Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)

Climate-Smart Research for the Farms of the Future

A live webcast will be streamed at 2:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing that explores the latest advancements in agricultural research, technology, and practices. As climate change continues to trigger extreme weather of increasing frequency and severity, farmers and ranchers are looking for innovative techniques to bolster crop resilience and ensure food security. Research in areas ranging from drought-resistant crops to carbon sequestration and precision agriculture can provide new ways of mitigating and adapting to climate change.
Department of Agriculture-supported research programs and partnerships are generating creative, climate-smart solutions to enhance resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on farms and ranches. During this briefing, panelists will discuss innovations in agricultural research, as well as how to invest in, scale up, and evaluate effective practices. The briefing will also explore how new policies could further support ongoing agricultural research.

Conservation Practices from Farms to Forests and Wetlands

A live webcast will be streamed at 2:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on opportunities to cultivate climate-smart conservation programs in this year’s Farm Bill. The conservation title of the Farm Bill contains important programs and policies that help agricultural producers, forest managers, and rural communities take advantage of opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate impacts, while also generating other benefits such as improved water and air quality, soil health, biodiversity, and jobs.
Conservation of private, public, working, and nonworking lands can take many forms, from regenerative agricultural practices to conservation easements. Panelists will describe conservation opportunities, barriers to access the many Farm Bill conservation-related programs, as well as ways to advance conservation through research, technical assistance, and financial support.
More speakers are to be announced.

The Future of Forestry in the Farm Bill

A live webcast will be streamed at 2:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and U.S. Nature4Climate invite you to a briefing on opportunities to advance climate-friendly forestry in this year’s Farm Bill. The forestry programs and incentives in the Farm Bill can provide greenhouse gas emission reduction benefits, as well as build resilience to climate impacts such as wildfire risk and extreme heat. At the same time, these programs generate jobs and present opportunities for innovation.
During this briefing, panelists will explain forestry-related programs in the Farm Bill and cover essential forestry topics, including wildfire management, innovative wood products, carbon markets, and urban forestry.

Maximizing the Climate Benefits of Hydrogen

A live webcast will be streamed at 12:00 PM at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) invite you to a briefing on the climate impacts of hydrogen and pathways for “getting it right.” Hydrogen has garnered significant attention from Congress, including funding for regional clean hydrogen hubs, the Department of Energy’s hydrogen Earthshot to accelerate clean energy breakthroughs, and the 45V hydrogen production tax credit.
These policies have the potential to leverage hundreds billions of dollars of hydrogen investment and decarbonize critical sectors of the economy, if done right. But poorly designed implementation risks squandering taxpayer resources, undermining climate progress, and discrediting the nascent clean hydrogen industry. Panelists will describe key policy considerations for maximizing hydrogen’s potential, including renewable electricity accounting frameworks for "green" hydrogen, how to account for upstream methane impacts of "blue" hydrogen, and the importance of minimizing hydrogen leakage.
Lunch will be provided.

Unlocking Rural Economies: Farm Bill Investments in Rural America

A live webcast will be streamed at 2:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on Farm Bill policies and programs that help farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and rural communities drive down greenhouse gas emissions, generate jobs, and stimulate the economy. Rural communities face numerous challenges, such as high energy costs, low investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, and increasingly severe weather. The Farm Bill plays an important role in helping rural America develop strong economies and build climate resilience and mitigation.
During this briefing, panelists will discuss how Congress can bolster key programs in the rural development and energy titles of the Farm Bill, such as the Rural Energy Savings Program, Rural Energy for America Program, and water and wastewater technical assistance programs. These provisions help rural communities improve energy efficiency, access electrification retrofits, upgrade water systems, and build out broadband capabilities.

Climate, Energy, and Economic Win-Wins in the Farm Bill

A live webcast will be streamed at 1:30 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on promising win-wins made possible by Farm Bill provisions. Agriculture accounts for about 11 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, farms, ranches, and forests across the country continue to be negatively impacted by climate-related events like drought, flooding, and extreme heat. Farm Bill programs—spanning from conservation to rural development—can bolster both climate change mitigation and adaptation while creating economic opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
During this briefing, panelists will explain how the Farm Bill helps agricultural producers and communities drive down greenhouse gas emissions while also building climate and economic resilience, with discussions of the role of agroforestry, urban agriculture, distributed energy resources, and agricultural research and innovation.

The Process and Path Forward for Passing a Bipartisan Farm Bill

A live webcast will be streamed at 2:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on what you need to know about this year’s Farm Bill, including key bipartisan opportunities for addressing the climate crisis. The Farm Bill is an omnibus, multiyear law that Congress renews every five years to address numerous issues from conservation to crop insurance. The Farm Bill is the most impactful piece of legislation related to U.S. agriculture, affecting how and what food is grown, food access and nutrition, natural resources, rural development, and more. With the 2018 Farm Bill expiring this September, Congress has already begun the process of developing the next Farm Bill.
This briefing will help Congressional staff get up to speed on the basics of the Farm Bill, including the process for passing the bill, the history of the Farm Bill, and opportunities for a bipartisan path forward. Staff will develop an understanding of how to meaningfully engage with the 2023 Farm Bill, regardless of their member’s committee assignments.

The State of Play for Nuclear Energy in the United States

A live webcast will be streamed at 2:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing about the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) nuclear energy programs. Through provisions in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2023 funding for nuclear energy research, development, and demonstrations, the Administration and Congress have strongly supported the existing reactor fleet and invested in next-generation technologies. This briefing will highlight nuclear energy programs underway from basic research to demonstration projects, including work happening across DOE’s national labs.
Panelists will discuss DOE’s current approach to nuclear energy, the evolution of deployment in the United States, and the path ahead for DOE’s nuclear energy work. Topics will include what is next for advanced reactors, securing a domestic fuel supply of high-assay low-enriched uranium (uranium enriched to between 5 and 20 percent), engaging with communities, and safely managing spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste through a consent-based siting approach.

Investments in Clean Energy and Transportation Innovations in the Federal and Private Sectors

A live webcast will be streamed at 1:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on the latest research and innovations in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation. In particular, the briefing will focus on the Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) programs, from those covering vehicle technologies that leverage clean energy to those supporting grid-interactive efficient buildings. The briefing will highlight key proposed investments in the Biden-Harris Administration’s fiscal year 2024 budget request and partnerships between EERE, national laboratories, and the private sector to improve and deploy clean energy.
Federal agency and private sector panelists will discuss how investments in advanced technologies supported by the Department of Energy can drive decarbonization while building a clean energy workforce, advancing environmental justice, and keeping energy affordable.

Grow Organic

A live webcast will be streamed at 12:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) invite you to a briefing on expanding organic agriculture. Organic agriculture is a time-tested, scientifically-supported approach to farming and ranching that centers ecological diversity, soil fertility, and natural systems rather than chemical interventions. The briefing will feature the firsthand experience of organic farmers and findings from NRDC’s new report, Grow Organic: The Climate, Health, and Economic Case for Expanding Organic Agriculture.
As Congress crafts the next reauthorization of the Farm Bill, this briefing will cover how federal policies can support the expansion of organic farming and ranching. Recommendations include reducing barriers to scaling up organic agriculture, ramping up federal resources for organic agriculture, and ensuring just and equitable participation, especially for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Panelists will describe how these steps can provide benefits to the climate, health, and local economies.