Climate Action United States Project #10973

Engaging with Congress on Climate Change Solutions

by Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)

Engaging with Congress on Climate Change Solutions

Project Report | Oct 15, 2015
You are helping our country harness the wind!

By Susan Williams | Director of Development

Audience at September 28 offshore wind briefing

Did you know that, in many places, the wind blows more powerfully and steadily offshore than over land? This enables offshore wind farms to generate a greater amount of consistent electricity than land-based wind farms. Despite the benefits of offshore wind, there are currently no operational offshore wind farms in U.S. waters. Europe, by contrast, has been generating power from offshore wind farms since 1991.

But things may be changing soon. That’s where YOU come in! You are already helping us organizing crucial fact-filled briefings to educate policymakers on offshore wind and other complex topics. Thanks to your dedication, last month EESI held a very well-received briefing, "Offshore Wind: Can the U.S. Catch Up with Europe?," examining offshore wind developments in U.S. waters – and showcasing Europe's great success with this technology. In addition to members of the policy community, reporters often attend our briefings, resulting in articles such as this one in Scientific American. Making such media coverage possible is an important way you are helping to increase knowledge of complex, important energy and environmental topics – thanks again!

Your support allowed us to bring experts together for this important panel on offshore wind. Deepwater Wind CEO Jeff Grybowski explained that the first U.S. offshore wind project is expected to come online in summer 2016 at Block Island, 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island. Deepwater Wind is leading the Block Island project, which will generate 50 megawatts (MW) of power, enough to power 17,000 homes. The Project Development Director for U.S. Wind, Paul Rich, shared that his company is working on a much larger project off the coast of Maryland, where it plans to have 500 MW of offshore wind operating by 2020. These developments are promising for the growing U.S. offshore wind industry. Officials from the German and British Embassies explained that offshore wind is a far more mature power source in Europe, with more than 10 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power currently operating.

Efforts in the Senate have sought to catalyze the young U.S. offshore wind industry. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) reintroduced the Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act this past July, to provide a 30-percent investment tax credit for the first 3,000 MW of offshore wind put online. Such an incentive would help the United States realize some of offshore wind's potential, which the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates is more than 4,000 GW, enough to meet all U.S. electricity needs four times over.

Thanks to your generosity, you are helping EESI move clean energy policy forward; you should feel great about that!

You can help bring more important discussions forward when you renew your support for clean energy policy with a gift to EESI through the Global Giving website today! You are definitely making a difference as we tackle climate change with your Global Giving gift to EESI. Thanks again!

Celebrate America's progress toward cleaner energy

Deepwater, the first U.S. offshore wind farm

Senator Thomas Carper opening up the briefing

The map illustrates how strong offshore winds are

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Jul 15, 2015
Renewables & Efficiency EXPO, China and Climate Change, and Bonus Day!

By Susan Williams | Director of Development

Today is Global Giving Bonus Day! Since you are an EESI supporter through Global Giving, I wanted to be sure to alert you of this special opportunity to make an even stronger impact TODAY!

As of now, Global Giving’s partner nonprofits--including EESI--are competing for the chance to receive as much of Global Giving's matching funds as possible. There are $115,000 in Bonus Day matching funds available today! As a Global Giving “Superstar” partner, donations to EESI through the Global Giving website are matched at 50% for gifts of up to $1,000 per donor!

This is the highest matching reward level EESI has ever reached, thanks to you! Any size donation—from $10 to $1,000—will help EESI win bonus gifts of $1,000 by being the organization to earn the most funds and/or have the most individual donors today. It’s the biggest Global Giving matching gift opportunity of the year. We expect funds to run out before the end of the day. Don’t miss this chance to stretch your gift for energy and climate policy engagement further than ever by acting now!

With the Clean Power Plan high on policymakers’ agenda--yet misunderstood and under fire from many sources--today is a very exciting day to give and show your support for climate and energy solutions.

Your gifts through Global Giving allow EESI to hold critical briefings and events that help educate policymakers in Congress about clean energy and the wide array of solutions to climate change. For example, your gifts, combined with those of others like you, made the 18th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum last Thursday possible! Close to 50 organizations showcased to Congress the wide variety of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies--including solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass—that can sustainably meet our energy needs. This year’s EXPO drew in close to 1,000 people throughout the day. They came to learn about companies that are working to make clean energy and energy efficiency a reality throughout our nation, creating domestic jobs in the process. This was an amazing opportunity for Congressional staff to hear from clean energy companies, and for EXPO attendees and exhibitors to hear from Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle.

Yesterday, EESI held a public briefing and live webcast, “What Action is China Taking on Climate Change?” in partnership with the World Resources Institute. Timed to coincide with the release of China's national plans for climate mitigation, this was an incredibly important opportunity for the policymaking community to learn about the climate actions China has taken and plans to take as it looks ahead to the international negotiations in Paris. China is the highest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world (the United States comes second), making its commitments particularly critical.

Your renewed support—especially today, on Bonus Day—allows EESI to continue to spread the word to Congress about the importance of addressing climate change both domestically and internationally!

Thank you so much for supporting EESI in finding real solutions for energy and climate challenges, especially on this special Global Giving Bonus Day! You help EESI engage with Congress and the Administration on the Clean Power Plan, the run up to the international negotiations in Paris, the benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and much, much more.

Learning About Solar Energy

Discovering Grid Alternatives

Networking at the EXPO

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Jul 9, 2015
The Clean Power Plan, Thanks, and Bonus Day!

By Susan Williams | Director of Development

EESI’s work to engage policymakers on the Clean Power Plan continues to move forward in 2015 thanks to YOU!

Thanks to your generosity, you are helping EESI move our nation forward with reducing carbon emission levels, improving energy efficiency, and advancing clean and sustainable energy. Approximately one year ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft of the Clean Power Plan, the largest near-term opportunity to reduce carbon and achieve critical climate goals! Your support helped EESI spring into action to engage with policymakers about this important opportunity.

You can help us keep up a strong drumbeat to engage policymakers on these high-stakes issues and the Clean Power Plan during Global Giving Bonus Day! Starting next week on Wednesday, July 15, Global Giving will be generously matching gifts of up to $1,000 made on the Global Giving platform with a special 50% bonus because YOUR support has made us one of Global Giving’s best partners, qualifying us for higher rewards. Global Giving is making a pool of $115,000 in matching gifts and prizes available. You can help us win a prize if we raise the most money or receive the greatest number of gifts on that day! All gifts from $10 up to $1,000 qualify for bonus matching funds—while funds remain. The Bonus Day starts at 9am EDT on the 15^t^h, so mark your calendar now!

The Clean Power Plan is a great opportunity for carbon mitigation, but there is some confusion among policymakers and key stakeholders over the complexities and details of the proposed regulation and how it will affect renewable energy, electricity prices, and state economies across the United States. EESI has aimed to address these concerns through informative, fact-filled public briefings on Capitol Hill so that policymakers, the media, and key stakeholders can understand the Clean Power Plan’s great opportunity for advancing clean energy!

Thanks to your dedication, last month EESI held a packed briefing and live webcast called “How Can States Comply with the Clean Power Plan?” At this event, the National Association of Clean Air Agencies’ Executive Director Bill Becker emphasized the options and flexibility states have to address carbon emissions based on their specific needs and target levels.

In another briefing on the Clean Power Plan that you helped make possible, EESI brought together top experts to look at legal challenges to the Clean Power Plan. Michael Burger of Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law advised EESI’s audience that the EPA is authorized to require carbon reductions under the Clean Air Act.

With your renewed Global Giving support, you can help EESI help policymakers and the public understand the benefits for our health and our climate of implementing the Clean Power Plan. You’re also helping us showcase the many options states have for moving forward.

Ultimately, the success of the Clean Power Plan will play an important role in getting the U.S. to fulfill its pledge to address climate change by reducing carbon emissions by at least 25% by 2025, as part of the run-up to the United Nations climate negotiations in Paris this December.

Thanks to your Global Giving gifts, you are helping your country provide for healthier societies, away from polluting fossil fuels, and towards sustainable energy. Here at EESI, we deeply appreciate your support for sustainable energy and engagement with Congress through your gifts on Global Giving and hope that you will renew that support on Global Giving Bonus Day, Wednesday, July 15^th. Thank you so very much.

Smokestacks, Lake MI (CC courtesy Cindy Snider Re)

Smokestacks in MI (CC courtesy MjZ Photography)

Solar Farm (CC courtesy Brookhaven National Lab.)

Sunflower Solar (CC courtesy Sterling College)

Illinois Wind Farm (CC courtesy Tom)

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