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November 21, 2019
Daniel Bresette, EESI’s new Executive Director, testified before Congress on October 22 during a hearing about energy efficiency in the United States and internationally. He highlighted concrete ways that prioritizing energy efficiency can mitigate the climate crisis while benefiting our economy. This was an incredible opportunity, and one we owe to our amazing donors for supporting our research and outreach.
Addressing the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Dan noted, “Energy efficiency provides the easiest source of measurable emissions reductions. It is the secret weapon against climate change because we already have what we need to do what we need to do.... The missing piece is the magnitude of our commitment, which falls short of the enormity of the challenge.”
As an EESI supporter, you clearly understand that large-scale climate change needs large-scale action, including federal policies and on-the-ground changes. This hearing marks an important step for change because witnesses like Dan provide expertise on the issue as a building block for better policies!
For example, Dan brought to the Senators’ attention that optimizing energy efficiency could halve energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050! He said Americans have the right to expect good judgement, good investment, and good use of resources from their government—you have the right to the non-wasteful use of your tax dollars.
The testimony and hearing had an impact! Several Senators sent EESI a follow-up request for more information. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, tweeted:
Senator King (I-Maine) expressed interest in on-bill financing, an area where EESI has significant experience. Senator King saw it as an effective measure to motivate people to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes. On-bill financing allows payments for upgrades to be paid back right on an energy bill. Since energy efficiency upgrades help push these bills lower, households can often save money from the get-go, even after loan repayments. Dan emphasized that people focus on their monthly costs when considering whether they can afford an energy upgrade, such as improved insulation or an upgraded heat pump. Keeping those monthly costs low makes energy retrofits much more accessible!
This testimony is important; as Dan noted, several bills that would advance energy efficiency goals have already been scheduled for a vote on the Senate calendar.
Energy efficiency is a win-win issue. You’re powering change!
Daniel Bresette, better known as Dan B. around the office (as we have another Dan—Dan O’Brien!), is over the moon about working as the new Executive Director for the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). Why? As he put it:
“EESI is primed and positioned to continue to be an important voice in the climate change policy debate.”
Dan was previously the Vice President of the Alliance to Save Energy and led its Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition. From 2009 to 2015, as the Senior Energy Policy Manager for Maryland’s Energy Administration, he handled a diverse portfolio of energy financing initiatives, helping to allocate $50 million in federal recovery funding.
Dan left his hometown of Graniteville, VT—home to one of the world’s largest granite quarries—to attend Clark University in Worchester, MA, and later graduated from the University of Maryland with a master’s in business administration. His wife, a partner at a law firm, is also a Vermont native, and the two are raising a 5-year-old son in Prince George’s County, Maryland. A 9-year old orange tabby cat, Rocky, completes the family!
Dan brings a tremendous level of knowledge in the clean energy field, personable wit, and a passion for effective, equitable solutions to climate-related issues—with a special interest in financing. Dan feels honored to be succeeding Carol Werner, the previous Executive Director of 21 years, “I have so much respect for Carol and all that she accomplished. I doubt anybody can truly ‘replace’ her. It means a lot to take over this role.”
Conner and Elizabeth Jarvie explain why they generously invited their wedding guests to donate to EESI instead of purchasing gifts off a registry.
After we got engaged, we decided to host a wedding that stayed true to our values and included all the people we love. When it came time to discuss our registry, we didn't feel like we needed anything. Instead, if a friend or family member wanted to give us a gift, we would encourage them to support organizations that we believed were creating a better future.
We've always loved the outdoors: hiking, camping and beach walks. To think that future generations may not be able to experience the same joys we've experienced is discouraging.
Conner knew that he wanted to support an organization that would do the most with the donations, so he researched nonprofits and was impressed by how EESI supports climate initiatives. He believes that changing policy is essential in the movement to fight climate change.
We believe that a human-caused problem can also be fixed by humans if we act before it’s too late; we both felt that EESI was one organization we could trust to help do the job.
We were honored to receive over one hundred donations, and even more excited to hear our guests’ enthusiastic support; some mentioned feeling hopeful when looking at the upcoming generations who are taking steps to save the Earth.
All told, we raised over $2,500 for EESI. And, we’ve been inspired to see youth from around the world rise to power the climate change movement. We will continue to be activists, too. We hope our wedding story inspires others to follow suit. We thank EESI for all the work they do.
When you give, you make such a powerful impact in combating climate change!
You help speed up the adoption of clean energy, energy efficiency, and ways to make our communities more resilient.
You have made an impact already, but it’s urgent to move on climate as quickly as possible!
You’ve heard of the devastating impacts of rising seas, ocean acidification, disappearing glaciers, loss of sea life, and marine heatwaves. But there is also good news! A new U.N. report, The Ocean as a Solution for Climate Change: Five Opportunities for Action, brings hope, by showcasing what can be done! Your support enables EESI to analyze, track, and highlight such options to address climate change with urgency!
The report outlines five recommendations that have the potential to combat climate change:
1. Ocean-Based Renewable Energy. The development and implementation of renewable ocean-based energy, such as offshore wind turbines and wave hydropower, would decrease carbon emissions and allow for sustainable development.
2. Ocean-Based Transportation. Using alternative fuels and retrofitting existing ships to implement energy-saving technologies and practices would help cut emissions. This would have the additional benefit of reducing sulfur emissions, which are harmful to people in coastal cities.
3. Coastal and Marine Ecosystems. Mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass are blue carbon ecosystems, meaning they absorb carbon and store it in their roots, thereby removing it from the atmosphere. They also protect communities from flooding!
4. Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Dietary Shifts. Fish and crustaceans are more water and energy efficient to produce than land-based foods, and therefore require less carbon to produce.
5. Carbon Storage in the Ocean Seabed. This involves injecting concentrated carbon dioxide deep into the seabed. Carbon storage does have some potential risks, so further study is needed. With your support, we’ll track this further!
It’s important to thoroughly analyze things that could make permanent changes to our ecosystems!
EESI interns Savannah Bertrand, George Davidson, and Mel Barnard
“You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you.” - Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist who originated the youth climate strike, is quickly becoming a household name, but she is just one of many leaders in the youth climate movement. Young people around the world have joined her in action! They have committed to striking every Friday in what is being called Fridays for Future, a continuation of the strikes that Greta started alone last year.
At EESI, we’re lucky to have a group of interns who are a part of this youth movement and who bring energy and new perspectives to our daily work on climate solutions. From Mel’s personal flair in reporting to donors, George’s passion for communication and direct action, to Savannah’s commitment to thorough policy understanding, we have seen firsthand the tenacity, commitment, and drive of this generation to protect the environment.
One reason we’ve been able to find such stellar interns this semester is your generosity. In the past, EESI internships have been unpaid, but thanks to the generosity of the late Paul Haven, and his wife, Jackie Haven, as well as many of you, we are now able to pay our interns for the amazing work they do. This will allow more people from more backgrounds to apply to our internship positions, ensuring that EESI has the most passionate, informed, and driven interns possible.
It is imperative that youth action be supported in the face of the climate crisis. After all, they are the leaders of tomorrow. Thank you so much for supporting them!
And a special thanks to our Fall 2019 interns—all future leaders!
George Davidson
Mel Barnard
Savannah Bertrand
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1984 by a bipartisan Congressional caucus dedicated to finding innovative environmental and energy solutions.
You are needed now more than ever—show your commitment with a tax-deductible gift today and feel good knowing that EESI has again achieved the highest rating from Charity Navigator and been named a Top-Rated Nonprofit by GreatNonprofits!
Please click here to make a secure, online donation. Thank you for your support!
Advancing science-based climate solutions
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