Climate Change Solutions - September 1, 2020

Welcome to another edition of Climate Change Solutions!

This week we've highlighted an initiative aimed at electrifying the ferries at Niagara Falls, a new electric cooperative in Puerto Rico, and five different energy storage technologies.

On the Hill, we break down Congressional Budget Office scores and the Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act.  

We also feature exciting policy career and climate research updates from two EESI internship alums, as well as a call to action from our executive director urging organizations to maintain remote interns throughout the pandemic.

And don't forget to RSVP to our Workforce Wednesday briefing tomorrow: Preparing High Schoolers for Green Careers!

And now for a recap of the latest environmental and energy news:

• U.S. Senate Democrats unveil $400 billion-a-year plan to tackle climate change
• A California town is ambitiously preparing for this year's wildfire season
• Hurricane season preparations are adapting to COVID-19
• Indiana town turns flood-prone properties into nature trails
• Voters are becoming more interested in climate issues
• Experts are still calling for a green recovery from COVID-19
• and the New York Times put out a climate action mini-quiz to test your climate know-how!

Love our work? Forward this newsletter to a friend! Have a climate solution? Reach out to Solutions editor Amber Todoroff with tips and gossip... and be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for great climate content!

Video Short: Why is energy efficiency so important for low-income households? Anne McKibbin, Policy Director of Elevate Energy (Illinois), explains the importance of energy efficiency and weatherization, especially for low-income households.   Headlines Maid of the Mist: Making Waves for Electrification [6 min. read] Since 1846, Maid of the Mist has taken millions of tourists through the spray of Niagara Falls. The tour company's boats are powered by diesel engines but in the very near future, they will be electric—the first new-build, battery-powered, electric ferries in the United States. Read more to see how Maid of the Mist is setting the example for other maritime electrification projects and how electrification is good for people and the planet. [click for more]   New Co-op Plans to Increase Energy Security and Resilience in Puerto Rico [5 min. read] Puerto Rico’s first rural electric cooperative began operating in 2019 and has the potential to serve nearly 61,000 people living in the island’s central mountains. Read to find out how the co-op plans to provide power to rural residents through three hydropower plants, energy storage, and solar power! [click for more]   A Look at the Status of Five Energy Storage Technologies [6 min. read] The International Energy Agency recently released the ETP Clean Energy Technology Guide, which provides assessments and ratings for over 400 technologies that are integral to reaching a net-zero emissions world. The guide describes 38 energy storage technologies, five of which overlap with energy storage technologies EESI highlighted in 2019 because of their capacity to store at least 20 MW. Here, we dive into the current status of those five technologies as described by the IEA Guide. [click for more]

On the Hill The House returned to D.C. on August 22 to pass a bill that would give $25 billion in emergency funds to the U.S. Postal Service, but the Hill has been relatively quiet this month in terms of environment and energy legislation and hearings. Barring other unexpected legislative priorities, the House is scheduled to return from recess September 8, and the Senate is scheduled to return September 14.   How Do Congressional Budget Office Scores Impact Climate Policy? [12 min. read] The Congressional Budget Office has been a linchpin of the Congressional policy and budget-making process since its establishment. CBO analyses often have the effect of determining policy outcomes due to the economic decision-making methodologies they use. Read more to find out how these CBO analyses impact climate policy. [click for more]   New Act Highlights Little-Known Pathway to Absorb Carbon Emissions [3 min. read] The Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act (H.R.5589/S.3939) draws attention to a little-known—but critically important—pathway to absorb carbon emissions: coastal wetland ecosystems that act as carbon sinks, otherwise known as “blue carbon” ecosystems. The legislation aims to fill knowledge gaps and better target conservation and restoration efforts to preserve blue carbon ecosystems that provide both mitigation and adaptation benefits. [click for more]

EESI Briefings, News and Fact Sheets   Perspective: Save Our Interns! [3 min. read] EESI's executive director, Daniel Bresette, describes the importance of maintaining internship opportunities for students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. [click for more]   Reflections: Former Intern Reflects on New Biogas Career, EESI Experience [3 min. read] George Davidson, a former EESI intern and current policy professional, reflects on his time at EESI and how it prepared him for his work with the American Biogas Council ⁠[click for more]   Perspective: The Pressing Need to Improve Urban Responses to Extreme Heat [4 min. read] Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the nation, causing hundreds of deaths each year. Cities are currently grappling with cooling their populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more to learn how three cities are dealing with the heat. [click for more]

EESI Around Town   EESI's aviation factsheet was cited in an article by EHS Daily Advisor.   EESI's biogas factsheet was cited in an article by Darigold.   An EESI article was cited in an opinion article by The Dallas Morning News.   Upcoming Events   EESI is pleased to announce our September briefing series, Workforce Wednesdays! Every Wednesday in September, EESI will hold a free virtual panel on policies and programs promoting a low-carbon workforce. The first briefing in the series will be held tomorrow, September 2! Read the speaker line-up and RSVP here. September 2: Preparing High Schoolers for Green Careers Spiraling student-loan debt and low rates of college completion have encouraged a resurgence in career and technical education (CTE) in public schools. Panelists will discuss the benefits of offering students CTE options and the policies and programs that help such programs flourish. High schools offering programs in renewable energy and aquaculture will be featured as models of how CTE works to prepare students for green careers. September 9: A New Spin on Conservation Corps Several different conservation corps currently offer opportunities to get young Americans involved in shovel-ready infrastructure projects, providing participants with work experience, skills, and a paycheck while contributing to national climate and sustainability goals. Speakers will discuss corps engaging youth in wilderness, mine reclamation, and urban settings and the policies that help them thrive. September 16: Energy Transitions and Coal Country Coal-producing communities around the country have already been experiencing economic turmoil from mine layoffs or closures due to precipitous declines in the demand for coal. These communities are among the most vulnerable to further transitions away from carbon-intensive energy sources and face particular challenges retraining their coal workforce. Introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), speakers will discuss challenges and opportunities from a regional, small town, and Crow Nation perspective. September 23: Growing Green Industry and Innovation: Mass Timber The United States can lower domestic and global greenhouse gas emissions by supporting innovation and expanding low-carbon industries. Mass timber provides a prime opportunity to diversify the American economy and lower emissions while providing steady, family-sustaining employment for a skilled workforce. Introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), panelists will discuss the environmental and workforce benefits of mass timber, from manufacturing to construction. September 30: Small Businesses & COVID Recovery Small business owners and employees have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 downturn, especially in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. Speakers will discuss the challenges faced by small businesses in low-carbon sectors, where federal policies such as the CARES Act worked—or did not work—to alleviate those challenges, and suggestions for the road ahead. Thank You to EESI Team Members for Their Contributions to Climate Change Solutions: Sydney O'Shaughnessy - Layout, Design, and Content Editor Amaury Laporte - Communications Director A special thank you to our outgoing summer interns: Abby Neal, Policy Maeve Arthur, Policy Maia Crook, On-Bill Financing Bridget Williams, Communications/Policy Grace Linhares, Development We are so proud of all you accomplished this summer, and can't wait to see what's next!   Environmental and Energy Study Institute  Daniel Bresette, Executive Director   EESI is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1984 by a bipartisan Congressional caucus to provide timely information and develop innovative policy solutions that set us on a cleaner, more secure and sustainable energy path.   www.eesi.org                 CFC #10627