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September 23, 2026
Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!
Yesterday, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in preparation for the rising tides, heavy rainfall, and severe flooding associated with the incoming El Niño. Scientists project this “Super El Niño” to be the largest and most intense of its kind, breaking a 150-year record.
But what is Super El Niño, and how can we prepare for it? If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Join EESI this Friday, September 25, at noon EDT for an online briefing to learn all about Super El Niño. We will be featuring welcome remarks from Reps. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), who lead the new bipartisan Weather Enterprise Caucus. RSVP here! And in the lead-up to the briefing, we’re re-upping our key resources about bolstering community resilience to weather impacts. Scroll on to learn more.
Last week, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry passed its version of the Farm Bill, the Agricultural Act of 2026. (The House passed its Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R.7567) in April.) To help Congressional staff new to the Farm Bill, EESI produces side-by-side comparisons of the latest House and Senate proposals with current law. To get you started, fresh off the presses are our new comparisons for the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)! As the Farm Bill continues its journey to the finish line, be sure to check back with EESI for more resources. You can also find updates in our weekly Congressional Round-Up and in the On the Hill section of Climate Change Solutions.
And last but not least, Season 12 of The Climate Conversion podcast kicks off with an interview with Future Climate Leader Cerenity Frederick of Howard University. Cerenity joined Daniel and Alison to talk about her experience interning in the office of Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.).
This briefing highlighted how advanced forecasting technology can help communities prepare for extreme weather events associated with El Niño. Panelists discussed the current state of weather prediction technology and federal policy levers for improving weather intelligence. [click for more]
Our Rapid Readout on the far-reaching implications of intensive drought across the country connected the dots between this year’s water shortage and the broader multi-year megadrought in the West, and discussed the role of federal policymaking in generating long-term solutions. [click for more]
This briefing, held in partnership with the Federation of American Scientists, explored emerging resilience and recovery solutions to the wildfire crisis. Panelists highlighted evidence-based approaches—from smart zoning and updated building codes to fuels management and early detection—and the role of federal policy in supporting the rapid development and cost-effective implementation of these tactics at scale. [click for more]
California is already experiencing El Niño-induced flooding. The National Flood Insurance Program is the largest—and sometimes only—source of flood insurance for residential properties in the United States. But the program has gone through five lapses in appropriations since 2017, and faces continuous challenges of insolvency, multiple loss properties, outdated data, and patchwork flood disclosure laws. [click for more]
Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the United States. This year’s El Niño is projected to bring worse-than-usual heat to parts of the country. While conventional air conditioning provides relief, it also contributes to global warming, exacerbates urban heat, and is inaccessible to many. The passive and sustainable mechanical cooling strategies identified in this article reduce indoor temperatures without increasing electricity demand. [click for more]
The months of May through October, when North America experiences its most severe weather, are known as “Danger Season.” In this episode, EESI sat down with Union of Concerned Scientists Climate and Energy Policy Director Dr. Rachel Cleetus for a conversation about Danger Season tracking, trends, and key takeaways for policymakers. [click for more]
Latest Resource
Welcome to Season 12 of The Climate Conversation! For the first episode of the new season, EESI sat down with Cerenity Frederick, Howard University student and Future Climate Leaders scholar, to discuss her recent Capitol Hill stint, starting her own mentorship program, and her vision for a more just future. [click for more]
Biennial Water Bill Flows Onward: The House passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (H.R.9497). Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Mike Collins (R-Ga.) and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) led the reauthorization, which invests in flood control, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources projects under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The bill, which the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure advanced in early September, now awaits Senate action.
Circularity Is Critical: The House passed three bills to facilitate domestic critical mineral recovery and recycling: the Battery Recycling for America’s Competitive Economy (BRACE) Act (H.R.9615) led by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), the Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technology Assessment Initiative (EMRTAI) Authorization Act of 2026 (H.R.9616) introduced by Reps. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), and the Coordinating and Harnessing America’s Recovery of Minerals (CHARM) Act (H.R.9617) from Reps. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.). To learn more about critical mineral circularity, check out EESI’s critical minerals issue brief and our fact sheets on lithium and cobalt.
House Votes for Data Centers to Pony Up: The House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R.9340). Reps. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) and Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) introduced the bill, which would require state utility regulators to consider federal rules for data center-related grid upgrades. These rules include requirements that certain large-load customers, such as data centers, cover the full costs of all power generation and energy infrastructure upgrades made to support them. The Senate has since taken up the bill for consideration.
Hydro Licensing Bill Heads to POTUS: The Senate passed the House’s Hydropower Licensing Transparency Act (H.R.3657). The bill from Reps. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.) and Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) aims to bolster the clean energy sector and help meet increased energy demand by making hydropower dam licensing processes more efficient. The House passed the bill in July 2025, and it now heads to the president’s desk for his signature.
We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for September 7-11 and September 14-18.
Environmental and Economic Impacts of Super El Niño Friday, September 25 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Online only
The 2026-2027 Super El Niño is projected to be the largest in 150 years and expected to result in more frequent and intense extreme weather events across the United States and the world. This briefing will examine the meteorological causes and anticipated impacts of Super El Niño, including droughts, extreme heat, wildfires, flooding, and severe winter storms. RSVP here.
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.
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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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