More information: eesi.org/032813polls

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing discussing American perceptions of climate change. This briefing provided a broad review of survey evidence and explained what may lie behind variations in public attitudes toward climate change. Professor Jon Krosnick highlighted the results of a meta-analysis of public opinion polls on climate change conducted over the last 20 years. He presented the results of new surveys documenting change over time in public beliefs, and the causes of those trends.

In addition, the briefing included a state-by-state breakdown of public opinion, an analysis of the impact of global warming on voting in the 2012 elections as well as the impact of Superstorm Sandy on the public's perception of climate change. Finally, Dr. Krosnick assessed the extent of public support for government action aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change.

March 21, 2013-The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) held a briefing on the resiliency of residential real estate values located in areas well-connected by public transportation. Although the recent economic crisis had a negative effect on housing prices around the country, property values with good access to public transit remained much closer to their pre-recession levels than properties without access, even within the same city. A new report commissioned by APTA and NAR investigates the relationship between residential real estate and public transportation in five U.S. metropolitan regions. The study, The New Real Estate Mantra: Location Near Public Transportation, was released on March 21.

Learn more at: eesi.org/031813_diversity

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, and the Franciscan Action Network held a briefing on the disparate impact climate change has upon communities of color and tribal nations in congressional districts around the country. The speakers talked about steps and initiatives they are taking to sustain and strengthen their communities, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Learn more here: eesi.org/031513_DOE-transport

The Environmental and Energy Studies Institute (EESI) and the Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) held a briefing on the conclusions of the newly released EERE Transportation Energy Futures (TEF) study. The study identifies a combined set of strategies to achieve deep cuts in petroleum use and carbon emissions from the U.S. transportation sector, emphasizing underexplored opportunities and challenges along the path to a more sustainable transportation energy future.

Speakers for this forum were:
Michael Carr, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, EERE
Arthur Rypinski, Energy Economist, Office of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation
Peter Chipman, Senior Transportation Specialist, Research and Innovative Technology Administration (DOT)
Austin Brown, Senior Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Learn more and download handouts at eesi.org/020513_renewables

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) organized a briefing about the important and growing role that renewable energy plays in the American energy mix.

• Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn (U.S. Navy, Ret.), President, ACORE
• Steve Chalk, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
• Shirley Neff, Senior Advisor, Energy Information Administration
• Mark Fulton, Former Managing Director, Deutsche Bank Asset Management
• Dr. Robert Ichord, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Energy Resources, U.S. Dept. of State
• Carol Werner, Executive Director, Environmental and Energy Study Institute (Moderator)

Renewable energy resources -- including water, wind, biomass, geothermal, and solar -- are abundant and geographically diverse across the United States, and are used to generate electricity, provide thermal energy, fuel industrial processes, and produce transportation fuels. The deployment of renewable energy technologies has grown rapidly in recent years as their costs have decreased substantially and as the nation looks to meet growing demand, diversify its energy supply, promote energy security, and reduce carbon emissions.

Renewable electricity generation has grown 62 percent since 2001, and in 2011 represented 12.7 percent of total U.S. electricity generation. Furthermore, 12,956 megawatts of renewable energy capacity was installed in 2012, accounting for 49.1 percent of all new electrical generating capacity in the United States. The briefing provided an overview of renewable energy technologies, domestic and international deployment trends, and exciting market and economic conditions.