Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

Happy spring! In D.C., the cherry trees are in peak bloom and before we rush down to the Tidal Basin, we’re bringing you solutions for electric grid capacity, data centers’ pesky noise problem, and climate information integrity. Last week, EESI hosted a Rapid Readout on the economic, climate, and public health ramifications of last month’s repeal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2009 Endangerment Finding, which underpinned many industrial and vehicle emissions regulations. You can catch up here.

Article | Reconductoring: The Path of Least Resistance to Fixing the U.S. Energy Grid
[8 min. read]

While U.S. energy demand is skyrocketing, new energy projects are hindered by a lack of grid connectivity. The good news? Reconductoring can help double grid capacity, support the clean energy transition, and make the energy grid more resilient and reliable. The better news? Almost all U.S. transmission lines are eligible for reconductoring, and the remaining 2% could be reconductored in segments. [click for more]

Sequoia Resilience Bill Branches Out to Senate: The House passed the Save Our Sequoias Act (H.R.2709). Reps. Vince Fong (R-Calif.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) reintroduced the bill to bolster the trees’ resilience to worsening wildfires in California. Specifically, the bill would create a sequoia reforestation strategy and wildfire risk assessment, open new revenue streams for sequoia conservation, and establish a coalition of federal, state, tribal, and local forest managers, among other measures.

House Wildfire Recovery Bill Blazes Into Senate: The House passed the Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act of 2025 (H.R.528), led by Reps. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.) and Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.). The bill aims to build community wildfire resilience and support wildfire recovery efforts through land rehabilitation. To learn more about legislative wildfire solutions, check out EESI’s recent briefing.

Flush with Rural Water Solutions: Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Reps. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) reintroduced the Rural Decentralized Water Systems Reauthorization Act (S.4096/H.R.7921). The bill would expand and strengthen the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Decentralized Water Systems Program, which helps low- and middle-income households install or upgrade well water and wastewater systems. Learn about other federal resources for rural water systems here.

House Dems Release a Powerhouse: Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.) introduced the Energy Bills Relief Act (H.R.7977) to restore clean energy tax credits, promote renewable energy development on federal lands, and incentivize practices for data centers and utilities that lower utility bills for consumers, among other measures.

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

Tracking Down Data: Where to Find Climate and Environmental Information in 2026
Thursday, April 23
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Rayburn House Office Building Gold Room (Room 2168) and online

Join EESI and Climate Central for a briefing to discuss a key underpinning of the U.S. economy: publicly-available weather and climate data. In this new information environment, universities, nonprofits, and national associations are stepping up to fill the gaps in maintaining weather and climate data left by the federal government. Panelists will share where to look for these datasets and the implications of these changes for end users. RSVP here.

Policies and Financing Solutions to Modernize U.S. Water Infrastructure
Thursday, May 7
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Rayburn House Office Building Gold Room (Room 2168) and online

Today, U.S. waterways—and our drinking water—are vulnerable to aging infrastructure, stormwater and sewage overflows, and extreme weather. In January 2026, Washington, D.C., saw the consequences of such aging infrastructure when a sewer line collapsed, discharging 200 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River—one of the largest spills in U.S. history. This briefing, held in partnership with American Rivers, will explore the country’s most pressing water infrastructure challenges and solutions to close the gap between investment needs and reliable water services. 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 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.

Latest Media Coverage

• Our article about data center water use was cited by multiple publications, including The New York Times, NBC Chicago, and The Cool Down.
• The Chicago Tribune mentioned EESI’s articles on rising electricity bills and water consumption from data centers in a piece about an annual high school debate competition.