Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

The 25th Winter Olympic Games kicked off on Friday in Milan and Cortina D’Ampezzo in the Italian Alps. Although we’re cheering on Team USA, it’s not all fun and games from where we’re sitting (which, unfortunately, is not in Italy). As the climate warms, fewer cities have sufficient snowpack to host the games, jeopardizing both local economies and the future of the Winter Olympics. But it’s not all downhill from here: in this issue, we’re highlighting how the sports industry can adapt to climate impacts and mitigate emissions in our new article and our 2025 podcast episode, as well as the role ice rink operators play in mitigating refrigerant emissions. After all, with great powder comes great responsibility.

Missed our grid optimization and energy efficiency briefing last week? Keep scrolling for the full recording. And once the Olympics are over, we can keep you occupied for the remainder of the winter with briefings on winter storm impacts on the power grid, load growth and energy affordability, wildfire policy, and solutions to help lower utility bills.

On Thin Ice: Rethinking the Future of Winter Sports in a Changing Climate
[10 min. read]

Competition is not the only thing heating up at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. As climate change brings warmer temperatures, the future of winter sports is increasingly uncertain. Decreased snowfall has already led to over $1 billion in losses in the United States and the closure of 265 ski resorts in Italy, the host of this year’s games. Learn more in our latest article. [click for more]

Weatherization Bill Weathers Committee: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce advanced the Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act (H.R.1355). Reps. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Josh Riley (D-N.Y.), James Moylan (R-Guam), and Michael Lawler (R-N.Y.) reintroduced the bill to reauthorize the Weatherization Assistance Program and establish the Weatherization Readiness Program. The two programs would promote household weather resilience and energy efficiency while lowering utility bills. To learn more about energy efficiency measures like weatherization, join EESI on March 12 for our briefing, Strategies to Lower Utility Bills Now for Households and Small Businesses.

Insulation Bill Heads to House Floor: The House Committee on Energy and Commerce also reported the Federal Mechanical Insulation Act (H.R.3474) out to the House floor. The bill, reintroduced by Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas) and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), supports mechanical insulation in federal buildings, which provides long-term energy efficiency and offers the co-benefits of reduced emissions, lower energy bills, job creation, and improved safety.

Illegal Fishing Bill Swims Out of Committee: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests (FISH) Act of 2025 (S.688). Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introduced the bill to combat foreign illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which contributes to fishery depletion and threatens economic and food security. If passed, the FISH Act would bolster U.S. Coast Guard enforcement capacity, blacklist offending vessels from U.S. ports and waters, and advance international negotiations. Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), and Nick Begich (R-Alaska) lead a companion bill (H.R.3756) in the House.

Bipartisan Push for Grid Resilience: Reps. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) introduced the Securing Community Upgrades for a Resilient Grid Act (SECURE Grid Act) (H.R.7257) to safeguard the country’s energy infrastructure. The bill would require states to assess electric grid risks from extreme weather, aging infrastructure, and cyber threats in their respective State Energy Security Plans, which are submitted annually to receive federal State Energy Program funds. To learn more, check out EESI’s briefing on grid resilience.

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for January 26-30 and February 2-6.

Frozen Infrastructure: Winter Storm Impacts on Communities and the Power Grid
Friday, February 20
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Online only

This Rapid Readout will explore energy resilience and recovery pathways following January’s Winter Storm Fern. Building on lessons from past devastating winter storms, the readout will examine Fern's impact on power grids and potential solutions to help residents weather future storms. RSVP here.

Understanding Load Growth and Energy Affordability: Policy and Market Trends from the 2026 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook
Thursday, February 26
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (Room 2168) and online

The rapid growth in energy demand from data centers has raised energy affordability conversations in households across the country—and on Capitol Hill, energy affordability might be the major theme of energy policy discussions. In partnership with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, this briefing will explore a broad portfolio of readily-available technologies and resources that not only lower energy costs and meet rising demand, but also promote economic development and innovation. Panelists will share new findings from the 2026 edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. RSVP here.

Igniting Innovation: Progress and a Path Forward for Wildfire Policy
Tuesday, March 3
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Russell Senate Office Building, Room 385 and online
Reception to follow

Communities nationwide are experiencing longer wildfire seasons and more intense, destructive wildfires, which cost the United States up to $424 billion annually and displace tens of thousands of people. This briefing, hosted in partnership with the Federation of American Scientists, will explore emerging solutions to tackle the wildfire crisis and the federal policy strategies for getting these solutions into the field. RSVP here.

Strategies to Lower Utility Bills Now for Households and Small Businesses
Thursday, March 12
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (Room 2168) and online

Together, rising energy demand, extreme weather events, and aging infrastructure are straining the U.S. electric grid, leaving homes and small businesses to feel the impacts of higher utility bills. This briefing will convene experts from around the country to explore readily-available solutions to boost comfort in harsh weather, uplift consumer confidence, expand freedom of choice, and give consumers more control over their energy bills. RSVP here.

Latest Media Coverage

• An op-ed from USA Today about the effects of climate change on winter ice sports cited our sustainable ice rinks article.
• EESI’s article on the water use of data centers has earned more media coverage, including mentions in the Post and Courier, The Week, and Discover Magazine.