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This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the role of lithium in the energy transition, its global supply chain, extraction methods, and the environmental and social impacts associated with its production.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the role of cobalt as a critical mineral for the clean energy transition, detailing its applications in lithium-ion batteries, global distribution of reserves and production, and the significant human rights and environmental impacts associated with its extraction, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

An analysis of 393 environmental and energy bills introduced in the first quarter of 2026 reveals that 45% were bipartisan. Bipartisan bills showed a higher rate of legislative advancement (22%) compared to non-bipartisan bills (15%). The highest level of consensus was found in oceans and biodiversity, where approximately 67% of bills were bipartisan. Other areas of strong cooperation include disaster management, wildfires, and permitting reform. The report notes that successful bipartisan legislation often focuses on concrete economic impacts or specific, narrow scopes and typically avoids using the terminology of climate change. In contrast, energy bills were less bipartisan, with Republicans focusing on deregulation and Democrats on clean energy tax credits, although specific technologies like geothermal, hydropower, nuclear, and waste-to-energy maintain bipartisan support.

The report advocates for reconductoring as a primary solution to the U.S. energy grid's capacity crisis, which currently stalls 2,500 GW of clean energy projects. By replacing traditional steel-core cables with advanced composite conductors, the grid can double its transfer capacity at less than half the cost of building new lines, with installation times of 18-36 months compared to 10-15 years for new construction. The document highlights the potential for $180 billion in system savings by 2050 and a 3-4% reduction in wholesale electricity costs. It details technical improvements, such as trapezoidal wires and carbon-fiber cores, and cites successful implementations in Texas, Nevada, California, and Minnesota, as well as international adoption in Europe and Asia. The report concludes by urging policymakers to support legislation like the High-Capacity Grid Act and the REWIRE Act to incentivize the adoption of these technologies.

The United States faces significant supply chain vulnerabilities due to heavy reliance on imports for critical minerals, with China dominating the supply of 60% of U.S.-designated critical minerals. To mitigate this, the document proposes a shift toward a circular economy focusing on recycling and secondary recovery. Battery recycling, particularly for electric vehicles, could reduce the demand for mined lithium, nickel, and cobalt by approximately 10%, though currently fewer than 15% of U.S. lithium-ion batteries are recycled. Secondary recovery opportunities include extracting rare earth elements from acid mine drainage (AMD) and phosphogypsum waste from phosphate fertilizer production. Recent federal actions, including a March 2025 executive order and nearly $1 billion in Department of Energy funding, aim to prioritize domestic production, though the author argues for further long-term support for infrastructure and clearer circular economy standards.

The United States faces significant vulnerabilities in its critical mineral supply chain, relying on imports for 100% of 12 critical minerals and 50% or more for another 28 as of 2024. While the U.S. possesses deposits of many essential minerals, domestic production is hindered by permitting processes that average 16 years and the higher cost of domestic operations compared to overseas production. The document highlights the environmental risks of open-pit mining—including greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater contamination—and the specific impact on Native American reservations, where a high percentage of nickel, lithium, and cobalt resources are located. It explores secondary recovery from waste like coal ash and desalination brine as a sustainable alternative, though these methods currently face economic and technical barriers. Recent U.S. policy efforts include the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and 2025 executive orders aimed at expediting permitting and exploring deep-sea mining.

The document explains that human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, have increased average global temperatures by approximately one degree Celsius since 1880. It details the resulting impacts, including more frequent extreme weather, rising sea levels, and ocean acidification. The text outlines strategies for addressing these challenges through climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, while describing the roles of the U.S. government, corporations, and the United Nations in implementing these solutions.

The document explains that global warming, driven primarily by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and agriculture, has increased average global temperatures by approximately 1 degree Celsius since 1880. It details the resulting impacts, including more frequent extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and ocean acidification. The text outlines various responses, such as the transition to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the roles of the United Nations and the U.S. government in international agreements like the Paris Agreement. It also defines key concepts such as climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience, and discusses the role of climate finance in supporting these efforts.

The document outlines the significance of the U.S. rail network for commerce and passenger travel, noting that rail can help decarbonize transportation by displacing emissions from other modes. It highlights the role of the surface transportation bill in funding rail modernization through electrification, track expansion, and safety improvements.

The EESI briefing discusses the role of federal investments in U.S. public transit, noting that such funding supports local economies, reduces air pollution, and improves land use. It specifically highlights that every dollar invested in transit generates $5 in economic returns and explores the integration of transit with other mobility forms and land use policies.

Holy Cross Energy is implementing a strategy to reach 100% renewable energy by 2030 through the deployment of distributed lithium-ion battery storage. By leveraging a $11 million USDA Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) loan and Inflation Reduction Act direct pay tax credits, the cooperative has established the Power+ program, which provides on-bill financing for residential battery packs. This system allows the utility to perform energy arbitrage and peak shaving, reducing reliance on expensive natural-gas peaker plants while providing members with backup power during extreme weather and wildfires.

The briefing discusses the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on U.S. clean manufacturing, noting over $123 billion in announced investments and the potential for 67,000 rural jobs. It explores the role of domestic production of solar panels, batteries, computer chips, and wind turbines in supporting the clean energy transition and community reinvestment.

The U.S. government utilizes programs like CLEEN, ASCENT, and NASA's flight testing to advance sustainable aviation. The Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions, and Noise (CLEEN) program focuses on aircraft electrification, advanced wing materials, and emission reductions, with the first two phases expected to reduce fuel consumption by 51.1 billion gallons by 2050. The Aviation Sustainability Center (ASCENT) coordinates universities and private stakeholders on sustainable aviation fuels and airworthiness standards. Additionally, NASA and Boeing are developing the X-66A experimental aircraft to test the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Design, which could reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 30% compared to current single-aisle airliners.

Senator Chris Van Hollen recognized the 40th anniversary of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), highlighting its role in providing nonpartisan, science-based information to Congress through briefings, white papers, and the annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum to support climate action and sustainable policy.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provide substantial funding for U.S. public transit and clean energy, including $91.9 billion for transit via the IIJA and $12.3 billion for transportation via the IRA. Key programs include the Urbanized Area Formula Grants, the State of Good Repair Formula Grants, and the Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) program. However, the analysis suggests a continued reliance on car-centric infrastructure, with $307 billion of combined transportation funding directed toward roadway planning and development, potentially undermining climate goals and equity through induced demand and the prioritization of personal electric vehicles over mass transit.

The document is a detailed reference guide defining the organizational structures, legal agreements, and technical terminology of the UNFCCC. It covers key treaties such as the Paris Agreement and Kyoto Protocol, explains the roles of various bodies like the COP and its subsidiary bodies, and defines critical climate concepts including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Global Stocktake, and the Enhanced Transparency Framework. It also details the roles of non-state actors through the nine recognized NGO constituencies and describes the financial mechanisms, such as the Green Climate Fund, used to support developing countries.

The document contains a series of congressional remarks, including a specific recognition of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) on its 40th anniversary. Representative Emanuel Cleaver highlights EESI's history since the 1970s, its mission to provide objective information on climate and clean energy to Congressional staff, and its role in organizing the annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum.

Representative Chrissy Houlahan issued a statement in the Congressional Record congratulating the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) on its 40th anniversary. She highlights EESI's role as a nonpartisan partner to the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, providing science-based resources on topics such as carbon sequestration, natural climate solutions, and the Farm Bill to help policymakers develop durable climate legislation.

Representative Jennifer L. McClellan issued a statement in the Congressional Record recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). She highlighted EESI's role since 1984 as an independent nonprofit providing members of Congress and staff with nonpartisan, science-based educational resources on climate, clean energy, and environmental topics. McClellan noted that EESI's resources assist congressional offices in serving constituents and mentioned her own participation in EESI's podcast, 'The Climate Conversation', to discuss environmental justice, public health impacts of the climate crisis, and community resilience.

The document examines the prevalence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," in the U.S. environment and population. It details the health risks, including cancer and immune suppression, and outlines the regulatory response led by the EPA's 2021 Strategic Roadmap and the 2024 National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. The brief also covers state-level phase-outs, legislative efforts in the 118th Congress, and technical challenges in remediating PFAS from water and soil.