Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

We’re paying tribute to Richard L. “Dick” Ottinger (1929–2026), who passed away on February 16. EESI Co-Founder and Chair Emeritus Ottinger served as a U.S. Representative for New York for 16 years, during which time he distinguished himself as a national leader on energy conservation and environmental policy. In 1975, he co-founded the bipartisan Environmental and Energy Study Conference, which grew into the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Read more about his far-reaching legacy here.

This week, another snowstorm battered the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Wondering about winter weather impacts to the electric grid? Last week, we hosted a Rapid Readout on the impact of the January winter storm on power grids and solutions available to help communities weather future storms. You can catch up here. Our briefings continue this Thursday, February 26, with Understanding Load Growth and Energy Affordability: Policy and Market Trends from the 2026 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook—scroll on for the details, and RSVP here!

Speaking of energy affordability, we’re bringing you solutions for data center-related energy bill hikes, as well as our first Climate Conversation podcast episode of 2026, which homes in on philanthropy as a wildfire mitigation tool. Tune in here!

Data Center Power Demands Are Contributing to Higher Energy Bills
[4 min. read]

Utilities nationwide are increasing electricity bills to help cover the infrastructure costs related to meeting energy demand from data centers. Electricity prices have risen by up to 267% since 2020 in areas with a high concentration of data centers. This article covers some key factors behind rising energy bills as well as potential solutions like higher prices for large users. [click for more]

Consistency Is Critical: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025 (S.714), reintroduced by Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.). The bill would reconcile differences between the U.S. Department of Energy’s critical materials list and the U.S. Geological Survey’s critical minerals list, and increase the number of critical minerals and materials eligible for clean energy tax credits. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) leads the House version of the bill (H.R.755). To learn more about these minerals, check out EESI’s issue brief.

Out of This World Wildfire Solutions: The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology unanimously approved the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) Act (H.R.390). The bill, introduced by Reps. Vince Fong (R-Calif.) and Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), authorizes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s ACERO project, which is studying how drones can combat wildfires, especially in low-visibility conditions when piloted aircrafts cannot be used. To learn more about federal responses to wildfires, join EESI on March 3 for our briefing, Igniting Innovation: Progress and a Path Forward for Wildfire Policy.

Illegal Fishing Bill Swims to Senate Floor: The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations agreed to the Protecting Global Fisheries Act of 2026 (S.1369). Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and John Curtis (R-Utah) reintroduced the bill to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing—which contributes to fishery depletion and threatens economic and food security—by authorizing visa, asset, and financial sanctions on perpetrators.

House Plants New Farm Bill Seeds: House Committee on Agriculture Chair Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) introduced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R.7567), otherwise known as the Farm Bill. The legislative package would reauthorize programs ranging from crop insurance and capacity-building support for beginning farmers to climate-smart agricultural practices and rural energy development. For more, check out EESI’s Farm Bill resources, and stay tuned for our updated legislative side-by-sides, which highlight changes to climate and energy programs within the Farm Bill.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for February 9-13 and February 16-20.

Understanding Load Growth and Energy Affordability: Policy and Market Trends from the 2026 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook
Thursday, February 26
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (Room 2168) and online

The rapid growth in energy demand from data centers has raised energy affordability concerns in households across the country, making it a major theme of energy policy discussions on Capitol Hill. In partnership with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, this briefing will explore a broad portfolio of readily-available technologies and resources that not only lower energy costs and meet rising demand, but also promote economic development and innovation. Panelists will share new findings from the 2026 edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. RSVP here.

Igniting Innovation: Progress and a Path Forward for Wildfire Policy
Tuesday, March 3
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Russell Senate Office Building, Room 385 and online
Reception to follow

Communities nationwide are experiencing longer wildfire seasons and more intense, destructive wildfires, which cost the United States up to $424 billion annually and displace tens of thousands of people. This briefing, hosted in partnership with the Federation of American Scientists, will explore emerging solutions to tackle the wildfire crisis and the federal policy strategies for getting these solutions into the field. RSVP here.

Strategies to Lower Utility Bills Now for Households and Small Businesses
Thursday, March 12
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (Room 2168) and online

Together, rising energy demand, extreme weather events, and aging infrastructure are straining the U.S. electric grid, leaving homes and small businesses to feel the impacts of higher utility bills. This briefing will convene experts from around the country to explore readily-available solutions to boost comfort in harsh weather, uplift consumer confidence, expand freedom of choice, and give consumers more control over their energy bills. RSVP here.

2026 Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum
Wednesday, June 24
9:00 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. Top-level speakers will showcase technologies and solutions that reduce carbon emissions, save households money, improve the economy, build resilience, and protect our security interests. The EXPO is free to attend and open to the public. RSVP here, and stay tuned for panel updates.

Latest Media Coverage

• Our data center water use article was cited by publications including CBS, The Florida Phoenix, The Cool Down, the Fort Worth Report, and The Chicago Reporter.
• Our topic page on hydrogen and fuel cells was cited by Washington University in St. Louis’s newsroom and Interesting Engineering.