Hello and welcome back to Climate Change Solutions!

As the summer comes to a close, EESI is coming in hot with resources on addressing extreme heat in the sporting world and a federal program for keeping your home cool—or warm, as we gleefully anticipate fall weather—without hurting your wallet. We’ve also updated our topic page on adaptation and resilience. If you’re new to this arena, this resource will help get you up to speed.

Finally, key takeaways are now available for all six panels of our 29th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum. In addition to the summary notes, recordings from the full day and remarks from the leaders of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses—Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-Mo.)—and a dozen other members of Congress are available on the event webpage.

Article | Too Hot to Handle: Rethinking Summer Sports to Mitigate Extreme Heat
[8 min. read]

Summer sports are starting to change with the climate. By 2050, 90% of the 2026 World Cup host stadiums will require some form of heat adaptation to safely accommodate future competitions. This article explains how high temperatures endanger health and athletic performance, and outlines solutions from league-wide heat protocols to government incentives for cooler stadiums. [click for more]

Water Resources Bill Flows Out of Committee: The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure advanced 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.) lead the biennial reauthorization of the bill, which invests in flood control, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources projects under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

House Committee Moves to Rein in Invasive Species: The House Committee on Natural Resources approved the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025 (H.R.4219). Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) and Del. James Moylan (R-Guam) reintroduced the bill to ramp up federal efforts to combat invasive species. Specifically, the bill would authorize $10 million annually for the next seven years toward invasive species detection, reporting, and eradication, among other initiatives.

House Pours Support Into Resilient Water Infrastructure: Reps. Tim Kennedy (D-N.Y.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), and Nicholas Langworthy (R-N.Y.) introduced the Stormwater Treatment Optimization, Resilience, and Management With Academic Technological Expertise and Research (STORMWATER) Act (H.R.10162) to help communities make long-term water infrastructure improvements. The STORMWATER Act would reauthorize federal grant programs and technical assistance for stormwater improvements, flood prevention, and pollution control through 2031. It would also establish a new Stormwater Center of Excellence in the Great Lakes region, providing those communities with tailored technical expertise on water infrastructure and flooding challenges.

Senate Considers Cache for Utility Cybersecurity: Sens. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Curtis (R-Utah), and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) introduced the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act (S.5360). The bill aims to reauthorize the U.S. Department of Energy’s Rural and Municipal Utility Advanced Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program, which provides publicly owned utilities and rural electric cooperatives with resources to protect utility infrastructure from cyber threats. The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the House version of the bill (H.R.7276) in June.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for August 24-28 and August 31 - September 4.

Latest Media Coverage

• Savannah Morning News quoted EESI President Daniel Bresette and Project Manager Miguel Yañez-Barnuevo in an article about noise pollution concerns surrounding a planned data center in Rincon, Georgia.
• Several publications cited our data center water use article, including The Hill, The Baltimore Sun, Bloomberg, Inc., and USA Today.
• USA Today also cited our Colorado River briefing in a piece about water conservation efforts in Las Vegas.
• Las Vegas Weekly cited our data center noise pollution article in an overview of data centers for Las Vegas residents.