The Emerging Leaders in Environmental and Energy Policy Network

ELEEP Virtual Discussion on Water Scarcity in California

This ELEEP Virtual Discussion took place on September 18th, 2016. We were joined by Andrew Ayres to discuss the topic of water scarcity in California.

ELEEP Virtual Discussion with the NC Sierra Club on Coal Ash

This ELEEP Virtual Discussion took place on July 28, 2016 and dealt with the topic of "Regulating Coal: Lessons from the North Carolina Coal Ash Spill." On February 2, 2014, North Carolina became the site of the second largest coal ash spill in US history when a stormwater pipe under coal ash impoundments at Duke Energy’s retired Dan River plant ruptured. The Dan River was fouled by an estimated 140,000 tons of coal ash and contaminated wastewater, spurring significant public outcry and uncovering questionable practices on the part of the energy utility Duke Energy and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. After the spill, the NC General Assembly passed a law to establish a process for cleaning up coal ash throughout NC. However, state and federal enforcement actions dealing with 10 North Carolina sites remain pending. Conservation groups continue to push in court and publicly for cleanup of primitive coal ash storage and pollution at these sites.

ELEEP Virtual Discussion with David Freed (8 Rivers Capital) on NET Power

This ELEEP Virtual Discussion took place on July 12, 2016 with an excellent speaker working on one of the most high profile CCS (Carbon Capture & Storage) technologies currently being piloted in the US - NET Power. David Freed works on energy innovation and commercialization for 8 Rivers Capital, a Durham, NC based company focused on commercializing industrial scale technology. David was one of the earliest employees and continues to serve as project manager for NET Power, a clean power generation technology that is in the process of constructing a 50MWt demonstration plant with Toshiba, CB&I and Exelon. The eventual technology will capture 100% of all emissions including CO2, does not need water and compete economically with best in class technologies that do not capture emissions. David also works with and is currently deploying several pilot water technologies in treatment for municipal, agricultural and industrial end-users.

ELEEP Policy Recommendations for the Water-Energy-Climate Nexus

From 7 until 12 July 2013, ten members of the ELEEP Network took part in a study tour on the Energy-Water-Climate Change Nexus in the American Southwest. During the tour, ELEEP Members traveled to New Mexico (Santa Fe and Albuquerque), Arizona (Phoenix and Flagstaff), and Nevada (Hoover Dam and Las Vegas).

Water-Energy-Climate Nexus

As part of ELEEP's 18-month EU-US Energy and Climate Dialogue funded by the European Union, ten members of the ELEEP Network took part in a study tour on the Energy-Water-Climate Change Nexus in the American Southwest.

Study Tour on EU Energy and Environmental Issues: a Central European Perspective

Eight members of the ELEEP Network met with staff from the Atlantic Council of the United States and Ecologic Institutefor a study tour in Budapest, Hungary from 27 – 29 June 2012. European elements of ELEEP to this point had focused primarily on Western European countries and perspectives.