Update from the Director

The past year has brought an incredible series of events: last year’s coal mine explosion and Gulf oil spill disaster; now the ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan; a serious shale gas ‘fracking’ accident; and great instability roiling through the Mideast, home of most of the world’s petroleum supply. There have been attempts by Congress to strip the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of its authority to regulate greenhouse gases. And the drive to cut deficits already has resulted in sharp cuts to energy efficiency and renewable energy programs in the current fiscal year, while an initial attempt to cut billions in oil subsidies was rebuffed.

These events demonstrate the importance of understanding the true impacts of our energy choices. Republican and Democratic offices have told us the need for EESI’s approach and our non-partisan information and analysis, based on rigorous science and input from our diverse network of collaborators, has never been greater. EESI believes a healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand in hand. There are amazing opportunities for this country to seize the initiative and really invest in a clean energy economy – this is good business at home and is essential for competing in the global economy.

With the bipartisan Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucuses, we are organizing the 14th Annual Technology Expo & Policy Forum on June 16 – just one example how we pursue workable, innovative solutions. We are building relationships with new Congressional offices; conducting highly respected Congressional briefings; writing fact sheets and issue briefs; commenting on policy proposals; and publishing our well-regarded Climate Change News every Monday. Please click here to read more about our recent work. We also hope you will join us on Facebook or Twitter for updates.

Thank you for supporting our work – we could not do it without you!

Carol Werner
Executive Director