The Climate Conversation

8.3 Podcast: Representative Jennifer McClellan Talks Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice in the Commonwealth of Virginia

EESI recently held a reception at the Library of Congress to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and we were honored to welcome two members of Congress: Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.). This week on the podcast, we are resurfacing Rep. McClellan’s interview from earlier this year, when she joined us to discuss climate resilience and environmental justice in the Commonwealth and across the country.

8.2 The Gila River Indian Community Is Soaking up Sunshine with Solar Canal Innovation

The Gila River, which flows through New Mexico and Arizona, is the site of the first operational solar covered-canal in the United States, and will provide renewable energy to the people of the Pima and Maricopa tribes. This pilot project, also called the Casa Blanca Canal solar project, received nearly $6 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. For this week’s episode, EESI Policy Associate Molly Brind'Amour joins President Daniel Bresette to speak with George Cairo, the head engineer for the Casa Blanca Canal solar project, about the benefits and challenges of canal-based energy systems.
 
Show notes:
The Promise and Potential of Solar Canals: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/the-promise-and-potential-of-solar-canals
Keeping the Gila River Wild for People and the Planet: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/keeping-the-gila-river-wild-for-people-and-the-planet

8.1 En-shoring a Better Future for Coastal Ecosystems and Communities

Welcome to Season 8 of The Climate Conversation podcast! Many of us are returning from trips to the coast, where breezy beaches provided a respite from the brutal summer heat. But these coastal areas are important for more than just the occasional vacation. Wetlands and estuaries, which connect inland rivers to the open ocean, are critical ecosystems for climate adaptation and carbon sequestration. In this episode, co-hosts Dan and Alison—alongside EESI Policy Director Anna McGinn—talk about coastal restoration with Daniel Hayden, president and CEO of Restore America’s Estuaries.
 
Show notes:
2024 Coastal and Estuarine Summit: https://web.cvent.com/event/110611bc-78c6-43ad-b053-a9afd2a4263a/summary 
The Mississippi River: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/101024rivers 
Building a Stronger Chesapeake Bay with EPA: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/7.7-building-a-stronger-chesapeake-bay-with-epa 
A Resilient Future for Coastal Communities: https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/a-resilient-future-for-coastal-communities 
Celebrating Two Years of Coastal Resilience Solutions at EESI: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/4.4-celebrating-two-years-of-coastal-resilience-solutions-at-eesi 
What Is the Future for New Jersey’s Coastal Marshes? https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/qa-what-is-the-future-for-new-jerseys-coastal-marshes 

7.8 Inside DOE's Newest Office on Artificial Intelligence

It seems like almost every day there is another story about new advancements in Artificial Intelligence, or AI. By now, many of us are familiar with ChatGPT, but there is a wide variety of different models and applications for the rapidly-evolving AI technology. To wrap up Season 7 of The Climate Conversation podcast, Dan and Alison are joined by Helena Fu, director of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Critical and Emerging Technologies. Helena discusses how AI can help modernize the power grid for a clean energy future and shares some of what DOE’s newest office has accomplished since it opened in December 2023.
 
Show notes:
AI for Energy: Opportunities for a Modern Grid and Clean Energy Economy: https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-04/AI%20EO%20Report%20Section%205.2g%28i%29_043024.pdf 
AI: Powering the New Energy Era: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtsVXbsO1zI&t=1090s 
Innovations in Weather Forecasting for a Changing Climate: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/021524weather 
All Fired up for Innovation in Wildfire Risk Analysis: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/7.6-all-fired-up-for-innovation-in-wildfire-risk-analysis 
Funding the Future: The Impact of Federal Clean Energy Investments: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/041224doe 
How the Department of Energy is Catapulting Clean Energy Innovation to Commercial Liftoff: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/6.4-how-the-department-of-energy-is-catapulting-clean-energy-innovation-to-commercial-liftoff 

7.7 Building a Stronger Chesapeake Bay with EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ten regional offices across the country that carry out the agency’s programs. In this episode, co-hosts Dan and Alison sit down with EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz, whose office serves Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, DC, and seven federally recognized tribes. Adam shares his insights on Chesapeake Bay restoration and other EPA priorities in the region, as well as the importance of environmental justice and local partnerships.
 
Show notes:
EPA Mid-Atlantic Summit: https://web.cvent.com/event/a40840fe-b2dc-4848-81d6-dd2afdbe6c70/summary 
Washington D.C. RiverSmart Homes Program Helps Protect the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/washington-d.c-riversmart-homes-program-helps-protect-the-chesapeake-bay-watershed
Improving Coastal Resilience in the Northeast: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/102319northeast

7.6 All Fired up for Innovation in Wildfire Risk Analysis

Wildfires have already made national headlines this year, as Texans recover from the largest fire in their state's history. The impacts of climate change—rising temperatures and drought, in particular—have driven the increase in wildfire frequency and severity, which then contributes to air pollution, including carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, changes in weather patterns have made wildfires less predictable and more difficult to contain. Co-hosts Dan and Alison are joined today by Joe Scott, founder and principal wildfire analyst at Pyrologix, for a conversation about how fire modeling and hazard assessment can help shape data-driven approaches to wildfire mitigation.
 
Show notes:
Living with Climate Change: Wildfires: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/061322climatechange 
Rethinking Tourism in the Wake of West Maui’s Wildfires: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/rethinking-tourism-in-the-wake-of-west-mauis-wildfires 
Hawaii Prioritizes Energy Equity So No One Gets Left Behind or Forgotten: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/7.5-hawaii-prioritizes-energy-equity-so-no-one-gets-left-behind-or-forgotten 
Q&A: Learning from the Past to Chart the Future of Fire in Western Forests: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/qa-learning-from-the-past-to-chart-the-future-of-fire-in-western-forests
The Future of Forestry in the Farm Bill: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/060723farmbill

7.5 Hawaii Prioritizes Energy Equity So No One Gets Left behind or Forgotten

Did you know that Hawaii has the highest household electricity costs in the United States? To combat energy inequity in the state, Hawaii’s green bank, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA), created its on-bill financing program known as the Green Energy Money $aver (GEM$) to make clean energy more affordable for low- and moderate-income households. In this episode, co-hosts Dan and Aaron speak with HGIA Executive Director Gwen Yamamoto Lau about some unique energy challenges and solutions from the island state’s perspective.
 
Show notes:
Hawaii: Green Energy Money $aver (GEM$) On-Bill Program: https://www.eesi.org/obf/case-study/hawaii 
Increasing Clean Energy Justice and Resilience for Faith Communities Through Solar Energy: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/increasing-clean-energy-justice-and-resilience-for-faith-communities-through-solar-energy 
Financing Climate Mitigation and Resilience: Lessons from Hawaii: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/032020hawaii
Rethinking Tourism in the Wake of West Maui’s Wildfires: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/rethinking-tourism-in-the-wake-of-west-mauis-wildfires

7.4 Representative Jennifer McClellan Talks Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice in the Commonwealth

In our second Congressional interview on The Climate Conversation, Dan and Alison speak with Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) about her fight for climate resilience and environmental justice in the Commonwealth and across the country. Rep. McClellan succeeded A. Donald McEachin in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023, making her the first Black woman representing Virginia in Congress. The conversation also includes an overview of some on-the-ground work happening in the state by Annette Osso of Resilient Virginia.
 
Show notes:
Representative Ro Khanna on the CHIPS and Science Act: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/5.8-representative-ro-khanna-on-the-chips-and-science-act 
Virginia’s Proactive Plan to Tackle Coastal Resilience: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/virginias-proactive-plan-to-tackle-coastal-resilience
Environmental Justice: https://www.eesi.org/topics/environmental-justice/description

7.3 EESI Raises a Glass to Sustainability in the Wine Industry

You have probably heard stories about how climate change is a major threat to some of the most cherished foods and beverages worldwide, such as coffee, chocolate, corn, and of course, wine. Because the grapes used for wine are so sensitive to temperature and other growing conditions, many winemakers are looking for ways to minimize the industry’s impact on the climate. For today’s episode, Dan and Alison sip with Jess Baum, senior director of regenerative impact at Bonterra Organic Estates, here to talk about sustainability in the wine industry. Jess explains why it is important to put a cork in certain winemaking practices (like using corks, for example). We promise you won’t be bord-eaux!
 
Show notes:
Grow Organic: The Climate, Health, and Economic Case for Expanding Organic Agriculture: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/032323ag 
Agriculture and Climate: https://www.eesi.org/agriculture-and-climate-series 
Talking about “The Octopus in the Parking Garage” with Rob Verchick: https://www.eesi.org/podcasts/view/6.1-talking-about-the-octopus-in-the-parking-garage-with-rob-verchick 

7.2 Why Should Congress Care about International Climate Finance? With Henry Gonzalez of the Green Climate Fund

International climate finance has received a lot of attention in recent years during the annual United Nations climate change summit. But there’s a lot of work that needs to be done in between the climate summit every year, when developed countries need to follow up on their climate finance commitments and help implement project plans for the developing countries striving to reach their emission reduction and climate adaptation goals. Organizations like the Green Climate Fund, the world’s largest multilateral climate-focused fund, dedicate themselves to facilitating this work through international partnerships all year round. For today’s episode, Green Climate Fund Deputy Executive Director Henry Gonzalez joins Dan and Alison to talk about the role of U.S. leadership in international climate finance, and why an investment abroad is an investment at home.
 
Show notes:
Congress and International Climate Finance: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/102623cop
COP Dispatch: What Congress Needs to Know from the U.N. Climate Talks: https://www.eesi.org/newsletters/cop-dispatch
COP28 Announcement Tracker: Key Announcements from the 2023 U.N. Climate Summit: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/cop28-announcement-tracker-key-announcements-from-the-2023-u.n-climate-summit