The Status of Drought Conditions Throughout the Western United States
The western United States are currently experiencing severe, climate change-related drought conditions, with 86 percent of the West categorized as being under some degree of drought. Severe water supply shortages are already impacting communities, ecosystems, and whole economies. On Tuesday, May 25, the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife will discuss the necessity of, and best way to implement, short- and long-term solutions for the coming crisis.
The CLEAN Future Act and Drinking Water: Legislation to Ensure Drinking Water is Safe and Clean
- H.R. 1512, the “Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s Future Act”
- H.R. 616, the “Emergency Water is a Human Right Act”
- H.R. 3238, the “Colonia Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2021”
- H.R. 3267, the “Protect Drinking Water from PFAS Act of 2021”
- H.R. 3282, the “Emergency Order Assurance, Safety and Inspection of water Systems Act”
- H.R. 3286, the “Emergency OASIS Act”
- H.R. 3291, the “Assistance, Quality, and Affordability Act of 2021”
- H.R. 3300, the “Get the Lead Out Act”
- H.R. 3293, the “Low-Income Water Customer Assistance Programs Act of 2021”
- H.R. 3292, the “Water Debt Relief Act of 2021”
- Jennifer McLain, Ph.D., Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
FY 2022 Budget Request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation
- David Palumbo, Deputy Commissioner of Operations, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Drought map)
- Jaime Pinkham, Acting Assistant Secretary, Army for Civil Works
- Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Expanding Clean Energy on Public Lands
On Monday, May 24, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT), the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will host a virtual, fully remote legislative hearing titled, “Expanding Clean Energy on Public Lands,” including the following bill and other related measures.
- H.R. 3326 (Rep. Mike Levin) To promote the development of renewable energy on public lands, and for other purposes. Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2021.
Witnessese
Panel I
- Nada Culver, Deputy Director of Policy and Programs, Exercising the Authority of the Director Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior
- Virinder Singh, Vice President, Regulatory & Legislative Affairs, EDF Renewables
- Kate Miller, Director, Government Affairs, Trout Unlimited
- Paul Thomsen, Vice President, Business Development Ormat Technologies, Inc., Chairman, Geothermal Rising Policy
- Dawn Rowe, Third District Supervisor San Bernardino County Board, On behalf of the National Association of Counties
Powerlines101.org Launch Event
Join us on May 20th for the launch of PowerLines101.org! This new resource from LittleSis seeks to support current and emerging campaigns focused on taking on the power of electric utilities.
What is PowerLines101?
- A crash course on how utilities operate and push their agenda while driving climate injustice
- First-hand accounts from campaigns going up against utilities around the country
- Research guides to help uncover the power behind utilities
- Case studies illustrating how power research can inform your strategy
The May 20th launch will include a walkthrough of these new resources, inspiring stories from the frontlines with organizers from Work for Me, DTE, We Power DC, and others, opportunities to connect with fellow organizers and activists, and information on future trainings and collaborations that you can get involved in!
Whether you’re involved in a current campaign, looking to get involved, or just want to know why your local utility seems to be everywhere you turn, this resource is for you.
Forest Management, Forest Products, and Carbon
The purpose of this hearing is to examine the role of reforestation, active forest management, and carbon storage in fostering resiliency.
Nominations of Eric Lander to be OSTP Director, Pamela Melroy to be NASA Deputy Administrator, Carlos Alberto Monje, Jr. to be Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, and Richard Spinrad to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, will convene an executive session at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 20, 2021, to consider the nomination of Eric S. Lander to be the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Directly following the executive session, the committee will consider the presidential nominations of Pamela A. Melroy to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Carlos A. Monje, Jr. to be Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy; and Richard W. Spinrad to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
Witnesses:- Col. Pamela A. Melroy (USAF, Ret.), of New York, to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Carlos A. Monje, Jr., of Louisiana, to be Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy
- Dr. Richard W. Spinrad, of Oregon, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
Powering Up Clean Energy: Investments to Modernize and Expand the Electric Grid
This hearing will explore the ways that upgrading and expanding the electric grid can create jobs, integrate higher levels of renewable energy, boost grid reliability, and protect public health.
Witnesses- Linda Apsey, President and CEO, ITC Holdings Corp. Apsey is responsible for the strategic vision and overall business operations of ITC, the largest independent electricity transmission company in the United States. Based in Michigan, the company owns and operates high-voltage transmission infrastructure in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, with plans underway to expand to Wisconsin.
- Donnie Colston, Director, Utility Department, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Colston manages issues related to collective bargaining agreements, working conditions, safety-related work practices, and apprenticeship training. A utility lineman, he started his career in transmission and distribution construction before working as an electric troubleman. He has been a member of the IBEW Local Union 2100, which represents the employees of Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities Company (KU), for more than four decades.
- Michael Skelly, Founder and President, Grid United. Skelly is a renewable energy entrepreneur and pioneer in the U.S. wind industry who currently leads Grid United, an early-stage transmission development company. He was previously the founder and president of Clean Line Energy, a company that successfully permitted some of the longest transmission lines in the United States in the last 50 years.
- Emily Sanford Fisher, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Senior Vice President, Clean Energy Edison Electric Institute (EEI). Sanford Fisher manages EEI’s litigation and legal affairs at EEI, an association that represents all investor-owned electric companies in the United States. She also oversees and coordinates strategic clean energy engagement across EEI and across the federal government.
Military Infrastructure and Climate Resilience
- Richard Kidd, Deputy Assistant Secretary Of Defense For Environment And Energy Resilience
- Jack Surash, Senior Official Performing The Duties Of Assistant Secretary Of The Army For Installations, Energy, And Environment
- James Balocki, Deputy Assistant Secretary Of The Navy For Installations, Energy, And Facilities
- Mark Correll, Deputy Assistant Secretary Of The Air Force For Environment, Safety, And Infrastructure