Water Reuse, Wind Energy, and Energy Efficiency Retrofits

Hello and welcome to Climate Change Solutions!

As the year winds down, we are grateful to all of our readers, viewers, listeners, and supporters. Before we take a break for the holidays, we are bringing you fresh solution articles on water reuse, wind energy in the Southeast, and energy efficiency retrofits. Plus, we are sharing a new article in our 40th anniversary series, a Q&A with EESI President Daniel Bresette, and a podcast episode on the history of climate science in the White House. 

We will see you in January 2025 for Congressional Climate Camp, river health and resilience briefings, and more!

The Latest Solutions

How Water Reuse Can Address Scarcity

[7 min. read] In the wake of climate change, fresh water sources are increasingly stressed. Irregular rainfall and droughts diminish water supplies, while rising temperatures increase evaporation rates from lakes and rivers. Water reuse is a viable solution to help conserve and stretch freshwater resources. [click for more]

Taller Turbines, Bigger Opportunities: How EESI Shaped My Path in Southeast Wind Energy

[4 min. read]Jaxon Tolbert, a senior program associate at the Southeastern Wind Coalition and former EESI intern, reflects on how his internship propelled his career in the wind energy sector. [click for more]

Energy Efficiency Retrofits for Rural Households in South Carolina: Sol Systems and Google

[8 min. read]National renewable energy firm Sol Systems and Google are collaborating with rural electric cooperatives in South Carolina to develop energy efficiency projects for low-income households. This pilot program supplements existing energy efficiency initiatives, like the Help My House on-bill financing program. [click for more]

EESI at 40: EESI President Daniel Bresette on Working and Learning at EESI

[10 min. read] Continuing EESI’s 40th anniversary article series, President Daniel Bresette shares his insights about the organization’s impact on Capitol Hill and beyond. He also discusses how EESI is preparing for the 119th Congress, which kicks off in January 2025. [click for more]

Podcast: Political Climate: Author Jay Hakes on the History of Climate Change Science in the White House

[26 min. listen]For the Season 8 finale of The Climate Conversation, co-hosts Daniel and Alison sit down with Jay Hakes , author of The Presidents and the Planet: Climate Change Science and Politics from Eisenhower to Bush, to talk about the intersection of climate science and politics in the White House. [click for more]

On the Hill

New Law Supports Coastal Conservation: The President signed the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2023 (P.L.118-138) into law. Congressman Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (R-P.R.) reintroduced the bill (H.R.2950) in the House to reauthorize voluntary federal programs that bolster the health and resilience of coastal habitats. Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) led the bill (S.1381) in the Senate. 

Water Resources Bill Advances to White House: The House passed the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 (S.4367). WRDA is reauthorized every two years, and the 2024 bill would mandate 17 new water infrastructure projects under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including projects for storm risk mitigation, stormwater management, Everglades restoration, and coastal flood management. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) cosponsored Sen. Tom Carper’s (D-Del.) bill, which will head to President Biden’s desk for his signature.

Desalinating the Colorado: The Senate passed the Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act (S.2514/H.R.7872). The bill, which passed the House the week prior, aims to reduce the Colorado River’s high salinity levels that have recently threatened biodiversity and decreased water availability for household and agricultural use. Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) and Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) introduced the bill alongside bipartisan cosponsors. EESI’s Resilient and Healthy Rivers briefing series discusses environmental, economic, and health issues across the country’s key rivers, including the Colorado River.

Reauthorizing Great Lakes Funding: The Senate passed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024 (S.3738). Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) introduced the bill, which reauthorizes and increases funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to address ongoing and emerging threats to the Great Lakes system. Reps. David Joyce (R-Ohio), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) lead the bill in the House (H.R.7257).

We track all environmental, energy, and climate legislation and hearings happening on Capitol Hill. See the full legislative trackers for December 2-6 and December 9-13.

Implementation Updates

EESI is tracking recent announcements and updates about the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)

• The Department of the Interior (DOI) announced $849 million in funding for water delivery system modernization to improve water conveyance, safety, storage, treatment, and power generation.
• DOI also announced $109 million in funding to tackle 484 orphaned oil and gas wells on public lands. These wells will be plugged, reclaimed, and remediated to address their climate, environmental, and health impacts.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the availability of $100 million in funding for habitat restoration and resilience efforts across the coasts and Great Lakes.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the 105 recipients of $1.6 billion in funding for the Community Change Grants Program, which aims to build capacity and climate resilience in disadvantaged communities.
• EPA also announced 70 selected applicants that will receive a total of over $735 million in funding through the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program. These recipients will be able to use the funding to purchase zero-emission vehicles to replace internal combustion vehicles.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $335 million in grant funding for improving incentive-based conservation and sustainable management programs for private forest landowners.

Upcoming Events

Ready to make a difference in climate policy? But not sure where to start? You won’t want to miss EESI’s start-of-the-new Congress briefing series, Climate Camp. We will go over the basics of the legislative process, highlighting key areas and opportunities for climate mitigation and adaptation policy. The briefings in this series are:

Navigating Climate Information for Effective Policy-Making

• Wednesday, January 29, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST; Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room) and online; RSVP here

National Labs on the Cutting Edge of Climate Solutions

• Thursday, February 13, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST; Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room) and online; RSVP here

Understanding the Budget and Appropriations Process

• Friday, February 28, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST; Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room) and online; RSVP here

The Process and Path Forward for a Bipartisan Surface Transportation Bill

• Thursday, March 13, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST; Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2168 (Gold Room) and online; RSVP here

EESI’s Resilient and Healthy Rivers briefing series will continue in the new year to explore challenges facing communities situated along U.S. rivers—from industrial pollution to flooding and drought. The briefings will highlight equitable solutions and policies that deliver multiple mitigation, adaptation, and economic benefits.

The Columbia River

• Wednesday, January 15, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST; Online only; RSVP here

The Colorado River

• Wednesday, February 19, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. EST; Online only; RSVP here

In Case You Missed It

Briefing Video Now Available | The Tennessee River 

Check out the full video of last week’s briefing about strategies to improve biodiversity and river health along the Tennessee River. This briefing dove into the ecosystem services provided by the river and the species within it as well as the microplastics, PFAS, and other pollutants threatening its health. Watch the video and download speaker materials here.

Final Briefing of 2024 | EERE Investment Snapshot Report  

The Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Investment Snapshot summarizes the benefits of investments in clean, efficient, and reliable energy technologies over the last decade. EESI held a briefing Tuesday morning to spotlight EERE’s impact and show the importance of continued clean energy investment. The video will soon be available here.

Latest Media Coverage

• An opinion piece published by Energy News Network cited EESI's fact sheet on direct pay.
• EESI’s briefing on reducing waste from building materials was cited in an article by Goldstream Gazette about reducing construction waste on Vancouver Island.