Looks like a slow week following last week's excitement around the release of the Commission's oil spill report, but there are two items of interest: the state visit from China, which always creates interesting discussions around climate change, energy, environment, business and trade issues, as well as the 11th Annual National Council for Science and the Environment Conference (this year on ocean policy, hence the Oceans 11), which features a robust line up of speakers that will address oil spill-related issues. 

 

As well tomorrow, our good friends at NARUC will hold a media avail for President Tony Clark of North Dakota to discuss energy issues at Noon in the NARUC Washington Office.  NARUC is active on energy, air quality, nuclear waste and other issues.   Also the 79^th winter meeting of US mayors is in town Wednesday through Friday.  Transportation, jobs and energy are always hot topics.

 

Finally this week, one of my great friends and mentors in this business, Russ Dawson at Potomac Communications, is retiring this week after a long and storied career in energy and environment communications.  A former Press Secretary to EPA's Lee Thomas and reporter (for my favorite publication of all time, Sludge Magazine), Russ is really a risk communications and media training pioneer, not only teaching companies how and what to say in high-risk communications situations, but also teaching some of the toughest media training students ever – NASA and other government scientists – about the media.  PCG is holding a small event for Russ on Thursday for former staff, but if you have worked with him or know him, please wish him the best. 

 

Thanks again to all that attended the BG media pen and pad on Friday.  We thought the event was a great two hours and hope you found it valuable to outline potential upcoming stories on GHGs, the oil spill report, Congress and anything else we talked about.  We'll be around this week to continue to answer any questions that may linger from the briefing or from those of you who couldn't attend. Don't hesitate to call.  As well, thanks to all for the birthday wishes over the weekend, I can't believe I actually made to 30!!!

 

Frank Maisano

(202) 828-5864

C. (202) 997-5932

 

 

IN THE NEWS

 

Spruce Mine Permit Vetoed – As expected, the EPA vetoed the Army Corps of Engineers' previously approved Clean Water Act permit for the Spruce No. 1 mine in Logan County, WV.   The action, cheered by environmental groups drew an immediate rebuke from WV Sen. Jay Rockefeller who said it throws other mining permits into doubt.  Arch Coal said they remain shocked and dismayed at EPA’s continued onslaught with respect to this validly-issued permit.  Arch will continue to vigorously defend the permit, now in court, along with the right to have a predictable regulatory environment.  Arch added that EPA's veto blocks an additional $250 million investment and 250 well-paying American jobs at the Spruce Mine. Arch added the decision will have a "chilling effect on future U.S. investment because every business possessing or requiring a permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act will fear similar overreaching by the EPA."  More than 20 groups urged the White House to stop EPA from pulling the permit including the American Farm Bureau, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, National Realtors Association, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the United Egg Producers.  All are concerned about setting bad precedent for undoing water permits.  Court battles to ensue.

 

EPA Water AA Silva Leaves – Following last week's controversial water decision in WV, EPA assistant administrator for water Peter Silva is leaving.  Nancy Stoner will serve as EPA's acting assistant administrator for water after Silva departs. Stoner currently is deputy assistant administrator for water and is a veteran of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Clinton administration EPA.

 

Biomass Rules for GHGs Delayed – In another sign that EPA is searching for its way on GHG regulation, the Agency exempted biomass project from the new greenhouse gas regulations for three years, giving them more time to address concerns that permitting requirements could chill investment.  Former EPA enforcement official Rich Alonso, now at B&G said the action clearly demonstrates how the Clean Air Act was never intended to regulate CO2 and how EPA is now trying to address major downfalls using a CAA piecemeal approach.  Alonso says biomass is a perfect way to reduce GHGs because it is a renewable source of energy, but EPA's use of the CAA for regulating GHG establishes a disincentive from using biomass to address climate change issues.  Other experts at Bracewell also say it creates a precedent/reasoning for having a delay in GHG regs for other industries as well.  The National Alliance of Forest Owners, who had pressured EPA for the delay said the action is a critical step toward recognizing the full carbon benefits of biomass as a leading source of renewable energy. NAFO said the three delay was appropriate given it will allow the EPA and USDA to work with Congress, biomass producers and users, scientists and other interested parties to develop a science-based policy supporting a vibrant biomass energy sector for the long term without penalizing biomass energy production in the interim.  NAFO had said the Tailoring Rule was a "sudden and unprecedented change" in policy without appropriate public participation. Over 100 bipartisan members of Congress, numerous state officials, and over 100 respected scientists have expressed their concerns about the rule. All urged EPA to appropriately recognize the carbon benefits of biomass energy in the Tailoring Rule to support renewable energy production, rural jobs and sound forest management.

 

MD Offshore Wind Response Strong – The Offshore Wind Development Coalition (OWDC) said the response to the Maryland offshore wind RFI was outstanding.  OWDC's Director Jim Lanard said the robust response to the Maryland RFI for leases on the Outer Continental Shelf indicates the quick evolution of the offshore wind industry in the U.S.  Lanard said the President Obama and U.S. DOI Secretary Ken Salazar sent a strong message that the U.S. offshore wind industry is open for business, is being heard loud and clear.  Lanard said more new entrants into the offshore wind industry, as evidenced by the large number of respondents to the Maryland RFI, bodes well for U.S.  job creation, economic development, reduction of climate-threatening carbon dioxide emissions, and energy security and energy independence.  Lanard said: “We are rapidly approaching the critical mass needed for supply chain manufacturers to commit to establishing facilities up and down the East Coast so that they will be able to meet the demand for their products, once proposed offshore wind farms receive their approvals from the federal and state governments.”

 

Ventower Looks for East Coast Plant – Speaking of the east coast and offshore wind, Ventower Industries announced plans for a second manufacturing facility that will be located on the East Coast and will allow the tower company to tap the nascent offshore segment of the wind power industry.  They are currently constructing a facility in Monroe Michigan.  The East Coast plant will be able to produce towers and foundations for both the offshore and land-based wind power markets.  Ventower  cited several factors in the company’s decision to pursue a second plant. Many states along the Eastern Seaboard have shown a commitment to offshore wind power, both in terms of committing to purchase offshore wind energy as well as wanting to attract companies that will provide the components for this somewhat unique industry segment. In addition, they pointed to the movement toward offshore development as evidenced by the involvement of such “great American companies” as Google, which last fall joined with Trans-Elect, Good Energies and Marubeni Corp. in announcing plans for an ambitious offshore backbone transmission project running north-south along a multi-state stretch of the East Coast to transport electricity produced at offshore wind power projects.

 

Cape Wind Seeks Financing With Permits in Hand – Last week, we mentioned that Cape Wind received its EPA and Army Corps permits marking the completion of its federal permitting process.  EPA’s approval for the 468-MW project came 24 hours after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued Cape Wind its long-awaited Section 10 Permit. Last year U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar announced that his agency had approved Cape Wind and awarded the project the nation’s first offshore wind power lease. In 2009 Cape Wind completed its state and local permitting requirements; those approvals were later upheld by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.   With the permitting process complete, and with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities recent approval of Cape Wind’s power purchase contract with National Grid, Cape Wind said its focus now turns to securing project finance.

 

Salazar Letter Says Congressional Input Important on NatGas Drilling – Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has quickly responded to new House Resources Chairman Doc Hastings saying that work closely with Congress if Interior creates new oversight rules on natural-gas drilling on public lands.  Many Republicans raised hackles in December after a natural gas drilling forum when Salazar said Interior was considering plans to require disclosure of chemicals companies use when employing a drilling method called “hydraulic fracturing.”  I have a copy of the letter if you need it.

 

Purdue Study Says Owner CA Electric Car More Expensive Due to Tiers – Our friends at Purdue University released a new study last week that says California policies aimed at reducing electricity use and curbing greenhouse gas emissions have the unintended consequence of making new plug-in hybrid vehicles uneconomical. Purdue University economist Wally Tyner said California's tiered electricity pricing system means Californians will pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country to recharge plug-in hybrid vehicles. States with flat electricity rates or those that vary price based on the time of use are more economical, according to Tyner's study.  In tiered systems, consumers pay a higher rate for electricity they use beyond a certain amount. California has three rate tiers. It also has a time-of-use system, which reduces the rate during periods of low demand. In addition, Californians pay some of the highest electricity rates - an average of 14.42 cents per kilowatt hour, which is about 35 percent higher than the national average.  Adding a plug-in hybrid would increase the average use of electricity nearly 60 percent per household, according to the findings. In California, most of that increase would be charged at the highest rate.  Tyner said states such as Indiana, which charges a flat rate of about 8 cents per kilowatt hour, would be more economical. Those that employ time-of-use rates would be the most economical because the lower nightly rates would coincide with when people are most likely to charge their cars.  California was chosen to study because, given the fact that it is often at the leading edge of energy conservation policy and practices, plug-in hybrids are expected to be popular there. For the simulations, researchers compared the Chevrolet Volt with the Toyota Prius and Chevy Cobalt to estimate relative economics of the alternatives. Tyner worked with Purdue researchers Farzad Taheripour, an energy economist in Purdue's Department of Agricultural Economics; Joseph F. Pekny, a professor of chemical engineering; Gintaras V. Reklaitis, the Burton and Kathryn Gedge Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering; and Shisheng Huang and Bri-Mathias S. Hodge, graduate research assistants in chemical engineering, to develop a model that would simulate energy use by Californians. They analyzed U.S. Census data to determine types of appliances each household would use. The model closely aligned with actual energy use in California.  Purdue's Center for Research on Energy Systems and Policy funded the research.

 

Cathy Landry New INGAA Comms Director – Meant to put this in last week, but better late than never.  Our friend Cathy Landry, a reformed Platts journalist (who was stuck with Gerry Karey for all those years), and API spokesperson has left to join the Interstate Natural Gas Assn of America as Communications Director.  INGAA represents interstate and interprovincial natural gas pipeline companies, speaks for the companies that own and operate those lines. 

 

Bloomberg Reporters Released Deepwater Spill Book – Our Bloomberg reporter friend Alison Fitzgerald and her colleague Stanley Reed just published a book called "In Too Deep: BP and the Drilling Race that Took it Down." It looks at BP's corporate culture and what likely led to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.  Early reviews are good.  Check it out on Amazon

 

 

THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:

 

Climate on Agenda for China State Visit – Chinese President Hu Jintao will be in Washington for a state visit with President Obama and energy and climate will Likely be on the agenda following the ongoing discussions buoyed by Cancun's UN meeting in December.  While they have lots of controversial stuff to discuss, taking action on greenhouse gases will likely be on the table.  At the same time, several major utilities are expected to sign MOUs with Chinese energy companies committing to joint research on clean coal technology.  On Thursday, Jintao delivers an address to leaders from the private and public sectors at a luncheon co-hosted by the U.S.-China Business Council and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations at the Marriott Wardman Park. 

 

Brookings Forum Highlights US-China Energy Cooperation – Speaking of the signing, it will come at an event at the Mandarin Hotel hosted by Brookings and the China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy tomorrow and Wednesday.  The two-day forum will look at clean energy cooperation between the U.S. and China over the next decade.   Former Utah Governor and current US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, Jr. will keynote along with CIIDS's Zheng Bijian.  Other speakers include David Sandalow Chinese Science and Technology Minister Wan Gang, OSTP Chair John Holdren and MIT's John Deutch.  Energy Secretary Steve Chu and Chinese Energy Administration head Zhang Guobao will address the dinner that evening.

 

NARUC President to Discuss Energy Issues – National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners President Tony Clark of North Dakota will be available for reporters tomorrow to discuss energy issues at Noon in the NARUC Washington Office, (1101 Vermont Ave. NW #200).  A light lunch will be available on for early arrivers. NARUC is active on energy, air quality, nuclear waste, and other energy issues.  President Clark will offer brief opening remarks and begin taking questions at about 12 noon. Lunch will be available starting at 11:45 a.m.   Please check in with our friend Rob Thormeyer (202-898-9382) if you want to attend.

 

Clean Energy Conference Set – The 2011 Clean Technology Outlook Conference is set for tomorrow in Washington.  The event is sponsored by the Clean Technology Leadership Forum which brings together Congressional, agency, military, and business leaders to identify the most effective clean technology solutions for the U.S. and for the world. The first major clean technology event of 2011 will address the latest projections on clean technology funding in 2011, program priorities of the U.S. Department of Energy and EPA, clean energy contracting opportunities from numerous federal agencies, including the Defense Department, clean energy and environmental clean-up priorities of state and local government and discussion of top new environmental clean-up business opportunities, both in the US and around the world.  Among the list of speakers will be our friend Rob Gramlich of AWEA.

 

Oilsands Experts Available to Discuss Issues – The Canadian Province of Alberta will hold a media discussion oil sands in the National Press Club's Bloomberg Room  tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to discuss issues related to oil sands featuring experts from the University of Alberta.  Alberta’s oilsands are the second largest source of oil in the world after Saudi Arabia. Given both the dwindling supplies of conventional oil and the growing demand for energy, especially in developing countries, the oilsands reserves could be important to sustain world economies. In fact, China is making unprecedented investments in Alberta’s oilsands. With concerns about energy security at the forefront and a wealth of information coming from environmental groups, interest in the oilsands is at an all-time high. This is your chance to talk directly with some of the world’s top independent researchers doing work directly related to oilsands development. Topics covered include: land reclamation and restoration, waterless extraction—no water, no tailings ponds—oilsands engineering and pollution control. But you are free to ask whatever questions you like about the nature and scope of oilsands development. An additional experts list will be provided.  The University of Alberta, located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, currently has more than 50 research projects involving 700-plus oilsands researchers.

 

Wilderness Society to Discuss Public Lands Policies – The Wilderness Society will hold a briefing at the National Press Club's Murrow Room tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. to look into the public lands policy in the US over the first two years of the Obama Administration.   Over the first two years of the Obama Administration, the Interior Department has implemented new policy and land management guidance, managed an oil spill disaster, and kicked off an effort to increase clean energy development on our public lands. We’ve also seated new members in the 112th Congress. All of this has stirred new conversations in the media and on Capitol Hill. The Wilderness Society briefing will focus on the complex issues that will continue to be part of our dialogue in the months ahead as well as clarify some misperceptions about the management and protections for our public lands. Experts will be available to discuss oil/gas, renewable energy, wilderness guidance, Alaska issues and much more.  TWS President Bill Meadows leads the charge. 

 

Mayors Come to DC – More than 220 of the nation’s mayors, led by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Burnsville, MN Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, will convene for the 79th Winter Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) on Wednesday, January 19 to Friday, January 21 at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.  Over the three-day session, mayors will hear from Cabinet officials culminating in a meeting with President Obama at the White House. Much of the discussion during the meeting, including a mayors and CEO panel on Thursday, will center on joblessness in U.S. cities and the need for job creation. Mayors are pushing the Administration and the new Congress to work together on strategies to help unemployed people in America’s cities, where 85% of the people in this country live.  Highlighting the meeting will be a presentation of the Distinguished Public Service Award to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley for his 22 years of service as mayor, as well as an event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Inauguration of President Kennedy and his national call to service.  Confirmed speakers include: U.S. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, U.S. Senator Mark Begich (AK), House Democratic Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA), U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (PA), U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (RI), Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy, Caroline Kennedy, NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, Tucson Mayor Robert Walkup, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and others. Deputy EPA Administration Bob Perciasepe will speak to the environment Committee on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m.

 

Forum to Focus on Nourishing Planet – Carnegie Endowment for International Peace will hold its 15th Annual State of the World 2011 Symposium on Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.  The event will focus on environmental and agriculture issues.  Nearly a half-century after the Green Revolution a large share of the human family is still chronically hungry. At the same time, investments in agricultural development by governments, international lenders, and foundations are at historic lows. But recently, a new generation of innovative approaches to hunger alleviation has emerged from farmers groups, private voluntary organizations, universities, and agribusiness companies.  Speakers will include a group of pioneers of environmentally sustainable agriculture practices looking at the innovative next steps required to create a sustainable food system.  Speakers USDA Deputy Sec. Kathleen Merrigan, Bread for the World President David Beckmann, Hans Herren of the Millennium Institute, the World Bank's Meera Shekar and Christopher Flavin of the Worldwatch Institute.   

 

Eilperin to Moderate Wilson Panel on Environment – Our friend Juliet Eilperin of the Washington Post will moderate a Wilson forum on managing the planet on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., unless of course the stork arrives first with her second child, due very soon.  The panel, co-sponsored by George Mason University and the Woodrow Wilson Center's Environmental Change and Security Program and Brazil Institute, will focus on the new environmental challenges of climate change, ecosystem change, energy demands, and demographic trends. On Earth Day 2010 the Deans of George Mason University’s College of Science and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences convened a diverse group of faculty who identified the need for a public forum of science-anchored discussions on planetary management. The result is a set of “Managing the Planet” dialogues – developed jointly by George Mason and the Woodrow Wilson Center – that will actively foster this kind of discussion with academics, practitioners, policymakers, and other interested sectors.  Speakers will include National Geographic Executive Editor Dennis Dimick, UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Dean Molly Jahn (On Wisconsin!!!) and GMU's Thomas Lovejoy.

 

Forum to Look at Low-Income Home Efficiency – The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus will hold a briefing on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in 122 Cannon about innovations in factory-built housing that are pushing the envelope for quality and performance while meeting the needs of low-income home buyers. Factory-built homes have the benefits of being constructed inside a manufacturing plant (avoiding weather-related delays), standardization that improves consistency and eliminates waste, and a design/build process that facilitates innovation and quality control. These characteristics allow manufacturers to produce high-quality housing much more quickly and cost effectively than homes that are site-built. This briefing will address "manufactured" housing -- permanent housing (not trailers), produced almost entirely in the factory to federal minimum standards (the "HUD Code") -- and "modular" housing, made with prefabricated components and assembled on site to local code. Manufactured housing is the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing in the United States, but most manufacturers are not using the most advanced energy-saving designs and technologies that could reduce monthly energy costs. This briefing will present the latest research and practices of inventive, forward-thinking companies that are working to make housing more affordable for more American home buyers, more profitable for American businesses, and more sustainable for everyone's benefit.  Speakers for this event include Emanuel Levy of the Systems Building Research Alliance, homebuilder Kevin Clayton, President, Clayton Homes and George Mongell of Terradime.

 

Brookings Forum to Local at Climate Governance – The Brookings Institution will hold a discussion on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. to address new approaches to climate governance.  A global agreement on binding emissions reductions now seems unlikely. But according to the Working Group on Global Climate Governance, a diverse group of young leaders from around the globe, progress against climate change can still be made through more discrete initiatives by countries, sub-national governments, international organizations, businesses, and civil society. Formed in the aftermath of the 2009 climate change conference in Copenhagen, the working group is part of the Global Governance 2020 program, which brings together 24 individuals from China, Germany and the United States to examine global governance issues such as climate change, nuclear non-proliferation and economic governance. The Managing Global Insecurity Project at Brookings will host members of the working group as they present the results of their work and discuss the path forward on climate change with climate change experts. Senior Fellow Adele Morris will moderate the discussion. Featured speakers will include WRI's Jennifer Morgan and China Environment Forum Director Jennifer Turner, of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

 

CCAP to Address Smart Growth, Climate – The Center for Clean Air Policy will hold a briefing on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in 406 Dirksen to discuss smart growth, climate change and prosperity.  Speakers include CCAP's Steve Winkelman and Chuck Kooshian, as well as Christopher Leinberger, author of "The Option of Urbanism: Investing in a New American Dream."  This will likely be another one of the environmental events where they tell us that reducing emissions will create jobs and be good for the economy, although that never really seems to work out. 

 

Top Leaders Address Ocean Forum – The National Council for Science and the Environment's (NCSE) 11th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment: Our Changing Oceans will be held on Wednesday through Friday in Washington, DC in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.  This year, the conference will provide a forum to address the crisis facing our oceans, new knowledge and innovative tools to address the challenge, and the policy and governance needed to restore and protect the oceans.  A great line-up of speakers will include NOAA head Jane Lubchenco, Oil Spill Commission co-Chairs Bill Reilly and Bob Graham, BOEMR director Michael Bromwich, our friends Juliet Eilperin of the Washington Post and NPR's Richard Harris, API's Erik Milito, NRDC's Frances Beinecke, BP Spill NIC Thad Allen, LSU's Ed Overton and many more.

 

Harvard Prof to Address Regulations in RFF Lecture – Resources for the Future will hold its 8^th Annual Hans Landsberg Memorial Lecture Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. featuring Harvard University Professor Michael Porter, discussing his Porter Hypothesis After 20 Years, which argues that environmental regulation enhances innovation and competitiveness.  There will be additional comments by RFF President Phil Sharp, Yale's Dan Esty and former DuPont CEO Chad Holliday. One of the world's most influential thinkers on management and competitiveness Twenty years ago, Porter posited 20 years ago what has since become known as the Porter Hypothesis - the notion that well-designed environmental regulation can spur innovation and improve competitiveness. As current policy debates focus on regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act and concerns about global competitiveness of U.S. industry, Porter's insights have never been more germane. The Hans Landsberg Memorial Lecture honors the memory of Landsberg, a pioneer in energy and mineral economics who was a devoted member of the RFF staff for nearly 40 years.

 

Forum to Focus on Federal Agency Sustainability – The Association for Federal Information Resources Management (AFFIRM) will host its January Monthly Luncheon Overview at George Washington University on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Marvin Center to review of federal agencies’ sustainability plans, looking at best practices, challenges and opportunities.  The luncheon will focus on how agencies are managing the requirements of Executive Order 13514 to green agencies and feature a discussion among senior sustainability officers across the federal government discuss their challenges, successes, opportunities and best practices in greening their agency.  Speakers will include John Conger, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Installations & Environment, GSA's Senior Sustainability Officer Stephen Leeds, CEQ's Michelle Moore, Interior's Rhea Suh and Kateri Callahan of the Alliance to Save Energy.

 

AAAS to Look at Science, Tech Education Concerns – The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will hold a discussion on Friday to discuss the coming crisis in American science and technology policy at AAAS at 4:00 p.m.  Participants include GMU's Center for Science and Technology Policy director David Hart, Howard Gobstein of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, George Heaton of Technology Policy International and Albert Teich, senior adviser on policy at AAAS.

 

 

 

THE WEEKS AHEAD:

 

Forum to Look at Energy M&A – The 24^th annual SNL Financial EXNET Power and Utilities M&A Symposium will be held in New York at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park on January 24^th and 25^th to examine the current economic landscape and expectations for deal-making.  Panels of senior industry executives, investment banking directors and regulators bring forward the crucial topics they see impacting M&A in the power sector today, including not just the economic environment, but the regulatory and political climate as well.  Speakers include FERC Commissioner Marc Spitzer, Trans-Elect's Bob Mitchell, Southern Company CEO Tom Fanning, Xcel CEO Richard Kelly and state regulatory commissioners from New Jersey, Maryland and Colorado.

 

January 25^th – State of the Union Speech

 

Washington Auto Show, Green Car Summit Return for 2011 – The 2011 Washington Auto Show opens on January 26 and runs through February 6^th at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and is produced by the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA). This 69th edition of the show will present more than 700 vehicles from over 42 domestic and import manufacturers and a special 65,000-square foot exhibit, "The Advanced Technology SuperHighway," of the latest innovations in safety and sustainability.  Public policy days begin on January 26^th on Capitol Hill with the Green Car Summit.  In its annual public policy day, GM executive Mark Reuss, the company's president of North America, will keynote.  Advancing the 10-day public show, Public Policy Day will feature a lineup of press announcements and special preview opportunities and culminate in a "Sneak Peek" reception for government and media officials to witness the latest advances in the automotive industry.  Known as the automotive industry's "public policy" show for its convergence of public policy makers with industry innovators, The Washington Auto Show has become a premiere stage for showcasing the most critical news and innovations.  The Washington Auto Show keynote address is traditionally opened by leadership of major automobile manufacturers. Past speakers have included such luminaries as DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche, Volkswagen CEO Stefan Jacoby and Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford. At the same time, the Public Policy Preview Day at the convention center draws much of "official Washington," including Cabinet members, White House staff, Members of Congress, regulators and ambassadors.  For more information visit the Washington Auto Show online at www.washingtonautoshow.com.

 

Senate Environment to Discuss Highway Legislation – While the DC Auto Show opens up, the Senate Environment Committee is expected to kick off its 112^th Congress hearing schedule with a hearing on the next highway bill. 

 

Senate Energy to Look at Oil Commission Report – Speaking of hearing kickoffs, the Senate Energy Committee will hold its first session the same day at 9:30 a.m. in the Kennedy Caucus Room in 325 Russell on the report and recommendations (including any recommendations for legislative action) issued by the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.  The commission’s two co-chairs are expected to testify. 

 

MWCOG to Host Clean Energy Workshop – The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments will host a workshop on Wednesday, January 26^th at 12:30 p.m. focused on development of new clean energy resources in the metropolitan Washington region. The purpose of the workshop is to define District Energy, present case studies in Denmark and the U.S., identify strategic issues critical to community energy planning in the Metropolitan Washington Region and discuss the potential for a Regional Community Energy Strategy. The workshop will be held following the Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee meeting in the morning. 

 

CA Forum to Focus on Solar – The Berkeley Law Center for Law, Energy & the Environment and the Environmental Law Institute will host a panel discussion January 26^th in San Francisco to provide a closer look at utility-scale solar power.  This is part of a series of forum to address the issues involved in renewable energy project development. Utility scale solar power is coming into its own as various technologies compete for market share.  Focusing on thermal and photovoltaics, panelists will consider the different technologies as their proponents deal with legal and policy challenges.  Among the issues to be discussed are: permitting and siting on federal versus private lands, transmission, environmental impact considerations, and the potential for future growth in relation to other renewable energy sources.  Panelists for the event will be from leading developers like BrightSource and SunPower, as well as experts from the California PUC and the Center for Biological Diversity.  The event will be at Farella Braun + Martel.

 

Webinar: Biofuel Messages Bad – I know you could have just asked my biofuels experts about this, but a new webinar on Wednesday, January 26 at 3:00 p.m. will discuss one reason why support for biofuels is not where it should be: ineffective messaging. In what was literally the 25th hour on December 16, 2010 Congress signed the tax bill that gave a one-year tax extension to six key biofuel incentives. The very next day, President Obama signed the bill into law amidst what could be deemed the lowest legislative support for biofuels in history. With more biofuel lobbying groups now than ever, and more biofuel companies now than ever, how could legislative and consumer support be on the decline  The webinar will discuss in more detail three current basic biofuel message pillars, industry/opponents messages, current trends in media coverage and other issues.  The presenter will be Joanna Schroeder of 4R Communications, which focuses on renewable energy and agriculture industries.  If you have questions about it, call Webinar Manager Greg Sullivan at 800-728-7511.

 

FERC's Moeller to Address Energy Breakfast – ICF will host FERC Commissioner Phillip Moeller to its monthly energy breakfast on Thursday, January 27^th at 8:00 a.m. at the University Club to discuss key energy issues. The commission’s recent decision on integrating variable energy resources lays the foundation for making renewables a growing part of the future energy mix. The FERC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) on transmission planning and cost allocation, including its proposed removal of the right-of-first-refusal, is reverberating through the power sector. FERC’s enforcement of mandatory reliability standards, defense of open access, financial incentives for transmission, and efforts to integrate demand-side resources are setting new ground rules for future industry investment and resource development.

 

NJ Spotlight Roundtable Series to Look at Offshore Wind – New Jersey Spotlight is hosting a luncheon on Thursday, January 27 at 11:45 a.m. in Trenton to focus on the promise of offshore wind for the eastern seaboard.  The event, moderated by NJ Spotlight cofounder and energy writer Tom Johnson, will feature Trans-Elect's Bob Mitchell as a panelist, as well as NJ BPU General Counsel Ken Sheehan, NJ DEP Assistant Commissioner Economic Growth and Green Energy Michele Siekerka and NJ Economic Development Authority CEO Caren Franzini.  Wind farms off the New Jersey coast hold enormous promise for the state and its citizens -- starting with clean, renewable energy and the potential to bolster New Jersey's emerging green economy.  As New Jersey officials write the regulations that will determine what’s required in order to give a project the go-ahead, this roundtable will discuss the challenges and opportunities to come.  Topics will include whether they will lead to lower electric rates and job creation in manufacturing, construction and ancillary services.

 

Interior to Hold Drilling Scoping Meetings – The Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) will hold a series of 12 scoping meetings in February on the environmental impact statement that the agency will write for the proposed 2012-2017 oil and gas leasing program for the Outer Continental Shelf.  The plan for a programmatic environmental impact statement will be discussed at scoping meetings in Houston; New Orleans; Mobile, Ala.; Dulles, Va.; and eight locations in Alaska.

 

Interior to Hold Solar Meetings – It appears February/March will be busy at Interior.  They are also holding 13 public meetings to discuss a draft programmatic plan to accelerate the development of solar power on public lands in the West.  The 1,000-page draft plan hopes to encourage solar development on 22 million acres of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The agency's 24 solar energy zones (SEZs) in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah would provide landscape-level planning for future solar projects and allow for a more streamlined permitting and siting process.  Interior has also proposed a similar plan for creating offshore wind zones in the Atlantic to spur offshore wind development  A notice of availability opens a 90-day public comment period.  The February meeting schedule starts February 2 in Washington D.C.  There will also be four meetings in California (El Centro-2/7, Indian Wells-2/8, Sacramento-2/22, Barstow 2/23) and three in Nevada (Vegas-2/15, Goldfield-2/16, Caliente-2/17) in February.  In March the parade will head to Arizona (Phoenix-3/1, Tucson-3/2), Las Cruces NM on 3/3, Alamosa CO on 3/7 and Utah meeting on March 9/10 in Cedar City and Salt Lake City.

 

Heritage Target World Bank Development Policy – The always fun Heritage Foundation will target World Development Policy at a forum on Thursday, January 27^th at 2:00 p.m. by looking at whether the World Bank is sacrificing economic growth and higher living standards to please environmental groups.  The World Bank’s mission is to alleviate poverty and encourage economic growth by providing low-cost loans for worthy development projects. But the Bank has come under fire recently from some developing country critics for placing environmental policy concerns ahead of poverty reduction goals. For example, according to one critic writing recently in the New York Times, “the bank’s loans for plantation agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions – some $132 million of which have gone to palm oil cultivation – have been humanitarian and economic triumphs. Yet now, under misguided pressure from environmental groups, the Bank is turning its back on the program.” Furthermore, questions have been raised over the World Bank’s recent tendency to give greater weight to input from environmentalist NGOs than from private businesses or even sovereign nations.   Heritage will host a larger policy discussion about the World Bank’s mission and its environmental objectives. Panelists will discuss how effective World Bank aid policies have been in alleviating poverty when they are linked to environmental or other social policies. Speakers include Ron Bailey of Reason Magazine, Nick Schulz of American.com (Author of From Poverty to Prosperity Intangible Assets, Hidden Liabilities and the Lasting Triumph over Scarcity) and Richard Tren, who directs Africa Fighting Malaria, and Co-Author of The Excellent Powder: DDT’s Political and Scientific History.

 

Bromwich, Trans-Elect's Mitchell, Lanard to Address Offshore Wind Conference – Green Power Conferences will host the 2^nd annual Offshore Wind Power congress and exhibition in Boston on February 1^st and 2^nd to look at the fast growing industry.  The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 54GW of offshore wind could be included in the 300GW required to meet 20% of the U.S. electricity needs in 2030, with the best offshore wind resources in the U.S. in the northeast and the Atlantic Coast from Georgia to Maine.  Speakers will include all the top newsmakers from last year including BOEMRE Director Michael Bromwich, who will discuss BOEMRE’s plans to speed up approvals of offshore wind energy projects, as well as DOE's Offshore Wind Manager Chris Hart, , U.S. about U.S. DOE plans to spur the commercial development of offshore wind in the U.S.  It will also feature Trans-Elect's Bob Mitchell who will discuss the recently announced major wind energy transmission project, the Atlantic Wind Connection (AWC) that will boost offshore wind energy along the Mid-Atlantic Coast.  Several investors including Google working with AWC to develop a $5 billion transmission “backbone” off the Atlantic Coast to help bolster the U.S. offshore wind market.  A transmission “backbone” off the Atlantic Coast sends a clear signal to the rest of the world that the U.S. is serious about offshore wind.  Other speakers will also include Cape Wind's Jim Gordon and National Grid's Tom King to discuss the Cape Wind Project and finally, our good friend Jim Lanard of the Offshore Wind Development Coalition will also speak. 

 

FERC Commissioner, NE LG to Speak at Wind, Transmission Conference – AWEA will hold a wind and transmission workshop on February 9-10 in Omaha, NE to focus on new issues and challenges with transmission for renewable energy.  Speakers will include Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska Ricky Sheehy  and FERC Commissioner Cheryl A. LaFleur.  LaFleur will discuss her views on renewable energy and transmission including how costs are spread for new construction, how transmission is planned, improved grid operations to integrate renewables and integration charges.

 

NARUC Winter Meetings, National Electricity Forum Set – The National Assn of Regulatory Utility Commissioners will hold its Winter Committee Meetings on February 13-16 just prior to the National Electricity Forum, which NARUC co-hosts with the Department of Energy on February 16^th and 17^th. A few expected highlights include a February 14^th breakfast kickoff with a two-part dialogue on the new EPA clean-air rulemakings and how they will impact State utility and air regulators. EPA’s Gina McCarthy and Dominion CEO Thomas Farrell will offer their perspectives, followed by a roundtable discussion with utility and clean-air regulators. The following day, current and former members of Congress, including former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt will discuss the current issues in play in the new Congress.  For more, you can reach out to our friend Rob Thormeyer at (202) 898-9382.

 

AWEA Sets Annual Lobby Day – The wind industry will also be invading Capitol Hill on February 15^th and 16^th with its annual "wind Power on Capitol Hill" workshop.  Wind industry leaders and congressional experts will focus on pressing industry legislative issues for the next Congress.  In 2011, the new Congressional session will bring many freshman members who are not familiar with the policies that are critical to the wind industry. AWEA policy staff will provide the most up-to-date information regarding federal legislative energy policy and then send advocates to Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and discuss issues critical to the growth of the wind industry.

 

ARPA-E Conference Set Again – The ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit 2011 will convene again key players in the nation’s energy innovation community on February 28 through March 2^nd to spur the next Industrial Revolution in clean energy technologies. Participants will include the nation's leading individuals and organizations in energy innovation, including: venture capital investors, technology entrepreneurs, large and small corporations with an interest in clean energy technologies, policymakers from the administration and Congress, and government officials from the Department of Energy and ARPA-E.

 

Mabus to Keynote 6^th Annual MIT Energy Conference Set – The sixth MIT Energy Conference will take place on March 4^th and 5^th at the Westin Copley Place in Boston. The conference seeks to frame conversations and inform debate on the most pressing energy issues and opportunities. The events will commence on March 4^th with the free, in-depth and interactive Friday Workshops at the MIT campus. The discussions will carry forward to the Friday Night Energy Showcase - a free exhibit of innovative and breakthrough energy technologies from industry and academia - at the Westin Copley Place. The ticketed conference on March 5^th will harness the expertise of energy leaders to analyze technologies and themes that will make a significant impact on the global energy landscape.  Navy Secretary Ray Mabus will keynote.  More speakers as we get closer.