2-6.

EESI News and Briefings

Podcast: Mapping Climate Opinions in America
[25 min. listen]

It’s the Season 3 finale of EESI's podcast, The Climate Conversation. This episode takes a look at the newest version of the Climate Opinion Maps developed by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication with Dr. Jennifer Marlon, the lead researcher on the project. [click for more]

Briefing Recap: Green Hydrogen

Green hydrogen—hydrogen produced using renewable energy—will likely be necessary to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors. Panelists discussed opportunities and considerations for ramping up green hydrogen, including the role of federal policy. If you missed it, the briefing highlights are now available. [click for more]

Briefing Recap: Justice40

Panelists discussed the path forward for the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to target 40 percent of the benefits from specific federal investments—such as those for clean energy, energy efficiency, and water infrastructure—to frontline communities. Missed the live briefing? Briefing highlights are now available. [click for more]

Briefing Recap: The Polar Vortex

In the first installment of EESI's Living with Climate Change briefing series, panelists discussed the science behind the polar vortex and how the energy grid and other critical infrastructure can be made more resilient to this threat. Briefing highlights are now available. [click for more]

Upcoming Events

Briefing Series: Living With Climate Change

Sea Level Rise
Wednesday, May 18
1:00pm - 2:30pm

Sea level rise is a unique challenge for coastal communities and policymakers. How will impacts from sea level rise compound impacts from extreme storm events? What infrastructure and communities will be impacted over different time horizons? What are the strengths and limitations of nature-based solutions for coastal resilience to sea level rise? Panelists will discuss these questions and highlight policy ideas and solutions that could start to shape a more robust U.S. response to sea level rise. RSVP here.

Wildfires
Monday, June 13
1:00pm - 2:30pm

Billions of dollars are spent fighting wildfires every year, and the cascading environmental, economic, health, and societal impacts of wildfires are enormous. Over the last century, battling wildfires after they have started has been the main approach to address this threat. Now, more proactive and preventative steps are needed. Panelists will discuss policies and practices that would allow the United States to reduce the overall risk of wildfires, including how innovations in community-centered wildfire protection can improve resilience for humans and ecosystems. RSVP here.

These briefings are part of EESI's Living With Climate Change briefing series, also covering the polar vortex and extreme heat. RSVP for the entire series here.

Briefing Series: Scaling Up Innovation to Drive Down Emissions

Direct Air Capture
Wednesday, May 25
3:30pm - 5:00pm

Direct air capture is the process in which carbon dioxide is chemically removed from the atmosphere. The captured carbon can be permanently stored underground or used in industrial processes. While climate change mitigation efforts are the priority, carbon dioxide removal will be necessary to help meet climate goals. Panelists will explain what Congress needs to know about direct air capture, including the considerations, challenges, and opportunities involved in responsibly scaling it up. RSVP here.

Building Out Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Thursday, June 2
1:00pm - 2:30pm

Electric vehicles are crucial for decarbonizing the U.S. transportation sector, which accounts for 29 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions—more than any other sector. How can charging infrastructure be rapidly expanded? What are the considerations for ensuring that charging infrastructure is accessible, equitable, and efficient? How can innovation improve charging infrastructure? Panelists will discuss these questions and the policy solutions that can help scale up electric vehicle charging infrastructure to drive down emissions. RSVP here.

These briefings are part of EESI's Scaling Up Innovation to Drive Down Emissions briefing series, also covering green hydrogen and offshore wind energy. RSVP for the entire series here.

ACORE Finance Forum
June 7-8
New York City and online

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) Finance Forum will feature how participants throughout the renewable energy transaction landscape are managing risks, approaching deals, and moving forward. Join the sector’s largest and most influential investors, developers, utilities, manufacturers, advisors and buyers, and hear their insights on the next stage of renewable finance and investment. Register here. Use the discount code "FFSupporter20" for 20 percent off. EESI is a supporting partner for this event.

Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Forum (EXPO 2022)
Monday, July 25
1:00pm - 5:00pm

EESI and the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (REEE) Caucuses invite you to join us for the 25th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Forum (EXPO 2022), to be held online. The EXPO will showcase technology and policy solutions to today’s climate and energy use challenges.

High-level speakers will share findings and innovations to mitigate climate change, improve the economy, build resilience, and protect U.S. energy and national security interests. RSVP here.

EESI Around Town

RTO Insider [subscription only] wrote a recap and analysis of EESI's briefing on green hydrogen.

An opinion piece posted on Cleveland.com discussed how eliminating U.S. fossil fuel subsidies could strike a blow to Russia's war funding, citing EESI's 2019 fossil fuel subsidies fact sheet.

A piece about creating sustainable buildings in the New Jersey Business Magazine cited EESI's buildings topic page.

New Zealand news website, Stuff, referenced EESI's 2019 aviation fact sheet in an opinion piece about a safety and sustainability ad released by Air New Zealand.

Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions:

Emma Johnson and Alison Davis - Layout, Design, and Content Editors

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

Climate Change Solutions - May 10, 2022

Featuring content on livestock grazing, solar panel manufacturing, and public opinion on climate change

Table Of Contents

Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions: