This week, two highly anticipated visits have captivated the attention of the nation’s capital and the world. President Obama welcomed both Pope Francis and Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington, with climate change concerns on top of each agenda. Momentum on the issue will carry into next week as United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon brings together heads of state to discuss climate change on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The Obama administration also announced several funding efforts aimed at bolstering renewable energy technology. On September 16, Vice President Biden announced $102 million in initiatives targeted at scaling solar technology in 24 states. The day prior, the DOE announced that its small business voucher pilot program will launch September 23. The program will provide $20 million to selected national labs which will distribute vouchers and provide guidance to small businesses developing clean energy technologies.