<[link removed]> Presidents Day, Monday, February 21, 2022 March Comes in Like a Lion…. Like many, I have been fixated on the situation in Ukraine during the past week. There are a lot of takeaways, but one of the most noteworthy is the importance of energy security. It reminded me of a situation 14 years ago, when as a senior U.S. government official at a time of sky-high energy prices, I was asked what the United States was doing to deal with the crisis. The same question is being asked today — and it reinforces the need for continued development of reliable, affordable, and clean energy supplies in the United States. Policymakers should make sure they recognize the reality of the world’s current energy usage <[link removed]> and the fallacy of assuming that simply cutting off or slowing supply or infrastructure development will lead to a painless transition. At the same time, the Russian invasion highlights the need for diverse and secure energy sources. We should encourage countries to make sure that they are not overly reliant on unfriendly sources and that there is a flexible and efficient market that can respond to disruptions. We also need to make sure that we do not lose sight of the need to transition to cleaner forms of energy, and for this, innovation is key. Policymakers should promote innovation, setting up a framework where government plays a foundational role, and the private sector has the flexibility to pursue multiple solutions. Speaking of the proper role for government, ConservAmerica is hosting our next webinar <[link removed]> this Thursday, March 3, at 11 a.m. ET. We are delighted to be joined by Jigar Shah, the director of the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO). With over $40 billion available in loan authority, this office is set to become the centerpiece of this administration’s efforts to transform the energy sector. Jigar will provide an overview and describe how LPO seeks new projects to accelerate and commercialize breakthrough technologies. We will also be joined by Rob Hanson, CEO of Monolith, the Nebraska company that received a conditional loan commitment for its clean hydrogen and industrial decarbonization project. Be sure to join us by registering here <[link removed]> . It may have been lost in the flurry of news, but it’s also worth noting that the UN Governmental Panel on Climate Change just released another report on the impacts of rising temperatures on natural and human systems. Even while painting a dire picture of a warming planet, the report notes that there is still time to act. We think it is important to explore all possible approaches, and so earlier in the month, we held a webinar on the potential for ocean-based geo-engineering to remove carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. We hosted a conversation with Russ George, an environmentalist, and eco-entrepreneur who is a pioneer in ocean fertilization. If you missed it, be sure to check it out by watching here <[link removed]> . As we move into March, Congress is back in session and has a lot on its plate. We will continue to highlight our priorities and work with the Roosevelt Conservation Caucus (RCC) members to push through commonsense, lasting, and durable solutions. Along this line, we recently announced <[link removed]> the newest member of the RCC, Rep. David McKinley of West Virginia, who is also the ranking member on the environment subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He understands how to balance the needs of his constituents and America’s energy needs with the challenges of reducing environmental impact, and we are pleased that he will bring his expertise and experience to the RCC. As always, we appreciate your support. Jeff Kupfer President of ConservAmerica <[link removed]> Webinar: How the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office Hopes to Transform the Energy Sector <[link removed]> After a decade in which it closed on loans for only one new project, the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) is now set to become a centerpiece of the Biden Administration’s plans to transform the energy sector. Join ConservAmerica for our next webinar on Thursday, March 3 at 11 AM ET. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Welcomes Congressman David McKinley as Newest Member of the Congressional Roosevelt Conservation Caucus <[link removed]> As an engineer by trade, Congressman McKinley understands what it takes to build public and private buildings in a more energy-efficient way. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, he’s been instrumental in proposing conservative and responsible policies to reduce emissions and promote clean energy. Congressman McKinley understands how to balance the needs of his West Virginia constituents and America’s energy needs with the challenges of reducing environmental impact, and we are pleased that he will bring his expertise and experience to the Roosevelt Conservation Caucus. Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> The Hill: How US policies contribute to high energy prices <[link removed]> ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer published the following opinion piece in The Hill newspaper on Feb. 15, 2022. Fourteen years ago, as the head of a U.S. delegation at a time of sky-high energy prices, I met with a Middle Eastern oil minister in an effort to convince his nation to increase production. I have a distinct memory of him listening to my pitch, pausing for a few seconds and then looking me straight in the eye and saying, “I hear you, but what is your country doing to help the situation?” With U.S. energy prices on the rise, and with U.S. officials scrambling to cobble together gas supplies for Europe in case of a Russian attack on Ukraine, that question is just as relevant today... Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> Coalition Urges Surface Transportation Board to Resist Regulations that Would Shift Freight to Carbon-intensive Modes of Transportation <[link removed]> ConservAmerica, Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions (C3), National Wildlife Federation, and Third Way sent a letter to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) urging caution when considering new regulations that could impact how railroads operate, including a proposed rule to mandate “reciprocal switching.” Read More <[link removed]> <[link removed]> ConservAmerica Calls on EPA, USACE to Suspend WOTUS Rulemaking Until Court Decision <[link removed]> ConservAmerica sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) Michael S. Regan and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael L. Connor encouraging the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to suspend a rulemaking to redefine the scope of waters considered jurisdictional under the Clean Water Act (CWA) until the U.S. Supreme Court completes its consideration of Sackett v. EPA. The case, which is on the docket for the Court’s next term, could have significant implications for EPA’s regulatory authorities under the CWA and the definition of “waters of the United States,” commonly referred to as WOTUS. ConservAmerica recently penned a blog post on the challenges caused by the changing definition of WOTUS and how it has impacted the Sackett family. Read that blog post here <[link removed]> . Read More <[link removed]> Support Principled Conservation We need your help to continue leading the way on environmental, conservation, and clean energy issues. ConservAmerica believes the most successful approaches are the those that offer common-sense, market-based solutions rather than big government, top-down regulations. Please consider supporting our work with a tax deductible contribution Donate Now <[link removed]> ConservAmerica, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington DC, United States Powered by Squarespace <[link removed]> Unsubscribe <[link removed]>