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February 27, 2024
Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!
In this issue, we’re shining a spotlight on all the work that goes into climate and environmental action. And that’s work in the literal sense—this issue launches EESI’s latest Climate Jobs fact sheet.
We’re also focusing on the work the Department of Energy (DOE) does to incentivize energy-efficient buildings, with an article on DOE’s Buildings Upgrade Prize program.
Our peek into climate action work doesn’t stop at the domestic level. The latest episode of EESI’s podcast, The Climate Conversation, spotlights the Green Climate Fund’s work to fund projects around the globe that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The celebration of EESI's 40th anniversary continues with an article featuring EESI Board of Directors Chair Jared Blum reflecting on his time with the organization.
Fact Sheet | Climate Jobs [4 min. read] U.S. efforts to confront the climate crisis have propelled a demand for jobs that will help the country mitigate and adapt to climate change. These climate jobs have been steadily on the rise in the United States. In 2022, there were more than 4.2 million climate jobs. [click for more]
Nuclear Energy Deployment: The Atomic Energy Advancement Act (H.R.6544) passed out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and is scheduled for a vote on the House floor. Introduced by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), this bill would strengthen licensing and regulatory processes for nuclear energy technologies to accelerate their deployment.
Supporting Rural Communities: Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) and Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) introduced the Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act (H.R.7444), which would increase rural communities’ access to federal funding through the creation of rural partnership program grants and technical assistance grants. Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced the same legislation (S.3309) in the Senate in November 2023.
Sharing Satellite Data for Wildfires: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) led a group of bipartisan cosponsors to introduce the Satellites Preventing Agricultural Crises and Emergencies (SPACE) Act (H.R.7362). The bill would establish agreements between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and land-grant colleges and universities to share satellite data and research on wildfires to bolster preparedness for worsening wildfire seasons. EESI’s recent briefing, Innovations in Weather Forecasting for a Changing Climate, touches more on the power of satellite technology in weather prediction.
Guiding Farms to Go Solar: Reps. Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) introduced the Securing and Understanding Our National Renewable Agriculture Yields (SUNRAY) for Energy Act (H.R.7391). The bill would require the USDA to issue guidance for farmers seeking to implement solar energy production alongside crop production on their agricultural land. EESI’s recent article highlights the benefits of using agricultural land to generate solar energy.
Hearing on the State of Rural America: The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing with USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack, who spoke about climate-smart initiatives within the Farm Bill, including those within its conservation programs, among other rural topics. Lawmakers also expressed concerns around ensuring that farmers are not left behind in the upcoming iteration of the legislation. You can find all of EESI’s resources on the Farm Bill here.
We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for February 12-16 and February 19-23.
EESI is tracking recent announcements and updates about the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Understanding the Budget and Appropriations Process Thursday, February 29 2:00 - 3:30 pm Rayburn House Office Building 2168 (Gold Room) and online.
Updates from Rural America Thursday, March 14 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Rayburn House Office Building 2168 (Gold Room) and online.
2024 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook Thursday, March 21 Time and location to be determined
Demystifying Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal Tuesday, April 16 Time and location to be determined
EESI has published the highlight notes for our popular briefing on DOE’s Energy Earthshots, which are designed to rapidly break down market barriers and scale up innovation in eight key sectors to address the impacts of the climate crisis.
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About EESI
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.
CFC #10627