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April 18, 2023
From the President, Daniel Bresette
Frankly, the headlines about the new Congress so far have not exactly inspired confidence in its ability to take further actions on climate.
What do you think about the goings-on in Washington? Let me know.
One way or another, Congress still has work to do: appropriations, oversight of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, and, of course, the Farm Bill. You are helping equip policymakers with the nonpartisan, science-based information we know they need—and this is important—before they even know they need it.
We have met with Congressional staff in more than 80 offices across the political spectrum. We are not bringing them any “asks” to consider. Our goals are just to (re)introduce ourselves, share an overview of our upcoming briefings, and hear feedback about information gaps they need addressed.
We are making many new friends, getting lots of ideas, and finding an impressively receptive audience for our resources.
The Farm Bill has been a major topic of our discussions. I do not have a crystal ball, but I sense real—if tempered—optimism about the potential for the two parties to work together.
Thanks for making possible a wide range of Farm Bill educational resources. These materials are proving to be a big hit with Congressional staff in Republican and Democratic offices, especially those newer to climate and agriculture issues.
As we approach Earth Day, thanks for your continued commitment to climate solutions. You are essential in the crucial work to create a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world, no matter who controls Congress.
When Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act, agencies across the federal government began the enormous task of rapidly and equitably implementing the new laws. Many new climate investments—especially home efficiency and electrification rebates—need coordination with state and local governments. You have made possible extensive coverage of the implementation efforts so far, but there is so much more to do.
One small but mighty program is the “Energy Efficiency Materials Pilot Program.” This program provides $50 million to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to make grants to nonprofits for cost-effective energy efficiency investments.
Every dollar saved by reducing energy waste can be reinvested in advancing a nonprofit’s core mission. The grant program has real potential to advance environmental justice goals and ensure benefits reach disadvantaged communities.
EESI is working with partners at DOE and ENERGY STAR® to reach thousands of nonprofit sector stakeholders to share the good news of the grant program and help them prepare for the grant opportunity. You have helped document the multiple benefits of energy efficiency for nonprofits in an extensive article series that includes case studies from Connecticut, Indiana (see graphic above), and Maryland.
Congress is gearing up to renew U.S. agriculture and nutrition programs in legislation known as the "Farm Bill" as early as later this year. You are helping EESI provide resources to Congressional staff to aid them in identifying climate, environmental, and clean energy opportunities across the massive bill. This includes forestry, conservation, rural development, research and development, and energy efficiency. Our Farm Bill resources include articles, hearing trackers, and a briefing series happening now. Soon, we will release side-by-side comparisons of the House and Senate versions of key environmental provisions for the new Farm Bill.
One of our briefings will focus on mitigation and adaptation "win-wins," like agroforestry, cover crops, and no-till farming. Many other agricultural practices that we might call “sustainable” today actually date back generations, and often to Indigenous farmers. Critically for the prospects of Farm Bill passage, many proposals to help advance agricultural climate solutions have strong bipartisan support.
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