Hill Heat

FERC is hosting a scoping meeting for the Cat Creek Energy pumped storage hydropower project in Idaho (docket P-14655-002) from 7:00pm -9:00 pm Mountain Day Light Time (MDT) (or 9:00pm to 11:00pm Eastern Standard Time).

• Call in number: 800-779-8625
• Participant Code: 3472916

The virtual meeting is preceded by a virtual site review.

At the scoping meeting, Commission staff will: (1) initiate scoping of the issues; (2) review and discuss existing conditions; (3) review and discuss existing information and identify preliminary information and study needs; (4) review and discuss the process plan and schedule for pre-filing activity that incorporates the time frames provided for in Part 5 of the Commission’s regulations and, to the extent possible, maximizes coordination of federal, state, and tribal permitting and certification processes; and (5) discuss the potential of any federal or state agency or Native American tribe to act as a cooperating agency for development of an environmental document. Meeting participants should come prepared to discuss their issues and/or concerns. Please review CCE’s PAD in preparation for the scoping meetings. Directions on how to obtain a copy of the PAD and SD1 are included in this document.

Hearing page

Witnesses:

• Dr. Thelma Velez, Research and Education Program Manager, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Sunrise, FL
• Dr. Sylvie Brouder, Professor and Wickersham Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Research, Agronomy Department, Purdue University, on behalf of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, West Lafayette, IN
• Dr. Ali Fares, Endowed Professor of Water Security and Water Energy Food Nexus, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX
• Dr. Benjamin Houlton, Ronald P. Lynch Dean and Professor of Ecology and Global Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Michael Vance, Managing Partner, Southern Reds, LLC, on behalf of the Noble Research Institute, Gainesville, TX

The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) invites you to attend one of the virtual public comment meetings it will conduct by telephone on the Line 200 and Line 300 Project draft environmental impact statement.

Driftwood proposes to construct and operate dual 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipelines originating near the town of Ragley in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana southward to a proposed receiver facility near the town of Carlyss in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

The FERC staff concludes that construction and operation of the Project would result in some adverse environmental impacts. Most of these impacts would be temporary and occur during construction (e.g., impacts on land use, traffic, and noise). With the exception of climate change impacts, that are not characterized in this EIS as significant or insignificant, we conclude that Project effects would not be significant based on implementation of Driftwood’s impact avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures, as well as their adherence to our recommendations. Other than the non-significant impacts on environmental justice communities associated with the construction and operation of Meter Station 7 and Meter Station 9, we conclude that the Project would not result in disproportionately high or adverse impacts on environmental justice communities.

Docket Nos. CP21-465-000, CP21-465-001, CP21-465-002

Date, Time, and Call-in Information

Tuesday, June 14, 2022 5:30 pm (CST)

• Call in number: 800-779-8625
• Participant passcode: 3472916

Note that the comment meetings will start at 5:30 pm (CST) and will terminate once all participants wishing to comment have had the opportunity to do so, or at 7:30 pm (CST), whichever comes first. The primary goal of these comment meetings is to have you identify the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be considered in the final environmental impact statement. Individual oral comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter present on the line. This format is designed to receive the maximum amount of oral comments, in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted, and is in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

As a reminder, the Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208-3676 or [email protected]. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your comments are properly recorded.

You can file your comments electronically using the eComment feature on the Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to FERC Online. This is an easy method for submitting brief, text-only comments on a project; You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling feature on the Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to FERC Online. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on “eRegister.” If you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select “Comment on a Filing” as the filing type; and You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to the Commission. Be sure to reference the project docket number (CP21-465-000) on your letter. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on policies and practices to address wildfires. Billions of dollars are spent fighting wildfires every year, and the cascading economic, health, and societal impacts of wildfires are enormous. Compounding these challenges, wildfires also release greenhouse gases and harmful aerosols into the atmosphere. Over the last century, battling wildfires after they have started has been the main approach to address this threat. Yet, with record-setting fire seasons happening almost every year, more proactive and preventative steps are needed.

Panelists will discuss policies and practices that would allow the United States to reduce the overall risk of wildfires, including how innovations in community-centered wildfire protection can improve resilience for humans and ecosystems.

Speakers

• Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.)
• Carly Phillips, Western States Climate Team Fellow, Union of Concerned Scientists
• Kimiko Barrett, Wildfire Research & Policy Lead, Headwaters Economics
• Margo Robbins, Executive Director, Cultural Fire Management Council
• Steve Bowen, Managing Director and Head of Catastrophe Insight, Aon

A live webcast will be streamed at 01:00 PM EDT.

RSVP

Hearing page

Witnesses:

• Dr. Gopinath “Gopi” Munisamy, Distinguished Professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia
• Karla Thompson, Vice President, JET Farms Georgia and Integrity Farms
• Sheryl Meshke, Co-President and CEO, Associated Milk Producers Inc., New Ulm, MN
• Neal Fisher, Administrator, North Dakota Wheat Commission, Mandan, ND

Hearing page

Witnesses:

• Dr. Joseph Janzen, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Robert Craven, Extension Economist and Associate Director, Center for Farm Financial Management, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
• Dr. Ronald L. Rainey, Assistant Vice President and Professor / Director, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture / Southern Risk Management Education Center, University of Arkansas
• Dr. Joe Outlaw, Professor and Extension Economist and Co-Director, Agricultural and Food Policy Center, Texas A&M University

The purpose of this hearing is to assess the challenge of oil and gas sector methane leaks from a scientific, technological, and policymaking perspective. The hearing will discuss the current scientific consensus regarding the role of methane leaks as a driver of oil and gas sector methane emissions. The hearing will highlight recent advances in innovative leak detection and repair technologies, as well as the importance of deploying such technologies broadly throughout oil and gas sector operations to achieve large-scale reductions in methane emissions. Finally, the hearing will examine research gaps related to oil and gas sector methane emissions and opportunities for the Federal government to support scientific research activities pertaining to oil and gas sector methane leaks.

Hearing charter

Committee report

Committee staff conclude that oil and gas companies are failing to design, equip, and inform their Methane Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) activities as necessary to achieve rapid and large-scale reductions in methane emissions from their operations. The sector’s approach does not reflect the latest scientific evidence on methane leaks. Oil and gas companies must change course quickly if the United States is to reach its methane reduction targets by the end of this decade. The Committee staff also learned that oil and gas companies have internal data showing that methane emission rates from the sector are likely significantly higher than official data reported to EPA would indicate. A very significant proportion of methane emissions appear to be caused by a small number of super-emitting leaks. One company experienced a single leak that may be equivalent to more than 80% of all the methane emissions it reported to EPA – according to EPA’s prescribed methodology – for all of its Permian oil and gas production activities in 2020.

Witnesses:

• Dr. David Lyon, Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
• Riley Duren, Chief Executive Officer, Carbon Mapper
• Dr. Brian Anderson, Director, National Energy Technology Laboratory
• Dr. Greg Rieker, Co-Founder and CTO, LongPath Technologies, Inc.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Rostin Behnam today announced the first-ever Voluntary Carbon Convening on June 2. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss issues related to the supply and demand for high quality carbon offsets, including product standardization and the data necessary to support the integrity of carbon offsets’ greenhouse gas emissions avoidance and reduction claims. Panelists will also discuss issues related to the market structure for trading carbon offsets and carbon derivatives as well as perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in these markets.

“As companies increasingly turn to the derivatives markets to manage risk and keep pace with global efforts to decarbonize, I look forward to the CFTC’s facilitating these discussions,” said Chairman Behnam in prepared remarks to the ISDA Annual General Meeting. “Our goal is to foster innovation in crafting solutions to the climate crisis while ensuring integrity and customer protection.”

The further goal of the convening is to gather information from a wide variety of market participants in the voluntary carbon markets to better understand the potential role of the official sector in these markets, particularly as we see the emergence of CFTC regulated derivatives referencing cash offset markets. The convening will include participants from carbon offset standard setting bodies, a carbon registry, private sector integrity initiatives, spot platforms, designated contract markets, intermediaries, end-users, public interest groups, and others.

The convening will be held in the Conference Center at CFTC’s headquarters at Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street NW, Washington, D.C. beginning at 9.00 a.m. for participants only. Participants will also have an option to participate virtually. In accordance with the agency’s implementation of COVID-19 related precautions, the general public will have access to the convening by webcast on the CFTC’s website or may also listen by telephone.

To access the live meeting feed, use the dial-in numbers below or stream at www.cftc.gov. A live feed can also be streamed through the CFTC’s YouTube channel. Call-in participants should be prepared to provide their first name, last name, and affiliation, if applicable. Materials presented at the meeting, if any, will be made available online.

Domestic Toll-Free:

1-669-254 5252 or 1-646-828-7666 or

1-669-216-1590 or 1-551-285-1373

International Access:

https://cftc-gov.zoomgov.com/u/amybg62Jw

Webinar ID:

Passcode:

161 174 6177

144701

9:00am ET

Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Chairman Rostin Behnam
• Commissioner Kristin N. Johnson
• Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero
• Commissioner Summer K. Mersinger
• Commissioner Caroline D. Pham

9:15am ET

Keynote Speakers

• U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
• U.S. Congressman David Scott (D-GA-13), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee

09:30am ET

Panel 1: Carbon Offset Standards and Quality Initiatives:

The discussion will include an introduction to the carbon offsets markets; carbon offsets standards; and a private sector supply-side initiative.

Moderator: Kelley Kizzier, Fellow, Bezos Earth Fund

• Stephen Donofrio, Director, Ecosystem Marketplace of Forest Trends
• David Antonioli, Chief Executive Officer, Verra
• Mary Grady, Executive Director, American Carbon Registry
• Kristen Gorguinpour, Vice President of Programs, Climate Action Reserve
• Sonja Gibbs, Managing Director and Head of Sustainable Finance, IIF; Board Member, Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market
• Thomas Hale, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Public Policy (Global Public Policy), Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

10:45am ET

Panel 2: State and Federal Regulatory Updates

The discussion will highlight the role of carbon offsets accepted in a domestic compliance market; provide an overview of recent regulatory initiatives which may directly or indirectly impact the markets for carbon offsets; and perspectives on the role of carbon offsets within a whole-of- government approach to mitigating climate change.

Moderator: Nathanial Keohane, President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

• Jason Gray, Project Director of the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force, Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law (V)
• John E. Morton, Climate Counselor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury
• Sean Babington, Senior Advisor for Climate, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Carol A. (Annie) Petsonk, Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, U.S. Department of Transportation
• Philip B. Duffy, Ph.D., Climate Science Advisor, Office of Science and Technology Policy, The White House (V)
• Christine Dragisic, Branch Chief, Partnerships and Initiatives, Office of Global Change, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State (V)

11:45am ET

Lunch Break

12:45pm ET

Panel 3: Carbon Offsets Trading and Infrastructure

The discussion will provide an overview of carbon offset spot markets; exchange-listed derivatives; registry infrastructure; and OTC intermediation.

Moderator: Eric Pitt, Consultant, Climate Finance, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets

• Kathy Benini, Managing Director, Sustainable1, S&P Global
• John Melby, President and Chief Operating Officer, Xpansiv
• Dan Scarbrough, Co-founder, President & Chief Operating Officer, IncubEx, Inc.
• John Frederick, Chief Financial Officer, Indigo Agriculture
• Evan Ard, Chief Executive Officer, Evolution Markets
• Mike Kierstead, Head of Environmental Products, Intercontinental Exchange Pete Keavey, Managing Director of Energy and Environmental products, CME

2:00pm ET

Panel 4: Market Participants

Recommendations for the CFTC – Part 1 The panel will discuss perspectives on carbon offset projects from industry and the public interest. The panel will discuss the challenges and opportunities of trading carbon offsets and/or carbon offset derivatives; documentation issues; and recommendations for the role of the CFTC in these markets.

Moderator: Janet Peace, Chief of Advisory Services, BlueSource

Part I:

• Mark Kenber, Co-Executive Director, External Affairs, Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative and Managing Director, Climate Advisers
• Bella Rozenberg, Senior Counsel/Head of Regulatory and Legal Practice Group, International Swaps and Derivatives Association
• Linda French, Global Head of ESG Policy & Regulation, Sustainability and Global Government Relations, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
• Aoife Kearney, Assistant General Counsel, Neuberger Berman
• Darcy Bradbury, Managing Director, head of Global Public Policy, the D. E. Shaw group
• Alexia Kelly, Director, Net Zero + Nature, Netflix

3:00pm ET

Panel 4: Market Participants

Recommendations for the CFTC – Part 2

The panel will discuss perspectives on carbon offset projects from industry and the public interest. The panel will discuss the challenges and opportunities of trading carbon offsets and/or carbon offset derivatives; documentation issues; and recommendations for the role of the CFTC in these markets.

Moderator: Janet Peace, Chief of Advisory Services, BlueSource

Part II:

• Chuck Conner, President & CEO, National Council of Farm Cooperatives
• Shelby Swain Myers, Economist, American Farm Bureau Federation
• Tyson Slocum, Director, Energy Program, Public Citizen
• Jeff Swartz, Vice President Low Carbon Strategy, Regulatory Affairs and Partnerships, BP
• Michael LeMonds, Vice President, Environment, Land and Government Affairs, Holcim US

4:00pm ET

Closing Remarks

Chairman Rostin Behnam

4:15pm ET

Adjournment

Hearing page

The FY 2023 Defense budget includes $1.1 billion in requested funds for environmental restoration.

Hearing page