EESI Washington: Our greatest challenge is inertia and active lobbying by the fossil fuel energy industry to maintain the status quo.
By Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following
our interview with EESI, the Environmental and
Energy Study Institute in Washington. Would like to thank Amaury Laporte
for the important suggestions and information. ProMosaik is convinced that
environment and human rights are closely connected one with another. In
particular, when Amaury says: „Our greatest challenge is inertia and active
lobbying by the fossil fuel energy industry to maintain the status quo.“
our interview with EESI, the Environmental and
Energy Study Institute in Washington. Would like to thank Amaury Laporte
for the important suggestions and information. ProMosaik is convinced that
environment and human rights are closely connected one with another. In
particular, when Amaury says: „Our greatest challenge is inertia and active
lobbying by the fossil fuel energy industry to maintain the status quo.“
How was EESI founded and in what context?
EESI was founded in 1984 by a bipartisan group of Members of
Congress: after the oil crises of the late seventies, the passage of the Clean
Air and Clean Water Acts, and the establishment of the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), they identified a need for policymakers to have more access to
fact-based information on energy and environmental issues, and created EESI to
fill it. This gives us a privileged position as a trusted source of credible,
non-partisan information about energy and the environment for our elected
officials. One of our founders, former Representative Dick Ottinger, is still
very active on our board and serves as Chair Emeritus. Though we were founded
by Members of Congress, we were set up as an independent nonprofit and do not
receive any Congressional funding.
Congress: after the oil crises of the late seventies, the passage of the Clean
Air and Clean Water Acts, and the establishment of the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), they identified a need for policymakers to have more access to
fact-based information on energy and environmental issues, and created EESI to
fill it. This gives us a privileged position as a trusted source of credible,
non-partisan information about energy and the environment for our elected
officials. One of our founders, former Representative Dick Ottinger, is still
very active on our board and serves as Chair Emeritus. Though we were founded
by Members of Congress, we were set up as an independent nonprofit and do not
receive any Congressional funding.
What are, according to your findings, the main causes of climate
change and what strategies do you use to cope with them?
change and what strategies do you use to cope with them?
EESI isn’t a research organization per se, rather we help distill
scientific information to make it more accessible to busy policymakers. We do
much of our work in the communication of science and the applied research and
analysis of the economic impacts of energy and environmental issues.
scientific information to make it more accessible to busy policymakers. We do
much of our work in the communication of science and the applied research and
analysis of the economic impacts of energy and environmental issues.
In the scientific community, there is a widespread consensus that
climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions released by human
activities—particularly the burning of fossil fuels. Several studies have found
that more than 95 percent of climate scientists agree on this point.
climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions released by human
activities—particularly the burning of fossil fuels. Several studies have found
that more than 95 percent of climate scientists agree on this point.
Several gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, exist naturally
in the atmosphere and contribute to the warming of the Earth’s surface by
trapping heat from the sun, in what is known as the greenhouse effect. When the
proportion of such greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is stable, the effect is
beneficial, making surface temperatures warmer and alleviating temperature
swings. However, human activity is increasing the concentration of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere, which is already causing average temperatures to rise
and, therefore, creating much more volatility in the climate cycle and a much
higher number of damaging extreme weather events. Burning fossil fuels in
vehicles and power plants emits potent greenhouse gases, including carbon
dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, among others. In addition, clearing
forested land through burning or logging trees also releases CO2 into the
atmosphere and contributes to the greenhouse effect.
in the atmosphere and contribute to the warming of the Earth’s surface by
trapping heat from the sun, in what is known as the greenhouse effect. When the
proportion of such greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is stable, the effect is
beneficial, making surface temperatures warmer and alleviating temperature
swings. However, human activity is increasing the concentration of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere, which is already causing average temperatures to rise
and, therefore, creating much more volatility in the climate cycle and a much
higher number of damaging extreme weather events. Burning fossil fuels in
vehicles and power plants emits potent greenhouse gases, including carbon
dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, among others. In addition, clearing
forested land through burning or logging trees also releases CO2 into the
atmosphere and contributes to the greenhouse effect.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the
sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States are: the electricity sector
(30%), transportation (26%), industry (21%), commercial and residential
buildings (12%), and agriculture (9%) [source].
sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States are: the electricity sector
(30%), transportation (26%), industry (21%), commercial and residential
buildings (12%), and agriculture (9%) [source].
EESI showcases sustainable solutions in all of these sectors. We
emphasize the economic and social benefits of renewable energy and energy
efficiency: they create millions of jobs that can’t be outsourced overseas
(jobs such as solar panel installers or energy efficiency contractors). We also
underline the security benefits of being able to produce most of our energy
domestically, through renewable resources.
emphasize the economic and social benefits of renewable energy and energy
efficiency: they create millions of jobs that can’t be outsourced overseas
(jobs such as solar panel installers or energy efficiency contractors). We also
underline the security benefits of being able to produce most of our energy
domestically, through renewable resources.
Climate change is already having an impact on the United States:
coastal areas are experiencing more flooding, and all areas are experiencing
more extreme weather (from hurricanes on the East Coast to droughts on the West
Coast). As part of our work, we also showcase how communities are taking action
to make themselves more resilient in response to these climate shifts.
coastal areas are experiencing more flooding, and all areas are experiencing
more extreme weather (from hurricanes on the East Coast to droughts on the West
Coast). As part of our work, we also showcase how communities are taking action
to make themselves more resilient in response to these climate shifts.
Do you carry on any awareness raising initiative? If yes, how
civil society has been responsive so far?
civil society has been responsive so far?
Our main focus is on informing federal policymakers, particularly
Congressional staffers. Many other nonprofits do civil society outreach.
Congressional staffers. Many other nonprofits do civil society outreach.
According to many different polls, a majority of Americans accept
that climate change is happening, and that it is human-caused [see our fact
sheet]. Conservatives tend to be more skeptical, but there are
indications that the tide is turning: the share of conservative Republicans who
say global warming is happening has risen from 28 to 47 percent between April
2014 and March 2016 [source].
that climate change is happening, and that it is human-caused [see our fact
sheet]. Conservatives tend to be more skeptical, but there are
indications that the tide is turning: the share of conservative Republicans who
say global warming is happening has risen from 28 to 47 percent between April
2014 and March 2016 [source].
There is also very strong support historically for renewable
energy and energy efficiency technologies in both parties:
energy and energy efficiency technologies in both parties:
–
84 percent of registered voters support more
funding for renewable energy research (91 percent of Democrats and 75 percent
of Republicans) [source].
84 percent of registered voters support more
funding for renewable energy research (91 percent of Democrats and 75 percent
of Republicans) [source].
–
81 percent support tax rebates for people who
purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels (91 percent of Democrats and
70 percent of Republicans) [source].
81 percent support tax rebates for people who
purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels (91 percent of Democrats and
70 percent of Republicans) [source].
What are the resistances that you face?
Our greatest challenge is inertia and active lobbying by the
fossil fuel energy industry to maintain the status quo. Our country has so much
invested in the current, unsustainable way of producing energy that it’s hard
for some policymakers to envision something different, even if it’s clearly
better. There are very powerful interests that have a lot at stake in
preserving the status quo. But technology is advancing at a rapid pace, and
innovation can lead the way!
fossil fuel energy industry to maintain the status quo. Our country has so much
invested in the current, unsustainable way of producing energy that it’s hard
for some policymakers to envision something different, even if it’s clearly
better. There are very powerful interests that have a lot at stake in
preserving the status quo. But technology is advancing at a rapid pace, and
innovation can lead the way!
Another big challenge is misinformation. Companies that benefit
from the status quo have managed to throw doubt on climate change science, even
though there is no longer any scientific disagreement on the causes and reality
of climate change. Unfortunately, fact-based arguments are not always effective,
as climate change seems to have become a very partisan—almost tribal—issue.
EESI deeply regrets this development, and hopes that both parties will once
again reach a consensus on the need for action and the multiple positive
benefits it brings to our communities and our economy. In the meantime, we have
found that it is more effective to focus on clean energy, energy efficiency,
energy independence, and resilience—all of which enjoy widespread
bipartisanship support and are forms of climate action.
from the status quo have managed to throw doubt on climate change science, even
though there is no longer any scientific disagreement on the causes and reality
of climate change. Unfortunately, fact-based arguments are not always effective,
as climate change seems to have become a very partisan—almost tribal—issue.
EESI deeply regrets this development, and hopes that both parties will once
again reach a consensus on the need for action and the multiple positive
benefits it brings to our communities and our economy. In the meantime, we have
found that it is more effective to focus on clean energy, energy efficiency,
energy independence, and resilience—all of which enjoy widespread
bipartisanship support and are forms of climate action.
Do you cooperate with local authorities and institutions? (apart
from the Congress) If yes, how?
from the Congress) If yes, how?
While our main focus is on the national policymaking community, we
cooperate with a wide range of organizations and institutions across sectors
and at all levels (local, state, federal). We believe that it is critical to
work together, and to bring multiple voices to the table. We work with
companies, trade associations, media outlets, cities, embassies, international
organizations, universities, national laboratories, federal agencies…
cooperate with a wide range of organizations and institutions across sectors
and at all levels (local, state, federal). We believe that it is critical to
work together, and to bring multiple voices to the table. We work with
companies, trade associations, media outlets, cities, embassies, international
organizations, universities, national laboratories, federal agencies…
We also run a program, our On-Bill
Financing Project, in which we work very closely with rural electric
cooperatives and public power utilities throughout the United States. We help
them set up programs that make it much easier for their members/customers to
pay for residential energy efficiency retrofits. They don’t need to pay any
money upfront, and reimburse their loans through their monthly electricity
bills. When it works as intended, their monthly energy savings more than cover
the loan repayment, leading to lower electricity bills overall.
Financing Project, in which we work very closely with rural electric
cooperatives and public power utilities throughout the United States. We help
them set up programs that make it much easier for their members/customers to
pay for residential energy efficiency retrofits. They don’t need to pay any
money upfront, and reimburse their loans through their monthly electricity
bills. When it works as intended, their monthly energy savings more than cover
the loan repayment, leading to lower electricity bills overall.
EESI is a strong proponent of such win-win solutions. On-bill
financing is good for households (they have more comfortable homes and save
money), good for utilities (they don’t need to invest in expensive new power
plants and they increase customer satisfaction), and good for the environment
(less energy usage means fewer emissions)!
financing is good for households (they have more comfortable homes and save
money), good for utilities (they don’t need to invest in expensive new power
plants and they increase customer satisfaction), and good for the environment
(less energy usage means fewer emissions)!
