Hello and welcome back to Climate Change Solutions!

After taking a short break for the July 4 holiday, we’re resurfacing to bring you a brand new issue brief on the status of the critical minerals needed for the U.S. energy transition. We are also highlighting emerging solutions for data centers’, er, drinking problem, and recapping a busy two months of environmental and energy committee hearings.

While we were off, the big news was the enactment of the big reconciliation package (P.L. 119-21), which was signed into law on July 4. Effects of the new law will be felt across the entire energy sector, especially because it ended or dramatically curtailed tax incentives for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electric vehicles.

But our work must carry on! Join EESI and dozens of panelists, exhibitors, and a bipartisan group of members of Congress on Thursday, July 24, for the Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum. Clean energy leaders and experts will be featured across eight panels in the Gold Room (2168 Rayburn House Office Building) and streaming online starting at 9 a.m., and exhibitors will set up their booths starting at noon in the Foyer. At 5 p.m., the Foyer exhibition space will turn into a reception for networking and refreshments. The event is free and open to all— you won’t want to miss it! RSVP here.

Issue Brief: Critical Minerals and the U.S. Clean Energy Transition
[14 min. read]

Critical minerals are essential to clean energy technologies, from electric vehicles to renewable power. Our issue brief outlines the clean energy applications of critical minerals, their supply chains, the state of U.S. critical mineral development, alternatives to mineral mining, and the federal government’s role in U.S. critical mineral security. [click for more]

Senate Pond-ers Algal Bloom Solutions: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation passed the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025 (S.93). Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) reintroduced the bill to reauthorize and bolster federal programs that improve the forecasting, monitoring, and mitigation of harmful algal blooms. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and David Joyce (R-Ohio) lead the bill (H.R.644) in the House. Check out EESI’s briefing on the Mississippi River to learn more about efforts to combat nitrogen pollution.

Committee Green-Lights Climate-Friendly Ag Bill: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce passed the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act (H.R.1618). Reintroduced by Reps. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), the bill would help farmers to integrate precision agriculture technologies into their operations.

House Surfs for Coastal Data: Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.), alongside Reps. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), and Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), introduced H.R.4256 to reauthorize the Digital Coast Act. The Act codifies the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Digital Coast project, which provides critical information to coastal managers and communities about erosion, sea level rise, storm surge, and more.

Bicameral Wildfire Bill Ignites: Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Ore.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Wildfire Resilient Communities Act (H.R.4295/S.2208) to provide mandatory federal funding for wildfire prevention efforts, such as prescribed burns and brush removal. The bill would also increase funding for community wildfire defense grants. EESI’s wildfire-focused Living with Climate Change briefing discusses policy solutions for reducing wildfire risk.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for June 16-20, June 23-27, June 30-July 4, and July 7-11.

2025 Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Forum: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. – view the full panel schedule here
Exhibits: 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Reception: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Rayburn House Office Building Foyer and Gold Room (Room 2168)

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses invite you to join us for the 28th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum (EXPO 2025). Nine members of Congress plan to speak, and more are expected. 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. The Policy Forum panels will be livestreamed. RSVP here.

Latest Media Coverage

• The Chronicle of Philanthropy published EESI President Daniel Bresette's letter to the editor emphasizing that, despite partisan rhetoric, many members of Congress want to collaborate on climate policy with colleagues from both parties.
• Daniel Bresette was quoted by EnergySage in an article about the impacts of increased electricity demand from data centers.
• EESI’s recent article on data center power needs was cited in a USA Today piece on the NAACP and Southern Environmental Law Center's plan to sue a Memphis data center over alleged Clean Air Act violations.
• BNN Bloomberg cited EESI's article on data center energy use in a piece about tech companies' net-zero pledges and increasing AI demand.
• The Cool Down cited EESI's commercial aviation emissions issue brief in an article on emerging emission-free electric jet engine technology.