Advanced Search
May 6, 2026
Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!
This issue, we're bringing you articles about how data center waste heat can be leveraged as a water and energy solution, and how some states are tackling “forever chemicals” in data center components. We’ve also prepared our latest breakdown of climate, energy, and environment hearings on the Hill over the past two months. And in the latest episode of our podcast, The Climate Conversation, we talked to a Future Climate Leader about his environmental justice research in Accra, Ghana.
On Thursday, join EESI and American Rivers for a briefing about the country’s most pressing water infrastructure challenges, and solutions to close the gap between investment needs and reliable water services. Find us in the Rayburn House Office Building Gold Room (Room 2168) at 3:30 p.m.—with ice cream! Scroll down for details, and RSVP here.
Finally, applications for EESI’s spring and summer 2027 internship cycles are open until May 17. EESI interns make lasting contributions towards the advancement of critical environmental and energy policies. Apply today!
Article | Turning Data Center Waste Heat into a Hot Commodity [9 min. read]
Reusing waste heat from data centers can help lower electricity costs for local communities and reduce the massive water consumption often required for server cooling. Thermal energy networks use utility-scale heat pumps and underground water pipes to capture waste heat from data center cooling systems and distribute it to nearby buildings. [click for more]
Data center servers require semiconductors, cooling systems, and fire suppressants—all sources of PFAS “forever chemicals.” The rise in data centers is prompting a rise in manufacturing of PFAS-laden components, posing a risk to the environment and public health. Congressional action on PFAS regulation could take many forms, from national PFAS reporting standards to bans on PFAS products and support for research on alternative materials. [click for more]
Lawmakers kicked off spring with 65 climate, energy, and environment-related committee hearings across March and April. The House of Representatives held 47 of these hearings, while the Senate held 18. Hearings focused on federal agency funding, public lands and land use, the electric grid, critical minerals, wildlife and biodiversity, and disaster management. [click for more]
Podcast | Sulaiman Mathew-Wilson on Youth Empowerment and Bringing Community Voices to Climate Action [20 min. listen]
EESI works hard to create opportunities for students, including through our Future Climate Leaders Scholarship program. Two-time scholarship recipient Sulaiman Mathew-Wilson is pursuing a bachelor’s in environmental studies at Howard University. Sulaiman joined the podcast to discuss his research on air pollution and environmental justice in Accra, Ghana. [click for more]
FEMA Gets Long-Awaited Funding: The President enacted the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act of 2026 (H.R.7147). The bill funds national defense programs and initiatives, including disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for the 2026 fiscal year. To learn more, check out EESI’s Rapid Readout and article on the future of FEMA.
House Greenlights Farm Bill: The House passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R.7567), known as the Farm Bill. The legislative package, which Congress reauthorizes roughly every five years, governs key programs ranging from crop insurance and capacity-building support for beginning farmers to conservation practices, rural energy, and research and development. The last Farm Bill, passed in 2018, was set to expire in 2023 and has since been extended annually. To learn more, check out EESI’s Farm Bill resources.
The House Answers the Call … : The House passed the Emergency Reporting Act (H.R.5200), which would strengthen the country’s emergency communications infrastructure for disasters. The bill, led by Reps. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), would direct the Federal Communications Commission to address instances where individuals were unable to reach 911 during natural disasters.
… And Sounds the Alarm: The House unanimously passed the Mystic Alerts Act (H.R.7022) to modernize the country’s emergency alert infrastructure. Reps. August Pfluger (R-Texas), Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), and Marc Veasey (D-Texas) introduced the bill, which would integrate satellite networks into FEMA’s Wireless Emergency Alert system to ensure communities receive critical alerts when traditional communication infrastructure is not available.
We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for April 20-24 and April 27 - May 1.
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
U.S. waterways 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 as well as solutions to close the gap between investment needs and reliable water services. Ice cream will be served. RSVP here.
Implications of the U.S. Forest Service Reorganization Friday, May 15 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Online only
The U.S. Forest Service manages nearly 200 million acres of federal land, mostly in western states. Accordingly, the Trump Administration has proposed moving the agency’s headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah. It also intends to reorganize staff into state hubs and eliminate 57 research labs. This Rapid Readout will explore how these changes could impact decades of science, including key climate-related forest research. The session will also cover the implications of the reorganization on both wildfire preparedness and response and annual budget and appropriation conversations. RSVP here.
2026 Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO, Policy Forum, and Reception 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. From 10:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., 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. There will be a reception to follow in the Rayburn Foyer. The entire event is free to attend and open to the public. RSVP here, and stay tuned for panel updates.
Detailed summary notes are now available for our briefing on emerging wildfire resilience and recovery solutions, held jointly with the Federation of American Scientists. Panelists highlighted evidence-based approaches to wildfire resilience, as well as the role of federal policy in supporting the scaling and implementation of these tactics.
Latest Media Coverage
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.
CFC #10627
Advancing science-based solutions for a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world
Top-Rated Climate Nonprofit – 4-Star Charity