Climate Change Solutions

Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

This issue, we’re serving up resources relating to the economy of energy solutions—from wallet-friendly measures for consumers to the manufacturing of energy technologies, and the job creation that comes with it. On Thursday, March 12, EESI and the Alliance to Save Energy will host a briefing about an American-made, readily-available, and cost-effective solution to help lower utility bills for households and small businesses: energy efficiency! Find us in the Rayburn House Office Building, room 2168 (Gold Room) at 3:00 p.m (RSVP here). And yes, there will be snacks!

And for the next episode of The Climate Conversation podcast, Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) explains his vision for an energy-productive economy. Clean energy is cheap energy, indeed. Tune in here!

Bolstering these energy solutions is also a win for the workforce. Our new Climate Jobs fact sheet breaks down the latest data from the U.S. Department of Energy on job growth within the energy efficiency sector, as well as in the renewable energy, electric grid, clean transportation, and resilience sectors.

Finally, join EESI on Wednesday, June 24, for our 29th annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum. The EXPO will feature remarks from bipartisan members of Congress, back-to-back panels of clean energy experts, and dozens of exhibitors, with a reception to follow. The event is free and open to all—scroll on for the details, and RSVP here.

The Latest Solutions

Fact Sheet | Climate Jobs
[3 min. read]

Climate jobs have been steadily on the rise in the United States. With a 2.8% growth rate, clean energy job creation has outpaced overall U.S. job growth more than threefold. In total, there were more than 4 million climate jobs in 2024. [click for more]

Topic Page | Industry and Manufacturing
[10 min. read]

The industrial sector accounted for 30% of all domestic greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, and is projected to be the largest emitter by 2035. Green industry and manufacturing offer ample opportunity for advancing decarbonization, climate resilience, economic competitiveness, community revitalization, public health, and national security. [click for more]

Article | On the Hill in January and February 2026: A Breakdown of Climate, Energy, and Environmental Hearings
[3 min. read]

Lawmakers kicked off 2026 with 34 climate, energy, and environment-related committee hearings throughout January and February. The House of Representatives held 26 of these hearings, while the Senate held eight. Hearings focused on the electric grid and data centers, as well as on infrastructure and disaster management. [click for more]

Podcast | Rep. Sean Casten on How to Power a Clean and Affordable Future
[31 min. read]

For this week's podcast, we sat down with Rep. Sean Casten to pick his brain on energy policy, including energy infrastructure, affordability, and his METRIC Act (H.R.7607). Rep. Casten serves the sixth district of Illinois and sits on the House Financial Services Committee and the Joint Economic Committee. He is also vice-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. [click for more]

On the Hill

Climate Information Bill Coasts Along: The Senate passed S.2245 to amend the Digital Coast Act. The bill would extend the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Digital Coast Program, which supports the information, technology, and training needed to preserve and protect coastal communities from climate impacts. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) lead the Senate bill, and Reps. Dave Min (D-Calif.) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.) lead the House version of the bill (H.R.4256), which is pending a vote on the House floor.

Consistency Is Critical: The House passed the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025 (H.R.755), reintroduced by Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.) and Susie Lee (D-Nev.). 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. Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) lead the Senate version of the bill (S.714). To learn more about these minerals, check out EESI’s issue brief.

Out of This World Wildfire Solutions: The House passed 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 working to adapt drones to combat wildfires, especially in low-visibility conditions in which manned aircrafts cannot be used. To learn more about federal responses to wildfires, check out EESI’s briefing, Igniting Innovation: Progress and a Path Forward for Wildfire Policy.

House Forecasts Better Weather Data: The House passed the Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries (ASCEND) Act (H.R.2600), led by Reps. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.). The bill would permanently authorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition program. Data collected from commercial satellites can bolster extreme weather research and forecasting. For more on how satellites can support climate research, check out EESI’s article, “Out-of-This-World Methane Detection: Using Satellites to Track Super Emitters.”

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for February 23-27 and March 2-6.

Upcoming Events

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.

Rapid Readout: The Economic Impacts of Repealing the Endangerment Finding
Friday, March 20
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Online only

This Rapid Readout will outline the economic, climate, and public health impacts of the recent repeal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2009 Endangerment Finding, which served as the basis for regulations limiting carbon emissions. Expert Zahra Hirji from Bloomberg News will discuss projected ripple effects on the U.S. economy and identify possible paths forward. RSVP here.

2026 Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum
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. 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. The EXPO is free to attend and open to the public. RSVP here, and stay tuned for panel updates.

In Case You Missed It

Briefing Video Now Available | Understanding Load Growth and Energy Affordability

The recording is now available for our briefing about energy trends, held in partnership with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy. 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 transformation.

Highlight Notes Now Available | Powering the Economy: Generation Innovation, Grid Optimization, and Energy Efficiency

Detailed summary notes are now available for our briefing about the U.S. energy grid, held jointly with the National Association of State Energy Officials. Panelists discussed the wide range of work led by state energy offices, including the latest on state energy security initiatives to bolster energy systems’ resilience to extreme weather and cyber threats.

Latest Media Coverage

An article by Renewable Energy World quoted EESI President Daniel Bresette’s remarks from our Rapid Readout about winter storm impacts on grid infrastructure.
Our data center water use article was cited by publications including The Hill, The Christian Science Monitor, The Cool Down, and Politifact.
The News Tribune cited our article about data center fossil fuel use in a piece about two data centers near Tacoma, Washington.

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Thanks to all EESI staff, interns, and fellows who contribute to Climate Change Solutions

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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