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April 21, 2026
Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!
Tomorrow is Earth Day! In celebration, our colleagues chose some of their favorite EESI resources about conservation, clean energy, adaptation and resilience, and circularity to share with you. We’ve also got a brand new episode of our podcast, The Climate Conversation, featuring a discussion with the Union of Concerned Scientists about “Danger Season.” Read on for more.
This Thursday, April 23, EESI and Climate Central will host a briefing about how federal climate and weather data is being preserved in a time when it is being removed, altered, and obscured by the agencies themselves. Find us in the Rayburn House Office Building Gold Room (Room 2168) at 4:00 p.m.—reception to follow! Scroll down for details, and RSVP here.
Podcast | Dire, Destructive, and Deadly: Everything You Need to Know About Danger Season [24 min. listen]
In the United States, the most severe weather hits from May to October, also known as “Danger Season.” EESI sat down with Union of Concerned Scientists Climate and Energy Policy Director Dr. Rachel Cleetus to learn more about Danger Season tracking, trends, and key takeaways for policymakers. [click for more]
Marine Conservation
Hawai'i’s waters are a hotbed for foreign derelict fishing gear, which harms marine life, hinders maritime navigation, and causes billions of dollars in damage annually. Hawai'i Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research is working to prevent and remediate this “ghost gear” pollution. [click for more]
While the U.S. federal government has disengaged from international climate governance, many state governments are continuing to make progress on global climate action, including on ocean acidification. Hosts Daniel Bresette and Alison Davis sat down with Jessie Turner, executive director of the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification, to explore the landscape—or seascape—of subnational climate diplomacy. [click for more]
Clean Energy
This briefing, held in partnership with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, explored readily-available technologies that can lower energy costs and meet rising demand. Panelists shared new findings from the 2026 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook, which provides valuable year-over-year data and insights on the U.S. energy transition. [click for more]
According to a 2023 federal report, places of worship had installed more than 2,500 solar systems by 2022, representing approximately 170 megawatts of capacity. Among them are Valley Beth Shalom synagogue in California and the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center in Massachusetts, both of which used federal direct pay incentives to make their solar and battery storage projects possible. [click for more]
Adaptation and Resilience
Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the United States, and climate change is driving up its frequency and intensity. While conventional air conditioning provides relief, it also contributes to global warming, exacerbates urban heat, and is inaccessible to many. The passive and sustainable mechanical cooling strategies identified in this article reduce indoor temperatures without increasing electricity demand. [click for more]
As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, many communities—particularly those on coastlines or in floodplains—will be left with no safe harbor. Some of these communities have pursued community-driven relocation, or “managed retreat.” This article covers challenges and areas for improvement for government-funded climate relocation programs. [click for more]
Waste Management and Circularity
The United States remains heavily dependent on imports for the critical minerals essential to the clean energy transition and everyday technologies. Secondary recovery and recycling strategies help bolster the domestic critical mineral supply chain by reducing reliance on imports and raw materials, while circumventing many of the environmental harms associated with mining. [click for more]
Today, 95% of hydrogen produced in the United States is made by reforming natural gas, emitting carbon dioxide in the process. But researchers are working to convert aluminum scrap into a portable, clean, and efficient hydrogen gas source—minus the greenhouse gas emissions. This article covers the state of aluminum-to-hydrogen technology development and how lawmakers can drive further innovation. [click for more]
Agricultural Disaster Relief Bill Heads to President’s Desk: The House passed the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025 (H.R.1011) to improve federal disaster relief for U.S. agricultural producers. Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) introduced the bill to reform the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program by expanding their eligibility criteria and timeframe for these programs and increasing the share of costs covered by USDA. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) led the bill through its Senate passage last month (S.629), and it will now head to the president’s desk for his signature.
House Committee Answers the Call for Help: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced the Emergency Reporting Act (H.R.5200), which would strengthen the country’s emergency communications infrastructure for disasters. Sponsors Reps. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) propose to direct the Federal Communications Commission to address instances where individuals were unable to reach 911 during natural disasters. To learn more about federal disaster response, check out EESI’s Rapid Readout on the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
House Dems Crack Down on High Utility Bills: Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) introduced the Power for the People Act (H.R.8241) to regulate data center construction to lower utility bills for households. Specifically, the bill would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to require data centers to pay for the local transmission upgrades they need. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led the introduction of the Senate version of the bill (S.3682) in January. To learn more, check out EESI’s data center article series.
Contaminated Communities Get a Jumpstart: Reps. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.) introduced the Revitalization Efforts for Sustainable Transformation and Remediation for Thriving (RESTART) Communities Act of 2026 (H.R.8238). The bill aims to revitalize industrial communities that were affected by environmental contaminants through coordinated efforts with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for April 6-10 and April 13-17.
Tracking Down Data: Where to Find Climate and Environmental Information in 2026 Thursday, April 23 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. – reception to follow Rayburn House Office Building Gold Room (Room 2168) and online
This briefing, held in partnership with Climate Central, will discuss a key underpinning of the U.S. economy: publicly-available weather and climate data. In this new information environment, universities, nonprofits, and national associations are stepping up to fill the gaps in maintaining weather and climate data left by the federal government. Panelists will share where to look for these datasets and the implications of these changes for end users. Join us for a reception—open to all—immediately following the briefing, hosted jointly by EESI, the Federation of American Scientists, the Impact Project, and the Union of Concerned Scientists! RSVP for the briefing here.
Policies and Financing Solutions to Modernize U.S. Water Infrastructure Thursday, May 7 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Rayburn House Office Building Gold Room (Room 2168) and online
U.S. waterways are vulnerable to aging infrastructure, stormwater and sewage overflows, and extreme weather. In January 2026, Washington, D.C., saw the consequences of such aging infrastructure when a sewer line collapsed, discharging 200 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River—one of the largest spills in U.S. history. This briefing, held in partnership with American Rivers, will explore the country’s most pressing water infrastructure challenges and solutions to close the gap between investment needs and reliable water services. RSVP here.
2026 Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO, Policy Forum, and Reception Wednesday, June 24 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Rayburn House Office Building Foyer and Gold Room (Room 2168) and online
Join EESI for our 29th annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum (EXPO 2026), held in partnership with the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses. From 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., top-level speakers will showcase technologies and solutions that save households money, improve the economy, build resilience, protect our security interests, and reduce carbon emissions. There will be a reception to follow in the Rayburn Foyer. Both the EXPO and reception are free to attend and open to the public. RSVP here, and stay tuned for panel updates.
About EESI
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing science-based solutions for climate change, energy, and environmental challenges to achieve a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world. Founded on a bipartisan basis by members of Congress, EESI has been informing policymakers about the benefits of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental conservation since 1984.
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