Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)

The Mississippi River

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing that examined the environmental challenges facing the Mississippi River and solutions to address them. Spanning 10 states, the Mississippi plays a key role in tourism, commerce, biodiversity, and recreation in the United States. In particular, the river system moves hundreds of millions of tons of freight each year, serves as a home to hundreds of different fish, mammal, and amphibian species, and supports 1.3 million jobs. However, like many other river systems featured in this briefing series, the Mississippi River and the communities that depend on it face challenges such as nitrate pollution, saltwater intrusion, flooding, and low water levels—many of which are exacerbated by climate change. At this briefing, Mississippi River experts discussed the role of federal policy in advancing strategies to improve both the health and climate resilience of the river system. 

Funding Opportunities for Nonprofits, Municipalities, and Communities

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing that explored the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding dedicated to nonprofit organizations and municipalities. For example, the introduction of “direct pay” is allowing tax-exempt entities to access the benefits of federal tax credits for the first time. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency are hard at work rolling out new programs specifically tailored to these entities. The IRA and IIJA are opening new doors for nonprofits and local governments working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. 
These opportunities also bring questions: What capacities do varying organizations and municipalities have to apply for, manage, and monitor funding? What reporting requirements could pose challenges for grantees? What does equity look like across these different programs? 
Panelists addressed these questions and described the status of IRA and IIJA programs that increase the technical and financial capacity of public sector groups. They also shared case studies from across the country where funding is making a difference in communities, and discussed what lessons can be learned to bolster these federal efforts going forward. 

Exploring the Policy Landscape of Carbon Dioxide Removal

More information at: https://www.eesi.org/091224cdr
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) held a briefing about effective policy-making for carbon dioxide removal (CDR). CDR—the practice of removing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and ocean—comes in many forms, including direct air capture, soil carbon sequestration, ocean CDR, and forest restoration. These methods have garnered increasing scientific, governmental, and private sector interest, but expanded policy development is needed to bring them to the scale needed to meet national climate goals. Leveraging key findings from recent reports, panelists from NGOs, academia, and the private sector explored existing policies supporting different stages of CDR development, the level of CDR we expect to need, the potential for CDR in the United States, policy options to enable scaling to that level, and private sector perspectives on the policy landscape. Panelists also pinpointed key takeaways relevant for federal policymakers. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 - Start 02:28 - Senator Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator (D-Colo.) 27:44 - Katie Lebling, Associate II, Carbon Removal, World Resources Institute (WRI) 38:48 - Galen Bower, Senior Analyst, Rhodium Group 47:47 - Peter Psarras, Research Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania 59:21 - Laura Hatalsky, Deputy Director of Policy, Carbon Removal Alliance 01:10:55 - Q&A

Maximizing the Impact of Natural Climate Solutions

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), U.S. Nature4Climate, and the Bipartisan Policy Center held a briefing on natural climate solutions, which leverage natural processes—like those in forests, grasslands, soils, and wetlands—to reduce carbon emissions, sequester carbon, and bring new income and employment opportunities to rural America. Natural climate solutions as a whole are a widely popular strategy to address climate change, with 92% of people across the political spectrum in support of their implementation.
This briefing explored the federal role in maximizing the benefits of natural climate solutions. The panel convened experts studying natural climate solutions and practitioners implementing programs supported by federal agencies. These panelists discussed what is working, what we are still learning, and what the next phase of natural climate solutions policy and implementation looks like to support the long-term productivity and resilience of America’s natural and working lands and the prosperity of rural communities.

Cities Leading the Way on Nature-Based Solutions

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about climate solutions from small- and medium-sized cities. Cities around the country are taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. Many cities and community partners are doing this work with support from federal agencies, while others can share key learnings from project implementation to help inform federal decision-making. 
During this briefing, speakers focused on nature-based solutions in cities—from parks that help manage stormwater to urban trees that can reduce summer temperatures across entire neighborhoods. Panelists, including city government officials, community leaders, and federal agency partners, highlighted equitable and community-designed climate solutions from the places they live and work and described the intersection points with federal policy and programs.

Dams in Every District: Challenges, Opportunities, and What’s Ahead

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and American Rivers held a briefing to learn about the state of dam infrastructure in the United States. Rivers across the United States are dotted with dams built for various purposes, from powering factories to irrigating croplands. In fact, there are more than 500,000 dams across the country. Of the dams in the National Inventory, 85 percent have outlived their expected lifespan and many are no longer serving a purpose. This presents a critical challenge for dam owners, municipalities, states, the federal government, and industry as they seek to ensure community safety. 
This briefing discussed the options dam owners have to manage this infrastructure challenge, including dam removal, which is a common approach to dam safety and river restoration. Dam owners frequently seek help with removing their obsolete and unsafe structures, and dam removals are only completed with dam owner consent. To date, dam owners have worked with federal agencies and nonprofits to remove 2,119 dams, the majority of them in the last 25 years. 
Panelists discussed the need to pay attention to dams as key infrastructure--including dams that provide carbon-free electricity to 30 million Americans--that has an impact in districts across the country. Bringing together perspectives from federal agencies, local leaders, and the hydropower industry, the briefing highlighted funding, programs, and projects that advance public safety through dam removal as well as river restoration.

Demystifying Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) held a briefing about ocean carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Reaching global climate goals will require not only deep and rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but also large-scale removal of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. While federal funding for research, development, and demonstration of land-based CDR approaches and technologies has increased significantly in recent years, the ocean also presents opportunities for carbon removal. 
The ocean covers 70% of the Earth and serves as its largest carbon sink, holding 42 times the carbon in the atmosphere. Ocean CDR—the practice of removing and storing carbon from the ocean—is garnering increasing scientific, governmental, and private sector interest. At the same time it presents uncertainties related to efficacy, ecosystem impacts, and governance, which decision-makers must understand in order to determine if and how the practice could be scaled up as a climate solution.
Panelists discussed the current state of ocean CDR, including the status of different approaches; the policy and regulatory landscape; research gaps; and the importance of responsible scaling. They also discussed how lawmakers can engage in this emerging policy arena to meet mitigation and adaptation goals.

The National Security – Climate Adaptation Nexus

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing on the impacts of climate change on U.S. national security.

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The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about the implementation of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in rural America. What programs are uniquely designed for and supportive of rural communities? What types of projects are making a difference in people's lives? What are the remaining barriers preventing small and rural communities, institutions, and companies from accessing IIJA and IRA support?
Panelists addressed these questions and shared the latest updates on U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, and other agency programs that provide for rural communities. They outlined how these laws directly help rural communities—from farms and ranches to rural town centers. Using specific examples from around the country, panelists also discussed key topics from a rural perspective, including electricity provision, broadband access, drinking water availability, and pollution reduction.

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Hosted in coordination with the House and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses, the Conservative Climate Caucus, and the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) held a briefing about the 12th edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The Factbook provides valuable year-over-year data and insights on the U.S. energy transformation, with an in-depth look at the energy efficiency, renewable energy, and natural gas sectors, as well as transmission, digitalization, micro-grids, offshore wind, hydrogen, renewable natural gas, and more.
Panelists explored the impact of supply chain trends as well as permitting and siting processes on U.S. clean energy deployment. They also highlighted investment figures resulting from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Factbook, published by BloombergNEF and BCSE, launched on February 21, and is available to download for free at www.bcse.org/factbook.