| 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 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 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. 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. 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 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 |
