Axios Generate: We're about to learn more about Biden's infrastructure plan

Plus, the climate link to migration and a new energy storage coalition | Monday, March 29, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Honda   Generate By Ben Geman ·Mar 29, 2021 Welcome back. Today's Smart Brevity count is 1,192 words, 4.5 minutes. 🎶 And today marks the 1979 release of Supertramp's "Breakfast in America," which provides today's intro tune...     1 big thing: What to watch in Biden's infrastructure rollout Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   President Biden is expected to show his cards this week when it comes to energy and climate provisions he'll ask Congress to include in a big-dollar infrastructure package. Why it matters: Biden campaigned on major investments in zero-carbon power, electric vehicle charging, climate-resilient infrastructure and more. Chances to move a huge package like this come around exceedingly rarely, and specifics have been absent so far. What's next: His speech in Pittsburgh on Wednesday — and other info the White House may reveal — should provide more clarity on what he wants in the wider infrastructure proposal expected to be well north of a trillion dollars. Needless to say, we'll have way more later in the week, and here's a few things we're watching... The pitch: Biden is expected to promote the plan as a major jobs package, but a note from the research firm ClearView Energy Partners said it could also be part of a wider message on competition with China. It notes that amid concerns about inflation and with the pandemic receding, the plan may be positioned partly as "an industrial policy by which the U.S. might counter and contain a rising China." The specifics: There's intense interest among energy lobbyists of various stripes, activists and others to see a huge array of provisions included, and not everyone will come away happy. To take just one example, there's a push to create new tax incentives for battery storage projects (more on that below). The strategy: It's not yet clear how much Biden and Democrats will seek to move through budget reconciliation (the filibuster-proof process that constrains what can be included), or whether there's an opening for some bipartisan dealmaking. The lobbying and advocacy: The upcoming plan is the biggest opening for a sweeping climate and clean energy package in a decade. Axios' Hans Nichols reports that progressives are trying to sell the initiative with new cable TV ads arguing clean energy projects will immediately create thousands of jobs. And Axios' Andrew Freedman, in the same story, noted the stakes of that and other advocacy efforts that will surround the bill. There may be resistance to making the infrastructure bills too climate-heavy unless the public views clean energy spending as a win/win for jobs and the environment, Andrew notes.     Bonus: the push for energy storage incentives A new coalition of battery storage companies has formed to join the wider clean energy sector's press for legislation that would create an investment tax credit for energy storage projects. Driving the news: The Energy Storage ITC Coalition is run through the prominent lobbying firm Peck Madigan Jones, a newly public filing shows. The half-dozen companies include Plus Power, Aypa Power and Able Grid. The group said in a statement that speeding up development will make the U.S. "more economically competitive, energy-independent, innovative, and resilient." The big picture: Storage advocates have long been seeking the creation of federal tax credits to join longstanding incentives for renewables projects. Now there's a big new push underway as the White House and Congress prepare infrastructure legislation slated to include climate and energy provisions. Last week dozens of major trade groups, companies and environmental organizations sent joint letters (here and here) to House and Senate leaders.     2. Climate change will intensify border crises Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   Axios' Bryan Walsh reports that the influx of migrants to the U.S. southern border has taken over the news — and climate change, among other factors, ensures it won't be going away. Why it matters: The migration of tens of millions of people, exacerbated by a changing climate, will be one of the mega-trends of the 21st century. For humanitarian and political reasons, wealthy countries like the U.S. will need to figure out how to handle a flow of people that may never stop. Driving the news: During President Biden's press conference Thursday, questions about the renewed flow of migrants dominated the discussion. While the current increase in migrants pales in comparison to the 2019 peak — and is likely due in part to a backlog of migrants unable to travel during the worst of the pandemic last year — the flow is expected to grow as the weather warms. The big picture: People leave home for many reasons, including conflict and crime, political persecution, and the simple desire for a better life. But a factor now — and even more so in the future — is the push of extreme weather and climate change, which will disproportionately affect people in poorer, hot countries that are already a major source of migrants to the U.S. That means the U.S., as well as the rich nations of Europe and even countries like India, will likely face a growing flow of climate migrants that they and the international refugee system more broadly are ill-equipped to handle. Read the whole story     A message from Honda Honda is reducing its impact on the environment     Honda's vehicle fleet is the lowest-emitting and most efficient, continuing more than 40 years of fuel-efficiency leadership. Our factories, suppliers and dealers are all integrated into our industry-leading environmental commitment. See Honda's environmental commitments.     3. The mixed picture on power decarbonization Data: Ember Global Electricity Review; Chart: Axios Visuals. Note: Indonesia, Russia and Saudi Arabia have "near-zero" wind and solar, the report states New analysis shows how wind and solar growth are helping to displace coal-fired generation, but not nearly enough to slash overall emissions from electricity at a time of generally rising global demand. Driving the news: Last year, a 15% rise in wind and solar generation combined with the pandemic briefly halting power demand growth led to a record drop in coal-fired output, the environmental think tank Ember said. The big picture: Those renewables combined supplied nearly a 10th of total global electricity last year, around twice the share just five years earlier. Several countries have seen significant increases over the last half-decade, many of which you can see above. Wind and solar together supplied 33% of Germany's power last year and 29% in the UK. Yes, but: Coal generation rose in China last year, and more broadly the report points out that global coal demand is projected to rebound this year. And even last year, despite renewables growth and the pandemic, total power sector emissions were 2% higher than in 2015. "Progress is nowhere near fast enough," said Dave Jones, Ember's lead power analyst. "Coal power needs to collapse by 80% by 2030 to avoid dangerous levels of warming above 1.5 degrees [Celsius]," he said. Go deeper: China generated over half world's coal-fired power in 2020: study (Reuters)     4. ICYMI: Biden lays the groundwork for the climate summit Axios' Andrew Freedman reports that President Biden has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin to join other world leaders at a virtual White House climate summit April 22-23. Why it matters: The White House intends to showcase its climate policies and spur more ambitious actions from other nations as the world remains off course to achieve the global warming goals of the Paris climate agreement. Others invited to the summit include the leaders of Japan, India and the European Union. The big picture: Having China, currently by far the world's biggest emitter of planet-warming greenhouse gases, represented at the meeting is crucial for making progress on this issue. The Biden administration is aiming to reset U.S. climate diplomacy, having moved to rejoin the Paris Agreement via executive order on his first day in office. Between the lines: The White House is aiming to showcase its own ambitious climate goals at the summit by proposing new emissions reduction targets shortly before the meeting. Read the whole story     5. Catch up fast: BlackRock, cybersecurity, Saudi Arabia Money: "Top asset managers BlackRock Inc and Vanguard Group Inc have joined an investor push to limit greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, giving new momentum to the effort despite concerns its goals have some wiggle room." (Reuters) Threats: "The Biden administration is escalating efforts to safeguard the U.S. power grid from hackers, developing a plan to better coordinate with industry to counter threats and respond to cyber attacks." (Bloomberg) Plans: "Top crude exporter Saudi Arabia on Saturday unveiled a sweeping campaign to tackle climate change and reduce carbon emissions, including a plan to plant billions of trees in the coming decades." (AFP)     A message from Honda Honda's legacy of environmental leadership     There are a lot of environmental promises right now, but Honda believes actions speak louder. Honda is the most fuel-efficient full-line automaker in America and has the lowest CO2 emissions of any full-line automaker. And we're not done yet. See Honda's environmental commitments.     Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: