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July 21, 2021
Hello and welcome to the Infrastructure Issue of Climate Change Solutions! Infrastructure is the talk of the town this week as the Senate gears up to vote on two major infrastructure bills—the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and the $3.5 trillion package crafted by the Senate Budget Committee led by Chair Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.). Both bills seek to advance the Biden-Harris Administration's American Jobs Plan for economic recovery. In light of these legislative happenings, this week we discuss what defines infrastructure and outline the Biden-Harris Administration's work so far to link climate and workforce development. We reached back through EESI's online archive to pull together recent infrastructure-related resources into articles about nature-based solutions, financing, disaster resilience and equity, and the workforce. And each article includes a round-up of those resources for you to dive deeper! We also focused in on three major aspects infrastructure negotiations with an article on improving broadband access in rural areas, a video short on a national climate bank, and highlights from our recent briefing series on modernizing America's transmission network. And finally, if you need a break from infrastructure, you can tune into our last podcast episode of Season 1 where we introduce you to our newest staff members Savannah Bertrand and Emma Johnson! Have you heard? Our 2021 Congressional Clean Energy EXPO and Policy Forum is just 6 days away! Have you RSVP'd yet? Join EESI and the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses as we showcase technology and policy solutions to today’s climate and energy use challenges. RSVP here: www.eesi.org/briefings/view/expo2021 Have a climate solutions? Send tips to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff.
Nature-based solutions contribute to climate resilient infrastructure by providing protection against extreme heat and coastal storms, while also supplying co-benefits like wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration. [click for more] Financing [5 min. read]
Building and maintaining infrastructure requires capital, and several funding mechanisms could leverage, replenish, and maximize government and private investments in infrastructure. [click for more]
Disaster Resilience and Equity [7 min. read]
Trillions of dollars could be allocated towards infrastructure this year in an effort to address community needs and boost economic recovery. With such a huge investment, it is imperative that projects facilitate community buy-in and take climate change into account to increase their longevity and effectiveness. [click for more]
Workforce Development [6 min. read]
Many programs are training workers for careers in clean energy, conservation, and other sustainability-oriented fields, and there are multiple opportunities for more such initiatives to bolster long-term growth in green sectors. [click for more]
From July 5 to 16, Congress focused on building a two-track infrastructure package to support investments in both physical and social infrastructure. In late June, a group of Senators agreed on a $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework which includes funding for electric vehicles, water, and broadband. Last week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced Senator Joe Manchin’s energy bill, which will likely be included in the bipartisan infrastructure package.
While infrastructure remained a major focus in the Senate, several notable bills were also introduced in the House:
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (REEE) Caucuses invite you to join us for this year’s Virtual Congressional Clean Energy Expo taking place Monday, July 26.
This year’s half-day conference will run from 2:00pm to 5:00pm EDT and will feature three sessions, including a mid-day panel featuring the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus Co-Chairs, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) .
Senate REEE Caucus Deputy Co-Chairs Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and House REEE Co-Chair Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wisc.) will also provide remarks. [click for more]
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