Climate Change Solutions - November 10, 2020

Welcome to another edition of Climate Change Solutions!

As some of our readers may have noticed, on Saturday, November 7, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were announced as the projected winners of the 2020 presidential election.

There are three points about this news we would like to highlight as particularly relevant to environmental policy in the United States:

• Biden ran on a proactive climate policy agenda, promising to reverse several Trump administration executive actions on the environment. The Biden campaign's climate plan, "The Biden Plan for a Clean Energy Revolution and Environmental Justice" outlines a path to net-zero emissions by 2050.
• As a part of his climate plan, Biden has promised to begin the process of re-entering the Paris Agreement on his first day in office.
• Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), the vice-president elect, has had a long record of sponsoring or co-sponsoring ambitious climate legislation, including many bills dealing directly with equity and environmental justice.

In EESI news, the second episode from our new podcast, The Climate Conversation, is out today! In this episode, EESI sat down with Senior Policy Fellow Jeff Overton and NASA's Dr. Fay Collier to discuss how new aviation technology is reducing carbon emissions! Listen here.

Love our work? Forward this newsletter to a friend! Have a climate solution? Reach out to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff with tips and gossip!

Special thank you to Policy Advisory Ellen Vaughan, who is leaving EESI after twelve years. Ellen has made invaluable contributions to environmental policy over her long tenure in the field, and we at EESI are lucky to have her as a mentor, friend, and fellow champion for climate change solutions. Thank you, Ellen, and best wishes for your future endeavors!

 

Video Short: About the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) Check out our new "about us" video! Our mission is to advance science-based solutions for climate change, energy, and environmental challenges in order to achieve our vision of a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world. EESI's strength lies in translating complicated subjects into compelling stories, case studies, and user-friendly materials for policymakers and the public.    We're close to qualifying for free live captioning of our briefings. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel to help! Headlines Solar Ready Vets Network Prepares Veterans for Solar Industry Careers [3 min. read] Driven by falling costs and enhanced efficiency, the solar industry is rapidly expanding, improving, and transforming the U.S. energy sector. To match its growth, the industry needs skilled workers. The Solar Ready Vets Network endeavors to provide just that. The program pairs skilled, mid-to-senior level veterans with jobs, training, and career development opportunities in the solar field. [click for more]   EESI Intern Analyzes Solar Energy Potential of Georgia’s Contaminated Lands For my graduate capstone at the Georgia Institute of Technology, I researched new opportunities to further grow the state’s solar industry, but I wasn’t sure what new contribution I could add. One day, while driving near my home, I passed a local landfill, and I had a eureka moment: What if our landfills housed solar panels? [click for more]

On the Hill From October 23 to November 9, six bills related to environmental and energy topics were referred to Congressional committees: one in the Senate and five in the House. No relevant committee hearings were held. Highlights Activity on the Hill had slowed in anticipation of the election November 3. While Democrats are projected to keep their majority in the House, Republicans have so far flipped four seats, with others yet to be determined. Control of the Senate will be determined by two runoff races in Georgia on January 5. See EESI's full environmental legislative tracker for October 23 to November 9 here.   U.S. Financial System Sizes Up Climate Risks [4 min. read] The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis held a hearing on October 1 to hear testimony on a landmark report issued by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. At the hearing, CFTC Commissioner Rostin Behnam explained that while the report finds that climate change poses serious and systemic risks to the country’s financial system, those risks can be mitigated with the proper policy tools, including climate risk disclosures and carbon pricing. [click for more]   On the Move: Unpacking the Challenges and Opportunities of Electric Vehicles [15 min. read] Electric vehicles have the potential to reshape the transportation sector in the United States, drastically cutting carbon emissions and clearing the way for significant climate progress. Nevertheless, there remain significant hurdles to widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Congress is considering legislation that would address these hurdles, including the Electric Vehicle Freedom Act, and has already passed the Charging Helps Agencies Realize General Efficiencies (CHARGE) Act. [click for more]

EESI Briefings, News, and Fact Sheets   Briefing - Federal Action for Resilient Coasts EESI launched a report, A Resilient Future for Coastal Communities: Federal Policy Recommendations from Solutions in Practice, and held a discussion of federal actions that can improve coastal resilience along our ocean and Great Lakes shorelines.  The discussion included specific case studies of solutions currently working to build community resilience to coastal hazards, along with policies and programs Congress or federal agencies can support or expand to replicate these success stories. [click for more] Podcast - EESI Launches Climate Conversations! With all the depressing climate news out there, it’s sometimes hard to see progress. The Climate Conversation cuts through the noise and presents you with relevant climate change solutions happening on the Hill and in communities around the United States. Twice a month, join Environmental and Energy Study Institute staff members as they interview environmental, energy, and policy experts on practical, on-the-ground work that communities, companies, and governments are doing to address climate change. Our second episode covers innovations in aviation technology with NASA scientist Dr. Fay Collier--check it out today! [click for more]

EESI Around Town   EESI's John-Michael Cross was quoted in an article by The Daily Yonder on rural electric co-ops and renewable energy.   Inside EPA highlighted EESI's recent briefing on Conservation Corps in an article about post-COVID recovery plans. Upcoming Events   What Congress Needs to Know About Pending Nuclear Waste Legislation November 13 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST Online at www.eesi.org/livecast Join us for an online briefing about pending nuclear waste legislation, including amendments to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act and other bills, which would radically alter the way radioactive waste from civilian nuclear power plant is handled and stored. The briefing will discuss the status of pending bills and amendments and how they propose to deal with these problems and risks.   Briefing Series: By Air, Land, and Sea: Navigating the Climate Future November 17, 18, 19 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST Join us for a three-day briefing series on climate mitigation and adaptation in the transportation sector. The series will cover ports, aviation, and public transit. On November 17, we will discuss U.S. ports, which are critical infrastructure for international trade and local economies. They are vulnerable to sea level rise, erosion, storm surge, and flooding exacerbated by climate change. This briefing will feature two port systems that are leading the way to adapt to climate impacts while reducing port greenhouse gas emissions. On November 18, we will highlight commercial aviation, discussing specifically how it will be critical to foster strategies and policy to help the industry reduce its climate impacts as it recovers from the COVID-19 contraction. In this briefing, we will examine two of these strategies—sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and aircraft technology improvements. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) will deliver opening remarks. On November 19, we will discuss the public transit systems across the country. Public transit systems have seen major declines in ridership due to COVID-19. In spite of this and other challenges brought on by the pandemic, many transit systems have not wavered on their climate and sustainability commitments. Speakers from three major transit systems will discuss the current state of their climate mitigation and adaptation work, and look ahead to share the economic, health, equity, and community benefits of investing in transit.   Stay up to date with all of our briefings by subscribing to our Youtube channel! 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