The Environmental and Energy Study Institute

EESI was founded in 1984 by a bipartisan group of members of Congress to fill a critical need: turning complex concepts into accessible information, inviting decision-makers to ask questions and learn about winning solutions to climate change, the most urgent threat facing the world today. Although the impacts and risks of climate change are clear, the way forward sometimes remains elusive. EESI works to change that. Our vision is a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world.

Our long-term goals are:
-Clean, decarbonized energy that is affordable and accessible for all;
-Resilient, healthy, sustainable, and just communities that can prepare for and adapt to climate change impacts and other disasters; and
-Informed decision-makers motivated and equipped to act on urgently-needed climate solutions

EESI works to effect policy changes that put the U.S. on a cleaner, secure, and sustainable energy path. We need federal, state, local, private-sector, decision-makers, and stakeholders to take action as soon as possible to foster an equitable transition to a decarbonized economy.

In our federal policy work, our key strategies and activities are:

Educate members of Congress, their staff, and the public about climate change, energy, and environmental issues and policy opportunities;

We host public briefings/webcasts to provide the most up-to-date research and information. Our events are recorded and accessible anywhere. We write and distribute fact sheets on key climate, energy, and environmental topics (without charge) on our site, to email subscribers, Congressional staffers, and reporters. Lastly, we continue to write thoughtful, original web articles focused on climate change solutions across the country and climate-related activity which feed into our biweekly Climate Change Solutions e-newsletter.

Advocate for federal policies related to climate change, energy, and environmental issues;

EESI is a non-partisan resource for time-strapped, often inexperienced Congressional staff, offering ideas, identifying information gaps, and responding to requests for information. For example, in November 2019, EESI submitted an extensive set of recommendations to the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

Work collaboratively in coalitions and share information to draw on expertise across organizations and broaden EESI’s impact;

Serve as a resource for the media on climate change, energy, and environmental issues;

EESI’s briefings provide venues for the media to gain knowledge and access to experts. They regularly look to EESI staff to provide information and quotes, such as in "Cutting Commercial Real Estate Carbon Emissions: Q&A with Carbon Lighthouse" in Environment+Energy Leader.

Spread innovative financing solutions at the local and federal level

EESI is building a national network of high-impact energy efficiency and beneficial electrification programs that drive down greenhouse gas emissions by providing technical assistance to rural utilities pursuing on-bill financing programs. We advocate for inclusive and equitable on-bill financing models that reach customers who are frequently left behind — those who do not have enough cash on hand, are on limited budgets or do not qualify for traditional consumer credit (i.e., low credit scores). This approach to financing enables homeowners, renters, and small business owners to make cost-effective investments based simply on bill payment history. Moreover, we help further electrification efforts — as the national electric grid becomes cleaner, this is a winning strategy to help drive down emissions. Additionally, EESI will continue its collaboration with USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to promote RESP, recruit and assist applicants, and streamline program processes.

EESI has continually proved we have the history, connections, and knowledge to act as an effective catalyst for change.

History

For over 35 years, EESI has acted as a catalyst, framer, connector, facilitator, and synthesizer of ideas and issues to help move win-win ideas forward.

Connections

EESI develops and disseminates information through our numerous briefings on science, technology, and environmental and energy policy issues (all online for the duration of the COVID pandemic). We facilitate communication among diverse stakeholders and their representatives in Washington, D.C. EESI staff also participate in numerous coalition-building meetings, conferences, and other events.

Knowledge

In 1988, EESI’s Board declared that addressing climate change was a moral imperative, making EESI one of the first organizations to issue such a statement in the United States. EESI has been able to cultivate great leadership and capabilities on climate solutions because we look at energy and climate impacts holistically. We seek to unite a range of constituencies behind win-win solutions, building consensus and emphasizing the multiple benefits of a stable climate, the socio-economic benefits of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and the costs of inaction.

1. Provided policymakers and the public with key information about the international climate summit in Glasgow (COP26).
EESI provided Congress with information about the U.N. international climate negotiations. We hosted a briefing series on climate adaptation, international climate finance, negotiations, and ways to implement U.S. climate commitments.

2. Informed new Hill staff about climate change solutions and the legislative procedures that could see them enacted.
Congressional Climate Camp was how EESI provided new Congressional staff with environmental and energy resources in 2021. We presented the basics of the legislative process and highlighted policy opportunities for achieving carbon reductions, especially those that also deliver climate adaptation and resilience benefits. It was well-received by Congressional staff and the policy community.

3. Provided key environmental information to more than 1 million web visitors for the first time.
For the first time, EESI’s website received more than 1 million unique visits in 2021. Our website audience has more than doubled in two years!

4. Partnered with the NAACP to develop Equitable Solar Policy Principles, to expand access to solar energy.
EESI partnered with the NAACP’s Solar Equity Initiative, which seeks to boost solar installations in communities of color and connect them to solar job training. The Solar Equity Initiative unveiled the Equitable Solar Policy Principles to increase solar adoption in communities of color and dismantle systematic barriers that these communities have experienced. EESI helped develop these principles.

5. Held 31 Congressional briefings with record RSVPs.
Average briefing attendance and RSVPs were very high. This indicates that our outreach is effective and our briefing topics appealing.

6. Promoted and strengthened the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), which helps rural communities adopt clean energy and energy efficiency.
EESI helped usher in a new era for the USDA, which finances renewable-energy, battery-storage, and energy-efficiency improvements for rural homes with low-interest loans that are repaid through customer electric bills. The federal budget doubled the program’s funding, which means $200 million in funding is available.

7. Established measurable goals for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ).
EESI’s DEIJ Statement guides our work by establishing objectives and measuring progress as we better incorporate DEIJ principles across EESI. For example, we launched a scholarship.

Looking Forward
We plan to increase our engagement with federal climate policy by equipping and motivating decision-makers to understand and respond to climate change mitigation, resilience, and adaptation.

We also aim to help more co-ops launch or scale up inclusive clean energy programs for their members, helping rural economies and better equipping them to improve their communities while reducing their energy use.