REPRESENTATIVE GARRET GRAVES (R-LA) ANNOUNCES NEPA REFORM BILL AT NCEW POLICY MAKERS SYMPOSIUM

National Clean Energy Week was in the spotlight as we broke news during today’s Policy Makers Symposium! During Representative Garret Graves’ (R-LA) speech, he announced the introduction of the Building U.S. Infrastructure through Limited Delays & Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act, which will modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and reform its permitting process. The bill will expedite infrastructure project reviews to improve efficiency, reduce project costs, spur economic recovery, and rebuild America. Advocates say that a broken environmental review process all-too-often escalates costs and extends project timelines, creating one of the most intractable barriers to large scale clean energy infrastructure projects. Reforming and modernizing this policy will help us transition to a renewable energy economy, stimulate economic development and open up new clean energy job opportunities. Click here to learn more about his bill.

TWO MORE GOVERNORS ANNOUNCE NCEW PROCLAMATIONS

Meanwhile states and localities across America continue to recognize the value of clean energy to their communities. Today Vermont Governor Phil Scott (R) and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) issued proclamations recognizing September 21-25, 2020 as Clean Energy Week in their home states. The two New England Republicans join more than 20 governors who issued proclamations prior to the week’s events. For a map showing all the states with official proclamations, click here.

POLICY MAKERS SYMPOSIUM UPDATE: DAY TWO: AGRICULTURE, LANDOWNERS, AND FARMERS

A major focus of today’s Policy Makers Symposium was the men and women who live off the land and drive domestic energy development. The morning panelists, “Renewable Energy in My Backyard: A Focus on Property Rights,” talked about wind energy, the importance of having allies on the ground to communicate with landowners and keeping politics out of it. This was followed by remarks from Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. She noted that in addition to the Department leading on emissions reductions, the U.S. has a growing population with an expected need to feed 10 billion people by 2050 while protecting our natural resources. USDA is committed to feeding and fueling the world while reducing our environmental impact from the crops we grow.

An afternoon panel, “The American Farmer: Tomorrow’s Clean Energy and Climate Solutions Mogul,” discussed how farmers are finding new revenue streams through clean energy and reducing emissions. Expert panelist Vanessa Tutos of EDP Renewables North America summed up the key to success: “When you’re out there and you’re talking to the farmers and you’re visiting the places where they live and they work—you’re able to see this tremendous symbiotic relationship between clean energy and agriculture.” 

U.S. SENATORS STEAL THE SHOW

A mid-day highlight was former Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) sitting down with the co-founders of the Senate Climate Solutions Caucus, Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Mike Braun (R-IN), who discussed bipartisanship and private-sector leadership. Senator Coons stressed that there have been numerous energy innovation bills hung up year after year, but this year they may have a chance of passing in the American Energy Innovation Act package. The co-author of that legislation, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) spoke later in the day and offered encouragement to viewers: “If we can agree to work together, we can still enact our bill in 2020—and that will create a foundation for new efforts to do even more on clean energy in a commonsense, bipartisan manner.”

GREENTOWN LABS ANNOUNCES HOUSTON LOCATION DURING NCEW

Congratulations to the City of Houston and the Houston Innovation District for being selected as the site of (friend of NCEW) Greentown Labs’ newest cleantech startup incubator. Join them September 24 at 4:00 PM Central Time for an “EnergyBar” networking event to hear from partners and get further details on the new location.

GEORGIA CONGRESSMAN AND SENATE STAFFERS TOUR JEKYLL ISLAND SOLAR ARRAY

Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA) and staffers from the offices of Senators Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) celebrated NCEW with the Conservatives for CleanEnergy by touring a solar array on Jekyll Island, Georgia. The organization also filmed an interview Georgia Public Service Commissioner Bubba McDonald, who is known as the “Godfather of Solar.” Click here to watch the interview.

NOTABLE QUOTES FROM DAY TWO OF NCEW

“Many things have changed this year, but what has not changed is that clean energy still has a bright future…it is the future.”

-Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

“There is a bright, clean, affordable energy future in the United States and it is based on facts, data, and resources that we have in the U.S. and it's based upon the success that we’ve demonstrated in the United States.”

-Representative Garret Graves (R-LA)

“The challenge of climate change is clear, and I assure you that America’s electric companies remain committed to leading the way to a clean energy future. Our efforts will not stop until we all get there, together.”

 -Edison Electric President Tom Kuhn

“Let’s put politics aside and do what’s good for renewables.”

-John Davis, energy farmer, rancher, and former Texas policymaker

TOMORROW’S SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10:00 - 10:30 AM ET
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ranking Member, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

10:30 - 10:45 PM ET
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Member, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

10:45 - 11:45 AM ET
The New Cash Crop: Rural Renewables

12:00 - 1:00 PM ET
New Technology Is Growing the Clean Energy Economy

1:15 - 2:15 PM ET
How the Fortune 500 Charts a Voluntary Path to Lower Emissions

2:30 - 3:30 PM ET
Targets for Reaching Net Zero Emissions: How Do We Get There?

4:00 - 5:00 PM ET
Oil and Gas Industries: Looking Ahead at Low Carbon Investments, Energy Transition, and Net-Zero

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We'd be nothing without our friends. Thank you to all of NCEW20's sponsors!

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To learn more about National Clean Energy Week please visit, nationalcleanenergyweek.org.