Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

Last week, Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced their long-awaited permitting package, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S.5653) (see details below). Permitting reform has been at the top of everyone’s minds for a while, and our next briefing, Bridging the Transmission Gap, will be particularly timely given this latest development. Join us tomorrow to explore challenges and solutions to expanding interregional transmission, improving resilience, and cutting costs. RSVP here, and we’ll see you online on Wednesday, October 7, at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

Need to catch up on the state of the U.S. electric grid? Not sure where to start? EESI’s resources—like our 2026 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO panel on reliable and resilient energy systems and our briefings about grid optimization and the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook—can get you up to speed.

This issue, we’re also bringing you our latest topic page on waste management and a brand-new episode of our podcast, The Climate Conversation, where we sit down with author Allegra Hyde to discuss creative forms of climate communication.

Topic Page | Waste Management
[13 min. read]

Feeling down in the dumps about waste? The average U.S. consumer produces 4.9 pounds of waste per day—a 93% increase from 1980. Waste comes in many forms, from plastics and household trash to building materials and hazardous byproducts. When not managed properly, it damages ecosystems, pollutes waterways, and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. EESI’s new topic page outlines waste streams and policies for building a circular economy. [click for more]

Big Win for Hydropower: The president enacted the Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act (H.R.3657), which will bolster the clean energy sector and help meet increased energy demand by making hydropower dam licensing processes more efficient. Reps. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.) and Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) led the bill to its passage. 

POTUS Codifies Recreation Water Use Data: The president also signed the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act (S.759) into law. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Angus King (I-Maine) reintroduced the bill to improve data collection and publication on the use of U.S. marine waterways. By requiring more accessible and accurate data, the bill would improve Americans’ recreational experience in U.S. waterways, promote safe and legal marine activity, and boost coastal economies. 

Farm Bill Grows Roots in the Senate: The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry advanced the Agricultural Act of 2026 (S.5526)—the Senate’s version of the Farm Bill—from Chair Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.). The Senate Farm Bill would improve disaster programs, invest in risk management tools, expand access to crop insurance, increase loan limits for new and young farmers, strengthen partnerships with land-grant institutions, and improve drinking water systems, among other measures. Stay tuned for EESI’s updated side-by-side comparisons of the Senate text, the House Farm Bill, and current law.

Senate on a (Trans)Mission to Pass Permitting Reform: Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S.5653). The permitting package would streamline approval processes for building out transmission lines, increase grid capacity, strengthen regional and interregional transmission planning, ensure that data centers pay for their associated energy costs rather than pass those costs on to consumers, and create jobs across the energy supply chain. To learn more about what this bill might do to improve interregional transmission, tune in to EESI’s upcoming briefing, Bridging the Transmission Gap.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for September 21–25 and September 28–October 2.

Bridging the Transmission Gap
Wednesday, October 7
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Online only

The U.S. electric grid is undergoing unprecedented transformation, driven by rising electricity demand, the growth of renewable energy, and security threats posed by extreme weather and cyberattacks. Building out interregional transmission lines—the cables that move power across different regional grids—can bolster grid resilience and lower home energy bills. Yet planning for interregional transmission has lagged behind regional transmission planning, and implementation gaps remain. This briefing, held in partnership with the World Resources Institute (WRI), will review the current state of interregional transmission, outline the regulatory and institutional hurdles to progress, and identify emerging policy solutions to save ratepayers money and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. RSVP here.

Built to Last: A Blueprint for Affordable, Healthy, and Resilient Homes
Tuesday, October 20
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Online only

Home prices in the United States have risen by 29%, and electricity costs have increased by 43% since 2020. Home insurance premiums are up nearly 50%, while communities across the country face higher costs from hurricanes, hailstorms, and other severe weather events. This briefing will outline how sustainable choices in housing development, construction, and maintenance can make occupants healthier and safer while lowering costs, conserving energy and water, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. RSVP here.

What’s on the Table for the Negotiations at COP31
Thursday, November 5
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Online only

This briefing will share what Congress can expect during the upcoming United Nations climate negotiations in Antalya, Türkiye (COP31). Hundreds of negotiating sessions and thousands of events will take place over the course of the two-week U.N. session. Whether traveling to Antalya or observing COP31 from D.C., this briefing will guide policymakers on how to engage effectively. RSVP here.

Latest Media Coverage

• Multiple publications cited our data center water use article, including Scientific American’s podcast and MassLive.
• Newsweek cited our article about data centers and rising energy bills in a piece about the Ratepayer Protection Act under consideration by the Senate.
• An opinion piece about health impacts and data center regulation in The British Medical Journal cited our data center noise pollution article.