Political Climate

Grid Utilization: Unlocking the Cheapest Megawatt in America

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:54:00 -0000

What if the fastest, cheapest fix for America’s power grid is hiding in plain sight?

On this episode of Political Climate, we dive into grid utilization — and how to unlock the massive untapped potential of a system that operates at just ~50% capacity (as Secretary Wright noted just last month).

With Ian Magruder (founder and executive director of the Utilize Coalition) and guest co-host Hillary O’Brien (managing director of clean power at ClearPath) we explore how solutions such as advanced transmission technologies and virtual power plants can unlock hundreds of gigawatts and deliver $100+ billion in savings — plus the policy changes needed to scale them.

At a moment of surging demand, is there really a debate between building more or finally using what we already have better?

Episode highlights:

1:38 - Roundup: SF Climate Week, cybersecurity & Chinese EVs on TikTok

9:12 - The case for grid utilization

14:47 - Companies to watch in the utilization space

17:18 - The "build" versus "use" debate

25:25 - Speed to power with DOE's $1.9 billion SPARK program

28:38 - Policy action to accelerate grid innovation & VA case study

39:20 - Better grid use transcends political divides

Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions.

Subscribe to catch all of our latest episodes! And head on over to ⁠politicalclimatepodcast.com⁠ to sign up for our soon returning newsletter.

Will EVs Surge Amid Iran Oil Shocks?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:23:00 -0000

Gas prices are spiking as the Iran war disrupts global oil markets — so will this be the moment that finally supercharges EV adoption in the U.S.?

This week on Political Climate, we explore how past energy shocks have driven policy shifts aimed at greater energy diversification — and whether history is repeating itself, only with new stakes.

Avery Ash, CEO of Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE), joins the show to discuss how geopolitics, consumer behavior, and technological advancements are colliding at a pivotal moment.

Does the U.S. need a more strategic, policy-driven approach to energy security in an era of rising conflict and global competition?

Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions.

Subscribe to catch all of our latest episodes! And head on over to ⁠politicalclimatepodcast.com⁠ to sign up for our soon returning newsletter.

Win or Learn: Shane Battier on Energy’s March Madness Moment

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:49:00 -0000

March was defined by blown predictions, resilience, wins, losses, and last-minute turnarounds—and not just in college basketball. In many ways, those same forces are shaping the energy sector today.

Shane Battier—NCAA champion at Duke in 2001 and two-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat—knows a thing or two about performing under pressure. Now, he’s bringing that playbook to cleantech.

In this episode of Political Climate, we sit down with Shane to talk about what March Madness can teach us beyond the court. Then, we shift gears to break down some of the latest developments across the energy landscape, including:

21:45 - Key takeaways from CERA Week
30:40 - Powering AI: contrasting projects from Google and SB Energy
33:11 - New efforts to boost grid utilization— not just build out
38:02 - A surprising coal comeback in Alaska an beyond
43:14 - vWhy the U.S. is paying TotalEnergies $1 billion to abandon offshore wind plans
48:24 - A Democratic bid to lower costs by restoring tax clean energy tax credits

From the Final Four to the future of the grid—this episode covers the strategies, setbacks, and big bets shaping energy today.

Political Climate is presented by ClearPath, one of the most influential organizations working to advance American energy innovation while reducing global emissions.

Subscribe to catch all of our latest episodes! And head on over to ⁠politicalclimatepodcast.com⁠ to sign up for our soon returning newsletter.

Energy Shocks: Iran, AI, and the 2026 Midterms

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:59:00 -0000

Energy is back at the center of politics.

From war in the Middle East disrupting oil and LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz to AI-driven data centers sending U.S. power demand soaring, energy policy is shaping the road to the 2026 midterms.

In the first episode back from a break, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Neil Chatterjee sit down with Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) and former Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) at the Winterfest conference to discuss:

How conflict in the Middle East is rattling energy markets and American consumers — and whether it could strengthen the case for clean energy.

How to protect ratepayers as AI data centers push up electricity demand and power prices — and who will own the affordability debate.

Why some conservatives are warming to solar — and whether clean energy companies are getting more politically savvy.

Plus, some podcast news! Political Climate has partnered with ClearPath, a leading conservative clean energy advocacy organization focused on advancing American energy innovation while reducing global emissions. To kick things off, Julia speaks with ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell.

Subscribe for smart conversations at the intersection of energy, climate, markets, and politics.

Unpacking a Volatile Year in Climate and Energy

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 21:01:00 -0000

2025 has been one of the most turbulent years on record for U.S. climate and energy policy.

The One Big Beautiful Bill is in; the Inflation Reduction Act is out. Clean energy grants have been canceled, permits delayed, and federal priorities reshuffled. At the same time, electricity demand is surging, consumers are worried about affordability, and trade disputes are disrupting supply chains. Amid all this volatility, has the clean energy transition stalled?

To help make sense of it all, we’re joined by Jane Flegal, Executive Director of the Blue Horizons Foundation and former member of the Biden White House climate policy team, who brings a rare perspective spanning academia, philanthropy, government, and the private sector.

In this episode, we step back to assess the major forces shaping climate and energy today and in the months ahead—including the federal policy reset, the AI-energy nexus, and contentious geopolitics. Plus, how advocacy needs to evolve in light of these shifts.

Together with Jane, we unpack lessons learned from a wild year in climate and energy—and make some bold predictions about where we're headed next.

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Political Climate is hosted by Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut and Neil Chatterjee. Bruno Falcon is the show's producer. Check out redesigned website at www.politicalclimatepodcast.com and be sure to follow the show wherever you like to listen.

The podcast will be taking a couple month hiatus in early 2026 while one of our hosts is on maternity leave. But we’ll be back again with new episodes soon!

Inside the American Energy + AI Initiative

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:03:00 -0000

A hyperscaler, an energy developer, and a government official walk into a room. It’s not a joke — it’s the new reality as the U.S. scrambles to lead the global race for AI dominance. As frontier AI companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic push for fast, clean, and reliable energy at unprecedented scale, policymakers are racing to understand how America’s grid will keep up.

In this episode, we sit down with Ann Bluntzer Pullin, Executive Director of the Hamm Institute for American Energy, to explore how the new American Energy + AI Initiative is convening senior federal officials, top tech leaders, energy CEOs, investors, and academics around one urgent question: Can the U.S. build the power and infrastructure needed to meet AI’s explosive electricity demand?

We dig into the risks of getting it wrong — from grid instability to higher energy costs — and the opportunities for America to strengthen both its AI leadership and its energy system. If the U.S. can get the AI-energy equation right, the economic and strategic payoff could be enormous.

Before diving in, we kick off with updates on COP30, recent political leadership shakeups, and early insights from FERC’s new proposal on interconnecting large loads. The interview with Ann begins at the 22:30 mark.

America's Critical Minerals Crisis

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Critical minerals sit at the heart of modern life—from phones and data centers to EVs, defense systems, and the power grid. Yet the U.S. remains heavily dependent on foreign supply chains for these resources that are dominated by China.

In failing to develop holistic and responsible mineral supply chains the U.S. risks bottlenecks in semiconductors, defense, and clean energy. This puts both economic security and climate goals at risk, while perpetuating human rights abuses.

In this episode, we discuss what counts as a “critical mineral,” why obtaining these resources is so consequential, and how U.S. policy is shifting as geopolitical pressures mount. We also explore a new biotech and machine learning approach to recovering minerals from existing mine waste with Liz Dennett, founder & CEO of Endolith.

Liz explains how American-led innovation can unlock new supplies for critical minerals, such as copper, in a more efficient and sustainable manner—and why the stakes are so high for these resources today.

How FERC and Your Home Could Fast-Track AI Power

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:38:00 -0000

AI is reshaping the economy — and now it’s reshaping the electric grid.

The growth of AI data centers is fueling an unprecedented spike in power needs — and policymakers are scrambling for creative ways to meet it. In this episode of Political Climate, we explore two different approaches to expanding the nation’s power capacity:

A novel federal initiative to fast-track large-load interconnections for data centers and other energy-hungry facilities.
A bottom-up vision from Rewiring America showing how electrified homes could meet 100% of projected AI-driven demand growth — all while saving households money and strengthening the grid.

At the heart of the discussion is a bold directive from Energy Secretary Chris Wright to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The proposal would establish new guidelines to expedite interconnection for large loads, especially those willing to be curtailable or co-located with dispatchable generation. The goal: speed to power, without the years of costly grid upgrades that have long stalled progress.

But will this fast-track strategy position the U.S. to lead on AI innovation and clean tech competitiveness — or will FERC encounter speed bumps along the way?

Hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Neil Chatterjee are also joined by Ari Matusiak, co-founder and CEO of Rewiring America. Ari explains how household electrification — from heat pumps to rooftop solar and batteries — could act as a powerful distributed solution to meet the AI era’s growing energy appetite.

Topics discussed:

06:54 – D.C. Dispatch: The hosts discuss Capitol Hill updates, shutdown politics, and permitting reform.
13:48 – The Filibuster Debate: How Senate rules, party control, and institutionalism affect energy and climate policy.
20:43 – DOE’s Big Move: Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s directive to FERC to expedite large-load interconnections.
27:37 – What FERC’s Proposal Means: Neil Chatterjee explains how “speed to power” could transform AI-era grid planning.
34:31 – The Flexibility Frontier: Data centers, curtailment, and co-location—how flexibility can unlock faster power delivery.
41:26 – Rewiring America Interview: Ari Matusiak on how household electrification can meet hyperscaler demand and save consumers money.
48:20 – Politics and the Power Bill: The hosts wrap up with what rising electricity costs and AI growth mean for 2025 election politics.

Power Struggles: From DC to Beijing

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:58:00 -0000

As the U.S. government enters its fourth week of shutdown, the fallout is spreading far beyond Washington. Billions in clean energy and technology funding have been frozen or slashed — disproportionately in blue states — as the administration uses the budget standoff to push through parts of its policy agenda. How will the shutdown showdown end?

Meanwhile, U.S.–China tensions are escalating once again. Beijing has announced new restrictions on exports of rare earth elements — critical for everything from EVs to AI — prompting President Trump to hit back with another 100 percent tariff. The rivalry between the world’s two largest economies is now reshaping global energy supply chains and the race for technological dominance.

In this episode, the Political Climate team unpacks how shutdown politics, trade wars, and shifting climate rhetoric are colliding, with energy at the center of both America’s domestic and geopolitical struggles.

While you're here, be sure to subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

US vs China: Who's Winning the Energy Race?

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:59:00 -0000

When we think of the U.S.–China rivalry, headlines often focus on trade wars, Taiwan, or Artificial Intelligence. But one of the most consequential battlegrounds is undoubtedly energy, which underpins each economy. Who will invent, build, and export the technologies that power the 21st century?

This week, Political Climate sits down with global energy policy expert Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at NYU, to unpack the race for energy dominance.

On one side, the U.S. is pumping record amounts of oil and gas, while policy momentum for low-carbon solutions has stalled although the industry has not. On the other, China is deploying solar, wind, EVs, and batteries at record scale and exporting clean energy technologies worldwide as part of a strategic plan, even as it continues to rely heavily on coal at home.

So which strategy holds the upper hand? Where do the cracks appear in each country’s approach? And who is truly positioned to be the global leader on energy (and perhaps on other issues too) in the decades to come?

We also kick off with a recap of recent developments in Washington, highlights from RE+ in Las Vegas, and a preview of New York Climate Week.

Shutdowns and Shakeups: What's at Stake for US Energy

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:11:00 -0000

With August recess behind us, Washington D.C. is gearing up for a busy fall. For many in the cleantech space – more questions than answers loom ahead. What is the outlook for wind and solar permitting, with renewable energy projects in the political crosshairs? Will Congress avoid a government shutdown before the end of September deadline? If not, what’s at stake? The Trump administration has frozen or cancelled hundreds grants in the climate and energy space and continues to conduct funding reviews. What’s on the chopping block? And how will shakeups at the Department of Energy affect the US technology competitiveness? In this episode, we set the table and discuss what’s on the menu in DC this fall when it comes to climate and energy policy.

03:58 Permit cancellations & prospects for reform

10:00 The electricity affordability crisis

20:42 The looming government shutdown

26:47 Federal funding cuts for clean energy

35:07 DOE program changes with Sydney Bopp

38:21 Changes at LPO & new lending programs

46:45 Impacts of a shutdown on US energy

What an 'Unapologetic Focus' on US Competitiveness Means for Climate Action

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 18:03:00 -0000

This week on Political Climate we’re live from Aspen Ideas: Climate in Chicago. We were joined by guest Greg Bertelsen, CEO of the Climate Leadership Council, and former senior director of energy and resources policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, as well as a fantastic live audience.

The "energy transition” has been underway for decades. In the United States, this shift has been supported by 20 years of policy aimed at diversifying and securing the American energy system. U.S. emissions dropped by roughly 20% in that time. Now, we're entering a new inning for climate action marked by policy change, technology advancements, and increased global competition.

In this episode, we discuss how an "unapologetic focus" on advancing U.S. competitiveness could be the key to continued progress on climate, while advancing U.S. priorities amid rising geopolitical tensions, increased energy demand, decreased affordability, and a fierce AI face. Much of the most important technology for realizing that success does not exist yet, which means it's a ripe area for American ingenuity and leadership. Will we seize the opportunity?

To close out the show, we took a few audience questions focused on the winners and losers of this new climate future, and where we can focus our energy on building new infrastructure to ensure the most good and the most gain -- for everyone.

The Big Bill Got Done. Now What?

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Now that Congress has passed and President Trump has signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we talk about the final language and what it means for the U.S. energy sector on this episode of Political Climate.

We discuss short term implications for solar and wind developers, particularly in light of a new executive order calling for new Treasury rules to strictly enforce the repeal of renewable energy tax credits. We also tackle what the OBBB means for American energy competitiveness on a global scale.

Plus, a new Department of Energy report warns that blackouts could increase by 100 times in 2030 if the U.S. continues to close baseload power plants and fails to add additional firm capacity. Is the U.S facing a grid reliability crisis without coal and natural gas plants?

We weigh in on the DOE report and the growing mismatch between US electricity supply and demand (for a primer, listen to our previous episode with Asim Haque, VP with grid operator PJM Interconnection).

The Grid's 'All Hands on Deck' Moment

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 01:30:00 -0000

U.S. grid operators braced for a surge in electricity demand and possible power outages this week as scorching temperatures hit the eastern half of the country. Heat waves are just one of the challenges facing increasingly strained electricity systems across the country, amid rapidly growing demand from data centers and a looming shortfall in supply.

On this episode of Political Climate we’re joined by Asim Haque, SVP of Governmental and Membership Services for PJM Interconnection. Haque helps us unpack this historic "all hands on deck" moment for the U.S. power grid. Challenges and opportunities lie ahead: from preparing for AI's energy usage and tackling interconnection queues, to managing diverse resource portfolios and price increases that drag grid operators into the political fray.

This period of transition is taking place against a historic debate in Congress on the future of energy tax policy, which could have major implications for how grid operators manage the supply crunch and demand spikes they're facing.

We kick off the episode with our ongoing coverage of the Big, Beautiful Bill as we dig into the Senate Finance Committee's version of the tax and spending cuts package. We unpack some of the differences between the House and Senate language, next steps ahead of the President's July 4th deadline, and what the reconciliation bill means for the U.S. power system.

BRB, Processing Senate Text

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Dropping in with a quick update that Political Climate is pushing the release of our next full episode to next week. As our listeners know, the Senate is in the process of revising and releasing their version of the reconciliation bill that the House passed a few weeks ago. Senate Finance Committee text dropped Monday evening and there is a lot to unpack.

While there are many things we want to talk about that aren’t directly related to the bill, so much of the energy sector is set to be impacted by the big bill that we wanted to take the time to read it — and to bring in a guest or two who can help us unpack what it all means.

So, while we don’t have an episode for you this week, we’ll have another one coming soon. Stay tuned!

Unpacking Trump’s Energy Dominance Agenda

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000

President Trump’s return to office has reignited a bold push for energy dominance — a sweeping agenda to supercharge U.S. energy production, slash regulatory red tape, and reestablish America as a powerhouse in global energy markets.

In this episode, we dive deep into what that actually means. From a wave of recent executive orders to the high-stakes reconciliation bill moving through Congress, we explore how the administration aims to lower energy costs, secure supply chains, and leverage American energy to bolster both the economy and national security.

During President Trump's March address to Congress, he pledged to combat inflation by “rapidly reducing the cost of energy.” His administration is also laser-focused on winning the AI race against China, which requires a massive amount of new energy development. The stakes are high — and in many ways, Congress holds the keys to making the president’s energy dominance agenda a reality. But is the House-passed reconciliation bill aligned with that vision, or does it fall short?

Finally, we announce some exciting if bittersweet news, as we welcome a new voice onto the show and bid farewell to another!

Reconciliation Revs Up

Mon, 19 May 2025 10:00:00 -0000

If you’re tracking the world of budget reconciliation then you know it’s crunch time as House Speaker Mike Johnson works to pass a party-line megabill by Memorial Day. House Republicans have a lot on their plates as they try to make significant spending reductions while extending tax cuts and raising the debt ceiling.

The fate of U.S. energy tax credits also hangs in the balance, as debate continues to rage around the GOP’s so-called big, beautiful bill.

In this episode of Political Climate, we’re back from a break to discuss the latest developments on the reconciliation package now that the House has released legislative text. Which clean energy policies and programs remain at risk of repeal? Which ones could the Senate step in to save?

Plus, we look at how the energy sector is responding to tariffs and how all of this is shaping up to fulfill President Trump’s Energy Dominance agenda.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and beyond! Follow us on X at @Poli_Climate or find the show on LinkedIn.

In recess, back soon!

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:07:00 -0000

Hey Political Climate listeners, we’re jumping on to let you know that we’re taking a short recess.

The show will be back in another couple of weeks, with hosts Julia Pyper, Emily Domenech, and Brandon Hurlbut to help you understand the latest news with perspectives from across the political spectrum.

There is no shortage of activity, from tariffs to reconciliation, DOGE program cuts, and so much more. Follow Political Climate wherever you listen, so you don’t miss the latest episode release.

Thank you for listening! Back soon.

Unpacking the EPA’s aggressive moves on energy and climate

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

As “Political Climate” marks the one-year anniversary of its re-launch, the deluge of energy sector news continues.

In today’s episode, the hosts dig into a series of recent and contentious moves from the Environmental Protection Agency—from massive power plant deregulations and an intention to undo the 2009 endangerment finding, to the termination of $20 billion in climate grants. Which of these policies could have the most impact, and where can the hosts find some unexpected common ground?

Also in this episode—21 House Republicans have issued a letter calling on leaders to preserve some clean energy tax credits in the upcoming Congressional reconciliation bill; they’ve suggested they might vote against the bill if the credits are repealed. But will they really die on that hill? And later, the hosts assess some of the issues that Trump’s tariffs could inflict on the energy sector.

The show wraps up with some reflections on the past year.

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Credits: Hosted by Julia Pyper, Emily Domenech, and Brandon Hurlbut. Produced by Max Savage Levenson. Edited by Anne Bailey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is our executive editor.

Political Climate is co-produced by Boundary Stone Partners, a leading bipartisan climate change strategic advisory and government affairs firm. Their mission-driven approach combines innovative solutions with expertise in technology, finance, policy, federal funding, and advocacy. Learn more and get in touch today at BoundaryStone.com.

The energy industry is transforming - are you staying ahead of the curve? As the premier bipartisan strategic advisory firm, Boundary Stone Partners bridges the gap between technology, policy, and finance to drive real-world impact, empowering clients to shape a more sustainable future. Visit BoundaryStone.com to learn more.

Live from Winterfest: Rich Powell and Travis Kavulla talk GOP energy priorities

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 11:00:00 -0000

In this special episode of “Political Climate,” hosts Brandon Hurlbut and Emily Domenech travel to Big Sky, Montana, to record the podcast live at the Winterfest conference. Now in its twentieth year, Winterfest brings together leaders in clean energy and finance to help move the global energy transition forward. This year the conference focused on finding solutions in a singular and difficult political moment.

To help make sense of the political headwinds rocking clean energy and decarbonization efforts, the hosts are joined by two conservative-minded insiders with decades of experience: Rich Powell, CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers’ Association, and Travis Kavulla, vice president of regulatory affairs at NRG.

In their wide-ranging conversation, the hosts and their guests explore the clean energy projects most likely to make gains during the Trump administration, discuss how skyrocketing energy demand impacts supply, and offer advice for industry leaders unsure of how to move their projects forward amidst compounding political challenges.

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Credits: Hosted by Emily Domenech and Brandon Hurlbut. Produced by Max Savage Levenson. Edited by Anne Bailey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is our executive editor.

High turbulence: What Trump’s first moves mean for clean energy

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Since President Trump took office on January 20, he has quickly enacted an expansive list of policies with immediate and dramatic impacts on climate and energy.

If you feel like you’re struggling to process these rapid-fire actions, you’re not alone.

Among other pursuits, the President has vowed to “terminate the Green New Deal” and paused funding for tons of clean energy projects—from offshore wind development to Solar for All and IRA grants. He has signed executive orders designed to maximize fossil fuel extraction and domestic mining, and overseen the launch of an enormous, power-hungry data center called Stargate, which could potentially employ solar as part of its fuel mix. Additionally, Trump instituted a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, and has threatened to implement additional tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods. (Okay, let’s take a breath.)

In today’s episode, the hosts dig into some of these pressing issues, debate their impact on the clean energy sector, and find some common ground on the potential upside of trimming the federal government.

This episode wraps up with the rapid-fire segment, the Mark-Up.

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Fire-killing robots and executive orders galore

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Amid the ongoing fires that have plagued California this month, the conversation around mitigation and prevention has accelerated.

In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by Anukool Lakhina, the CEO and co-founder of BurnBot. The company produces tank-sized robots that take in biomass, incinerate it, and extinguish it as they move. Prescribed burns are a normal part of forest management, but they typically require specific weather conditions for safety purposes. But BurnBot can operate around the clock, no matter the weather.

In the interview, Anukool explains how his robots work and their potential to diminish the strength of fires like those in LA. He also discusses the bills and policies that he believes can make the biggest impact on fire mitigation moving forward.

Earlier in the show, the hosts unpack and debate some of the first moves from the new Trump administration on climate and energy, including the President’s “national energy emergency,” the unwinding of President Biden’s tailpipe emissions rules, and the impact of an EPA study on the social cost of carbon.

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Will Biden’s 11th-hour climate strategy have lasting impact?

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0000

When President Biden departs the White House on January 20th, he will leave behind a nuanced and divisive legacy on climate and energy policy.

On one hand, his Administration passed the momentous Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act, which have collectively stimulated massive investment and jobs creation.

Yet IRA funds were slow to get out the door. Americans remained unaware of its impact and opportunities. Much of Biden’s work could be undone by President-elect Trump. To some of his supporters’ chagrin, Biden also oversaw record oil and gas extraction during his term.

In today’s episode, the hosts discuss Biden’s successes and misses. In particular, they consider some of his Administration's final decisions: doling out huge LPO grants, instituting an offshore drilling ban and more.

Later in the show, the hosts dig into a swan song report from Biden’s Department of Energy; it cautions that a further expansion of liquified natural gas could hurt consumers and the environment alike. What will the Trump Administration make of its warning?

The episode wraps up with our rapid-fire segment, the Mark-Up.

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Neil Chatterjee: “Make energy policy boring again!”

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by one of the most thoughtful—and occasionally controversial—voices in energy policy today.

Neil Chatterjee served on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 2017 to 2021. During that time, he also served two stints as the chairman of the commission. At FERC, Chatterjee gained a reputation for his candor, as well as his divisive takes. For instance, in 2020, he embraced carbon pricing, a move that drew the ire of his boss and may have cost him the chairmanship.

More recently, Chatterjee frustrated his former colleagues shortly after the 2024 election when he publicly offered to give the President-elect advice on how to shrink FERC. As part of a recent media blitz, Chatterjee has celebrated the prospect of American energy dominance in the second Trump administration.

In today’s episode, Chatterjee delves into a range of topics: he makes the case for throwing out the playbook on energy politics to meet the demands of AI, digs into the potential of distributed energy resources and explains why he wants to “put the nerds back in charge” of our energy system.

Also in today’s episode: Emily explains what may have gone wrong for permitting reform in the lame duck session of Congress, and highlights the scenarios through which reform could get included in a 2025 reconciliation package instead.

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A grab bag of climate conundrums: COP’s waning influence, Gov. Newsom’s Tesla troll, and more

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 11:00:00 -0000

In honor of the mixed assortment of Thanksgiving leftovers in our fridges, today’s episode features a grab bag of hot topics facing energy and climate policy today.

The hosts kick things off with a frank assessment of COP29, which wrapped up in Azerbaijan a few weeks ago. Members agreed to provide $300B in annual support to developing nations, but the lack of a more comprehensive pledge left many attendees concerned about the waning influence of the conference writ large.

Then, the hosts consider pathways for permitting reform in both the lame duck session and Congress’ upcoming reconciliation package. Later in the show, they unpack a proposal from California Gov. Gavin Newsom to offer a statewide EV tax credit if President-elect Trump kills the existing federal program. The unexpected catch? It bars Tesla from participating in the program.

The hosts wrap up the episode with feedback from our listeners, including questions and comments covering everything from right-shoring and ag policy to the future of offshore wind.

Lastly, we apologize for the minor audio issues in this episode!

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U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman: What's next for permitting, geothermal, and the IRA?

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0000

The dust has settled on our national election, and the Republican Party has officially completed a trifecta—winning the White House and Senate, and keeping control of the House.

As a result, the GOP will have enormous power to shape energy and climate policy in the next session of Congress. While many of the specifics are still coming into focus, the House Natural Resources Committee will certainly play a central role.

In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by the committee’s chairman, Republican Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, to discuss some of the most pressing questions facing the energy sector: from the future of the IRA, to a pathway to permitting reform and the future of domestic mining and geothermal.

Also in the show, we take a quick look at a few of President-elect Trump’s choices for Cabinet positions, and their potential—and nuanced—impact on energy and climate.

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Trump won. Now what?

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0000

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was reelected in a landslide, becoming the first Republican to win the popular vote since 2004. Republicans also re-took control of the Senate, and will likely keep a majority in the House of Representatives as well.

In today’s show — which was recorded the morning after the election — the hosts unpack the results, and consider what they mean for the future of America’s clean energy sector. They focus on a series of questions: how can Democrats better message clean energy policy and energy affordability moving forward? Which Republicans in Congress are poised to be clean energy leaders? Will the Biden Administration seek to expedite IRA funds before their term ends?

Subscribe to Latitude Media’s newsletter to get weekly updates on tech, markets, policy, and deals across clean energy and climate tech.

Election showdown: Down-ballot drama, closing arguments, and more

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0000

The 2024 election has finally arrived. Early ballots have been mailed. The candidates are crossing the country, making their final pitches. Analysts are poring over countless polls, while tension builds.

Climate and energy didn’t surface as a central issue of this year’s presidential campaign. But the results of the race — as well as many more down-ballot — will have huge repercussions for the future of U.S. energy policy.

In today’s episode, the hosts explore the nuanced role climate played in this election cycle, highlight some down-ballot races to watch, and consider some scenarios and priorities for the lame duck session.

Also in the show: what lessons should lawmakers take away from recent catastrophic hurricanes? Could a new approach to FEMA funding and flood insurance lessen the impacts of the next big storm?

This episode wraps up with our lightning round segment, the Mark-Up.

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Concerned about how the 2024 election might impact the programs, policies, and incentives that matter most to you? Let Boundary Stone Partners' Climate24 service help you navigate the political landscape with their policy navigator tool, resources, and bespoke services. Learn more at BoundaryStone.com/Climate24.

Chips Ahoy: Unpacking the politics of microchip deregulation

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0000

With less than four months left in office, President Biden has green-lit another divisive climate-related policy.

On October 2, Biden signed the Building Chips in America Act into law. The bill allows the manufacture of microchips—like the ones in smartphones, medical devices, cars and more—to bypass federal environmental review.

The bill’s supporters hope it will drive domestic production and maximize the potential of Biden’s 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. But a solid chunk of congressional Democrats oppose the bill, citing the health and environmental risks that chips production facilities pose.

In today’s episode, the hosts unpack the nuanced political dynamics behind the bill and debate the impacts it could have on November’s elections.

Also in the show—the hosts take a deep dive on the climate rhetoric in the recent vice presidential debate and offer an insider perspective on New York Climate Week.

The episode wraps up with the lightning round segment, the Markup.

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Can Congress pull off a NEPA overhaul?

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0000

The team returns back from a mid-season break rested and ready to dig into a new Congressional attempt to fast-track clean energy projects.

Earlier this month, GOP Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas introduced draft legislation to overhaul the long-standing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The plan could provide critical momentum to get clean energy (and fossil fuel) projects built faster. Yet it has also caught flak from some Democrats who describe it as extreme, and tie it to the controversial Project 2025.

In today’s episode, the hosts consider the obstacles surrounding existing NEPA policy, as well as the impacts of Westerman’s plan and the criticisms surrounding it.

Also in this episode: Brandon, Emily, and Julia discuss the energy and climate rhetoric in this month’s presidential debate, as well as a proposal from Harris campaign adviser Brian Deese to loan other countries billions of dollars to buy American clean energy tech.

The episode wraps up with the rapid-fire segment, the Mark-Up.

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DNC dispatches: Navigating America’s skyrocketing energy demand

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In today’s episode, the Political Climate team takes us back behind the scenes of the 2024 Democratic National Convention to chat candidly with lawmakers and leading activists about some of the most pressing issues that Democrats will have to navigate after the election - no matter who occupies the Oval Office - and how they plan to tackle them.

In this episode, we’ll hear from a range of experts and leaders: from Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Representative Sean Casten of Illinois to Maria Korsnick of the Nuclear Energy Institute and Boise, Idaho mayor Lauren McLean.

These climate advocates help unpack a series of top questions facing the country—how can the U.S. mitigate rising energy demands? What are the risks of embracing nuclear energy? Should Democrats take the imperfect Manchin-Barrasso permitting reform deal, or wait for a more appealing alternative?

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DNC dispatches: It’s the climate economy, stupid!

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 10:52:43 -0000

In today’s episode – the first of a two-part dispatch – the Political Climate team takes us behind the scenes of the 2024 Democratic National Convention to chat candidly with lawmakers and leading activists about Democrats’ strategy for pitching climate policies in the lead up to November’s election.

Although Vice President Harris barely mentioned climate policy in her marquee speech, clean energy advocates from the public and private sectors are championing the economic impacts of the IRA and other policies.

In this episode, we hear from a range of experts and leaders – from climate champions like Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts and former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, to activists like Saad Amer and congressional leaders like Representative Sean Casten of Illinois – who explain what’s working, and how to use climate issues to appeal to swing voters.

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John Podesta Celebrates the IRA for “Catalyzing a Clean Energy Boom”

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 15:45:00 -0000

Exactly two years ago, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. With more than $800 billion devoted to renewables, batteries, transmission, carbon removal, EVs, and the factories to build them, the bill is America’s largest-ever investment in climate solutions.

Yet the rollout of the IRA hasn’t been the smoothest. Some projects have been slow to come online, and polls show that many voters remain unaware of its impact.

In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by veteran Democrat John Podesta, a key player in crafting the IRA. Podesta currently serves as senior adviser to President Biden for clean energy innovation and implementation

In the interview, Podesta reflects on the bill’s triumphs over the past two years, and addresses concerns around its implementation–voters’ unfamiliarity with the bill, reports that 40% of IRA projects have been delayed or paused, and general apprehension that the bill can’t reach its full potential without expansive permitting reform.

Later in the show, the hosts take a quick look at two new federal bills that could also impact the future of clean energy in America: a bipartisan stab at permitting reform from Senators Manchin and Barrasso, and a plan to bar Chinese companies from benefiting from the IRA.

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RNC dispatches: The fate of the IRA

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In today’s episode — the second of a two-part dispatch — Political Climate co-host Emily Domenech takes us behind the curtain at the 2024 Republican National Convention to chat with the lawmakers championing clean energy from within the GOP.

We’ll hear from members of Congress like Rep. John Curtis of Utah and Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota, as well as advocates like Jason Grumet of the American Clean Power Association and Heather Reams of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions.

In this second installment, Emily and her guests discuss the urgency of permitting reform, and consider the fate of the IRA in a Republican administration. They also dig into the state of nuclear energy, and offer some climate policy advice for former President Trump’s campaign.

At the end of the episode, all three Political Climate hosts gather to discuss and debate the policies that surfaced during Emily’s reporting trip, as well as Vice President Harris’ record on climate policy.

This episode of Political Climate was made possible by ClearPath Action, a conservative energy advocacy organization focused on reducing global emissions.

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RNC dispatches: The GOP’s nascent climate pivot

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 14:18:00 -0000

In today’s episode — the first of a two-part dispatch — Political Climate co-host Emily Domenech takes us behind the scenes of the 2024 Republican National Convention to chat candidly with lawmakers.

Emily talks with Rep. John Curtis of Utah, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, as well as advocates like Chris Barnard of the American Conservation Coalition and Heather Reams of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions.

This first installment focuses on the incremental shift within the GOP to change the conversation around climate change. Emily and her guests also explore the long-held belief in energy independence, and consider whether soaring demand for energy in the U.S. shifts the policy conversation.

This episode of Political Climate was made possible by ClearPath Action, a conservative energy advocacy organization focused on reducing global emissions.

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Rep. Scott Peters on our “old, small and dumb” grid

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 10:06:00 -0000

Among members of Congress, few have approached climate change with the experience and diligence of Democratic California Representative Scott Peters.

Peters spent decades as an environmental lawyer and Environmental Protection Agency economist prior to becoming a US Representative. Now in his sixth term, Peters has put clean energy at the top of his priority list.

In today’s episode, Representative Peters joins hosts Julia Pyper and Emily Domenech to explore a range of topics: from the Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down the Chevron doctrine, to his unexpectedly fruitful relationship with Republican Representative Bruce Westerman and how he believes a second Trump term could impact US energy policy.

Peters, who serves on the House Energy & Commerce and Budget Committee, also digs into the details of his recent energy and climate related bills.

The Fix Our Forests Act
The Advanced Reactor Fee Reduction Act
The SPEED and Reliability Act, which seeks to expedite the permitting process for new transmission lines
The PROVE IT Act, which seeks to study the carbon footprint of twenty-odd industrial imports.

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Making sense of nuclear’s resurgence

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 10:28:00 -0000

The past month proved to be a dramatic one for America’s long-stagnant nuclear sector.

First, on June 10, TerraPower – the company co-founded by Bill Gates – broke ground on the Western Hemisphere’s first advanced nuclear facility, in Wyoming. A week later, the Senate passed the ADVANCE Act on a vote of 88-2. (The House already passed the bill by similar margins in February.) If signed into law, ADVANCE will streamline permitting and funding policies for future nuclear projects.

In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by Boundary Stone co-founder Jeff Navin – who also serves as TerraPower’s Director of External Affairs – to explore the momentum behind nuclear’s resurgence. Later in the show, Jeff takes us behind the scenes of TerraPower’s Natrium project to highlight its challenges, and its promise.

The episode kicks off with a discussion of both the recent Presidential debate and the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the wide-reaching Chevron doctrine, which gave federal agencies like the EPA the room to implement ambiguous laws as they saw fit. In Chevron’s absence, those decisions will be left to Congress and the judiciary.

Subscribe to Latitude Media’s newsletter to get weekly updates on tech, markets, policy, and deals across clean energy and climate tech.

And listen to Climate One, a weekly podcast hosted by journalists Greg Dalton and Ariana Brocious featuring discussions with climate advocacy experts on various aspects impacting climate change, from AI to inflation. You can find Climate One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Republican Garret Graves’ data-driven approach to the climate crisis

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:39:16 -0000

Among Republicans in Congress, few, if any, have wielded as much influence on climate and clean energy as Louisiana Representative Garret Graves.

In the past few years, Graves served as the ranking member on the House Select Committee on Climate and ran the Republican Task Force on Energy, Climate, and Conservation. He also played a central role in last year’s debt ceiling negotiations, which included a bipartisan deal on infrastructure permitting reform that the Biden administration later revised, to many lawmakers’ chagrin.

In this special episode of Political Climate, Graves sits down with co-host Emily Domenech in his Washington office to dig into Congress’ record on climate, as well as his own. In the interview, Graves champions natural gas, calls for an emotion-free approach to lowering emissions, reflects on the impacts of climate change on his home state, and considers the future of U.S. energy policy, among other topics.

Later in the show, all three hosts gather to discuss Graves’ comments, find consensus, and highlight areas of disagreement. (On June 14, after both Emily’s interview and the hosts’ discussion, Graves announced that he will not seek re-election this November.)

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The politics of carbon removal heat up

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 22:13:38 -0000

In recent weeks, carbon management has found itself in the spotlight – for reasons both encouraging and concerning for its proponents.

On May 28th, the DOE unveiled the semifinalists for a new funding competition for carbon removal and storage companies, as well as a plan to buy over $30 million in carbon credits from the eventual winners. The same day, President Biden also revealed new policies that aim to guide and bolster the larger voluntary carbon credit market.

These moves follow Biden’s much larger investments in carbon removal last year: $1.2 billion to fund two direct-air capture facilities in Texas and Louisiana, as well as nearly a billion to fund carbon storage and transport.

It’s not all good news for the sector, however. The week before the DOE’s announcement, on May 23, the trade group Edison Electric Institute joined a coalition of utilities providers to sue the EPA over new federal requirements to use carbon capture technologies in their power plants. The plaintiffs argue that the tech isn’t ready for wide-scale deployment.

In today’s episode, we’ll consider whether these various forms of carbon management – from removal to capture and storage – are on a pathway to scalability, and whether industry resistance will slow their advancement.

The show wraps up with the hosts’ rapid-fire hot takes in “The Mark-up.”

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Biden’s Chinese EV and solar tariffs: Big boost or hot air?

Fri, 24 May 2024 13:33:00 -0000

On the heels of a climate and energy rules blitz, President Biden has announced a plan to quadruple existing tariffs on Chinese EVs – from 25 all the way up to 100 percent – and dramatically hike tariffs on Chinese solar cells, batteries, and critical minerals as well.

While these numbers look huge on paper, loopholes and caveats in the policy will likely dilute their impact.

On this episode of Political Climate, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Emily Domenech debate whether the tariffs will boost American EV and solar production, or if they add up to little more than political posturing.

Then they zoom out to consider a series of new polls showing that despite the President’s wide-ranging efforts – and $1.6 trillion of funds in the IRA – a plurality of voters appear unaware of Biden’s efforts to fight climate change.

The show wraps up with some rapid fire hot takes in our new segment “The Mark-up.”

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Biden’s permitting plan: silver bullet or more red tape?

Fri, 10 May 2024 11:00:12 -0000

With six months to go until the election, President Biden has unveiled a far-reaching rules package that tackles everything from power plant emissions and air toxins, to boosting the EV industry and upgrading transmission lines.

Despite their promise, many of these rules will face long rollouts and fierce legal challenges.

On this episode of Political Climate, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Emily Domenech explore and debate the pathways to implementing these policies.

Then they zero in on one rule in particular: an effort to streamline permitting for new clean energy projects. While the policy aims to cut down the enormous existing backlog – 2.6 terrawatts’ worth, twice the capacity of the entire U.S. grid today – critics argue it could actually slow down the permitting process for clean energy and other infrastructure projects alike.

The show wraps up with some rapid fire hot takes in our new segment “The Mark-up.”

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Taking stock of IRA wins and political threats

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Since the Inflation Reduction Act became law in August 2022, we’ve asked ourselves a big question: could the government and the private sector actually get this sprawling set of climate programs up and running?

So far, many would answer “yes.” The IRA has already created over 170,000 jobs and supported $110 billion in new clean energy manufacturing – with a majority of that investment headed to conservative-leaning states.

Now, as we head toward November’s presidential election, many Americans are wondering whether a second Trump Administration could unravel much of the work that’s been done.

In the first episode of the new season of Political Climate, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut and Emily Domenech take stock of the IRA: they discuss how it’s been received politically, the roadblocks facing implementation, and look toward the different scenarios that could unfold after the election.

The show wraps up with our brand-new segment, “The Mark-up.”

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Political Climate is back!

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 13:00:00 -0000

After a hiatus, Political Climate is back with more news, analysis, and bipartisan hot takes on the policy and politics shaping climate solutions — in what is sure to be a defining year.

Julia Pyper is joined by Emily Domenech and Brandon Hurlbut to riff on top political stories and insider scoops – from state houses, to the halls of Congress to regulatory agencies, and international climate talks. They’ll explain how those developments are driving industry decisions today.

Political Climate is a show for people who want authentic conversations from voices from across the political spectrum. Listen every other Friday to learn about how energy and climate policy is shaped within both political parties – from the people who have actually shaped it.

Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The Most Pivotal Years for Climate Policy

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 16:09:54 -0000

After 160 episodes and five years of interviews, debates and friendly bipartisan banter, Political Climate will be taking a break starting in 2023. This will be the final episode (for now).

This podcast was launched to create a forum for respectful, informative dialogue across the political divide on the policy and politics of climate and energy. Host Julia Pyper, Republican co-host Shane Skelton and Democratic co-host Brandon Hurlbut have never debated the science of climate change, but have had in-depth discussions on how to craft climate policy that’s not only effective but politically feasible. The show has spanned the most pivotal five years for climate action, culminating in the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest national investment in clean energy in history.

In this final episode, the hosts dig into the archives to hear from some of the show’s most notable guests including Political Climate supporter Arnold Schwarzenegger, activist Greta Thunberg, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and many more. They also reflect on the rocky journey that led to this point, changes in public opinion on climate change, and the widening Overton window for climate action.

Thank you to everyone for listening and for your support over the years.

***

Political Climate is brought to you by MCE. Today, MCE offers nearly 40 Bay Area communities almost twice as much renewable energy as the state average. The power of MCE is about more than clean energy — it’s the power of people over profit. Learn more at mceCleanEnergy.org.

Support for Political Climate also comes from Climate Positive, a podcast from Hannon Armstrong, the first U.S. public company solely dedicated to investing in climate solutions. The Climate Positive podcast features candid conversations with the leaders, innovators and changemakers driving our climate-positive future. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Retooling Old, Polluting Infrastructure for the Clean Economy

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 11:30:00 -0000

The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest investment in clean energy ever made by the federal government. Among the bill’s more than 700 pages is a lesser-known provision that could play a pivotal role in transforming existing dirty energy infrastructure to serve the clean energy economy of the future.

The new Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment Program — also known as the Section 1706 program — gives the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office $5 billion, with the authority to provide up to $250 billion in low-interest loans. These loans could radically change the energy landscape. The program could fund efforts to repurpose old coal and gas plant sites to deploy clean energy projects, leveraging existing infrastructure to save on costs while delivering economic benefits to communities.

Political Climate hosts Julia Pyper, Shane Skelton and Brandon Hurlbut are joined by two guests to discuss this new program: Alexander Bond, deputy general counsel for climate and clean energy at the Edison Electric Institute, and Uday Varadarajan, a principal at the clean-energy nonprofit RMI. They discuss the innovative structure of the Section 1706 program, challenges the Loan Programs Office will face as it rolls out the funding, and the opportunities for the program to help clean up the U.S. electric grid.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Canary Media: How will DOE loan out $250B to make dirty energy systems clean?
Canary Media: What challenges will confront DOE loan program for energy retrofits?
RMI: The Most Important Clean Energy Policy You’ve Never Heard About
DOE: Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment

***

What a Divided Government Means for Climate Policy

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

The 2022 midterm elections are officially behind us. Democrats overcame historical trends to keep control of the Senate, while Republicans won a majority in the House by a surprisingly narrow margin.

Ultimately, there was no red wave. There wasn’t really a “green wave” either. Democrats ushered through an ambitious legislative agenda, with President Biden signing historic bills to tackle climate change, build resilient infrastructure, and accelerate the deployment of American-made clean energy. Yet these issues got relatively little play this election cycle – for or against.

Have we entered a new era for climate politics? Could there even be room for collaboration? Or will a divided government post-election give new life to old debates?

Political Climate hosts Julia Pyper, Shane Skelton and Brandon Hurlbut dig into the midterm results, discuss what they got right — and wrong — in their election predictions, and break down what it all means for the future of climate policy in America.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Wesleyan Media Project: Advertising Issue Spotlight
The Atlantic: Wait, Why Wasn’t There a Climate Backlash?
Canary Media: How Democratic state wins in the midterms could rev up climate progress
WaPo: How different groups voted according to exit polls and AP VoteCast

***

How Voting Rights and Redistricting Shape Climate Policy

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 08:57:13 -0000

Many Americans are pessimistic about the U.S. election system. From skepticism around mail-in ballots and voting machines to coping with long lines and shuttered polling places, voter confidence has slumped. When it comes to climate, research shows 66% to 80% of people support major mitigation policies. But are election related barriers preventing these voter preferences from being captured at the ballot box?

With the midterm elections less than a week away, we’re examining the fundamentals of the democratic process: the right to vote and public trust in elections. Plus, how the redistricting process influences both electoral outcomes and policymaking – including on climate and energy issues.

Political Climate hosts Julia Pyper, Shane Skelton and Brandon Hurlbut are joined by USC Political Science and Public Policy Professor Christian Grose to discuss his research on how to improve voter access and voting rights and reduce polarization. Grose, who serves as academic director of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, also previews new polling on Proposition 30, an environmental related ballot measure in California. Finally, he explains why you should care about redistricting if you care about climate change.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

***

Clean Energy Gatekeepers You’ve Never Heard Of

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 07:30:00 -0000

Some of the most influential people in energy policy are almost completely unknown to the public.

The transition to wind, solar, and other efficient technologies has the potential to make electricity more reliable and affordable for millions of Americans. But in many cases, this shift to clean energy must first be approved by gatekeepers you’ve never heard of.

In this Political Climate episode, host Julia Pyper and producer Maria Virginia Olano are joined by Canary Media Senior Reporter Julian Spector to talk about public utility commissioners — who they are, why they are so important, and how you can engage with them to help shape your own energy future.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Canary Media: What are public utility commissions? A beginner’s guide
Vox: The overlooked elections this year with big climate stakes
Canary Media: Who should pay to help coal communities in the energy transition?
E&E News: 5 state-level races that could alter the energy transition
Canary Media: Hawaii surges toward clean energy

***

What's Shaping the 2022 Midterms?

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 08:14:52 -0000

The midterm elections are less than a month away. Inflation, the economy, abortion access and election integrity are among voters’ top priorities this cycle, but how will they influence decisions on the ballot and, ultimately, the balance of power? And how will that outcome shape the future of climate and energy policy in the U.S.?

Political Climate hosts Julia Pyper, Shane Skelton and Brandon Hurlbut are back on the podcast to discuss what’s at stake in the 2022 midterms, the latest polling results and wild cards that could drive voter turnout. Will the Inflation Reduction Act give Dems a lift?

Plus, they discuss the failure of Senator Joe Manchin’s bill to reform permitting for energy infrastructure, and what that failure means for the buildout of both clean energy and fossil fuel pipelines. And the hosts talk about another big piece of climate news that received little coverage: the Senate’s ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in a rare bipartisan vote.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Vox: The unlikely allies who sank Joe Manchin’s energy deal
Political Climate: 'Need for Speed': Why Solving Climate Change Is About More Than CO2
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Menendez Makes Final Push for Senate Approval of Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol
Real Clear Politics: Latest polls

***

Support for Political Climate also comes from Climate Positive, a podcast from Hannon Armstrong, the first U.S. public company solely dedicated to investing in climate solutions. The Climate Positive podcast features candid conversations with the leaders, innovators and changemakers driving our climate-positive future. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

How Clean Energy Can Strengthen Democracies

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 08:30:00 -0000

Clean energy is known to help grow economies and reduce carbon emissions. Can it also help strengthen democracies?

That may seem like a tall order for a set of technologies. But when you consider how petro-dictatorships have roiled global markets in the past year – triggering price spikes, resource shortages, and even war – making the U.S. an arsenal of clean energy could help pave the way to greater stability.

Political Climate launched the “Arsenal of Clean Energy” podcast series to tackle tough questions on how to balance climate action with immediate energy demands, while maintaining affordable prices for consumers, promoting economic growth and enhancing national security. In this fourth and final episode of the series, host Julia Pyper sits down with Josh Freed, the head of Third Way's Climate and Energy Program, to connect the dots on these topics and how to think about the path forward.

To round out the episode, we hear from U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on why now is a critical time for America to lead.

The “Arsenal of Clean Energy” is made possible by Third Way, a center-left think tank championing modern solutions to the most challenging problems in US policy. Learn more at thirdway.org

Newsflash: Private Sector Reactions to the Inflation Reduction Act

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 08:13:16 -0000

The Inflation Reduction Act has not only been signed into law, President Biden and Democratic leaders hosted a nearly full-day celebratory event at the White House last week to underscore passage of the historic bill. But the hard work of implementing the law and rolling out its $370 billion in climate and clean energy investments is only just beginning.

In this Political Climate Newsflash episode, host Julia Pyper and producer Maria Virginia Olano bring you an inside look at what’s next for companies and organizations on the front lines of making the promise of the IRA a reality. Cleantech industry leaders from BlocPower, Sunrun, Q-Cells, Breakthrough Energy and beyond gathered at a roundtable ahead of the White House event to discuss the road ahead. This episode features voices from that conversation.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Canary Media: Climate law may revolutionize US cleantech manufacturing. Here’s how
Political Climate: A new era for US energy innovation
Utility Dive: Biden administration awards $900M to 35 states for EV charging network as automakers ramp up battery plans
New York Times: A huge side benefit of the new climate bill

***

Feeling the Heat, California Amps Up Climate Action

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 08:30:00 -0000

California experienced a record-setting heat wave in early September that brought the state’s electricity grid very close to failure and forced tough choices on customers trying to stay cool while complying with alerts to save energy.

Against that backdrop, the state legislature moved to pass a suite of climate and energy bills, a record $54 billion in new climate spending, and a plan to extend the life of the state’s last nuclear power plant — all just days after the state finalized one of the most ambitious rules to stop the sale of new gas-powered cars.

What does this big policy push say about the state of California’s energy mix? And how is the world’s 5th largest economy planning to cope with the intensifying impacts of climate change?

Political Climate hosts Julia Pyper and Shane Skelton are joined by Sammy Roth, staff writer at the LA Times and author of the weekly Boiling Point newsletter, to discuss how the clean energy transition is playing out in California and the lessons it can teach the rest of the country.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

***

Newsflash: Going Electric? The New Climate Law Can Help

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 08:30:00 -0000

Many of our homes use fossil fuels to keep us warm, heat our water, and cook our food. But as the U.S. moves to decarbonize, there’s a push for homeowners to switch to electric appliances and systems. Now, with the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law, there’s an enormous amount of new funding available to accelerate that transition.

In this Political Climate Newsflash episode, host Julia Pyper and producer Maria Virginia Olano are joined by Ari Matusiak, CEO of Rewiring America, a non-profit working to electrify everything in our homes, businesses and communities. They break down the rebates, tax credits, and other programs in the climate law that will help American households go electric – and how much money consumers can save in the process.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Rewiring America: How much money will you get with the Inflation Reduction Act?
Canary Media: Climate bill could spur ‘market transformation’ in home electrification
Rewiring America: The Electric Explainer: Key programs in the Inflation Reduction Act and what they mean for Americans
Rewiring America: An overview of the climate and electrification provisions for disadvantaged communities in the Inflation Reduction Act

***

A New Era for US Energy Innovation

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 13:06:37 -0000

The Inflation Reduction Act has been aptly labeled a “climate bill,” but in many ways it’s an “American competitiveness bill.”

Building and deploying clean energy technology within the U.S. is a major focus of the $450 billion spending package, with the potential for exporting those solutions around the globe. This new investment comes amid concerns that the US has been falling behind other nations (most notably China) in global energy innovation race.

On this episode of Political Climate, we discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act — signed into law this week by President Biden — is poised to change the U.S. innovation landscape. With new support for laboratory research and real world project demonstrations, building out supply chains and more, we may be entering a new era for American competitiveness.

Varun Sivaram, senior advisor to U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and his managing director for clean energy, innovation, and competitiveness joins the podcast, as well as Nick Montoni, senior innovation policy advisor for the Climate and Energy Program at Third Way.

"Arsenal of Clean Energy" is made possible by Third Way, a center-left think tank championing modern solutions to the most challenging problems in US policy, including the economy, national security and climate change. Learn more at thirdway.org

Recommended reading:

Energizing America: A Roadmap to Launch a National Energy
Third Way: Making DOE’s New Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations a Success
Third Way: How to Unleash the LPO’s True Potential

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

The Inflation Reduction Act Roller Coaster

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 15:20:35 -0000

Whiplash, anyone? After many months of intense negotiations and more than one derailment, the U.S. Senate recently passed the largest legislative investment in climate action in U.S. history.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 contains an enormous amount of spending for climate protection and clean energy — $369 billion over 10 years — and is expected to put the country on a path to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030.

But it’s not all good news for everyone. In order to get the support of Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, the final bill made significant cuts to the Democrats’ initial budget reconciliation plan, plus some other compromises.

Political Climate hosts Julia Pyper, Shane Skelton and Brandon Hurlbut discuss how climate and clean energy provisions survived the reconciliation bill roller coaster and the impact of key elements of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Canary Media: Inflation Reduction Act: Follow Canary’s coverage
Vox: The Inflation Reduction Act, explained
Scientific American: Nearly $53 Billion in Federal Funding Could Revive the U.S. Computer Chip Industry
Canary Media: Climate bill could spur ‘market transformation’ in home electrification
Canary Media: What could the climate bill do for environmental justice?

***

Rebooting America's Nuclear Supply Chain

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 07:41:36 -0000

Have we entered a new era for nuclear power? Energy security needs, financial pressures, and climate concerns are driving renewed interest in nuclear power plants — particularly small modular reactors that are easier and cheaper to build. Amid growing global demand, the U.S. has an opportunity to lead in an emerging nuclear technology race.

But the successful deployment of advanced nuclear projects hinges on policy support to mobilize investment and streamline construction.

In the second episode of Political Climate’s Arsenal of Clean Energy series, host Julia Pyper is joined by Alan Ahn, senior resident fellow for Third Way's Climate and Energy Program and Carol Berrigan, executive director of federal programs and supplier relations at the Nuclear Energy Institute, to discuss how inventing and deploying U.S. advanced nuclear technology can help securely decarbonize energy systems and revitalize former coal communities at home and abroad.

"Arsenal of Clean Energy” is made possible by Third Way, a center-left think tank championing modern solutions to the most challenging problems in US policy, including the economy, national security and climate change. Learn more at thirdway.org

Recommended reading:

State Department: United States Takes Next Step in Supporting Innovative Clean Nuclear Technology in Europe
NYT: Romania Sees an Opening to Become an Energy Power in Europe
Third Way: Revitalizing America’s Nuclear Energy Supply Chain
CNN: This nuclear reactor could be a game changer for the climate crisis

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Newsflash: A Powerful Way to Expand Solar Access

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 07:01:00 -0000

How can you go solar when you can’t put panels on your roof? Don't worry, there is a way! Through shared solar arrays — a model known as community solar.

In this Political Climate Newsflash episode, host Julia Pyper and producer Maria Virginia Olano are joined by Canary Media Staff Writer Alison Takemura to discuss the growing popularity of community solar. Currently there are 4.9 gigawatts of community solar installed in the United States, and big plans to grow that number exponentially over the next decade.

Not only does community solar put more clean energy on the grid and help states and municipalities reach their climate and clean energy goals, but it can also save people money on their electric bills. But the success of community solar projects often hinges on putting the right policies in place.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Canary Media: What is community solar? And how can you sign up?
Canary Media: Will California finally fix its community solar programs?
U.S. Department of Energy: DOE Sets 2025 Community Solar Target to Power 5 Million Homes
Institute for Local Self-Reliance: National Community Solar Programs Tracker
Canary Media: How cities and counties can grow their clean energy profiles

What Comes After the Supreme Court's EPA Ruling?

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 07:28:24 -0000

The U.S. Supreme Court wrapped up its term last month with a series of high-profile and controversial decisions — including on the case West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency. In that opinion, a 6-3 majority determined the EPA does not have the authority to regulate carbon emissions from power plants based on the “generation shifting” approach used in the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan.

Conservative leaders applauded the decision for reigning in regulatory overreach, while liberals and environmentalists expressed shock and dismay at restrictions placed on rules to reduce emissions. What the Supreme Court case ultimately means for climate action is complex. There are regulations the EPA can still pursue. At the same time, a legal shadow now hangs over government agencies amid ongoing gridlock in Congress.

To discuss the path forward, Political Climate hosts Julia Pyper and Shane Skelton are joined by Jay Duffy, an attorney with the Clean Air Task Force, who represented a diverse group of environmental and public health organizations in the West Virginia v. EPA case.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate. While you're here, please leave a review! Thank you.

Recommended reading:

Clean Air Task Force: Supreme Court takes key tool out of EPA’s toolbox, but multiple options remain for agency to regulate climate pollution
Canary Media: Supreme Court hamstrings federal efforts to clean up US power sector
Canary Media: Most voters support EPA limiting CO2 pollution from power plants
Politico: 'We don’t have to pretend anymore': Greens ready to bail on D.C.

Building the Arsenal of Clean Energy

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 11:59:22 -0000

As nations scramble to wean off of Russian energy, the U.S. has committed to supporting its European allies in their quest for energy security. At the same time, American consumers are confronting the highest rate of inflation in 40 years, paying more at the pump and for their utility bills than ever before.

These trends have led to an increase in U.S. oil and gas production — and calls for even greater market expansion. But this shift could have serious implications for the clean energy transition. On this episode of Political Climate, we wrestle with how to walk the fine line between meeting today’s immediate energy demands, maintaining lower prices for American consumers and achieving our climate goals.

This is the first episode in a monthly podcast series we’re calling “The Arsenal of Clean Energy: Strengthening the Bonds of Clean Energy, Innovation, and Sovereignty," featuring leading economists and energy policy experts Ellen Hughes-Cromwick of Third Way, Dana Peterson of The Conference Board, and Christy Goldfuss of the Center for American Progress.

“Arsenal of Clean Energy” is made possible by Third Way, a center-left think tank championing modern solutions to the most challenging problems in US policy, including the economy, national security and climate change. Learn more at thirdway.org

Recommended reading:

Third Way: Making the US the World’s Arsenal of Clean Energy
Politico: To Beat Putin, Europe Needs America’s Clean Energy
Fact Sheet: President Biden Takes Bold Executive Action to Spur Domestic Clean Energy Manufacturing
CNBC: Inflation rose 8.6% in May, highest since 1981

Newsflash: What to Do With Clean Energy Waste?

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 06:32:25 -0000

Despite remarkable breakthroughs in clean energy deployment, there has been little progress made on the thorny issue of what to do with solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and other equipment when they reach the end of their useful life.

Without proper recycling or reuse, these materials could do real harm to ecosystems and communities. Failure to effectively recycle could also threaten the long-term viability of a clean energy economy that is already facing strains in the supply of some raw materials, such as lithium and cobalt.

In this Newsflash episode, host Julia Pyper and producer Maria Virginia Olano are joined by guest Emily Burlinghaus, who has been researching clean energy recycling as a fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam, Germany. As part of Canary Media's dedicated week of coverage on how to make clean energy cleaner, the three discuss opportunities and roadblocks in the emerging field of recycling renewable energy assets.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Canary Media: Recycling Renewables: A special series
Canary Media: Why we need to recycle clean energy technologies — and how to do it
Atlantic Council: As the US struggles to “green” supply chains, new EU battery regulation offers lessons
U.S. Department of Energy: DOE Releases Action Plan For Photovoltaic Systems End-Of-Life Management
The Carbon Copy: The battery recycling boom

Political Climate is brought to you by FischTank PR. From PR and digital marketing to content writing, the team at FischTank helps you develop a strategy for bringing your work not only to wider audiences, but to the right audience. To learn more about FischTank’s approach to cleantech and services, visit fischtankpr.com

Political Climate is also brought to you by MCE. Today, MCE offers nearly 40 Bay Area communities almost twice as much renewable energy as the state average. The power of MCE is about more than clean energy — it’s the power of people over profit. Learn more at mceCleanEnergy.org

America's Clean Hydrogen Economy Gets a Jumpstart

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 10:43:12 -0000

The hydrogen debate has evolved over the past two decades, shifting from how hydrogen could be used in the auto industry toward its potential use in hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as trucking, aviation, shipping and energy-intensive heavy industry.

Hydrogen projects are being announced and developed all over the world. Just this week, the U.S. government committed $8 billion in infrastructure funding to build out clean hydrogen hubs across the country. But not all hydrogen is created equal. Is it really a miracle fuel for deep decarbonization or is it an over-hyped climate solution that could lock in fossil fuel use?

On this episode of Political Climate, hosts Julia Pyper and Shane Skelton are joined by Rachel Fakhry, senior advocate for the climate and clean energy program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, to talk through the promises and challenges of the hydrogen economy.

Plus, the hosts talk through President Biden’s new executive order to halt the threat of new tariffs on solar panels and boost domestic clean energy manufacturing.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Canary Media: Biden to halt solar tariff threat for two years
NRDC: Hydrogen Beta Testing Must Ensure Climate-Alignment
U.S. Department of Energy: DOE Launches Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's $8 Billion Program for Clean Hydrogen Hubs Across U.S.
Canary Media: Which states will win out on $9.5B in federal clean hydrogen funding?
Canary Media: Massive green hydrogen hub in Utah wins $504M federal loan guarantee
Austrian World Summit 2022

Newsflash: EPA’s ‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Opportunity

Thu, 26 May 2022 09:30:00 -0000

Some of the most important news doesn’t make big, splashy headlines. That can be because developments unfold slowly or are super-wonky, or simply get overlooked in a busy news cycle. That’s why the Political Climate team is creating a new Newsflash series, a monthly episode in your Political Climate feed in which we’ll bring you a behind-the-scenes look at a news story you might have missed.

In this inaugural episode, host Julia Pyper and producer Maria Virginia Olano bring you snippets from an interview with Lisa Garcia, a regional administrator at the EPA, about the work the agency is doing to deploy funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed last year. It’s a huge, important topic that’s gotten far too little media coverage. As Garcia put it, “The infusion of funding for infrastructure is certainly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Canary Media: Q&A with Lisa Garcia: Getting environmental justice right at the EPA
EPA Fact Sheet: EPA & the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Electrek: Biden administration kicks off $5 billion electric Clean School Bus program
The Hill: Congress needs to support EPA’s environmental protection infrastructure

Is EV Adoption Turning a Corner?

Thu, 19 May 2022 07:34:40 -0000

Faced with record-high gas prices, more and more American consumers are looking to dump the pump. In the first three months of 2022, electric vehicle registrations shot up 60 percent, even as the overall car market shrunk.

EVs have experienced steady sales growth over the past decade but are still far from being mainstream. Could the combination of expensive gasoline and exciting new plug-in models see the U.S. turn a corner on mass EV adoption?

On this episode of Political Climate, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Shane Skelton talk about the policies and innovations unlocking greater transportation electrification – as well as the challenges ahead. From manufacturing bottlenecks and raw material supplies to high up-front costs and political opposition, there are still bumps on the road mainstreaming EVs. Plus, the hosts make a new bet – and need your help!

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Canary Media: EVs can be cheaper on a monthly basis than gas-powered cars
Canary Media: Electric heavy-duty trucks are hitting the roads in California and beyond
Axios: Ford F-150 Lightning review: A watershed moment for electric vehicles
Politico: The gasoline price-gouging fight to nowhere
Political Climate: Mineral Security and Implications for the Energy Transition

How to Boost American-Made Clean Energy

Thu, 05 May 2022 07:45:46 -0000

A major push is underway to onshore energy production and manufacturing in America now that Russia’s attack on Ukraine has highlighted the vulnerabilities of global energy supply chains. But the undertaking is complicated by competing political priorities, as U.S. leaders seek to strengthen the country’s energy security while advancing its climate goals.

On this episode of Political Climate, our hosts talk through efforts to boost American-made clean energy through executive action. They also check the status of Democrats’ budget reconciliation bill as the midterm election season approaches, and examine a new push to cut a bipartisan climate deal.

Also on the show (33.30), a conversation with Abby Hopper, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, about a trade case launched in the name of boosting American clean energy manufacturing that threatens to derail U.S. solar deployment – putting jobs at risk and climate goals out of reach.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or pretty much wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Politico: Dems grimace at Manchin’s bipartisan energy detour
Canary Media: Will the Biden administration let one company kill US solar?
DOE Fact Sheet: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Will Deliver For American Workers, Families and Usher in the Clean Energy Future
Climate Solutions Lab: Mapping U.S. Military Dependence on Russian Fossil Fuels

Rolling Out Historic Infrastructure Funding

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 08:30:00 -0000

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — a historic $1.2 trillion investment package, passed by Congress on a bipartisan basis — has received little fanfare since President Biden signed it into law last November. The bill contains more than $80 billion to advance the clean energy transition and respond to climate change, but where exactly will those dollars go?

On this episode of Political Climate host Julia Pyper and producer Maria Virginia Olano speak with Leah Rubin Shen, who leads federal legislative and political engagement at Advanced Energy Economy, about how the rubber is hitting the road on infrastructure spending in states across the country.

Plus, they discuss what’s next for President Biden’s climate agenda amid soaring gas prices and push for greater energy independence, which is fueling a national debate around increasing domestic fossil fuel production versus enhancing domestic clean energy manufacturing and deployment.

We want to learn more about Political Climate listeners and how we can make this podcast better. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out this short survey and enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card!

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Are Paris Climate Goals Still Within Reach?

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 07:08:42 -0000

The Paris Agreement of 2015 set the target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This week’s release of the latest climate assessment report from the U.N. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change underlines, once again, the need for deep decarbonization as quickly as possible for that goal to be met — even as world leaders rethink their energy policies amid the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict.

On this episode of Political Climate, Julia Pyper hosts a discussion between renowned climate policy experts Laurence Tubiana, Rachel Kyte, David Sandalow and Adnan Amin about the progress toward meeting the Paris goals. They also discuss how to achieve equitable climate solutions and mobilize more climate finance. This conversation was originally recorded for the Zayed Sustainability Prize’s Voices of Sustainability series and republished with approval.

We want to learn more about Political Climate listeners and how we can make this podcast better. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out this short survey and enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card!

Recommended reading:

The Guardian: IPCC report: ‘now or never’ if world is to stave off climate disaster
Canary Media: COP26 finance pledges are not as great as they seem
Zayed Sustainability Prize

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Mineral Security and Implications for the Energy Transition

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 07:58:56 -0000

Minerals and metals have a critical role to play in a low-carbon future — and a potentially controversial one, too. Conversations around extractive industries are complicated by supply chain issues, social impacts and national security concerns. This is a particularly pressing issue right now as Russia, one of the world’s top suppliers of metals and minerals, continues to wage war on Ukraine.

The clean energy transition will require using a lot of raw materials, such as nickel, cobalt and uranium. And those materials will need to be mined and processed to make things like electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines and power nuclear plants. While clean energy is currently responsible for only a small share of global mineral demand, it is projected to grow rapidly.

Jael Holzman, mining reporter at E&E News, joins our hosts this week to discuss the hard conversations many are still avoiding on the social, environmental and security risks of mining for substances needed to build decarbonized economies.

We want to learn more about Political Climate listeners and how we can make this podcast better. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out this short survey and enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card!

Recommended reading:

Politico: Could Russian sanctions hobble U.S. clean energy push?
E&E News: Cobalt poses human rights test for Biden on clean energy
E&E News: Could Russia’s invasion of Ukraine revive U.S. uranium mining?
Canary Media: What you need to know about minerals and the clean energy transition
Canary Media: Here are the minerals we need for batteries, solar and other clean energy tech

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Russia's War Reshapes the Energy Transition

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Russia’s brutal war on Ukraine has shone a spotlight on the complex web of energy, climate and geopolitical issues — and has arguably already changed the global energy landscape in profound and lasting ways.

The crisis has resurfaced debates on energy security and how to achieve it, with some rushing to call for increased oil and gas extraction to make up for Russian supply, while many others underscore the urgent need for renewable energy build-outs as a way to achieve energy independence.

On this episode of Political Climate, our hosts discuss President Biden's new ban on Russian oil and gas imports and what it means for the U.S. energy mix. Plus, we examine the energy security aspects of Biden's first State of the Union Address and renewed efforts to pass a reconciliation bill.

Then in the second half of the show, we turn to an interview with Anca Gurzu, a Brussels-based correspondent for the news outlet Cipher, to discuss the European perspective on the Ukraine crisis and what it means for the future of clean energy in Europe.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Foreign Affairs: Green Upheaval: The New Geopolitics of Energy
Canary Media: How fast can Europe wean itself off Russian gas?
E&E News: Manchin outlines energy demands as Dems mull next steps

How to Elect State Leaders on Climate

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 06:34:29 -0000

State legislatures around the country have a major impact on climate policy, and yet state political races often go unnoticed. Caroline Spears says that needs to change.

Caroline created Climate Cabinet Action to help state leaders develop strong platforms and communication strategies that embrace climate as a priority. Recently, the group published a Climate Cabinet Scorecard — the first national tool to hold state legislators accountable for their climate votes.

On this episode of Political Climate, our hosts speak with Caroline Spears about the scorecard and how voters and donors can help candidates run, win, and legislate on the climate crisis.

Recommended reading:

Climate Cabinet Scorecard
Quartz: Which US state legislators have the best records on climate-change policy?
Canary: The top 6 ambitious state climate laws passed in 2021
Political Climate: Electing Climate Candidates

Senator Padilla on Climate, Equity & Partisanship

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 17:24:47 -0000

Senator Alex Padilla recently wrapped up his first year in the U.S. Senate as the first Latino to represent the state of California. It's been an eventful year, to put it mildly.

On this episode of Political Climate, Sen. Padilla sits down with Julia, Brandon and Shane to discuss energy equity, infrastructure, prospects for the Build Back Better bill, and the future of political discourse in the U.S.

The senator outlines legislation he introduced to help address the growing threat from wildfires in the West and his work to expand domestic U.S. production of cleantech mineral resources. Plus, he shares his outlook on voting rights legislation, filibuster reform and the upcoming midterm election.

When it comes to addressing top Democratic priorities, the Sen. Padilla's message: "We're not giving up that easily."

Recommended reading:

Political Climate is brought to you by Fischtank PR. From PR and digital marketing to content writing, the team at FischTank helps you develop a strategy for bringing your work not only to wider audiences, but to the right audience. To learn more about FischTank’s approach to cleantech and services, visit fischtankpr.com

Biden's Climate Record, One Year In

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 10:18:36 -0000

President Joe Biden campaigned for the White House on a number key climate promises. When he officially took office, hopes were high that bold climate action would be at the center of the Biden policy platform. One year later, where does his record stand? On this episode of Political Climate, our hosts look at what the Biden administration has achieved during the president’s first year in office.

Of course, a big component of President Biden’s climate agenda is still in limbo. The Build Back Better Act would devote $555 billion to clean energy and climate measures, along with a suite of social programs. Prospects for passing the full bill in the Senate were quashed late last year. But now there’s talk of moving some provisions forward in a trimmed down version of BBB, one that could get the 50 Democrat votes needed to pass.

To kick off the show, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut and Shane Skelton evaluate the odds of a climate focused Build Back Better Act making it across the finish line.

Recommended reading:

Unpacking Newsom’s Bold $22B Climate Plan in the California Budget

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 08:05:16 -0000

California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed spending $22.5 billion on tackling the climate crisis this week, as part of his $286.4 billion budget proposal. The so-called California Blueprint includes funding for everything from electric buses and building retrofits to support services for firefighters.

As other states have stepped up on climate, some have accused California of falling behind. Could Newsom's plan reclaim the Golden State's title as climate change leader?

On this episode, we discuss the climate and clean energy provisions in Newsom's budget proposal with Lauren Sanchez, the governor's Senior Advisor for Climate and former advisor to the Biden-Harris administration.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Political Climate is brought to you by Fischtank PR. From PR and digital marketing to content writing, the team at FischTank helps you develop a strategy of bringing your work to not only wider audiences, but the right audience. To learn more about FischTank’s approach to cleantech and services, visit fischtankpr.com

Political Climate is also brought to you by MCE. Today, MCE offers nearly 40 Bay Area communities almost twice the amount of renewable energy compared to the state average. The power of MCE is about more than clean energy — it’s the power of people over profit. Learn more at mceCleanEnergy.org

How States Powered Climate Policy in 2021

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 07:24:48 -0000

2021 was a productive year for climate policy – particularly for U.S. states. Both red and blue states passed ambitious climate bills last year. Several of the new laws address emissions from multiple sectors of the economy, include strong labor provisions and center environmental justice in meaningful ways.

In the first Political Climate episode of 2022, we look at some of the biggest political wins of 2021 that took place around the country. From Oregon and Illinois joining the party on 100% emissions-free electricity, to a wide-ranging cap-and-trade bill in Washington and a net zero goal in North Carolina, there was no shortage of action.

Host Julia Pyper speaks with Canary Media’s Jeff St. John about key elements of these new state policies, how they came to pass, and why they’re so significant.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Canary Media: The top 6 ambitious state climate laws passed in 2021
Political Climate: Winning political messages with David Roberts
Canary Media: Washington state now has the nation’s most ambitious climate policy
Canary Media: Illinois’ new climate bill is ambitious, justice-focused and a model for the nation

Build Back Never? And Tackling Methane Emissions

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Is Build Back Better really dead? Could the climate and clean energy provisions live on? Political Climate weighs in on the timely issue of Senator Manchin’s “no” on President Biden’s marquee legislation. Plus, Brandon, Shane and Julia share some 2022 predictions.

In the second half of the show we look at the troubling rise in global methane emissions. Methane is 80 times more potent as a global warming gas than carbon dioxide, and is responsible for roughly one-quarter of the climate warming we see today. Recognizing the scope and scale of the issue, the United States and European Union recently spearheaded a Global Methane Pledge at COP26, which has been signed by around 100 countries. In addition, the U.S. EPA has proposed new rules to tackle methane leaks from oil and gas production.

To round out the episode, we speak to Sarah Smith, program director of super pollutants at the Clean Air Task Force, about why methane emissions are such a big problem and what’s being done to address it.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

P.S. All we want for Christmas are your Apple Podcast reviews! If you have a moment over the holidays, we’d love to get your feedback. Your ratings help us grow and if there’s a topic you’d like the podcast to cover, please let us know!

Recommended reading:

Amy Harder on Trends and Challenges in Getting to Net Zero

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:08:15 -0000

The clean energy transition is accelerating — but progress isn’t always smooth.

The global energy crisis and related price spikes have raised some difficult political questions around the push for decarbonization. At the same time, local opposition to clean energy projects threatens to undermine meeting national net zero goals. Similarly, complexities around accessing materials needed to make cleantech solutions threaten to disrupt the sector.

These are the kinds of tough issues that longtime climate and energy journalist Amy Harder is used to covering — and continues to cover in her role as executive editor at Cipher, a recently-launched news publication backed by Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy. In this episode, podcast host Julia Pyper, with co-hosts Brandon Hurlbut and Shane Skelton of policy firm Boundary Stone Partners, speak to Amy about some of the latest trends and challenges in the race to net zero emissions.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts. Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

10 Climate Stats You Need for Holiday Season

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

As we enter the holiday season, our hosts run through 10 powerful stats that will help you navigate the inevitable question from a curious family member: “So, what’s going on with the climate?”

As a listener of this podcast, you are probably no stranger to these conversations with loved ones. But this year in particular — amid more in-person visits and a slew of recent headlines on climate policy, climate impacts, and global climate summits — there is a lot of catching up to do. These stats will equip you with the content you need to deliver a brief climate keynote address over the third helping of potatoes.

To kick things off, we catch up on the big ticket items in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and what’s next for the Build Back Better Act, which together could be the most significant pieces of American climate legislation passed in our lifetimes. (And that’s a good thing, should your aunt ask).

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

White House: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Fact Sheet
Princeton University's REPEAT Project
Canary Media: The vast majority of Americans love solar and wind power
E2: Clean Jobs America
IHS: Corporate US renewable procurement outlook
IEA: COP26 climate pledges could help limit global warming to 1.8 °C
BBC: How China shapes the world's coal
Inside EVs: Global Plug-In Car Sales Doubled To A New Record, September 2021
California Solar and Storage Association: An S.O.S. In The Sand – Governor: More Solar, Not Oil
Ars Technica: Natural gas customers in Texas get stuck with $3.4 billion cold-snap surcharge

COP26: Mobilizing Trillions in Climate Finance

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Climate finance has been center stage at COP26. Meeting the globe’s climate goals will require mobilizing trillions of public and private dollars. So what exactly does that look like?

During the first week of the UN climate summit, 450 financial institutions with $130 trillion in assets under management pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The announcement from the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) led by UN Special Envoy Mark Carney represents a massive commitment to shift funds out of fossil fuels and into creating sustainable economies.

But will the promise live up to the hype? We break down the significance of this and other major finance pledges made at COP26 with Justin Guay, director for global climate strategy at the Sunrise Project.

Plus, a commitment from wealthy countries to spend $100 billion per year on helping poorer nations mitigate and adapt to climate change remains a sticking point in the global climate negotiations. But even if rich nations deliver more money in climate aid, many countries will see little benefit because they face enormous hurdles accessing the funds available.

In the second half of this episode we speak to Benjamin Bartle, project director with RMI's Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) about what it really takes to put these climate dollars to work.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Bloomberg: Carney Unveils $130 Trillion in Climate Finance Commitments
Scientific American: U.S. Agrees to End Fossil Fuel Financing Abroad
AP: UK sets net-zero plan for its financial sector
RMI: The Crisis of Climate Finance: “Access Means Survival"

Is American Offshore Wind Becoming a Reality?

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 09:35:00 -0000

Where are the offshore wind projects in America? While turbines have become a familiar sight in states across the country, offshore wind is virtually non-existent.

Even with thousands of miles of coastline, the U.S. only has around 40 MW of offshore wind production, most of it from a single wind farm. This pales in comparison to other parts of the world, particularly Europe, which has more than 25 GW of offshore wind capacity from more than 100 offshore wind farms.

But the market landscape for offshore wind in the U.S. is poised to change dramatically, with industry and policy efforts aligning to finally access this untapped clean energy resource.

In this episode, we discuss this new frontier in the U.S. energy transition with Heather Zichal, Chief Executive Officer, of the American Clean Power Association.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Heather Zichal: Testimony House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Energy Subcommittee “Offshore Wind, Onshore Benefits: Growing the Domestic Wind Energy Industry”
USC Schwarzenegger Institute: California’s Offshore Wind Electricity Opportunity
Canary: Could the US lead the world in floating offshore wind?
Canary: California offshore wind could save billions and help prevent blackouts. What’s holding it back?
Axios: Biden plan expected to include at least $500B for climate

David Roberts, Part 2: Winning Political Messages

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 06:49:34 -0000

Policy debates on Capitol Hill today fit into a bigger political picture. In Part 2 of this conversation with David Roberts, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Shane Skelton talk about political sentiments, campaign messaging, and things Democrats don’t want to hear — as well as asymmetry in the media landscape and its impact on electoral politics today.

Plus, David shares what he’s genuinely excited about when it comes to clean energy technology and how Illinois recently passed a big, bold climate bill that offers a new model for the nation. David Roberts is the founder and writer of the newsletter Volts, host of the podcast by the same name, and Editor-At-Large at Canary Media.

Check out Part 1 of this conversation on last week's episode. Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

David Roberts, Part 1: Glimmers of Climate Optimism

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 13:54:16 -0000

David Roberts is worried. Democrats have control of the House, Senate and the White House and an opportunity to pass bold climate policy and political reform — perhaps their last opportunity for a long time — but are stuck in political gridlock. The stakes are high, with procedural deadlines and the COP26 global climate summit looming.

On this episode, Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut and Shane Skelton speak to clean energy and politics reporter David Roberts about the state of play in Washington D.C. and why he’s both anxious and (surprisingly) optimistic. Roberts is the founder and writer of the newsletter Volts, host of the podcast by the same name, and Editor-At-Large at Canary Media.

Part 2 of this conversation will air on the podcast feed next week! Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

Politico: Dem tension keeps spiking ahead of make-or-break 3 weeks
Canary: What’s in the latest version of House Dems’ proposed clean energy legislation?
Axios: Pondering Biden's Plan(et) B
Volts: The most important job ahead for Democrats
MSNBC: All In with Chris Hayes, 10/12/21

Big Climate Policies Hang in Limbo

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 10:00:00 -0000

With several major deadlines looming, U.S. lawmakers remain divided on how to move forward with the bipartisan infrastructure bill and Democrats’ larger $3.5 billion spending package — both of which contain critical funding and programs to fight climate change and promote clean energy.

At the same time, Congress must immediately pass a spending package to avoid a government shutdown. Also (because there isn't enough going on) lawmakers must act quickly to raise the debt limit, with the nation’s borrowing authority set to expire on October 18, which would be devastating for the U.S. economy.

On this episode of Political Climate, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut and Shane Skelton discuss the rifts on Capitol Hill and what to expect from Congress in the coming days. Plus, they talk through some of the most significant commitments made by governments and the private sector during Climate Week NYC — a stepping stone to the UN’s COP26 climate summit.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Recommended reading:

The Guardian: Fate of Biden’s economic agenda at stake as House faces crucial vote
CNN: Why we're willing to put our votes on the line for the Build Back Better Act
NYT: Biden Administration Makes First Major Move to Regulate Greenhouse Gases
Canary Media: Climate Week NYC 2021

Senator Heinrich Is Not Compromising on Climate

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 07:59:47 -0000

Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico is no stranger to climate and energy issues. In recent months, he’s sponsored legislation on zero-emission homes, electric transmission, energy storage, a civilian climate corps, and more. Now, these proposals are being considered as part of Democrats’ sweeping $3.5 trillion budget plan. What’s likely to stay in and what’s likely to get cut?

On this episode of Political Climate, Sen. Heinrich weighs in on what’s at stake with the budget reconciliation and bipartisan infrastructure bills, and how climate impacts are influencing political action. Plus, we discuss the significance of President Biden’s cross-country climate tour and Governor Gavin Newsom’s big win in the California recall.

Recommended reading:

Canary Media: What’s in the latest version of House Dems’ proposed clean energy legislation?
Rewiring America: Electrifying America’s Future Resolution
NYT: Your Next Car and Clothes Dryer Could Help Save Our Planet

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

P.S. We have a brand new show page on Canary Media! Check it out.

Crunch Time for Congress on Climate and Energy

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 07:32:50 -0000

The U.S. political climate has changed a lot in 2021, especially when it comes to climate and energy issues on Capitol Hill. The Political Climate podcast has changed too. Rather than debate macro politics, we’re focused on analyzing concrete proposals, policy choices, and getting at the “how” of achieving our shared climate goals. Unlike in the past, there is no shortage of policy action!

On August 10, the U.S. Senate approved a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill — the largest spending for infrastructure projects in the country in over a decade — with bipartisan support. Senators also approved a budget measure along party lines that paved the way for Democrats’ $3.5 trillion spending package, which includes a suite of climate and social initiatives.

After a weeks-long stalemate between moderates and leadership in the House over the two large pieces of legislation, it’s now crunch time for Democrats to pass their climate and clean energy priorities. This episode offers an insider perspective on how policy negotiations are evolving, what the top priorities are for House and Senate leadership, as well as the Biden White House, and what we can expect in the next month as both the bipartisan infrastructure bill and Democrats’ massive spending package move forward (or not).

Recommended resources:

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Political Climate Will Be Back!

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 08:49:01 -0000

Political Climate is coming back to the airwaves! Catch new episodes every two weeks — wherever you get podcasts — starting Thursday, September 2nd.

Brandon Hurlbut, Shane Skelton and Julia Pyper will be discussing all of the climate and energy issues that you want to know about, along with a roster of fantastic guests who know the ins and outs of the politics and policies shaping the future of our planet.

This reboot of Political Climate is presented in partnership with Canary Media, and with support from the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

There is no shortage of action on climate and energy these days. Get the latest news and analysis with a side of debate and friendly banter on upcoming episodes of Political Climate.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts. Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

The Current Political Climate

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 23:00:18 -0000

We always new that 2021 would start with a bang — between the Georgia Senate runoff election, the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden, cabinet announcements, coronavirus relief and, of course, earnest discussions on the future of American climate policy.

A deadly assault on the United States Capitol incited by the President was not on the calendar, although the seeds of division and misinformation were sown long ago.

So what’s the path forward?

Democrats have secured a narrow majority in Congress, which will have an enormous impact on how policy moves in the months ahead. We discuss pathways for climate action. We also opine on the future of the Republican Party and how that could influence the broader political landscape.

But first, we kick it all off with some Political Climate news!

Recommended reading:

Volts: What the Georgia Senate wins do (and don't) mean for climate policy
WaPo: Schwarzenegger compares Capitol mob violence to Kristallnacht destruction by Nazis in viral video
Vox: How Joe Biden plans to use executive powers to fight climate change

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate!

A Blueprint for American Climate Action and a Modern Clean Energy Economy

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 11:01:13 -0000

The past few years have been a mixed bag for climate. U.S. emissions declined to their lowest level in three decade this year, but these reductions came at an incredible cost as the economy shut down amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The challenge now is to make these emissions cuts sustainable for years to come, while getting millions of Americans back to work.

We dig into a new analysis on how to put the U.S. on a path to deep decarbonization and economic growth on this episode of Political Climate — the final episode in our "Relief, Rescue, Rebuild" series. Lindsey Walter, senior policy advisor for Third Way’s Climate and Energy program, breaks down the policies and technology pathways to reach net zero emissions by 2050 in an equitable and affordable way.

Plus, we speak to two wind energy technicians who are training the next generation of wind workers in the Midwest about how the industry has affected their region, the opportunities for growth and their message to policymakers.

Mike Gengler is the wind energy coordinator at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa. Jay Johnson in an assistant professor for the wind energy technician program at the Lake Region State College in Devil’s Lake North Dakota.

The "Relief, Rescue, Rebuild" series is supported by the think tank Third Way. The series theme song was created by @AYMusik.

Recommended resources:

USA Today: Due to COVID-19, 2020 greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. are predicted to drop to lowest level in three decades
Third Way: Congress Makes a Downpayment on Our Clean Energy Future
Princeton: Big but affordable effort needed for America to reach net-zero emissions by 2050
Relief, Rescue, Rebuild
Path to Zero

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate!

Saul Griffith on Mobilizing America to Fight Climate Change and Win the Future

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 23:07:44 -0000

It will take a massive war-time mobilization effort to effectively address the climate emergency, argues Saul Griffith — inventor, MacArthur genius fellow, CEO of Otherlab, and co-founder of Rewiring America, an organization dedicated to creating millions of American jobs while combating climate change.

So, what does a war-time mobilization effort look like? How much will it cost? Will we have to make sacrifices in the process? What does this shift mean for the future of utilities? And will politicians ever get on board? Griffith explains in this episode of Political Climate.

Plus, he weighs in on the massive year-end spending bill that passed in Congress this week and includes significant climate and clean energy measures. If signed into law, will this legislation put the U.S. on the right track to achieve deep decarbonization?

Recommended reading:

Rewiring America Handbook
No Place Like Home: Fighting Climate Change (and Saving Money) by Electrifying America’s Households
Mobilizing for a zero carbon America: Jobs, jobs, jobs, and more jobs
NYT: To Cut Emissions to Zero, U.S. Needs to Make Big Changes in Next 10 Years
NYT: Climate Change Legislation Included in Coronavirus Relief Deal
'Need for Speed': Why Solving Climate Change Is About More Than CO2

Political Climate is hosted by Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut and Shane Skelton and supported by the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts! We're also on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

DITCHED: How Climate Fintech Is Disrupting Traditional Finance

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 20:11:59 -0000

Crowdfunding, blockchain, artificial intelligence and neobanks. What do all of these buzzwords have to do with fighting climate change?

On this episode of Political Climate’s DITCHED series, host Julia Pyper speaks to the authors of a new report on “climate fintech,” an emerging ecosystem that leverages digital technology to help move more capital into climate change solutions. The report, published by the startup accelerator New Energy Nexus, offers a valuable overview of what this rapidly evolving ecosystem looks like today.

Andrew Chang, New Energy Nexus climate fintech program director based in Shanghai, and Aaron McCreary, New Energy Nexus fintech lead for Europe and the United States, describe how and why traditional finance is being disrupted by new technology — and what this means for decarbonization.

Recommended resources:

Climate Fintech Report: An Emerging Ecosystem of Climate Capital Catalysts
DITCHED: Greening the Banks

If you’re just joining us, the DITCHED series is all about fossil fuel divestment and the rapidly evolving world of green finance. We’re airing these episodes in addition to our regular Thursday shows on climate and energy politics and policies.

You can find all segments in the DITCHED series on the Political Climate podcast feed, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get podcasts! You can also find the series on the Political Climate website or via the leading independent environmental news platform Our Daily Planet.

How the Energy Transition Accelerated in a Turbulent Year

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:56:23 -0000

2020 has been a remarkable year. It witnessed the coronavirus pandemic, an economic crash, a historic and divisive U.S. election, widespread protests for racial justice and more.

And yet, amid all of the turbulence, the world took several major steps toward realizing a low carbon future.

The numbers are still coming in and the trends are still formalizing, but we have a pretty good sense of how the climate and energy landscape evolved over the past several months.

On this episode of Political Climate, hosts Brandon Hurlbut, Shane Skelton and Julia Pyper discuss how climate action and the clean energy transition fared in 2020.

Recommended reading:

Reuters: Solar the new 'king of electricity' as renewables make up bigger slice of supply: IEA
S&P: Global emissions peaked in 2019 as pandemic hastens energy transition – report
DITCHED: Why 2020 Could Be a Tipping Point for Fossil Fuels
Inside EVs: Global Plug-In Electric Car Sales October 2020: Near Record Level
E&E: Biden's energy agenda hinges on FERC, red states
Atlantic: Why the 2020s Could Be as Dangerous as the 1850s
PC: David Roberts on 'Radical' Climate Action and Political Tribalism

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

DITCHED: New York's Divest/Invest Commitments

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 09:51:54 -0000

Cities and states have powerful roles to play in divesting from fossil fuels and directing investments toward sustainable industries. There are a number of ways for these sub-national actors to participate in the divest/invest movement and help pave the way for more widespread action.

In this episode of Political Climate’s DITCHED series, we go to the home of Wall Street and look at steps being taken by New York City and New York State to accelerate the movement of funds from brown to green resources.

We speak to NYC’s chief climate policy advisor Dan Zarrilli about the city’s pledge to fully divest its pension funds from fossil fuels. Then, in the second half of the episode, we speak to NY Green Bank President Alfred Griffin about how green banks operate and the role they fill in transforming financial markets.

*Since this podcast aired, New York State announced it will divest its $226 billion pension fund from fossil fuels, becoming the largest pension fund to make such a commitment to date. Both New York City and New York State have now pledged to fully divest from fossil fuels. New York State went even further by setting a 2040 carbon-free target for all parts of its portfolio.

Recommended reading:

NYC: Mayor, Comptroller, Trustees Announce First-In-The-Nation Goal to Divest From Fossil Fuels
Smart Cities Dive: 12 major cities pledge fossil fuel divestment
Inside Climate: Could New York’s Youth Finally Convince the State to Divest Its Pension of Fossil Fuels?
NRDC: First Global Survey of Green Banks Finds Rapid Growth in their Numbers and Importance in Low-Carbon Finance
Vox: New York just passed the most ambitious climate target in the country

Catch all DITCHED episodes in addition to our regular Thursday shows! Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Neil Chatterjee on FERC’s Role in Enabling the Energy Transition

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 12:00:48 -0000

When Neil Chatterjee was appointed to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by President Trump in 2017, stakeholders in the climate and clean energy space were concerned about what his agenda would be. Headlines dubbed him “McConnell’s coal guy” and “fossil fuel champion Chatterjee,” referring to his role as a former aide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

But Chatterjee has proven to be much more than a “coal guy,” despite his sympathies for struggling Kentucky coal communities. The Republican leader recently voted in favor of rules supporting distributed energy resources and carbon pricing, and views these decisions as powerful steps in advancing the energy transition.

His openness to supporting policies that benefit clean energy may have cost him his leadership position at FERC. President Trump demoted Chatterjee from the chairman role last month, although he remains on the commission and will serve alongside two new appointees confirmed by the Senate this week.

In this episode, we speak to FERC Commissioner Neil Chatterjee about several of the agency’s recent rulemakings, past controversies and his outlook for the future of U.S. energy policy in today’s shifting political landscape.

Recommended reading:

GTM: Why Rick Perry’s Coal-Friendly Market Intervention Was Legally Doomed
GTM: FERC Orders PJM to Restrict State-Backed Renewables in Its Capacity Market
Utility Dive: FERC confirms carbon pricing jurisdiction in wholesale markets, Chatterjee 'encourages' proposals
Utility Dive: Competitive generators move away from FERC's PJM order, toward carbon pricing
GTM: ‘Game-Changer’ FERC Order Opens Up Wholesale Grid Markets to Distributed Energy Resources
Quartz: How one obscure federal agency is clearing the path for a US carbon price
The Hill: Senate approves two energy regulators, completing panel

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate!

DITCHED: Why 2020 Could Be a Tipping Point for Fossil Fuels

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:19:45 -0000

2020 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for fossil fuel divestment.

Despite economic disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a growing number of countries, companies and financial institutions are committing to quit coal and are beginning to ditch oil and gas projects, too.

In this episode of Political Climate’s special DITCHED series, host Julia Pyper speaks to Tim Buckley at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) about what’s driving the increase in fossil fuel exits around the globe, including in historically coal-dependent economies such as China and India.

Will 2020 prove to be a tipping point in the energy-finance transition?

Recommended resources:

IEEFA: Why 2020 is turning out be a pivotal year for fossil fuel exits
IEA: Renewable power is defying the Covid crisis with record growth this year and next
Argus: Coal India to diversify into solar power
PV Tech: Indian solar tariffs fall to record low following SECI auction
Reuters: Satellites reveal major new gas industry methane leaks
IEEFA: Is the Gas Industry Facing Its Volkswagen Moment?

Episodes of DITCHED will air Mondays over the next several weeks. Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts! You can also find DITCHED episodes via Our Daily Planet.

Why America Needs a Climate-Resilient Recovery

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 08:56:37 -0000

The coronavirus pandemic has created an opportunity to reboot the American economy in a way that is cleaner and helps to mitigate climate change for future generations. But it’s not only that, this is also a moment to build back the U.S. economy with more resilience.

The word “resilience” is thrown around frequently. But what does it really mean? And how should leaders be factoring resilience into their recovery efforts?

In this episode, we speak to Norfolk, Virginia City Councilwoman Andria McClellan about how her coastal city, home to the world's largest naval station, is coping with rising seas and worsening flooding. And we hear what she hopes lawmakers in Washington D.C. will do to help address the growing crisis.

But first, we check in with Josh Freed, founder and leader of Third Way's Climate and Energy Program. We discuss how President-Elect Joe Biden’s administration is shaping up and what to watch for on the policy front post-election.

This is the fourth episode in our "Relief, Rescue, Rebuild" series supported by Third Way. The series theme song was created by @AYMusik.

Recommended reading:

E&E: Here are Biden's next moves on climate
WaPo: Climate Change Turns the Tide on Waterfront Living
SciAm: A Running List of Record-Breaking Natural Disasters in 2020
New Deal Forum: Policy Proposals for Growing a Clean Economy and Protecting Communities
Third Way: Clean Energy Targets are Trending

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate!

DITCHED: Oil Companies Under Pressure

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 10:35:53 -0000

A growing number of financial institutions are moving their investments from fossil fuels into less polluting projects and resources. So what do oil and gas companies make of this shift?

Some of them are waking up to the clean energy transition in response to investor pressure. But there are leaders and laggards when it comes to oil and gas companies and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. There are also valid concerns about greenwashing. And yet, some of these firms are fundamentally reshaping the way that they do business.

In this episode, the latest in Political Climate’s special DITCHED series, we look at the pressures oil and gas companies are under to go low-carbon with Valentina Kretzschmar, vice president of corporate research at the research firm Wood Mackenzie.

Recommended resources:

FT: Why ExxonMobil is sticking with oil as rivals look to a greener future
WoodMac: Could clean energy be the winner in the oil price war?
NYT: Shell and Total report big drop in profits, but made clean-energy investments.
Earther: Maybe It's Time to Retire the Phrase 'Big Oil'
E&E: How one fossil fuel company became a green giant
Political Climate: Is There a Role for Oil and Gas in a Green Recovery?

Generation Green New Deal: The Pelosi Sit-In

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 06:12:40 -0000

In the past two years, climate change has gone from the back burner to the center stage. Why? It all started with a protest in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office in 2018.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez teamed up with a then-obscure youth activist group called Sunrise Movement to launch the fight for a Green New Deal. It took a lot of planning, courage, and luck to make the protest happen. We bring you the inside story of the Pelosi sit-in on this special episode from Generation Green New Deal, a new podcast from Critical Frequency.

Host Sam Eilertsen takes a look at how scrappy organizations led by teenagers and twenty-somethings have brought the U.S. closer than ever to addressing the issue that will define the future of humanity: climate change. This episode features Varshini Prakash and Sarah Duckett of Sunrise Movement and Waleed Shahid of Justice Democrats.

Listen and subscribe to Generation Green New Deal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

DITCHED: Greening the Banks

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 09:12:20 -0000

Banks don’t just hold on to your dollars and cents, they also play a role in addressing the climate crisis.

In the latest episode of Political Climate's DITCHED series, we take a closer look at the banking sector and what institutions like JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and others can do to fight global warming.

Patrick McCully, climate and energy director at the Rainforest Action Network, explains how activists are pressuring banks to clean up their act through initiatives like Stop the Money Pipeline.

Plus, Joe Sanberg, founder of the financial firm Aspiration, explains how this traditional bank alternative is putting climate at the center of its business strategy.

But first, we kick off the episode with Monica Medina and Miro Korenha, founders of leading independent environmental news platform Our Daily Planet, which Political Climate is thrilled to be partnering with to bring you the DITCHED podcast series!

Recommended reading:

Reuters: Fed moves closer to joining global peers in climate-change fight
Ceres: Measuring and Addressing Climate Risk for Banks
Fortune: How one of the world’s biggest banks plans to tackle climate change
RAN: Banking on Climate Change 2020
Banking Dive: Aspiration CEO banks on customers' social conscience

Episodes of DITCHED will air Mondays over the next several weeks. Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Biden's Climate Mandate

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 18:01:13 -0000

Young Americans voted in record numbers during the 2020 election and played a key role in tipping the scales to Joe Biden. Early research shows that climate change was a major driver of that robust turnout.

The Sunrise Movement and other environmental groups mounted extensive campaigns to register and mobilize voters to oppose President Trump and vote climate champions into office.

Biden’s climate platform isn’t the Green New Deal plan that many climate activists called for, and Democrats will have a tough time passing progressive climate policies unless they win both Senate runoff races in Georgia. Still, Donald Trump’s defeat gives the planet a better chance of avoiding an apocalyptic future.

We speak to first-time presidential election voters, Troy Distelrath in Michigan and Gabriela Rodriguez in Florida, about what they want to see next from their political leaders.

Plus, while Biden’s win represents a new era in the climate fight, the United States remains deeply divided and the policy path forward remains murky. So in the second half of this episode, we speak to Andreas Karelas about his critically acclaimed new book Climate Courage, and how to advance climate solutions in these polarized times.

Recommended reading:

Inside Climate: Young Voters, Motivated by Climate Change and Environmental Justice, Helped Propel Biden’s Campaign
Boston Globe: Biden has a climate mandate
Tufts CIRCLE Report: Election Week 2020
Climate Courage

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @Poli_Climate.

What the Election Results (so far) Mean for Climate and Energy

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 02:00:26 -0000

Americans are waiting with bated breath for the results of a long and contentious election. At the time of publication, former Democratic Vice President Joe Biden looks poised to take the White House, while Republicans are likely to hold on to the Senate. But the final outcome of this unprecedented pandemic election remains uncertain, with ballots still being counted in several key states.

In this episode, we discuss what we know so far — from the top of the ticket down to local ballot initiatives — and what those results mean for climate and clean energy policy.

Then we look at what a divided Congress would spell for a Biden presidency and the future of his ambitious climate plan. From solar tax credits, to vehicle fuel economy standards, to oil drilling permits, what's likely to advance and what doesn't stand chance? We discuss with Glenn Schwartz, director of environmental and energy policy at Rapidan Energy Group.

Recommended reading:

NYT: Democrats’ ‘Blue Wave’ Crashed in Statehouses Across the Country
Washington Examiner: Republicans win key House races with energy policy implications
GTM: Prospect of Republican Senate Majority Narrows Democrats’ Options on Clean Energy Policy
Law 360: Nevada Voters Approve Renewable Energy Mandate

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

What to Watch for After Election Day

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 09:34:15 -0000

What comes after November 3? As presidential candidates make their closing arguments, many stakeholders in the climate and energy community are already looking beyond Election Day.

In this episode, experts discuss the top action items they’re watching for in a potential Biden versus returning Trump administration. What are the most tactical policy moves? Who will be making decisions? How will the private sector respond? What role will the courts play?

We hear from Josh Freed, founder of Third Way’s Climate and Energy Program. Podcast co-hosts Brandon Hurlbut, senior advisor at NGP Energy Technology Partners III, and Shane Skelton, energy policy consulting firm S2C Pacific, also weigh in.

In the second half of the show (39:00), we discuss the ongoing health and environmental crisis in cities with high levels of lead poisoning. While it doesn’t appear in print, grassroots activists say tackling this issue is very much on the ballot this year. We speak to Michelle Mabson of Black Millennials for Flint about what she wants to see from political leaders.

This is the fourth episode in our "Relief, Rescue, Rebuild" series supported by the think tank Third Way. The series theme song was created by @AYMusik.

Recommended reading:

HuffPost: EPA Veterans Eyed As Potential Picks To Lead The Agency If Biden Wins
E&E: House races to watch on energy, environment
Third Way: The Election Climate
Path to Zero

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Environmental Voter Turnout and Tipping the Scales

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 07:00:05 -0000

At least 40 million Americans have already cast a ballot in early voting, with still more than a week until Election Day.

In this episode of Political Climate, we examine if environmental issues are mobilizing voters the way that analysts anticipated. Who are those voters and do they hold sway? We discuss with Nathaniel Stinnett, founder of the Environmental Voter Project, a non-partisan organization focused on identifying inactive environmentalists across the United States and turning them into reliable voters in every election.

This year, the stakes are especially high. Control of the U.S. Senate is very much in play, while Joe Biden and Donald Trump duke it out for the White House with wildly different policy platforms. Could environmental voters tip the scales?

We also consider how fracking and natural disasters are playing into the 2020 election cycle, as well as the rise of “big green” political donors. Plus, we check in on a Texas election bet.

Recommended reading:

WaPo: Early Voting Numbers So Far
NPR: Wall Street Is A Big Source Of Campaign Cash For Democrats
NYT: 'Climate Donors’ Flock to Biden to Counter Trump’s Fossil Fuel Money
Guardian: Trump has made fracking an election issue. Has he misjudged Pennsylvania?
NPR: MacArthur 'Genius' Brings National Attention To Local Fight Against Sewage Failures

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

This episode is brought to you with support from Lyft. Lyft is leading the transition to zero emissions vehicles with a commitment to achieve 100% electric vehicles on the Lyft platform by 2030. Learn more at lyftimpact.com/electric.

How a Group of Billionaire Donors Want to Reshape US Politics

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 07:29:25 -0000

There is a lot of money in American politics. Campaign spending in 2020 is expected to reach $11 billion dollars — making it the most expensive election in U.S. history.

In light of these growing dollar figures, a group of billionaire donors from across the political spectrum say they’re laying down arms and joining forces to transform politics and tackle critical issues, such as climate change.

The action plan is entitled: In This Together.

In this episode, we speak to Dallas real estate scion and environmentalist Trammell S. Crow about why he and social entrepreneur Bill Shireman launched this new collaborative effort and how they plan to redirect billions in political spending toward solutions that can unite a governing majority of Americans, from left to right.

**From now until November 3rd the Political Climate podcast will donate $2 for every new subscriber to the American Red Cross for every new subscription to the show! If you’re already a subscriber, share the podcast with a friend.

To participate, simply have a new subscriber send a screenshot of their subscription on whichever podcasting platform they like best to politicalclimatepodcast@gmail.com. Or send us a message via Twitter or Instagram @poli_climate. That’s it!**

Recommended reading:

In This Together: How Republicans, Democrats, Capitalists and Activists Are Uniting to Tackle Climate Change and More
Dallas Innovates: EarthX’s Trammell S. Crow Launches ‘World’s Only’ Environmental Conservation Streaming Platform
The Hill: EarthX Founder Trammell S. Crow talks about EarthX and the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

Electing Climate Candidates

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 09:33:40 -0000

How do you elect political candidates who will make tackling climate change a priority? In this episode, we speak to two groups attempting to figure that out and put climate change at the center of races up and down the ballot.

In 2018, Caroline Spears launched the Climate Cabinet Action Fund to offer bespoke climate data, policy ideas and messaging suggestions to candidates and lawmakers. The organization currently focuses on the state level, where races are low-budget but highly consequential.

We speak to Caroline about the policy “menus” that Climate Cabinet creates for individual candidates, and dig into the role that special interests play in the election infrastructure of both the Republican and Democratic parties.

Later in the show, we turn to Karyn Strickler, founder and president of Vote Climate U.S. PAC, a political action committee tracking key races in the U.S. House and Senate and ranking candidates based on their climate record. There are 26 days until the contentious 2020 election and climate issues could sway the outcome.

Recommended reading:

CNN: New climate group will offer district-specific policy 'menus' to every congressional candidate
GTM: Virginia Mandates 100% Clean Power by 2045
Pew Research: How important is climate change to voters in the 2020 election?
Climate Cabinet: The Divided States Of Climate Action
Vote Climate U.S. PAC: 2020 Climate Change Voter’s Guide

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

'Crystal Clean': Takeaways From the Presidential Debate

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 11:54:23 -0000

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden faced off in their first debate this week. To the surprise of many, Fox News moderator Chris Wallace asked the presidential candidates a series of questions on climate change.

Energy and environmental issues got more air time on Tuesday night than at all 2016 presidential debates combined.

On this week's episode of Political Climate, our hosts discuss takeaways from the debate (from snippets in between interruptions). Did Trump shift his tone on climate? Did Biden successfully sell his vision for a clean energy economy?

Later in the show, we address what changes at the Supreme Court could mean for the future of climate policy and discuss prospects for clean energy legislation currently moving through the House and Senate. Plus, we ask: is there an electric vehicle that can accommodate three car seats? And more!

Recommended reading:

NYT: The Trump Administration Is Reversing 100 Environmental Rules. Here’s the Full List.
PolitiFact: Fact-Check: Have Carbon Emissions Increased Under Trump?
The Hill: House passes sweeping clean energy bill
NRDC: House Bill Would Deliver Needed Steps Toward a Clean Economy
GTM: Clean Energy Gets a Surprisingly Big Role in First Presidential Debate

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts! Follow us on Twitter at @Poli_Climate.

How to Reboot the US Clean Energy Industry

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 23:40:17 -0000

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, more Americans worked in clean energy than there were school teachers in the country. The once booming sector is now experiencing hundreds of thousands of job losses as a result of the coronavirus recession.

What will it take to not only get these jobs back but to grow the clean energy sector beyond where it was at the start of the year, putting the industry at the center of a U.S. economic recovery?

In this episode of Political Climate, we speak to Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, former chief economist for the Obama Administration's Department of Commerce, as well as clean energy business leaders from Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania to learn how the clean energy sector has been affected by COVID-19 and what it will take to reboot the industry.

This conversation comes as bipartisan clean energy legislation is advancing in both the House and Senate. But prospects for a final bill remain uncertain as Republicans focus on nominating a new Supreme Court Justice following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

This is the third episode in our "Relief, Rescue, Rebuild" series supported by the think tank Third Way. The series theme song was created by @AYMusik.

Recommended reading:

Third Way: How Clean Energy Businesses Can Survive and Thrive After COVID-19
PV Tech: Lacklustre job growth leaves 14% of US’ clean energy workforce unemployed
E&E News: Clean energy push caught in congressional chaos
The Hill: House passes sweeping clean energy bill
Verge: Democrats unveil new agenda for economic recovery and climate action
A Green Economic Recovery: Global Trends and Lessons for the United States

“Relief, Rescue, Rebuild” episodes will monthly on the Political Climate podcast feed. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Have a moment? Please leave us a review! You can also chat with us on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

DITCHED: A Dire Warning for Financial Markets

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 06:23:37 -0000

“Climate change poses a major risk to the stability of the U.S. financial system and to its ability to sustain the American economy.” That’s the top line takeaway from a landmark new report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

While the core finding isn’t entirely new, the CFTC report carries weight. “Managing Climate Risk in the U.S. Financial System,” commissioned by a panel of President Trump appointed federal regulators, is the first comprehensive federal government study to focus on the risks climate change presents to Wall Street.

Divya Mankikar is an investment manager at the California Public Employees' Retirement System, or CalPERS, where she works to shed light on integrating environmental, social and governance factors across the roughly 400 billion fund — the largest public pension fund in the U.S. She’s also a member of the subcommittee that authored the recently released CFTC climate risk report.

In this episode, Divya outlines the report’s main findings and details how CalPERS and other large investors are acting on a growing body of climate risk information.

This is the fifth episode in the Political Climate miniseries called DITCHED: fossil fuels, money flows and the greening of finance. Listen and subscribe to Political Climate wherever you get podcasts!

Recommended reading:

CFTC: Managing Climate Risk in the U.S. Financial System
Responsible Investor: CalPERS says it plans to align with TCFD amid new California climate legislation
Guardian: Investors that manage US $47tn demand world’s biggest polluters back plan for net-zero emissions
Guardian: New Zealand minister calls for finance sector to disclose climate crisis risks in world first

Catch all DITCHED episodes in addition to our regular Thursday shows! Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

What Conservative Climate Activists Want

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 10:46:08 -0000

The youth climate movement has gained enormous momentum over the past few years. While progressive groups tend to be the most well known, conservative youth activists are also expanding their presence in American politics.

The Republican Party stands to lose an entire generation of voters if it doesn’t embrace a more environmentally friendly agenda. We speak to Benji Backer, founder and president of the American Conservation Coalition, about what he thinks Republicans are getting right and wrong on climate heading into the 2020 election.

Benji and a group of college-aged friends created The American Conservation Coalition in 2017 with a dream of making environmental issues nonpartisan again. The Republican-leaning group says it’s dedicated to mobilizing young people around climate action and environmental protection through common-sense, market-based and limited-government ideals — even if that means criticizing members of their own party.

We talk to Benji about what young conservative climate activists want and debate Republicans’ existing track record on climate action.

Recommended reading:

Electric Election 2020 Road Trip
Conservative climate group runs pro-environment ads on Fox News
WaPo: In rare bipartisan climate agreement, senators forge plan to slash use of potent greenhouse gas
The Atlantic: How a Plan to Save the Power System Disappeared

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

DITCHED: Dark Money and Political Influence

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 06:39:10 -0000

In the face of a mounting climate crisis, financial institutions are reevaluating their relationships with coal, gas and oil. But while the divestment movement is picking up speed, it isn’t on a one way street.

There is still lots of money flowing into fossil fuels through various public and private channels. At the same time, fossil fuel interests are spending heavily to influence policy that protects their assets and future growth opportunities.

In this episode, we speak to Leah Stokes, assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara about her research on how fossil fuel companies and electric utilities are slowing the shift away from polluting resources.

This is the fourth episode in the Political Climate miniseries called DITCHED: fossil fuels, money flows and the greening of finance. Listen and subscribe to Political Climate wherever you get podcasts!

Recommended reading:

Guardian: How the oil industry has spent billions to control the climate change conversation
Sierra: Bailout: Billions of Dollars of Federal COVID-19 Relief Money Flow to the Oil Industry
E&E: Big Oil, meet Big Green
Bloomberg: Utilities Are Slowing Down the Clean Energy Transition
S&P: Ohio bribery scandal increases scrutiny of how utilities use 'dark money' groups
Energy and Policy Institute: Paying for Utility Politics
Short Circuiting Policy

Catch all DITCHED episodes in addition to our regular Thursday shows! Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

DITCHED: How Financial Regulators Can Protect Against Climate Risk

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 07:10:04 -0000

Financial regulators have a key role to play in addressing the systemic risks presented by climate change. Arguably, it’s part of their mandate to safeguard financial markets and the real economy from disruptive shocks.

Like the COVID-19 pandemic, change change has the potential to wreak havoc on asset valuations and economic stability, as well as the lives and livelihoods of millions of people — particularly if these events are poorly managed.

We discuss the steps regulators can take to protect against potentially devastating climate-related impacts in this episode of DITCHED, a Political Climate miniseries on fossil fuels, money flows and the greening of finance. What exactly do those regulatory actions look like? Who is responsible for taking them? What is the upshot for fossil fuels use? And how does this play politically?

Steven Rothstein, managing director of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets, explains.

Episodes of DITCHED air on Mondays. To catch all of these shows, subscribe to Political Climate wherever you get podcasts!

Recommended reading:

NYT: Climate Change Poses ‘Systemic Threat’ to the Economy, Big Investors Warn
Politico: Ottawa seizes Covid-19 opportunity to require climate risk reporting
Bloomberg: Fed opens door for oil company loans after lobbying campaign
Ceres: Addressing Climate as a Systemic Risk

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Is There a Role for Oil and Gas in a Green Recovery?

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 18:44:20 -0000

Is a green recovery within the oil and gas industry a contradiction in terms? Can these fossil fuel firms meaningfully decarbonize their businesses, while creating new jobs in a struggling economy and volatile energy market? We discuss with a panel of experts, including oil and gas giant BP, in this episode of Political Climate.

The oil and gas industry was hit hard by COVID-19, but business was already rocky ahead of the pandemic. Oil and gas companies were under mounting societal pressure to transition away from fossil fuel production and toward clean energy technologies.

Now, as countries seek to stabilize their economies and investors look for environmentally friendly growth opportunities, it’s an open question as to what role oil and gas companies will play in building new, low-carbon lines of business.

This discussion was originally recorded in late July for a live event hosted by the Atlantic Council and the Center for Houston’s Future, featuring the following speakers:

Cindy Yeilding, senior vice president at BP America
Gavin Dillingham, clean energy policy program director at Houston Advanced Research Center
Alex Dewar, senior director at the Boston Consulting Group’s Center for Energy Impact
RJ Johnston, managing director for energy, climate, and resources at the Eurasia group

Recommended reading:

Atlantic Council: Public sector investment opportunities for a green stimulus in oil and gas
GTM: BP Aims to Build 50GW of Renewables by 2030, Cut Fossil Fuel Output by 40%
CNBC: BP reports second-quarter loss after major write downs, halves dividend
Political Climate: What the Oil Price War Means for Cleantech

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

DITCHED: ‘Not Your Grandpa’s Divestment Anymore’

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 06:36:31 -0000

Fossil fuel divestment ain’t what it used to be. In a good way, if you ask advocates.

In this episode — the second episode of Political Climate's special DITCHED miniseries — we get further into the weeds on what’s driving the Divest/Invest movement and where it’s going. We cover a lot and connect the dots in an interview with Justin Guay, director of global climate strategy at the Sunrise Project.

Prior to joining Sunrise, Justin managed grant-making and strategy development for global coal campaigns at the ClimateWorks Foundation and Packard Foundation. He also ran the Sierra Club’s International Coal Campaign, with a special focus on international finance.

In this conversation, we discuss how cutting off the flow of capital into fossil fuels has taken on a variety of different forms, as well as lessons learned from coal divestment that could influence a shift away from oil and gas. Justin addresses the tricky question of whether making fossil fuels harder to finance will actually curb demand for these products. We also talk about what a future without fossil fuels would look like, and how it could affect individual workers and even geopolitical relations. And that’s not all.

We launched the DITCHED miniseries to shed light on the divestment movement, and the growing trend of moving money out of fossil fuels and into more sustainable investments. Episodes air Mondays on Political Climate. Subscribe here!

Recommended reading:

Foreign Affairs: Coronavirus Bailouts Stoke Climate Change
IEEFA: Over 100 Global Financial Institutions Are Exiting Coal, With More to Come
GTM: Devil in the Details for World’s Largest Coal Investor
Reinsurance News: California to conduct first climate-related stress test for re/insurers
FT: JPMorgan Chase removes former oil boss from lead director role
World Oil: Chesapeake joins more than 200 other bankrupt U.S. shale producers

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Crafting California's Recovery Amid the Pandemic, Heatwave and Wildfires

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 06:03:23 -0000

The Golden State is in a dark place. Power outages in the midst of a historic heatwave were followed by devastating wildfires. All of which comes on top of persistently high COVID-19 case numbers and a once roaring economy now faced with a $54 billion budget shortfall.

But despite these challenges, there’s reason to believe that California can build back in an economically and environmentally sustainable way, says Tom Steyer, former Democratic presidential candidate, billionaire climate activist and co-chair of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s economic recovery task force.

We speak to Tom on this episode of Political Climate, the second episode in our "Relief, Rescue, Rebuild" series, supported by Third Way. We take a look at California and how the most populous state in the nation with ambitious climate goals is crafting its economic recovery plan in the midst of the pandemic, extreme heat and brutal wildfires.

The "Relief, Rescue, Rebuild" series explores what a green recovery from the COVID-19 economic downturn would look like. What kinds of actions will produce the best results in terms of economic growth, improved health, lower emissions and greater resilience?

Recommended reading:

Politico: Steyer emerges as Newsom economic point person — and business groups are concerned
CalMatters: California’s clean-air programs take a hit in new funding squeeze
E&E News: Biden launches 'climate engagement' council to target voters
Third Way: How Clean Energy Businesses Can Survive and Thrive After COVID-19

“Relief, Rescue, Rebuild” episodes will air monthly on the Political Climate podcast feed. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

DITCHED: Origins of the Divest/Invest Movement

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 19:17:47 -0000

A decade ago, hopes that world leaders would rally around meaningful policies to combat climate change were at a low. The 2009 United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen had ended with little to show for it and the U.S. failed to pass a major climate bill the following year.

Then in 2011, the first divestment campaigns struck up on college campuses.

In the climate space, divestment is all about shifting capital out of fossil fuels — the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity worldwide. The concept of divestment isn’t new, but it is gaining momentum. It’s also evolving and expanding into other areas of the financial system.

Meanwhile, there is a separate but related flurry of activity on the invest side of the equation and moving money into socially responsible and environmentally friendly solutions. Divest/Invest.

On this episode of Political Climate — the first in a new miniseries we’re calling DITCHED: fossil fuels, money flows and the greening of finance — host Julia Pyper speaks to Ellen Dorsey, executive director of the Wallace Global Fund, about the origins of the Divest/Invest movement.

The Wallace Global Fund, a private foundation focused on progressive social change, is a founding member of the Divest Invest: Philanthropy, a coalition of more than 170 foundations committed to deploying their investments to address the climate crisis and accelerate the clean energy transition.

Episodes of DITCHED will air Mondays over the next several weeks. Listen and subscribe to Political Climate wherever you get podcasts!

Recommended reading:

Divest Invest Philanthropy: Five Years After Launch
NYT: Rockefellers, Heirs to an Oil Fortune, Will Divest Charity of Fossil Fuels
Guardian: Insurance giant Suncorp to end coverage and finance for oil and gas industry
NYT: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink: Climate Crisis Will Reshape Finance
WSJ: Harvard University Board Gains Backers of Fossil Fuel Divestment
Tom Steyer and Bill McKibben in GTM: 2030 Is the New 2050: The Oil Industry Begins to Unwind
BIV: Divestment can’t hold back ocean of demand for oil: analysts

Catch all DITCHED episodes in addition to our regular Thursday shows! Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

DITCHED: Fossil fuels, money flows and the greening of finance

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 09:25:25 -0000

You may have seen the headlines about universities ditching their fossil fuel investments. Or perhaps you saw the news that BlackRock, one of the world’s largest financial firms, is getting out of coal and putting climate change at the center of its investment strategy.

Pension funds, insurers, family offices and others are also moving their assets out of the fossil fuel industry and re-assessing the risk these resources present to the planet and their bottom line.

These are all pieces of a growing, global divestment movement, which is the focus of a new Political Climate miniseries we’re calling "Ditched: Fossil fuels, money flows and the greening of finance."

Catch "Ditched" episodes every Monday over the next few weeks, wherever you listen to Political Climate.

Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Turning Texas Green (And Blue Too?)

Thu, 20 Aug 2020 10:19:15 -0000

Texas, home of the U.S. oil and gas industry, has become a clean energy superpower. The state already leads the nation in wind-power generation and solar is booming. Last year, Texas generated more electricity from renewable energy sources than from coal.

Now, as the coronavirus pandemic delivers a blow to the state’s struggling oil and gas industry, wind and solar production remain on a trajectory for continued record growth.

The rise of renewable energy isn’t the only notable change taking place in Texas, the state’s politics appear to be shifting too. Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden is polling very close to President Trump, who swept the state in 2016.

How did Texas become a clean energy leader? What are the politics behind this rise? And what are the politics in Texas likely to be more broadly going forward? Could a growing green economy turn this red state blue?

Political Climate speaks to Pat Wood, former head of the Texas Public Utility Commission named by Governor George W. Bush and former chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, where he led FERC’s responses to the 2000-2001 California energy crisis and the 2003 Northeastern power blackout. Wood compares the Texas and California energy systems and weighs in on the Golden State's recent blackouts.

Finally, co-hosts Brandon Hurlbut and Shane Skelton make a new election bet.

Recommended reading:

Dallas Observer: Texas Produced More Energy from Renewable Sources Than Coal Last Year
GTM: Texas Is the Center of the Global Corporate Renewable Energy Market
Post and Courier: All electricity customers can benefit from competition
Reuters: As Trump falters, Democrats and Biden eye an elusive prize: Texas
GTM: California’s Shift From Natural Gas to Solar Is Playing a Role in Rolling Blackouts

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Tony Seba On Rethinking Disruption and the Future of Humanity

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 10:30:07 -0000

Tony Seba gets a lot of things right. The world-renowned thought leader, entrepreneur, educator and author accurately predicted the rapid decline in solar photovoltaic costs and lithium ion batteries. He also predicted the collapse of the coal industry and oil prices.

Now, he’s out with a new book, “Rethinking Humanity,” that predicts the 2020s will be “the most disruptive decade in history” — not just in terms of energy technology, but across every major industry in the world today. This disruption will have major implications for policymaking and geopolitics, and civilization as a whole.

In this episode, we speak to Tony Seba about the emergence of a new world order he calls "The Age of Freedom" that's based on decentralization and resource creation, rather than extraction. We also discuss the collapse of incumbents and the impact this will have on societies around the world, and what policy leaders can do to get out ahead of these changes.

Seba breaks down why technological innovation in the next 10 years will either see the American Dream realized for virtually everyone on the planet in a cheap and sustainable manner, or trigger societal collapse akin to the fall of empires in the past. He argues that the future of humanity depends on what humans decide to do.

Recommended reading:

Rethinking Humanity
Vice: How Solar Power Could Slay the Fossil Fuel Empire by 2030

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Relief, Rescue, Rebuild: The Case for a Sustainable Recovery

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 10:23:20 -0000

There’s been a lot of talk recently about a “green recovery” and “building back better.” But what do these concepts really mean? What are the most compelling ideas being put forward by economists, policymakers, grassroots leaders and other experts? What kinds of actions will produce the best results in terms of economic growth, improved health, lower emissions and greater resilience?

These are questions Political Climate will explore in the coming months in the new podcast series “Relief, Rescue, Rebuild,” sponsored by Third Way. Earlier this year, we launched a series called “Path to Zero,” which explored the technologies and policies needed to rapidly drive down carbon emissions. Now, we’re shifting our focus to the path to economic recovery and what that would look like if equitable, low-carbon solutions were baked in.

In this first episode, we speak to Leah Stokes, assistant professor of political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara and author of the new book Short Circuiting Policy. Leah makes the case for a green economic recovery, barriers to implementation, and what she would put in her ideal green stimulus bill.

In the second half of the show, we turn to a joint interview with Oni Blair, executive director at LinkHouston, and Alex Laska, transportation policy advisor at Third Way. In this discussion, we focus on clean transportation policy and the need to “fix it first” — both with respect to infrastructure and equity issues — before tackling entirely new projects.

“Relief, Rescue, Rebuild” episodes will air monthly on the Political Climate podcast feed. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Recommended reading:

Third Way: Building Back Better: Investing in Clean Infrastructure to Drive Economic Recovery
Equitable Growth: Green stimulus, not dirty bailouts, is the smart investment strategy during the coronavirus recession
Equitable Growth: Americans want green spending in federal coronavirus recession relief packages
Utility Dive: Senate Republicans urge McConnell to include efficiency, clean energy in COVID-19 recovery package

The “Relief, Rescue, Rebuild” theme song was created by AY Musik. AY is the founder of Battery Tour, a sustainable music festival and global movement actively bringing renewable energy solutions to people in need around the world. You can hear the original version of this song, “Save the Planet,” on AY’s website or via his instagram @AYMusik.

John Podesta on Fighting Climate Change and How to Win

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 10:28:51 -0000

Few people have more experience working in modern Democratic politics than John Podesta. From Senate staffer to White House chief of staff, progressive think tank founder to presidential environmental policy counselor, campaign manager to climate action advocate — Podesta has seen a lot.

In this exclusive, in-depth interview, we get the veteran Democrat’s perspective on the state of climate politics amid the pandemic and intensifying 2020 election. We hear how he would advise Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden to address climate change if elected, including actions a new Biden administration could take within its first 100 days.

We also discuss why Podesta has beef with Facebook, what he thinks about ending the Senate filibuster, and we get his thoughts on President Trump’s campaign strategy. Plus, Podesta shares his preferred pick for Joe Biden’s running mate.

John Podesta previously served as White House chief of staff to President Bill Clinton. He is the founder of the progressive think tank Center for American Progress and served as counselor to President Barack Obama, where he focused on climate and energy policy. Podesta chaired Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president in 2016. He is currently a member of Climate Power 2020, a campaign created to change the politics of climate.

Recommended reading:

The Atlantic: The Audacity of John Podesta
Grist: Climate leftists and moderates have a radical new plan to defeat Trump: Work together
Mother Jones: Democratic Leaders Want to Know Why Facebook’s New Oversight Board Won’t Deal With Climate Lies
The Hill: COVID-19 relief and economic recovery must dismantle environmental racism

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Bonus: Charting a Sustainable Recovery

Sat, 18 Jul 2020 12:00:00 -0000

There’s a lot of discussion these days about “building back better” and passing “green economic stimulus.” But what exactly does this entail?

On this bonus episode, we share insights and resources from a group of energy leaders in California. They discuss new ways to think about environmental investments in COVID-19 recovery packages, how the public sector can advance sustainability goals at the local, state, and federal level, and lessons from the 2008 recession that could be adapted to today.

This discussion was co-hosted by the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation.

Speakers include:

Fran Pavley, former California State Senator and USC Schwarzenegger Institute Environmental Policy Director
J. R. DeShazo, Director of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
Bob Keefe, Executive Director of Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)
Matt Petersen, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)

Recommended reading:

E2: Build Back Better, Faster: How a federal stimulus focusing on clean energy can create millions of jobs and restart America’s economy
SF Chronicle: Newsom’s environmental budget cuts escalate tensions with state activists
UCLA: Employment Benefits from California Climate Investments and Co-investments
Carbon Brief: Leading economists: Green coronavirus recovery also better for economy
LACI: Keeping America Working, Protecting Public Health, and Strengthening our Communities

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

How Joe Biden’s Climate Plan Stacks Up

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 19:20:24 -0000

Joe Biden has just released the details of his $2 trillion plan to combat climate change, firming up a key pillar of his platform heading into the 2020 election. The proposal is being pitched as a way to boost the American economy, create millions of jobs and “build back better” coming out of today’s profound public health and economic emergencies.

The Biden climate plan comes on the heels of the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force recommendations on addressing climate change and environmental injustice, as well as House Democrats’ 500-page report on solving the climate crisis.

We break down key elements of these proposals on this episode of Political Climate. Resident Democratic co-host Brandon Hurlbut, co-founder of Boundary Stone Partners and former chief of staff at the US Department of Energy, and Republican co-host Shane Skelton, co-founder of S2C Pacific and former policy advisor to House Speaker Paul Ryan, discuss the details and political implications of Biden’s climate plan.

A key feature of the proposal is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the electricity sector by 2035. We also take a look at recent industry-led progress toward that goal. Plus, we discuss the House-passed “Moving Forward Act,” a comprehensive surface transportation bill that aligns closely with the Biden platform.

In theory, there’s a lot in all of these proposals for leaders across the political aisle to love.

Recommended Reading

GTM: Biden Pledges $2T in Clean Energy and Infrastructure Spending
Resources Magazine: A Close Look at the New Report from the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
GTM: Can the Clean Energy Industry Deliver on the Biden-Sanders Climate Plan?
GTM: Finding Bipartisan Opportunities in House Democrats’ Climate Plan
Forbes: Moving Forward Act Is A $1.5 Trillion Congressional Bill That Loves Electric Vehicles

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Beginning of the End for New Oil and Gas Pipelines?

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 09:49:21 -0000

In a series of major wins for the environmental community, three multibillion-dollar pipeline projects — the Dakota Access Pipeline, the Keystone XL Pipeline and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline — were recently delivered devastating setbacks.

The business and legal decisions undermine President Trump’s multiyear effort to ease environmental regulations and expand oil and gas development in the U.S. Meanwhile, the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force has released its roadmap on combating the climate crisis that calls for immediate action “to reverse the Trump Administration’s dangerous and destructive rollbacks of critical climate and environmental protections.”

On this week’s episode of Political Climate, we dig deeper into the pipeline project defeats and their implications for the energy sector in an interview with Steven Mufson, renowned reporter covering the business of climate change for The Washington Post.

We discuss the environmental movement’s strategy and recent success in the courtroom, against the backdrop of President Trump’s deregulation agenda. Plus, we address how these developments are playing politically ahead of the 2020 election.

Steven Mufson joined the Washington Post in 1989. This year, he shared the Pulitzer Prize for the climate change series "2C: Beyond the Limit." He’s also the author of “Keystone XL: Down the Line.”

Recommended reading:

WaPo: Major oil and gas pipeline projects, backed by Trump, flounder as opponents prevail in court
GTM: As Fossil Fuel Pipelines Fall to Opposition, Utilities See Renewable Energy as Safe Bet
WaPo: Citing an economic emergency, Trump directs agencies across government to waive federal regulations
Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force Recommendations

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Have a moment? Please leave us a review! Find us on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

The Path to a Net-Zero Economy: Where Do We Stand?

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 10:27:23 -0000

There’s more political momentum than ever around achieving net zero emissions by 2050, especially following the release of House Democrats’ new Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy.

But where do we currently stand on that trajectory? And is the path to zero as inclusive as it should be?

On this episode, the last in our monthly “Path to Zero” series supported by the public policy think tank Third Way, we talk climate targets and what it’s going to take to meet them.

To bookend the series, we speak to Josh Freed, the founder and leader of Third Way’s climate and energy program, to get a read on progress toward carbon neutrality in America amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and renewed calls to combat racial injustices.

Then in the second half of the show, we speak to Nathaniel Smith, founder of the Partnership for Southern Equity, an organization working to advance racial equality and shared prosperity in Atlanta and across the South, about making the low-carbon economy inclusive of Black communities.

We look at what policymakers are getting right and getting wrong. And we end by discussing what Black voters want to see from candidates in 2020. Hint: R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Recommended reading:

GTM: House Democrats Spell Out Climate, Clean Energy Priorities in Sweeping Plan
WaPo: Most Americans believe the government should do more to combat climate change, poll finds
Path to Zero

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

“Path to Zero” is created in partnership with the public policy think tank Third Way. Episodes air monthly on the Political Climate podcast feed. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Saving the Planet for Sports and Craft Beer

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 08:46:18 -0000

There aren’t many sporting events taking place amid the pandemic, but athletes and the brands that support them aren’t sitting idle.

Protect Our Winters, a non-profit representing the outdoor sports community on climate issues, recently spent a week virtually lobbying Congress for bolder climate action and environmental protections.

Professional snowboarder and two-time X-Games gold medalist Danny Davis was among the participants in POW’s advocacy week. Steve Fechheimer, CEO of New Belgium Brewing, also took part.

Sports have always been political to some degree. But these days, athletes, teams and entire sporting organizations are choosing to get off the sidelines and take a more active role in public policy.

On this show, we speak to Danny and Steve about why they decided to be more outspoken on climate issues, about leadership and corporate responsibility, and about how sports and beer are intertwined with one of the biggest challenges of our time.

Recommended reading:

CNN: Climate change is threatening winter sports' very existence
Wired: Don't Save the Planet for the Planet. Do It for the Beer
Protect Our Winters: Policy Agenda

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Have a moment? Please leave us a review! Chat with us on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

How Lyft Will Achieve 100% Electric Vehicles by 2030

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 18:44:43 -0000

Lyft is going 100% electric. The rideshare company just pledged to transition every vehicle on its platform to an EV by 2030.

But this decision isn’t as simple as buying a few new cars. It will require building out an entire ecosystem of electric vehicle infrastructure and incentives, and getting into the weeds on policy. On this episode, we speak to Lyft’s director of sustainability, Sam Arons, about this bold new strategy.

We talk to Sam about the EV target and how to meet it, as well as related policies and how electric rideshare vehicles can support the power grid. We also talk a lot about the broader transportation ecosystem, the future of cities, and Lyft’s evolving role as a “multimodal technology platform,” as Sam put it.

Lyft's announcement also speaks to how companies are looking to play a bigger role in the fight against climate change, in an era of increasing public pressure for greater corporate responsibility.

Learn more about Lyft's sustainability strategy in this exclusive, in-depth interview. And while you're listening, we'd love you to give Political Climate an Apple Podcasts review! Your 5-star ratings help us grow and bring this content to wider audiences. Thank you!

Recommended reading:

Lyft: Leading the Transition to Zero Emissions: Our Commitment to 100% Electric Vehicles by 2030
GTM: Lyft Pledges Shift to 100% Electric Vehicles by 2030
LA Times: Taking an Uber or Lyft pollutes more than driving, California finds. Next stop: Regulations
GTM: Electric Ridesharing Benefits the Grid, and EVgo Has the Data to Prove It

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Find us on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

Protests, Pollution, Pandemics and Solutions

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 07:20:03 -0000

Deep-seated racial justice issues have been brought to the fore in recent weeks by a series of nationwide protests over police violence. These protests are taking place in the midst of a global pandemic, which has exposed, and in many cases worsened, long-standing issues of racial inequality.

The energy and climate space is not immune to racial discrimination. But some politicians have questioned whether this is the right moment to talk about issues such as pollution, calling it a misplaced political move.

Mustafa Santiago Ali has been on the frontlines of the fight for environmental justice since he was a teenager and throughout his 24 years at the EPA. Now, as vice president of environmental justice, climate and community revitalization for the the National Wildlife Federation, Ali says he’s hopeful this historic moment will accelerate equitable energy solutions.

On this episode, Ali connects the dots between the clean air, affordable energy and the racial justice movement. We also discuss the implications of recent environmental rollbacks by the Trump Administration and take a hard look at how the clean energy industry can promote greater diversity.

Plus, we discuss Republican approaches to combatting inequality, teeing off of comments made by Representatives John Shimkus (R-Illinois) and David McKinley (R-West Virginia) at this week’s House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on frontline communities — where Ali testified.

Recommended reading:

The Hill: Trump's latest environmental rollback threatens minority communities, experts warn
Politico: California lawmakers rebuke top regulator who invoked 'I can't breathe' in air quality fight
HuffPost: Solar Power Has A Diversity Problem
GTM: ‘We Too Must Improve’: Clean Energy Industry Looks Into Mirror on Racial Inequity
Political Climate: Fighting Energy Injustice and Coronavirus in African American Communities

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

The Left Unites Around a Justice-Centered Climate Platform

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 10:52:51 -0000

Democrats are beginning to rally around a progressive, three-part climate platform that prioritizes environmental justice. But will Joe Biden fully embrace it? If so, could it sway the 2020 election? Or will few voters care in this turbulent year?

On this episode of Political Climate, we speak to Maggie Thomas, political director at Evergreen Action, a new group created by former Jay Inslee campaign staffers to promote a comprehensive climate plan for Democrats.

We discuss how the left came to unite around the concept of pursuing rapid decarbonization through sector-specific standards, large-scale public investments, and a commitment to justice and equity (as Vox's David Roberts first reported). We also learn how Thomas and her colleagues crafted Inslee’s environmental justice plan — a plan that’s all the more relevant in light of recent protests.

Plus, we get a read on the most politically attractive elements of the crystalizing climate platform. Are there policies that progressive Bernie Sanders supporters, moderate Biden fans and perhaps even some Republicans could support?

Recommended reading:

Evergreen Action Plan
Vox: At last, a climate policy platform that can unite the left
Vox: Joe Biden has a chance to make history on climate change
Medium: A Week of Podcasts for the Advocate New to Climate Justice
WaPo: I’m a black climate expert. Racism derails our efforts to save the planet.

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

This episode is also supported by the nonprofit environmental forum EarthX. The EarthxOcean virtual event takes place June 9-June 11. Tune in to learn about protecting ocean life support systems. Register at www.earthx.org/earthxocean.

How to Jump-Start a Stalled Electric Vehicle Market

Thu, 28 May 2020 11:21:47 -0000

Buckle up. Electric vehicle sales are expected to take a big hit this year amid the current health and economic crisis. Industry analysts say the long-term prospects for EVs remain strong, but the jury’s still out on how quickly the market will rebound.

The EV market outlook could have a major impact on the U.S. economy overall. Boosting government investment in clean transportation is being championed by advocates and several lawmakers as a way to put Americans back to work and build out of the coronavirus downturn. The EV growth trajectory will also have a direct impact on whether or not the U.S. will be able to achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

In the sixth episode of Political Climate's monthly “Path to Zero” series, supported by the public policy think tank Third Way, we discuss what it will take to decarbonize the transportation sector, with a focus on accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles.

We speak to Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, representative for Michigan's 12th congressional district, about what it will take to reboot the American automotive industry and get the U.S. EV market back on track coming out of the economic recession.

We also speak to James “Jim” Chen, vice president of public policy at the high-profile electric vehicle startup Rivian. The Detroit-based company set out on a mission to “keep the world adventurous” by building rugged, long-range, high-performance electric trucks and SUVs. Rivian’s R1T and R1S have generated a lot of fanfare (and raised a lot of money). But are electric adventure vehicles really going to make a dent in reducing transportation emissions?

Plus, Political Climate co-host Brandon Hurlbut describes what he likes about driving electric and the killer deal he got on his EV purchases.

Recommended reading:

Detroit News: Rep. Dingell aims to jump-start Washington electric-vehicle debate
Politico: The One-Woman Campaign to Get Michigan Back for the Dems
Verge: Rivian races ahead of other EV startups with $1.3 billion in new funding
Axios: These electric vehicle companies have the best shot at surviving
GTM: 4 Takeaways From Amazon’s Huge Electric Delivery Van Order

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

'Need for Speed': Why Solving Climate Change Is About More Than CO2

Thu, 21 May 2020 19:16:35 -0000

The skies may look clearer these days. But don’t get too excited. Levels of smog and other short-lived climate pollutants (remember HFCs?) are still high and climbing.

The good news: there’s a long track record of international cooperation to get these harmful pollutants in check. The challenge: finding the political will to eliminate them entirely.

Short-lived climate pollutants include black carbon or soot, methane, hydrofluorocarbons and tropospheric ozone, or what we think of as city smog. In addition to heating up the atmosphere, they dirty our air, make people sick and affect the ozone layer.

In this episode, we speak to legendary environmental litigator, professor, author and advocate Durwood Zaelke about why the world needs to prioritize non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases and what’s being done to curb them (with support from both sides of the political aisle).

Zaelke is the founder and President of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development in Washington, DC and Paris, where he focuses on fast mitigation strategies to protect the climate. He’s received numerous awards for his work on the Montreal Protocol and his efforts to enact the Kigali Amendment to phasedown HFCs for climate protection.

Recommended reading:

NPR: Traffic Is Way Down Because Of Lockdown, But Air Pollution? Not So Much
The Hill: Trump drags feet on climate treaty, and Republicans aren’t happy
The Guardian: Study finds shock rise in levels of potent greenhouse gas
Short-Lived Climate Pollutants

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

This episode is brought to you with support from Eavor, the first truly scalable form of clean baseload power. Learn more at eavor.com.

EU Ambassador: 'Green Growth Will Be the Key' to Europe’s Recovery

Thu, 14 May 2020 10:48:07 -0000

Late last year, the European Union introduced a $1 trillion plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and achieve a just transition away from polluting technologies.

Europe’s Green Deal enjoys strong backing from many of the EU’s top political figures. But it faces pushback from coal-heavy member states. Implementation of the Green Deal has now been further complicated by the urgent need for governments to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

On this episode, we bring you a conversation with EU Ambassador to the U.S. Stavros Lambrinidis about the implications of COVID-19 for Europe’s energy and climate agenda.

Not only that — we also discuss the fallout from plummeting oil prices, what to do with stranded fossil fuel assets, the outlook for a U.S. green recovery plan, and corporate clean energy commitments amid coronavirus with a stellar panel of experts from Google, The Aspen Institute and elsewhere. This episode you'll also hear from:

Nikos Tsafos, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Kevin Book, managing director of research at Clearview Energy Partners
Marsden Hanna, head of sustainability and climate policy for the government affairs team at Google
Greg Gershuny, executive director of the Aspen Institute's energy and environment program

Political Climate host Julia Pyper moderates this conversation, which originally took place as a virtual event hosted by the EU Delegation to the U.S.

Recommended reading:

GTM: Moonshot Moment: Europe Announces Green Deal
GTM: EU Green Deal Should Be Canceled Because of Coronavirus, Czech PM Says
Euractiv: EU leaders back ‘green transition’ in pandemic recovery plan
Virtual event: How COVID-19 affects the climate and energy agenda

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

This episode is brought to you with support from Eavor, the first truly scalable form of clean baseload power. Learn more at eavor.com.

Julian Brave NoiseCat on Using Data for Climate Action

Thu, 07 May 2020 19:13:32 -0000

Are progressive ideas on how to tackle climate change a political poison pill? New opinion polling challenges this commonly held assumption.

On this week's episode of Political Climate, we discuss how data is helping decode where the American public stands on progressive issues with Julian Brave NoiseCat, vice president of policy and strategy at the left-wing think tank Data for Progress.

We dig into new polling on the Green New Deal and passing a green stimulus bill in response to COVID-19. We also look at public views on nationalizing the U.S. oil and gas industry and potential Democratic picks for vice president.

Plus, Julian puts a question to co-host Shane Skelton about the Republican response to climate change. As always, we end with our segment “Say Something Nice.”

Recommended reading:

Politico: What AOC Gets that Bernie Didn’t
Data for Progress: Voters Want a Green Stimulus
Data for Progress: The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Made Voters More Supportive of the Green New Deal
Data for Progress: Nationalize the Fossil Fuel Industry
No Place Like Home

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Find us on Twitter @Poli_Climate! Tweet at our hosts at @JMPyper @BrandonHurlbut @ShaneSkelton.

Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Fighting Energy Injustice and Coronavirus in African American Communities

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 09:38:35 -0000

African Americans are struggling with a disproportionate death toll from COVID-19 and severe financial strain from the economic downturn. This crisis has exposed preexisting racial disparities created by deep-seated social, economic and political factors.

These same underlying issues make African Americans more vulnerable to health damage from pollution, as well as from heat waves, storms and other effects of climate change.

Meanwhile, African Americans are missing out on wealth creation opportunities in the clean energy economy, which could be an effective solution to some of these underlying issues — bringing jobs and environmental benefits to communities that need it the most.

In this episode of Political Climate, the fifth in our "Path to Zero" series with Third Way, we look at how COVID-19 and climate change are affecting Black communities, and how these issues can be tackled in tandem.

We speak to Jared DeWese and Akunna Cook at Third Way about the multiple crises facing Black Americans today. We also hear from Naomi Davis, a grassroots leader and green village builder in Chicago’s Southside, who succeeded in shaping a landmark clean energy bill in Illinois.

Finally, we speak to Tony Reames, assistant professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, about the issue of “energy injustice.” We also discuss takeaways from preliminary research on how African Americans are thinking about climate and energy issues in 2020.

Recommended reading:

National Geographic: African Americans struggle with disproportionate COVID death toll
NYT: New Research Links Air Pollution to Higher Coronavirus Death Rates
Quartz: The overwhelming whiteness of US environmentalism is hobbling the fight against climate change
ISEA: Future Energy Jobs Act Workforce Development Programs
HuffPost: Solar Power Has A Diversity Problem

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

John Kerry: 'I Am Optimistic' but 'Angry' This Earth Day

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 09:46:18 -0000

John Kerry isn’t pleased.

As the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the former senator and secretary of state says a profound lack of leadership is causing the United States to fall behind on climate action and clean energy innovation.

In this episode of Political Climate, we speak to Secretary Kerry about his outlook on combatting climate change. We get his views on abolishing the Senate filibuster, decarbonizing the power grid, the future role of fossil fuels, American leadership (or lack thereof) on the international stage, and more.

We also get an update on Kerry’s World War Zero coalition. The initiative was launched last year with a high-profile cast of founding members to mobilize mass action to combat the climate crisis. The coalition's main goal is to host more than ten million “climate conversations” in 2020 with citizens from across the political spectrum. Has the star-studded effort been successful so far?

Finally, we turn to a brief interview with Tia Nelson, environmental leader, climate program director at the Outrider Foundation and daughter of former Senator and Governor Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day.

Nelson was 13 years old on April 22, 1970 — the first Earth Day ever. We get her thoughts on how the environmental movement has evolved over time.

Recommended reading:

WaPo: John Kerry: Why I’m an optimist this Earth Day
WBNS: Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Kerry, John Kasich hold town hall on climate change at Otterbein
Heated: A conversation with John Kerry
Isthmus: Earth Day turns 50
When the Earth Moves Film

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

This episode is brought to you by the nonprofit environmental forum EarthX. The Earthx2020 Conference and Film Festival is being held virtually from April 22-27 to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Find more information at www.earthx.org!

Averting a Clean Energy Recession

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 10:40:45 -0000

The 2020 election is crawling forward amid the coronavirus pandemic. Former Vice President Joe Biden has become the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party, with Senator Bernie Sanders announcing his withdrawal from the race.

With the primary settled, the next question is: can Biden win over Bernie’s climate supporters? And how much do these supporters matter?

Speaking of support, clean energy stakeholders say they're in dire need of government help. Industry researchers project that the clean energy sector could lose more than a half million jobs — or 15 percent of its total workforce — in the coming months if no additional policy actions are taken by Congress.

More than 106,000 workers already lost their jobs in the month of March alone, according to a new analysis by Environmental Entrepreneurs, the American Council on Renewable Energy, E4TheFuture and BW Research. In light of these numbers, will a Republican-led Senate step in to save the clean energy workforce?

We discuss on this week’s episode of Political Climate.

Recommended reading:

Axios: Biden and Sanders vow joint climate work as part of endorsement
NYT: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Has Never Spoken to Joe Biden. Here’s What She Would Say
GTM: Virginia Mandates 100% Clean Power by 2045
The Atlantic: Coronavirus Killed the Policy Primary
E2: 106,000 Jobs in Clean Energy Lost in March Due to COVID-19 Economic Crisis

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

This episode is brought to you by the nonprofit environmental forum EarthX. The Earthx2020 Conference and Film Festival will be held virtually from April 22-27 to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Find more information at www.earthx.org!

Coronavirus and Clean Energy Investment: Four Expert Perspectives

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 08:28:09 -0000

The coronavirus outbreak continues to loom large over the world. Across the globe, countries face major challenges as consumer demand contracts, employee payroll is cut, and capital shrinks as billions of people remain in quarantine.

The combination of an economic downturn, cheap oil and gas, and global supply chain disruptions will have big consequences for clean energy markets and climate action in the U.S and abroad. But is it all bad news?

In this episode, we bring you a conversation on the implications of COVID-19 for climate and clean energy with four expert voices. Drawing on data and experience, speakers weigh in on the future of sustainable finance, low-carbon technology deployment, and government stimulus efforts.

This discussion was recorded earlier in the week at virtual event presented by the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center and moderated by podcast host Julia Pyper.

Joining her this episode are:

Ethan Zindler, Head of Americas at Bloomberg New Energy Finance
Rachel Kyte, former CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University
Rich Powell, executive director of the ClearPath Foundation
Adnan Amin, former Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency and Distinguished Fellow and the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center

Recommended reading:

GTM: Coronavirus Derailed COP26 Talks, But Not Europe’s Appetite for Climate Action
Vox: How the Covid-19 recession could become a depression
CNN: Here's what America's oil CEOs discussed with Trump
Atlantic Council: COVID-19: Clean energy and climate impacts

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Does Climate Change Still Matter in a Pandemic?

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 11:12:12 -0000

Climate change didn’t stop while the world turned its attention to combating the coronavirus. Will leaders seize the moment to tackle more than one crisis?

The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act offered no explicit support for the energy sector. Will Congress use the next stimulus bill to accelerate the green economy as part of the COVID-19 recovery? If so, when and how? Or will climate friendly stimulus measures fall by the wayside for now?

Plus, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will allow companies to break pollution laws during the pandemic and did not set a timeline to start implementing the laws again. We discuss how this compares to the crisis response of past administrations..

We end with some tips on how to weather through COVID-19 and related economic troubles, including a breakdown of the financial support available to cleantech startups under the recently passed CARES Act.

Recommended reading:

E&E News: Does climate change still matter in the election?
The Guardian: Trump administration allows companies to break pollution laws during coronavirus pandemic
Medium: A Green Stimulus to Rebuild Our Economy
Wired: The Analogy Between Covid-19 and Climate Change Is Eerily Precise
The Guardian: Polar ice caps melting six times faster than in 1990s

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Aligning Labor and Climate in a Changing Economy

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 10:42:06 -0000

Labor groups and environmentalists have a complicated relationship.

Efforts to mitigate climate change stand to create new employment opportunities in a thriving, low-carbon economy. But they also stand to eliminate many unionized jobs, particularly in the fossil fuel industry.

So how can organized labor and the environmental movement work together to promote a just and sustainable society? We discuss in a candid conversation with Lee Anderson, director of government affairs at the Utility Workers Union of America, and Anna Fendley, director of regulatory and state policy at the United Steelworkers.

We also explore how policymakers can support blue collar workers and expand job prospects, while dramatically cutting down carbon emissions. Does the prospect of another economic stimulus bill in response to COVID-19 present an opportunity to accelerate America's blue-green economy?

This is the fourth episode of Political Climate’s monthly “Path to Zero” series, brought to you by the public policy think tank Third Way. The series explore how people are being affected by the transition to cleaner energy resources, and the economic challenges and opportunities created in the process. It examines the technologies and policies we will need to implement to drive down carbon emissions, and the politics driving this dialogue. Listen and subscribe to all “Path to Zero” episodes here!

Recommended reading:

Solidarity for Climate Action
Politico: Energy Issues in Stimulus Limbo
A Green Stimulus to Rebuild Our Economy

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

What COVID-19 and Climate Change Have in Common

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 18:16:34 -0000

With cases recorded in more than 140 countries, the novel coronavirus has become a global health crisis.

In the U.S., bars and offices have been closed, conferences cancelled and kids kept home from school in an attempt to slow the spread. President Trump has declared a national emergency and invoked the Defense Production Act to accelerate the virus response.

So why aren’t we reacting as swiftly to climate change -- another human-propelled global catastrophe that could harm human health and wellbeing for generations to come?

These threats are not the same, but they do share certain attributes. We discuss with risk and behavioral scientist Sweta Chakraborty, founder of Adapt to Thrive and co-host the live weekly radio show “Risky Behavior.”

Recommended reading:

NBC: Me, worry? For coronavirus, it depends on your politics
GTM: For Wind and Solar Sectors, Biggest Coronavirus Risk May Be a Damaged Economy
GreenBiz: COVID-19 and climate change: A healthy dose of reality
London Real: Jonathan Haidt - Climate Change Ideology

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

This episode is brought to you by the nonprofit environmental forum EarthX. Looking for a new activity? Challenge yourself to take on the 50 for 50 Challenge — 5 Pledges x 10 Actions = 50 Ways to Protect our Planet in honor of Earth Day's 50th anniversary. Sign up at www.earthx.org!

What the Oil Price War Means for Cleantech

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 12:46:40 -0000

It's been pretty hard to miss the latest news. Coronavirus spreads! Oil prices plummet! Stock market crashes!

What does all of this have to do with climate and clean energy? A lot, actually.

On Monday, oil prices had their worst day since the 1991 Gulf War, falling 24 percent to around $34 per barrel. So how did we get here? And what does the combination of rock bottom oil prices and the coronavirus mean for clean energy?

We break it down on this episode of Political Climate in an interview with David Livingston, senior analyst at the political risk consultancy Eurasia Group with a focus on energy and global macroeconomics.

Recommended reading:

E&E News: EVs, shale and Trump: 5 takeaways from the oil crash
WaPo: White House likely to pursue federal aid for shale companies hit by oil shock, coronavirus downturn
GTM: Coronavirus May Challenge Solar Industry’s Tax Credit Strategy

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

This episode is brought to you by the nonprofit environmental forum EarthX. This April marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and there’s no better way to celebrate than at the EarthX Expo, Conference and Film Festival in Dallas, Texas. This event is for everyone, including you! Visit earthx.org to learn more and register.

The Winners: Super Tuesday and Decarb Madness Results

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 09:19:18 -0000

Joe Biden had a super, Super Tuesday. We discuss the results and what they mean for climate in the 2020 Democratic Primary. We also touch on the sweeping Senate energy bill that could come to a vote any day now.

Plus, there was another big winner this week! We share the results of our policy bracket competition from last week’s Decarb Madness episode.

In the latter half of this show (26 min), we discuss how to pick the best policies for decarbonizing the U.S. economy with experts at the think tank Energy Innovation who created the policy simulator we used to evaluate last week’s policy brackets.

If you haven’t heard the Decarb Madness episode yet, we recommend going back to give it a listen.

Recommended reading:

WaPo: Sweeping Senate Energy Bill Could Come to a Vote This Week
GTM: Sweeping Senate Energy Bill Could Come to a Vote This Week
Energy Innovation: A Policy Pathway To Reach U.S. Net Zero Emissions By 2050
Decarb Madness: How Would You Build a Policy Bracket to Decarbonize the Power Sector?

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Decarb Madness! The Policy Bracket Competition

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 14:30:30 -0000

Welcome to Decarb Madness! The policy bracket game for energy wonks who don’t want to play with our future.

With March Madness just around the corner and a climate crisis closing in, Political Climate challenged four energy experts to build their ideal policy bracket for decarbonizing the electricity sector.

For the third episode in our “Path to Zero” series, contestants were asked to select five federal-level policies that they think will win the day — both in terms of carbon reductions in 2050 and political feasibility.

Decarb Madness 2020 features Jesse Jenkins, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering Princeton University, and Leah Stokes, assistant professor of political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Political Climate co-hosts Brandon Hurlbut and Shane Skelton also gave it a shot.

In round one, each player explains why they made their respective policy picks. Following that, host/referee Julia Pyper steps in to explain how each bracket ranks on emissions reductions using the Energy Policy Simulator, a computer model developed by the nonpartisan climate policy firm Energy Innovation.

In round two, each contestant makes the case for why their policy bracket is the most politically and technologically feasible. And then you come in! As soon as you hear this episode, head over to the Political Climate Twitter page @poli_climate and vote for whose bracket you think is the best. We will announce the winner on our next show.

Game on.

Recommended reading:

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

DOE Renewables Chief on the Geopolitics of Cleantech

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 11:14:53 -0000

Is the United States positioned to lead long-term as the global energy mix continues to shift?

Fossil fuels have shaped the geopolitical map over the last two centuries. Now, the rapid deployment of renewables has set in motion a global energy transition that could have profound geopolitical consequences.

In this episode of Political Climate, we speak to Daniel Simmons, assistant secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, about how the U.S. Energy Department is thinking about intersection of geopolitics and cleantech.

We also discussed the DOE’s new Energy Storage Grand Challenge and how the agency is deploying capital to support clean energy innovation more broadly under President Trump — and how the DOE is defining “clean energy innovation” under President Trump.

Plus, we hear from Matt Myers, vice president of EarthxCapital. He’s just launched a new, bipartisan initiative with the DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions to address commercialization barriers for cleantech solutions. We’ll learn more about it.

Finally, the Political Climate crew couldn’t ignore the latest news. So we also touch on this week’s fiery Democratic debate and Jeff Bezos’ new $10 billion commitment to fund climate action.

Recommended reading:

Washington Examiner: Bloomberg: US can't afford to ban fracking 'for awhile'
GTM: What Would It Take for the US to Become an Energy Storage Manufacturing Powerhouse?
Report: Bridging the U.S. Environmental Technology Gaps to Market

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Listen and subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast or any of these other services. Find us on Twitter @Poli_Climate! Follow our hosts at @JMPyper @ShaneSkelton and @BrandonHurlbut.

This episode is brought to you by the nonprofit environmental forum EarthX. This April marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and there’s no better way to celebrate than at the EarthX Expo, Conference and Film Festival in Dallas, Texas. This event is for everyone, including you! Visit earthx.org to learn more and register.

How Climate’s Playing in the Democratic Primary

Thu, 13 Feb 2020 10:58:53 -0000

We’re off to the races! The Democratic primary started slow off the blocks in Iowa, but the nomination process is now well underway following the New Hampshire vote.

What have we learned so far in this election? Where have we seen climate and energy play in? And what’s to come next?

On this week’s episode of Political Climate, we discuss the latest developments in arguably the most consequential ⁠— or at least the most contentious ⁠— election in U.S. history. Plus we touch on a handful of energy policy updates.

Recommended reading:

The Nation: Climate Is on the Ballot in New Hampshire
GTM: Time to Reinvent BP, Says New CEO
NYT: In Crucial Pennsylvania, Democrats Worry a Fracking Ban Could Sink Them
Earther: The Trump Administration Is Withholding Almost $1 Billion in Renewable Energy Funding

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Iowa and What 'Innovation' Means to Republicans

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 10:33:00 -0000

What the heck happened in Iowa? Democratic co-host Brandon Hurlbut shares a first-hand account of the caucus reporting glitch and top voter issues in the first state to hold a presidential nominating contest. We look at where climate ranked.

Meanwhile in the capitol, House Democrats have unveiled draft legislation and policy roadmap to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Is this the kind of bold climate leadership that advocates have been calling for? And are there proposals in the CLEAN Future Act that Republicans could back? Co-host Shane Skelton argues that there are.

Not to be left out, House Republicans are floating their own climate plan that focuses on planting trees, removing plastic pollution and funding clean energy innovation. But is it the kind of innovation that the planet needs or is it a smokescreen? A good first step or pure optics?

We discuss what innovation means to Republicans and where there's common ground with Democrats on this week's episode of Political Climate!

Recommended reading:

WaPo: Climate change among top concerns for Iowa Democratic caucus-goers
NPR: Iowa Farmer Says He's Disenchanted With President Trump
E&C: E&C Leaders Release Draft CLEAN Future Act
Axios: What’s in Republicans’ new climate-change push
Vox: “Innovation”: the latest GOP smokescreen on climate change policy
NRDC: Promising Bipartisan Movement

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Listen and subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast or any of these other services.

Find us on Twitter @Poli_Climate! Follow our hosts at @JMPyper @ShaneSkelton and @BrandonHurlbut.

What Do We Need in Our Climate Toolkit?

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 08:37:18 -0000

Science tells us we must reach net zero emissions by 2050 to stave off the most devastating impacts of climate change. But do we have all of the technologies we need to do it?

In the second episode of Political Climate's “Path to Zero” series, we put that question to physicist, professor, Nobel Laureate, and former U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.

Under his leadership, the DOE launched several new initiatives to help put the United States at the forefront of cleantech development, including the creation of Energy Innovation Hubs and the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy, or ARPA-E. Chu also oversaw $90 billion in Recovery Act funding for strategic clean energy investments.

Together these measures helped jumpstart America’s modern green economy. But what now? Do we have what we need to reach net zero?

Find out in this episode of “Path to Zero” series, presented with support from Third Way — a leading public policy think tank based in Washington, DC that champions thoughtful and data-driven climate solutions to put the United States on the fastest and fairest path to net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Path to Zero” episodes will air monthly on the Political Climate podcast feed. Episode one "The Urgency of Reaching Net Zero" is available here. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Recommended reading:

The Atlantic: The 'Silent Green Revolution' Underway at the Department of Energy
The Onion: Hungover Energy Secretary Wakes Up Next To Solar Panel

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Listen and subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast or any of these other services.

The Urgency of Reaching Net Zero

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 12:15:56 -0000

This is a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change. There is a need to act now and there are a lot of open questions on how to do that.

Net zero emissions by 2050 has emerged as the target that the world must hit in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Policymakers and activists in the U.S. are working to put the net zero goal into law, and multiple major companies have already pledged to achieve carbon neutrality. But what will it really take to reach zero?

That’s what Political Climate will explore in the coming months in a new podcast series called “Path to Zero,” presented in partnership with Third Way. This series will look at how people are being affected by the transition to cleaner energy resources, and the economic challenges and opportunities created in the process. It will examine the technologies and policies we need to drive down carbon emissions, and the politics influencing this activity.

In this first episode of the series — introduced by Josh Freed, senior vice president of the climate and energy program at Third Way — we discuss why we’re talking about net zero emissions by 2050 to begin with. What is the climate science underpinning this goal? What does “net zero” mean? And what will the future look like if this goal isn’t met? We get the answers from scientist and climate strategist Dr. Jane Long, former associate director for energy and environment at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

“Path to Zero” episodes will air monthly on the Political Climate podcast feed, after the first two episodes air in January. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play or wherever you get podcasts!

Recommended reading:

The Hill: Democrats outline sweeping legislation to make U.S. carbon neutral by 2050
GTM: Spanish Oil Giant Repsol Sets Net-Zero Emissions Target for 2050
Climate Home: Net zero: the story of the target that will shape our future
Third Way: Zero by 2050: Understanding the Challenge Before Us

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Listen and subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast or any of these other services.

Why Arnold Schwarzenegger Backs Greta Thunberg and Bipartisanship

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 12:28:25 -0000

Hello and happy new year! It’s January, so we can still say that — right?

Between devastating wildfires in Australia, conflict in the Middle East, and a rapidly approaching Democratic presidential primary there’s been no shortage of news since 2020 began.

In this week's episode, we discuss what the latest headlines mean for climate and energy policy. Plus, we bring you a sit-down interview with former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who put in place many of the state’s foundational climate and clean energy policies (in addition to being an actor, businessman and bodybuilder, of course).

We get the governor's reflections on 2019, including why he decided to support teen climate activist Greta Thunberg in her journey across North America last fall. And why he's also backing former Secretary of State John Kerry's star-studded and bipartisan World War Zero climate initiative, which some argue is at odds with the youth climate movement.

Schwarzenegger also weighs in on Congress' failure to extend clean energy tax credits last legislative session and the Trump administration's lawsuit against California's cap-and-trade program.

Recommended reading:

Verge: John Kerry, Arnold Schwarzenegger wage ‘World War Zero’ on climate change
Vox: John Kerry and the climate kids: a tale of 2 new strategies to fight climate change
GTM: How the White House Killed Clean Energy Tax Credits
CNN: Australia's deadly wildfires are showing no signs of stopping. Here's what you need to know
Recharge: French solar power charity wins Zayed Sustainability Prize

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

Bonus: Full Interview With Emily Atkin of HEATED

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 08:33:12 -0000

We're technically on break this week, but couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring you our full interview with Emily Atkin, author of the popular climate newsletter HEATED.

Emily came on Political Climate in early December to talk about the fossil fuel industry’s climate change disinformation campaign in our episode “Big Oil on Trial.” We had a lot to cover on that show, so we weren’t able to share the entire conversation between Emily and podcast host Julia Pyper.

But there was lot of great content, so we wanted to share this extended interview. It goes deeper into the fossil fuel sector, looks at the controversy over Pete Buttigieg’s climate advisor David Victor, and explores shifting dynamics in the media industry and how to be a responsible climate journalist.

Political Climate will be back soon with our Democratic and Republican co-hosts, Brandon Hurlbut and Shane Skelton. In the meantime, as you pack up your holiday decorations or prep for a New Year’s Eve party, we hope that you enjoy this bonus episode.

And while you’re here, please give us a rating and leave a review! Let us know what we’re doing well and what we can improve on in 2020. Thank you!

Recommended reading:

HEATED: Is Pete Buttigieg's climate adviser a fossil fuel shill?
GTM: How Oil and Gas Giants Are ‘Buying Options’ for an Uncertain Future

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

David Roberts on 'Radical' Climate Action and Political Tribalism

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 10:26:13 -0000

Is radical reform needed to remake the U.S. electricity grid? What’s the role of nuclear power in the U.S. energy mix? Which Democratic presidential candidate has the best climate plan? What’s the most effective approach to climate advocacy? And how should journalists be covering highly politicized issues in today’s highly polarized information landscape?

On this week's episode on Political Climate, we put these and other questions to David Roberts, acclaimed energy and politics reporter for Vox.

As a leading voice in the space, he has helped tens of thousands of readers better understand wonky topics like performance-based utility regulation and how batteries can benefit the power grid. He has also waded into covering broader political issues, like how the impeachment of President Trump is feeding into a bifurcated information ecosystem and may be fueling an epistemic crisis for the country.

We thought it would be enlightening to end the 2019 season of Political Climate by asking Roberts a wide range of questions on American politics and how to save the planet. We hope you enjoy the interview, and we will be back with new episodes in the New Year!

Recommended reading:

Vox: The radical reform necessary to prepare California’s power system for the 21st century
Vox: John Kerry and the climate kids: a tale of 2 new strategies to fight climate change
Vox: Donald Trump and the rise of tribal epistemology
Vox: With impeachment, America’s epistemic crisis has arrived

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

Where's the Action? COP25, Capitol Hill, and Insights From Sen. Ayotte

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 11:37:26 -0000

It’s week two of the United Nations COP25 climate summit, and it’s the last few days of Congress before the winter recess.

What have American policymakers accomplished?

We get an update from the U.S. Climate Action Center on site at the UN climate talks. We look at wildfire victim relief in California. And we discuss 12 pieces of clean energy legislation that House Republicans are calling on Democrats to support. What's the political strategy at play?

Plus, a prominent former senator weighs in on the climate, energy and security nexus and how to avoid the game of “political football” that climate policy has become today.

Later in this show, we speak to former Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire about what she calls “common-sense” solutions to combat climate change.

Recommended reading:

Al Jazeera: As Trump walks away from climate pact, America's Pledge steps up
Vox: The future of the Paris climate agreement is being decided this week
NYT: PG&E Reaches $13.5 Billion Deal With Wildfire Victims
E&C: Bipartisan Solutions to Protect the Environment and the Economy

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

Big Oil on Trial

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 11:29:20 -0000

Fossil fuel companies could be facing a Big Tobacco moment.

This fall, Exxon Mobil went to court, facing charges that the oil giant lied to shareholders and to the public about the costs and consequences of climate change. And that’s just one of several legal cases seeking to hold oil and gas firms responsible for their contribution to global warming.

As we discuss with UCLA environmental law professor Ann Carlson in this episode of Political Climate, the litigation could cost fossil fuel companies billions of dollars and fundamentally change the way the world approaches energy production.

But lawsuits aren’t the only venue for challenging the fossil fuel industry. This battle is also being waged in the court of public opinion, which has put a spotlight on how oil companies can promote their positions on social media. In this episode, we also hear from journalist Emily Atkin, author of the newsletter Heated, about why she and others are angry about the oil industry’s political ads.

With the United Nations COP25 climate summit also taking place this week, fossil fuels are in the crosshairs.

Recommended reading:

Inside Climate: Where the Major Climate Change Lawsuits Stand Today
Heated: Exxon climate ads aren’t "political," according to Twitter
Axios: To tackle climate change, clean energy isn’t enough
NYT: ‘Bleak’ U.N. Report on a Planet in Peril Looms Over New Climate Talks
GTM: Spanish Oil Giant Repsol Sets Net-Zero Emissions Target for 2050

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

'Say Something Nice' — Thanksgiving Edition!

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 02:51:46 -0000

The holidays can be difficult. It can be tough to get along in these polarized times. Family conversations on climate change can get heated. We get it.

Sometimes we have those heated conversations on this show. But it’s all in the interest of breaking out of our self-contained opinion bubbles.

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, on this episode of Political Climate we say thank you to our listeners for engaging with this podcast — even when the feedback comes in the form of a mean Tweet.

Then we cheers to the climate action happening on both sides of the aisle in an extended edition of our “Say Something Nice” segment of the show, where our Democrat and Republican co-hosts have to say something redeeming about the opposing political party.

Gobble. Gobble.

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

Rep. Paul Tonko on the Landmark 100% Clean Economy Act

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 11:17:22 -0000

In the shadow of public impeachment hearings, a group of House Democrats is attempting to advance a bold climate action plan that the entire party can rally around.

On Thursday, House members introduced legislation that would set a nationwide goal of achieving a 100 percent clean energy economy by 2050. The bill was announced with more than 150 co-sponsors.

In this episode of Political Climate, we conduct an exclusive in-depth interview with one of the bill’s authors, Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY). Tonko serves as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's environment and climate change subcommittee, where he’s been holding hearings for several weeks to flesh out what a 100 percent clean economy would look like.

"There is a lot going on beyond the impeachment inquiries that have begun, and the people need to know that," Tonko said.

We ask Rep. Tonko about the newly introduced 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019 and get his outlook on how to get the bill to the president's desk. Plus, we get his thoughts on extending clean energy tax credits and what he makes of the Republican stance on climate policy. (Interview segment begins 13:50)

This week’s show opens with a first-hand account of what happened at the California Democratic State Convention, and with takeaways from a lunch with Southern Republican lawmakers touring California for tips on how to grow their local clean energy sectors.

Recommended reading:

McEachin, Haaland, Dingell, Blumenauer, Tonko & Pingree Introduce 100% Clean Legislation
Washington Examiner: House Democrats Plan 100% Clean Economy Bill Thursday to Unite Party
GTM: Renewable Tax Credits Get Another Shot in Congress
NYT: Obama Says Average American Doesn’t Want to ‘Tear Down System’

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

One Year Out: Polls, Election Results and News 'Confetti'

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 10:42:04 -0000

We’re officially less than one year away from the 2020 election.

What do the latest polls tell us about how the presidential candidates are stacking up? What do the 2019 elections tell us about how this could play out? And what does all of this mean for climate and energy policy?

In this episode of Political Climate, we look at Democrat wins in Virginia and Kentucky. We also discuss the results of a New York Times/Siena College poll that offers a mixed bag for Democratic candidates.

Plus, billionaire climate-action champion Michael Bloomberg flirts (once again) with entering the 2020 race. Does his campaign stand a chance?

Finally, we discuss a rift between Democrats and Republicans over climate language included in a defense bill. Are Democrats stalling on this climate measure in hopes for a bigger legislative win?

Recommended reading:

GTM: Virginia’s Democratic Sweep and Its Implications for Dominion Energy’s Future
NYT: Recent Polls Show Trump’s Support Is Flagging in the Suburbs — and Beyond
CS Monitor: Why these Kentucky Democrats still love President Trump
Cook Political: Democrats Need to Mind the Gap Between Their Base and Swing Voters
BBC: US election 2020: Michael Bloomberg mulls presidential bid
Washington Examiner: Why a key Democrat is holding back a bipartisan climate bill

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

Rep. Sean Casten on the New Democrat Path to Fighting Climate Change

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 11:10:20 -0000

If you’re following political news then you’ve probably heard of The Squad, a group of four newly elected congresswomen advocating for progressive policies like the Green New Deal.

But have you heard of the New Democrat Coalition and its plans for dealing with climate change? In this episode of Political Climate, we hear from a lawmaker who is leading that charge.

Last year, Sean Casten ran one of the most overtly pro-climate action campaigns of the 2018 midterms, in a historically Republican district. In the end, Casten, a biochemical engineer and a clean energy entrepreneur, beat out six-term Republican Rep. Peter Roskam.

Rep. Casten’s race in the Illinois 6th District was identified as a 2018 battleground that could have determined whether or not Democrats took control of the House. And it’s a moderate, suburban district that Democrats will want to keep in 2020.

As you’ll hear in this interview, Rep. Casten is intent on finding solutions to climate change and doesn’t shy away from getting wonky on topics like energy storage and attracting capital to the solar sector. But he also has a critical view of some of the policies his fellow Democrats have put forward.

Recommended reading:

New Democrat Coalition Climate Principles
ThinkProgress: Newly elected Democratic congressman casts doubt on Green New Deal
GTM: A Green Wave? How Climate and Clean Energy Are Playing Into the 2018 Midterms

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

A Climate Policy Firestorm in California

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 01:24:19 -0000

There has been no shortage of climate related news in recent days ⁠— from President Trump’s attack on California’s emissions-trading system to Senator Schumer’s $450 billion electric vehicle proposal, and disastrous wildfires raging in the West to the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy in the East.

It’s a grab bag of climate headlines on this week’s episode of Political Climate.

We begin by revisiting the wildfire crisis in California, as co-host Shane Skelton copes with a power outage and warnings that his community may soon have to evacuate. Governor Gavin Newsom's administration inherited this challenge, but now that he's in power what's his plan for coping with it?

Next we look at the Trump administration's attack on a foundational California climate policy: its cap-and-trade system. Did California overstep by partnering with the province of Quebec? We also look at the latest developments in the clash over California's clean vehicle standards.

Finally, we check in on the new bipartisan climate caucus in the Senate and debate the Republican backlash over the Democrats' climate agenda in the House.

Recommended reading:

Vox: Wildfires and blackouts mean Californians need solar panels and microgrids
SacBee: Gov. Newsom calls for Warren Buffett to buy PG&E as widespread power shutoffs continue
WSJ: Trump Administration Sues California Over Cap-and-Trade Market
Reuters: Senate Democrat Schumer proposes plan to swap gas cars for electric vehicles
Reuters: GM, Toyota, Fiat Chrysler back Trump on California Emissions Challenge
Washington Examiner: Republicans mount counter to Democrats’ ‘100 by 50’ climate plan

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

Can Cities Save Us?

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 21:52:54 -0000

Are cites the world’s best hope for combating climate change? Many cities have committed to meeting the Paris Agreement goals. But are those targets translating to action on the ground?

In this episode of Political Climate, we look at San Diego’s quest to achieve 100 percent carbon free electricity by 2035 and what other cities can learn from this experience.

We recorded this episode at the UCSD School of Global Policy and Strategy, where we were joined by Cody Hooven, the first chief sustainability officer for the City of San Diego.

We covered everything from how the city’s Republican mayor pushed through a bold climate action plan, to the community choice aggregation program San Diego is pursuing, to how cities are coping with the intersection of climate and equity issues.

Before delving into the role that cities play in the fight against climate change, we touched on a few federal climate related news items. Here’s that conversation, we hope you enjoy.

Recommended reading:

Politico: Trump to nominate Dan Brouillette as Energy secretary
The Hill: Senate Dems lose forced vote against EPA power plant rule
WSJ: City Pledges for ‘100% Renewable Energy’ Are 99% Misleading
San Diego Tribune: San Diego City Council takes the leap into community choice energy
GTM: San Diego Moves Ahead With 100% Clean Energy Community Choice Program

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

Burning Political Questions on the California Wildfires

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 23:32:35 -0000

Last week, Pacific Gas & Electric, intentionally cut the power off to 800,000 electricity customers in Northern California — affecting roughly 2 million people — in an attempt to avoid sparking another potentially deadly wildfire.

Classes were cancelled, businesses closed, food spoiled and people who rely on medical devices panicked. There was no fire, but the blackout has caused tempers to flare and political tensions to rise.

How did we get to a point where California’s largest utility is resorting to planned power outages to prevent destructive wildfires? And how will politicians manage the increasing risk that wildfires present going forward?

We discuss on this week’s episode of Political Climate with Michael Wara, director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford University and a member of California's Commission on Catastrophic Wildfire Cost and Recovery (begins 17:00).

We kick off the show with a look at the fourth Democratic presidential debate, plus Brandon announces his 2020 candidate! As always, we end with our segment: “Say Something Nice.”

Political Climate is recording a live show at UC San Diego on Monday, October 21st. The event begins at 5pm and it’s free. You just need to sign up here. So if you’re in the San Diego area — come join us!

Recommended reading:

GTM: California on Edge as PG&E’s Power Outage Plan Goes Into Effect
LA Times: There’s a quick way to help prevent wildfires: Shut off the power grid
Guardian: California power shutoffs: when your public utility is owned by private investors
NPR: PG&E's Blackouts Panic California's Vulnerable Population
LA Times: Newsom and legislative leaders decline to embrace changes to California’s wildfire liability law
WaPo: Green groups grapple with how to respond to Hunter Biden's gas company role
Eventbrite: Political Climate podcast live show

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

Introducing Climate 2020

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 07:27:31 -0000

This week, we bring you a special episode from our friends at The Years Project.

David Gelber, creator of the Emmy Award-winning series “Years of Living Dangerously,” has teamed up with Jeff Nesbit, executive director of Climate Nexus and author of the book This is the Way the Earth Ends, on a new podcast called Climate 2020.

Each week David and Jeff will discuss the latest developments in the political fight to mitigate the climate crisis in the lead up to the 2020 election. In this episode, they speak with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes about where the Democratic candidates stand on climate and which policy proposals make the most sense.

They also discuss the recent climate strikes and UN Climate Action Summit, as well as new climate news project from veteran journalist Kyle Pope. Then they hear from voters in a Pennsylvania swing district.

Political Climate has a shared mission to create a robust climate action dialogue in the lead-up to the 2020 election, so we’re publishing the first episode of Climate 2020 this week on the feed. Next week, we will return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

Climate Strikes, the UN Summit and What They Mean for US Politics

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 09:45:56 -0000

Millions of young people took to the streets last month to demand governments take bolder action on climate.

Days later, world leaders assembled at the United Nations for the Secretary General's high-profile Climate Action Summit, where dozens of countries pledged to strengthen their climate goals.

But did any of this resonate with American policymakers?

In this week’s episode of Political Climate we discuss takeaways from the Climate Strikes and UN climate summit, and how these events have (or haven't) influenced U.S. politics.

We share excerpts from an exclusive interview with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, host of the upcoming COP25 climate talks set to take place in Santiago this December. And we analyze how calls to action are being received by U.S. politicians.

Recommended reading:

Vox: The UN Climate Action Summit was a disappointment
KCRW: The UN: Climate change and future generations
NPR: 'Game Recognizes Game': A Bipartisan Bond In The Age Of Impeachment
Atlantic Council: Exclusive interview on climate leadership with H.E. Sebastián Piñera, president of Chile

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

How States Are Leading the Way on Climate Policy

Sat, 28 Sep 2019 15:08:04 -0000

Federal news tends to steal the limelight, but when it comes to spearheading innovative climate and energy policy states are really where the action is at.

World leaders gathered at the United Nations Climate Action Summit earlier this week, where Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on countries to boost their commitments to fighting the climate crisis with concrete plans rather than platitudes. But while President Trump stopped by the summit on Monday, the U.S. was effectively absent from the high profile event.

In fact, the federal government has been pulling back on its climate commitments. But there is still climate leadership to be found in the United States ⁠— it’s just coming largely from the subnational level.

In this week's episode of Political Climate, we discuss how states are leading the way on climate and clean energy policy in the absence of federal action.

We'll share an interview with New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on how she’s transitioning her fossil fuel heavy state to 100 percent clean electricity while also cleaning up the extraction industry.

Then we'll bring you a conversation recorded live at the National Association of State Energy Officials annual meeting earlier this month , where we sat down with NASEO’s seasoned legal expert Jeff Genzer to discuss how both red and blue states (including some you might not expect) are implementing innovative carbon reducing policies.

Recommended reading:

NYT: At U.N. Climate Summit, Few Commitments and U.S. Silence
GTM: New Mexico Governor to Sign 100% Clean Electricity Bill ‘As Quickly As Possible’
Reuters: Minnesota, New Mexico to adopt California vehicle emissions rules
EcoWatch: States March toward 100% Clean Energy – Who’s Next?
CCL: Bipartisan climate working group forms in Senate, led by Sens. Coons, Braun

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

Youth v. Climate Crisis

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 11:05:28 -0000

Youth activists are spearheading a powerful political movement around addressing the climate crisis.

For many people, this is a moment of both fear and hope — global carbon emissions continue to increase, at the same time as demands for global climate action grow louder. Will 2019 be remembered as the year humanity turned a corner in the fight against climate change?

In this episode of Political Climate, we bring you a special interview with a group of leading youth activists ahead of the Global Climate Strike and United Nations Climate Change Summit.

We speak with Kelsey Juliana and Vic Barrett, two of the 21 plaintiffs in the Juliana v. United States lawsuit over the right to a safe climate and livable future, as well as and Jamie Margolin, co-founder of the organization Zero Hour and a plaintiff in a lawsuit alleging Washington State has failed to adequately regulate greenhouse gases.

But first we hear from Jonah Gottlieb, director of Schools for Climate Action and the executive director of the National Children’s Campaign, who is currently in Washington D.C. with famed teen activist Greta Thunberg and other youth leaders. What does it feel like for these young people to finally have so much attention on the climate threat?

Recommended reading:

Grist: How 21 meddling kids could force a major turnaround on climate
New Yorker: The Right to a Stable Climate Is the Constitutional Question of the Twenty-First Century
CNN: NYC says its 1.1 million students can skip class for the climate strike (as long as their parents say OK)
Rolling Stone: The Climate Crisis and the Case for Hope

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

What Conservatives and Climate Hawks Learned From the CNN Town Hall

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 09:05:50 -0000

Who stood out at the CNN Climate Crisis Town Hall? How did conservatives react? Did general voters even care?

Democratic presidential candidates covered a lot of ground over the course of the seven-hour climate policy telethon — from fracking bans to a new CarbonStar program, coal worker retraining programs to a major environmental justice fund. While there was widespread consensus on the need for climate action, some key differences also emerged between the contenders.

We discuss the top takeaways from town hall, as well as the latest candidate climate plans, in this week’s episode of Political Climate.

To understand how the Democratic platforms resonated on the right, we’re joined by Charles Hernick, director of policy and advocacy at Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, a non-profit organization founded to engage Republican policymakers and the public on conservative solutions to meeting the nation’s energy needs while preserving the environment.

Emma Foehringer Merchant, staff writer for Greentech Media, also joins the show to explain what’s new and novel in the latest release of candidate climate proposals.

Recommended reading:

GTM: Climate Town Hall Exposes Key Differences Among Democratic Front-Runners
NYT: 5 Takeaways From the Democrats’ Climate Town Hall
AP/US News: Democrats Step on Shaky Political Ground With Fracking Bans
GTM: Coal Miners Doubt Promises of an Inclusive Energy Transition
National Clean Energy Week

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Overcast or any of these other services.

How 2020 Presidential Candidates Stack Up on Climate (So Far)

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 20:47:35 -0000

The Democratic presidential primary is heating up, so we break down where the candidates stand on climate.

Labor Day Weekend typically marks a shift in a presidential campaign. Things get more serious and the field starts to winnow down.

And sure enough, the number of Democratic contenders is starting to decline with Jay Inslee, John Hickenlooper and Kirsten Gillibrand stepping out of the race in recent days.

In this episode of Political Climate, we examine how the remaining candidates stack up on climate policy, and take a close look at new proposals from Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang.

Emma Foehringer Merchant, staff writer for Greentech Media, has reported extensively on the Democratic primary candidates’ climate and energy plans and helps us walk through the numerous proposals.

Recommended reading:

GTM: Bernie Sanders Proposes Huge Renewables Build-Out and Publicly Owned Power
Vox: Andrew Yang’s plan to tackle climate change, explained
CNN: Jay Inslee drops out of 2020 presidential election
GTM: The 2020 Democratic Primary: GTM’s Definitive Climate and Energy Guide

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

Harry Reid on Why Democrats Need to End the Filibuster

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 00:50:36 -0000

Is abolishing the filibuster necessary in order for Congress to pass meaningful climate legislation?

A handful of Democratic presidential candidates have called for throwing out the Senate rule, claiming that it exacerbates gridlock in Washington DC.

Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also believes that abolishing the filibuster is critical to passing legislation and tackling the most important issues facing the United States, including climate change. But could killing the filibuster end up making U.S. politics even more volatile?

We discuss with Senator Reid himself on this week’s episode of Political Climate. Plus we get his views on the Green New Deal and whether or not he sees hyper-partisanship subsiding in the U.S. anytime soon.

Recommended reading:

NYT: The Filibuster Is Suffocating the Will of the American People
Vox: The Democratic debate over filibuster reform, explained
WaPo: Where 2020 Democratic candidates stand on the electoral college, court packing and changes to democracy
Vice: Harry Reid: 'Of Course' Medicare for All and Decriminalizing Border Crossings Are Bad Ideas
Hood to Coast Relay Fundraiser

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

Astronaut Scott Kelly: "What Are We Doing to This Planet?"

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 08:29:21 -0000

This summer, the United States celebrated the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Fifty years later, many people wonder: if we can get to the moon, surely we can fix the environmental issues here on Earth?

In this episode, we get NASA astronaut Scott Kelly’s perspective on fighting climate change, having seen the challenge we’re up against from the unique viewpoint of space.

Kelly has spent a whole lot of time in space — 520 days, to be exact. Upon his return from a continuous one-year mission, scientists were keen to study the impacts of spaceflight on his body, and compare the results to his identical twin, astronaut and politician Mark Kelly, who remained on Earth. Scott, meanwhile, used his time in orbit to study the impacts of humanity on the planet.

The Political Climate team sat down with Scott Kelly to discuss technology, politics and the unique perspective that traveling to space offers on the climate crisis.

We also ask if he’d ever run for office — like his twin brother Mark, husband to former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is currently campaigning for Senate in Arizona as a Democrat.

Recommended reading:

Newsweek: Scott Kelly Says View From Space Shows Earth Is Covered in Pollution and 'We Need Leadership to Protect It'
NYT: Scott Kelly Spent a Year in Orbit. His Body Is Not Quite the Same.

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

Climate Sees Some Legitimate Debate. Did Anyone Care?

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 10:28:46 -0000

There were several moments of legitimate engagement on climate change at last week’s Democratic presidential debates. But did any of it resonate with voters?

In this episode, we break down the key points candidates made on stage in Detroit — from promoting direct air capture to climate justice — with help from Jigar Shah, president and co-founder of Generate Capital and co-host of the Energy Gang podcast.

Plus, top Republican pollster, Frank Luntz, gives Senate Democrats a lesson on climate change communication. We discuss the GOP strategist’s about face on climate change.

Finally, lawmakers in Ohio just passed an enormous subsidy package for coal and nuclear plants, while gutting the state’s renewable energy and efficiency standards. Utility FirstEnergy lobbied hard and helped elect allies to office to get $1.1 billion in ratepayer funds for its aging nukes. We round out the show with a look at Ohio’s controversial new law.

Recommended reading:

Grist: In Detroit, Democratic candidates actually did some climate debating
Mother Jones: Joe Biden’s Climate Plan Melted During the Debate
The Hill: Democratic senators turn to GOP for help in reaching conservatives on climate messaging
Vox: Ohio just passed the worst energy bill of the 21st century
Inslee profile pic

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

The Environmental Voter Problem

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 07:37:53 -0000

The climate movement doesn’t have a persuasion problem; it has a turn out problem. Data reveal that environmentalists don’t show up to vote as often as the overall population in an election.

So what gives? And could this impact races in 2020?

In this episode of Political Climate we take a hard look at how many Americans care about climate issues, and how many of those people actually vote — or don’t.

To figure this out the podcast team sat down with Nathaniel Stinnett, founder of the Environmental Voter Project, a non-partisan non-profit that identifies environmentalists across the United States and makes sure that they vote in every election.

We also discussed a new Democratic proposal to achieve 100 percent carbon neutrality by 2050. The idea was recently put forward by a group of more moderate, established Democrats rather than progressives. Is this a sign of policy alignment on the left? Or will this so-called Green New Deal alternative be a source of conflict within the party?

We recorded this show live on stage last week at the Sun Valley Forum in Ketchum Idaho. Take a listen!

Recommended reading:

Environmental Voter Project
ASU: House Committee Calls for Zero Greenhouse Gas Pollution by 2050
TNR: The Democrats’ New Climate Plan Can’t Be Serious

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

Tom Steyer on Why He's Running for President

Sat, 27 Jul 2019 10:35:21 -0000

Billionaire hedge fund executive and environmental activist Tom Steyer is officially making a run for the White House — and putting an aggressive climate action plan at the center of his campaign.

In this episode of Political Climate, we speak with the newest contender in the 2020 Democratic primary about why he entered the crowded race, and how he plans to use "emergency powers" to combat climate change.

After the first Democratic debate it looked as though the field of presidential candidates could be thinning out. That is, until Steyer entered the race, pledging to spend $100 million on his bid.

He boosted his campaign on July 25 with the launch of a bold climate action plan — the only climate action plan to effectively address the climate crisis with the urgency that it demands, according to Steyer.

Political Climate sat down with the candidate for an in-depth interview the day after he announced his new climate policy.

Recommended reading:

Politico: How Tom Steyer would address climate change
PBS: What does Tom Steyer believe? Where the candidate stands on 6 issues
Framework for a Justice-Centered Climate Plan

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

Climate Action or Climate Distraction?

Sat, 20 Jul 2019 05:02:25 -0000

What is going on in Washington D.C.? A bubbling House Democrat feud followed by a series of racially offensive presidential tweets has unleashed chaos in the U.S Capitol. Meanwhile, there’s one thing we’re not seeing much of: governing

In this episode of Political Climate we look at where we’re seeing attempts at climate action, and where we’re seeing a whole lot of climate distraction. A slate of clean energy bills have been introduced in Congress this year. Do they have any hope of passing before the 2020 election?

We also take a look at President Trump’s recent speech on the environment and the launch of a new Republican caucus on conservation. Does this prove that Republicans are seeing a real need to show leadership on the environment?

Finally, we check in on the Democratic presidential primary, which just saw billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer enter the race and momentum slide for a candidate forum of climate change.

Recommended reading:

GTM: Clean Energy Policy Push Faces Steep Climb Ahead of 2020 Election
The Hill: Republicans form conservation caucus to take on environment, climate change
Huffington Post: Fox News Cuts Into Trump Speech To Deliver A Brutal Real-Time Fact Check
Gizmodo: Update on Our 2020 Climate Summit
Politico: Schwarzenegger to Trump: 'You have to dial down Donald'

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

Candidates and Climate in the First Democratic Debates

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 05:03:13 -0000

Twenty Democratic presidential candidates faced off last week in the first debate of the 2020 election. It was a mixed bag — not only for the candidates, but also for climate.

There were more questions on climate change than in previous years, and yet climate issues saw just 15 minutes of airtime over the four hours the contenders were on stage. Did Democrats hit the right notes in their (brief) responses? Or did the first showing justify calls for a dedicated climate debate?

Also, who were the overall winners and losers? And are Democrats more united or divided heading into the race against President Trump?

In this week’s episode, we discuss how did candidates and climate change fared in the first round of debates.

Plus, what the heck happened in Oregon? Republican legislators fled the state last month to resist voting on a cap-and-trade bill, and then fringe right-wing militia groups said they would protect the politicians if law enforcement officials tried to bring them back. We discuss how a climate bill went off the rails and whether Democrats can ever count on Republicans to act in good faith on climate.

Recommended reading:

Inside Climate: First 2020 Debates Spent 15 Minutes on Climate Change. What Did We Learn?
HuffPo: Democrats To Consider Climate Debate Amid Mounting Pressure
NYT: Biden, Recalling ‘Civility’ in Senate, Invokes Two Segregationist Senators
NPR: Oregon GOP State Senators Go Into Hiding To Avoid A Climate Vote
Oregon Live: How Oregon’s climate-change bill ran out of gas

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

The Invisible Killer

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 04:52:27 -0000

We often can’t see or feel air pollution — and yet, it is taking a toll.

Air pollution is responsible for the early deaths of some 7 million people every year, around 600,000 of who are children, according to the United Nations. In this episode, we hear stories of how people around the world are calling attention to this invisible killer.

We speak to Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, a mother campaigning to have pollution officially named as her daughter’s cause of death [3:30].

We also talk to Beth Gardiner, the author of “Choked,” a book about science, politics and personal experiences linked to pollution [12:55].

We hear from entrepreneur Romain Lacombe at Plume Labs, about his mission to map out city pollution the way that Google maps out traffic [20:00].

And we learn about how a group of women in Southern California are trying to protect their town from the real-world health impacts of online-shopping in an interview with Grist reporter Justine Calma [28.05].

Recommended reading:

BBC: Ella Kissi-Debrah: New inquest into girl's 'pollution' death
Choked: Life and Breath in the Age of Air Pollution
Bloomberg: This Wearable Pollution Monitor Detects How Dirty Your Air Is
Grist: The town that online shopping built — and women are trying to save

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

Will Republicans Ever Really Embrace Climate Action?

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 21:04:48 -0000

Democrats are dominating the public dialogue on climate change. That is just a fact. It’s part of their party platform in a way that it’s simply not for Republicans. And yet, things aren’t entirely black and white — or blue and red.

In this episode, we look at a range of Republican views on climate issues, from flat out denialism to reticent acceptance to legitimate climate commitments.

We discuss President Trump’s replacement for Obama’s Clean Power Plan, we look at new polling numbers that show Republican voters are concerned about their party’s stance on climate change, and we dig into conservative alternatives to the Green New Deal.

The Republican Party stance on climate change is shifting — but will any conservative climate proposals actually address the issue?

We sit down with former six-term South Carolina Congressman Bob Inglis, a thought leader of the eco-right, to get his take is on the current state of American politics and hear how he’s continuing to advance a conservative climate platform through his non-profit RepublicEN.

Recommended Reading:

The Hill: Addressing Climate Change Is A Win For Republicans - Why Not Embrace It?
GTM: Trump Administration Finalizes Revamp of Obama-Era Coal Rule
The Hill: GOP Pollster Luntz: Majority Of Younger Republicans Worried By Party Stance On Climate Change
Third Way: The New Climate Consensus
E&E News: GOP Ready To “Cross The Rubicon” On Climate - Graham
Matt Gaetz: Addressing Climate Change Through A Green Real Deal
Greentech Media: A Divided Climate Means We All Lose
RepublicEN

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

UN Chief Guterres: "The Status Quo Is a Suicide"

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 11:54:02 -0000

We are losing the fight against climate change, warns UN Secretary General António Guterres.

Even if countries were on track to meet their Paris Agreement goals — which they’re not — the world would experience catastrophic levels of warming by the end of the century.

But there are still signs of hope.

In this episode Political Climate, we discuss the state of global climate action with Mr. Guterres in an interview recorded last week at the R20 Austrian World Summit in Vienna.

Plus, Republicans attack their own on climate policy, while Democratic presidential hopefuls Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren roll out bold climate change plans. We begin the show with a check-in on U.S. politics.

Recommended reading:

Axios: Paris + 2: Climate jolted faster than projected
E&E: GOP criticizes its own on climate
NYT: What Biden’s Climate Plan Shows About the Democratic Field
FP: China Rises in U.N. Climate Talks, While U.S. Goes AWOL

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay, Overcast or any of these other services!

Greta Thunberg on the Climate Crisis, Schwarzenegger, and Schnitzel

Fri, 31 May 2019 01:03:54 -0000

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg was all alone when she started protesting the lack of political action on climate change last year outside of the Swedish parliament. Today, climate strikes inspired by Thunberg are drawing out more than 1 million young people around the world. But as she tells Political Climate: the fight is “not over yet.”

This week’s podcast was recorded at the R20 Austrian World Summit in Vienna, where former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger teamed up with Thunberg to call attention to the climate crisis. We sit down with Schwarzenegger to get his reaction to meeting Greta. Plus, we speak with the 16-year-old Swedish protester about her advice to climate activists in the U.S.

We also discuss takeaways from the recent EU Parliament elections, where Green Party members saw big gains in some of Europe’s largest countries. Could these results foreshadow a green wave in the next U.S. election?

Recommended reading:

WaPo: Teen activist Thunberg urges leaders to admit climate crisis
Guardian: European elections: triumphant Greens demand more radical climate action
YouTube: Greta Thunberg Joins Arnold Schwarzenegger & More To Deliver Speeches On Climate

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast.

The Troubling Geopolitics of a Melting Arctic

Sat, 25 May 2019 01:46:38 -0000

The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, which comes with both opportunities and risks.

Climate change is opening up new shipping routes and increasing access to fossil fuel reserves, while also threatening ecosystems and fueling geopolitical tensions. Are we approaching the end of the polar peace zone?

Earlier this month, the Arctic Council met in Finland to frame a collaborative agenda on economic development and environmental protection. But for the first time since the Council’s inception, participants failed to sign a joint declaration after the U.S. refused to accept language on climate change — sparking fury and confusion.

In this episode, we speak with Retired Rear Admiral David Titley (9:45), meteorology professor at Penn State University, about the consequences of a warming Arctic.

We also talk to Malte Humpert (28:35), founder of The Arctic Institute, about the significance of the Pompeo’s statements and takeaways from the latest Arctic Council summit.

Plus, we discuss if there’s any chance of seeing climate policy pass in an infrastructure bill and co-host Brandon Hurlbut celebrates his first semi-viral tweet. As always, Political Climate ends with our segment called “Say Something Nice,” where our Democrat and Republican co-hosts have to say something redeeming about the opposing political party (43:00).

Tweet us your feedback on this episode @Poli_Climate!

Recommended Reading:

Reuters: US sinks Arctic accord due to climate change differences
The Atlantic: The Next ‘South China Sea’ Is Covered In Ice
The Inquirer: Our transportation plan will improve infrastructure and tackle climate change
The Hill: Markey releases infrastructure suggestions that align with Green New Deal goals
Brandon Hurlbut goes viral

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast.

Curbelo's Cancelled Climate Testimony and the 'Middle Ground'

Fri, 17 May 2019 11:05:46 -0000

House Democrats disinvited former Congressman Carlos Curbelo from a climate change hearing this week, just days before the Florida Republican was scheduled to testify. Did the Dems prioritize politics over finding climate solutions?

In this episode we're joined by Curbelo, a strong advocate for a national carbon tax, to get his view of what happened (15:15). Plus co-hosts Shane Skelton and Brandon Hurlbut spar over what this political play says about the future of climate action in the U.S.

We also delve into reports of Joe Biden’s “middle ground” climate plan. Reuters says Biden plans to "appeal to both environmentalists and the blue-collar voters who elected Donald Trump.”

The former Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate has yet to officially release a climate platform, but the backlash has already begun — including from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Recommended Reading:

Reuters: Presidential hopeful Biden looking for a ‘middle ground’ on climate policy
ABC: Ocasio-Cortez attacks Biden on climate change policy, Biden says he's 'never been middle of the road'
The Hill: Dems cancel plans to bring in Republican as climate change witness
Washington Examiner: Landmark hearing exposes climate change gulf among Republicans and Democrats
Former Congressman Curbelo’s testimony

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast.

Sunrise, Inslee, Paris and the Grim Reaper

Thu, 09 May 2019 20:09:21 -0000

Democrats came together last week to present a united front on tackling climate change, but will it matter before 2020?

Political Climate speaks with Representative Kathy Castor (FL-D) on the passage of HR 9, the first meaningful climate change bill to pass the House of Representatives in nearly a decade. We find out why passing a bill to keep the U.S. in the Paris climate agreement was an important political move, despite zero chance of getting it past the self-proclaimed “Grim Reaper” Mitch McConnell.

Also, we revisit the scuffle between Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke and the youth-led climate activist group The Sunrise Movement. In a quick turnaround, Sunrise walked backed their critique of Beto’s climate action plan, while Beto signed on to the "No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge." Is this a kumbaya moment or egg on their faces?

Not to be outdone by O'Rourke, fellow presidential hopeful, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, presented part one of his “Climate Mission” plan last week. Political Climate discusses the details and whether Biden will offer up his own climate change plan now that he’s entered the race.

Recommended Reading:

Roll Call: House Passes Climate Bill With Few Republican Backers
Slate: Why The Left Needs More Climate In-Fighting
Earther: How Students Convinced Beto O’Rourke To Stop Taking Fossil Fuel Money
Vox: Jay Inslee Promised Serious Climate Policy and He’s Delivering

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast.

Beto O'Rourke and Keeping Up With the Greens

Fri, 03 May 2019 06:24:04 -0000

Democratic Presidential hopeful Beto O’Rourke unveiled a comprehensive climate change plan this week that seeks to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the U.S. by 2050. The $5 trillion proposal is the most detailed climate plan announced by a 2020 presidential candidate to date.

But the policy wasn't even a day old when the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led climate group backing the progressive Green New Deal, slammed O'Rourke for not being more ambitious.

O'Rourke isn't the only Democratic politician to face criticism for his climate plan in recent days. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also saw pushback over his Green New Deal plan for the city.

On this week’s episode of Political Climate, we look at how green Democrats need to be to win support from progressive members of their own party. Is this type of in-fighting a genius political strategy to push the envelope on what’s possible? Or will it end up muddling plans to address climate change?

Recommended reading:

The Atlantic: Why Beto’s Climate Plan Is So Surprising
The Hill: Group backing Green New Deal blasts O'Rourke's climate plan
Streetsblog: Garcetti’s Green New Deal for Los Angeles Under Attack for Being Too Car-Centric
Bloomberg: Ex-Trump Aide Who Backed Paris Accord to Join House Panel, Sources Say
NYTimes: We Asked the 2020 Democrats About Climate Change (Yes All of Them). Here Are Their Ideas.
Axios: What Biden and Beto just told us about the 2020 climate fight

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast.

Origins of the Green New Deal ... and Lil Dicky

Sat, 27 Apr 2019 00:08:04 -0000

The Green New Deal is all over the news these days. But how did it get there?

Efforts to reform the U.S. economy in a more sustainable and equitable way didn't start with the introduction of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal resolution. And they certainly don't end there.

In this episode, Political Climate sits down with Green New Deal architects Rhiana Gunn-Wright, Demond Drummer and Zach Exley for an in-depth interview on the sweeping -- and evolving -- plan to address both climate change and economic inequality.

What can the climate movement learn from the original New Deal and World War II mobilization? Is there a viable alternative to the neoliberal policy model? Can progressive Democrats ever work with Republicans? We discuss all of this and more in a candid conversation (starts 21:00) with Gunn-Wright, Drummer and Exley, who currently lead the progressive policy shop New Consensus.

Plus, what does rapper and comedian Lil Dicky have in common with AOC? We kick off this episode with a look at two influential climate videos making their way around the Internet.

Recommended reading:

Lil Dicky -- "Earth"
The Intercept: A Message From the Future With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
E&E: Meet the scholar crafting the 'Green New Deal'
GTM: Green New Deal Resolution Calls for 100% ‘Clean, Renewable and Zero-Emission Energy Sources’

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast.

Arnold Schwarzenegger on Terminating Pollution

Thu, 18 Apr 2019 10:03:05 -0000

What do bodybuilding and gerrymandering have to do with the fight against climate change? Arnold Schwarzenegger explains in an exclusive Political Climate interview.

The former California governor and global environmental leader has been tackling the related issues of climate change and pollution for years by working across the political aisle. In this episode (13:30), Schwarzenegger explains why he still believes in working with people of all political stripes.

The show kicks off with a look at recent headlines, including the clash between former Secretary of State John Kerry and Rep. Thomas Massie over climate science. Plus, Democratic Senators introduce a carbon pricing bill. We ask: is this an effective political strategy?

Recommended reading:

Vox: Viral John Kerry-Thomas Massie exchange over climate
NYT: The Problem With Putting a Price on the End of the World
E&E: Whitehouse, Schatz float latest version of carbon fee bill
The Hill: Schwarzenegger teams up with Holder to 'terminate' gerrymandering
LA Times: Here’s why Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kevin de León are teaming up on climate change
Schnapps

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast.

A New Era in Climate Politics

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 09:57:11 -0000

Political Climate is back after a four-month hiatus. Did we miss anything?

Well, there was the Green New Deal resolution and launch of the new House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. There was also the introduction of a Republican-backed clean energy plan and the kickoff of a climate-centric presidential election. So there’s that.

In this episode, the Political Climate co-hosts catch up on the latest headlines. Plus, the podcast makes some news of its own!

Recommended reading:

Slate: Why the Green New Deal Rollout Was Kind of a Mess
Axios: Democrats vote "present" as Green New Deal fails Senate test
Newsweek: Here's How the Green New Deal Compares to a Proposed Republican Climate Plan — The Green Real Deal
The Hill: Newly-formed House climate panel holds first hearing
Axios: Green New Deal: Where the 2020 presidential candidates stand
Vox: Nancy Pelosi is trying to force Trump to return the US to the Paris climate agreement
Political Climate

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, GooglePlay and Overcast.

Back in Session Next Week

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 09:04:30 -0000

The Political Climate partial shutdown comes to an end on April 8. Climate politics are evolving rapidly as the 2020 election looms large. The bipartisan podcast team will be back to discuss all of the latest twists and turns in an exciting new season.

Global Warming Solutions for a Polarized Political Climate

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 11:24:12 -0000

Is there a bipartisan path forward on meaningful climate policy in America? If so, what does it look like?

Those are questions we’ve been grappling with on Political Climate this entire podcast season. Now we’re putting them — point blank — to our Democrat and Republican co-hosts.

This is our solutions show, and our final episode for 2018.

We kick it off with a rundown of the latest news headlines and issues to watch heading into the new year, including a coal-friendly Democrat taking a top spot on the Senate Energy and Committee, a new carbon fee and dividend bill, and a big utility’s voluntary 100 percent clean energy target.

Then the pressure is on co-hosts Brandon and Shane to share their climate policy solutions (21:30). We get both a big picture vision and specifics around what they think decision-makers can get done in the coming years. Plus, a cameo from the Governator.

We wind down show by reflecting on our takeaways from Season One of this bipartisan podcasting effort, where things get a little personal (47:50).

Then, as always, we cap it all off with our “Say Something Nice” segment — where our Democrat and Republican co-hosts have to say something redeeming about the opposing political party.

This is our last podcast of the year, but this doesn’t have to be goodbye! You can always catch up on previous episodes you may have missed, featuring interviews with Senator Martin Heinrich, Top Trump EPA official Mandy Gunasekara, Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, and many other decision-makers and thought leaders in climate and energy.

Then look out for a whole new season in 2019! Thank you for listening.

Recommended reading:

NYT: Joe Manchin Faces Liberal Opposition in Bid to Be Energy Panel’s Top Democrat
Bloomberg: Bipartisan Climate Fee Backers to Plant Flag During Lame Duck
GTM: Xcel Energy Commits to 100% Carbon-Free Electricity by 2050
Vox: US climate politics just got even more polarized. Here’s how Democrats can move forward.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via ApplePodcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

The Sunrise Movement and a Blue Wave

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 14:21:45 -0000

The Sunrise Movement over a blue wave.

It sounds like a tropical scene, but it was actually the state of affairs last week on Capitol Hill.

As Democrats prepare to take control of the House in 2019, a group of young activists — backed by Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — have put climate change front and center on the post-election agenda. And on protest signs right in front of Nancy Pelosi’s office door, as she seeks to become the next House speaker.

In this episode of Political Climate, we discuss how established Democrats are responding to pressure from left to act on climate. And we speak with a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement about the group’s quest to establish a Select Committee on a Green New Deal.

Plus, how did the 2018 midterms ultimately shake out? Things have changed quite a bit since our previous episode. We end, as always, with our “Say Something Nice” segment.

Recommended reading:

Green New Deal
New Yorker: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nancy Pelosi, and the Democratic Battles to Come in 2019
NYT: ‘Message of Change’: 16 Rebel Democrats Vow to Oppose Pelosi
Washington Examiner: Defiant in defeat, Carlos Curbelo says climate change activism will help GOP

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via ApplePodcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

Midterm Results: Was Climate a Winner?

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 12:57:40 -0000

Democrats have claimed the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections. It gives the party powerful new oversight authority. But will it translate to meaningful action on climate and clean energy?

Several moderate Republicans were voted out of Congress this week, casting doubt on any hope of bipartisan legislation. At the same time, Democrats now have chance to block the GOP's deregulatory activity and put climate and clean energy back the national agenda.

Then there are the states, where several Democrats campaigned and won on a platform endorsing 100 percent renewable energy. Several high-profile climate related ballot initiatives did not advance on Tuesday, but the outcome may not be as bad for clean energy as it may seem. In this episode of Political Climate, we debate the outcome of the 2018 midterms.

Finally, we discuss the outcome of Brandon and Shane’s friendly O’Rourke vs. Cruz bet — and where to go for dinner.

Recommended reading:

GTM: Midterms 2018: Mixed Results for the Renewable Energy Agenda
E&E: Dems prepare 'flood' of energy, climate investigations
Inside Climate: Clean Energy’s Future Could Rise or Fall with These Governor’s Races

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via ApplePodcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

LIVE: A Green Wave Election?

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 11:09:56 -0000

We’ve heard a lot about the potential for a "blue wave" in this year’s midterms — but what about a green one?

We’re talking about all things climate and clean energy in the 2018 midterm election in this special episode of Political Climate, recorded live at Yale University.

It’s less than a week until voting day. So how are climate and clean energy playing into this year’s election, for both Democrats and Republicans? In this show we’ll dissect campaign ads, talk about some tight races, track fundraising and discuss key ballot initiatives.

Plus, we take a listener question on what to expect if Republicans hold onto Congress, and get Brandon and Shane’s midterm predictions.

The final word: "Vote."

Recommended reading:

NYT: Three Campaign Ads That Are Putting Climate Change on the Agenda
Vox: A Green New Deal is on the ballot in Washington state this year

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via ApplePodcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

California’s Clean Air Czar on the Fight for Fuel Economy

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 21:49:26 -0000

A battle over the future of U.S. clean car standards just stepped up a gear. We sit down with the woman leading the charge against Trump to keep more stringent fuel economy rules in place.

Mary Nichols is currently on her second tour as chair of the California Air Resources Board. Arguably no single individual has done more to advance the Golden State’s pioneering — and bipartisan — effort to clean up its air and combat climate change.

In this episode, we get the backstory on California’s effort to block the Trump administration’s proposal to freeze federal fuel economy standards and rescind the state's ability to set its own rules (17:10).

We also hear about the “dark forces” attempting to stall electric vehicle growth, and how California overcame political polarization to enact some of the nation’s most progressive climate policies.

Recommended reading:

GTM: California Girds for Battle as EPA Rules to Weaken Vehicle Emissions Standards
GTM: Exclusive: Top EPA Official Lays Out Post-Pruitt Policy Priorities
GTM: Cities, States and Businesses Within Striking Distance of Paris Climate Goals—Without Trump
AEE: Where Do Candidates for Governor Stand on Advanced Energy Growth?
The Hill: Dem senator calls for ban on Saudi Arabian oil imports

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via ApplePodcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

No Planet, No Politics

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 09:19:06 -0000

Time is running out to combat climate change.

The United Nations has released an alarming new climate science report — but will it even matter? We discuss how the report is being received by leaders in the U.S. and abroad.

Plus, we look at the politics of ditching coal power. The new UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report calls for a global coal phase out by 2050. How feasible is that?

Finally, Judge Brett Kavanaugh has been confirmed. We wrap up the show by wading into what that could mean for the midterms.

Recommended reading:

Vox: Report: we have just 12 years to limit devastating global warming
Washington Examiner: Republican climate hawks hope dire UN report will sway skeptics
HBR: The Scale of the Climate Catastrophe Will Depend on What Businesses Do Over the Next Decade
GTM: The Death of Global Coal Growth
Guardian: Australian government backs coal in defiance of IPCC climate warning
GTM: Key Backer of Trump’s Coal and Nuclear Bailout Effort is Nominated to FERC
GTM: Scrutinizing Judge Kavanaugh’s Past (Energy and Environmental Record)
WaPo: Another sign that the Kavanaugh fight is energizing Republican voters

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via ApplePodcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

Finding (Politically Viable) Climate Solutions

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 09:45:33 -0000

Cutting fossil fuel subsidies, updating building codes, offering electric vehicle ridesharing programs for farm workers, and more. In this show, we talk climate solutions.

A new landmark United Nations climate report concluded that world leaders have just 12 years to fundamentally restructure society, including dramatic changes to the energy system, if we are to avoid the most disastrous impacts of climate change.

That’s not a very sunny outlook. Particularly in today’s partisan political landscape.

And yet, stakeholders continue to push for climate policy action.

In this episode, we speak to experts at the clean economy group Green For All, the conservative think tank R Street Institute, and the policy firm Energy Innovation about the policies believe are necessary — and politically feasible — to implement.

Recommended reading:

Vox: A Green New Deal is on the ballot in Washington state this year
Portland Business Journal: Oregon cap-and-trade backers eye 2019 after failed short-session bid
Washington Examiner: Confessions of a Former Carbon Tax Skeptic
Book: Designing Climate Solutions

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via ApplePodcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

The Business Case for Carbon Pricing

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 08:34:39 -0000

Is an federal carbon price worth pursuing in a politically divided United States?

We hear the case for why it is.

Advocates say an economy-wide carbon tax would send a clear market signal to emitters, while accounting for the externalities and risks that fossil fuels pose to the U.S. economy. The concept aligns with classic conservative principles on small government and rooting solutions in the free-market.

But for all the talk of markets and economics, most Republican lawmakers find a carbon price toxic.

And yet, in recent months several conservative carbon tax proposals have emerged at the national level, including legislation introduced by Republican Representative Carlos Curbelo, and they're shaking up the usual partisan dynamics around climate action.

As the Trump administration continues to roll back Obama-era climate policies, climate activists from across the U.S. are moving forward with a national carbon pricing proposal that they believe can gain bipartisan support.

In this episode, we speak to leaders of the Citizens' Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy group focused drumming up political momentum to pass a carbon fee and dividend proposal. They make the business case for carbon pricing, and explain why they believe a bipartisan federal carbon bill can — and eventually will — get passed.

Recommended reading:

CCL: Carbon Fee and Dividend Policy
GTM: Why Only 5,000 Voters Could Help Pass a New Republican Carbon Tax
Guardian: Republican lawmaker pitches carbon tax in defiance of party stance
E&E: How much is Big Oil working to pass a carbon tax? We checked
Daily Chronicle: Shell, BP Go Separate Ways as Washington Voters Weigh New Fee on Greenhouse-Gas Polluters

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

California's Quest for Deep Decarbonization

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 16:46:34 -0000

“Decarbonization” was the catchword of last week’s Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.

Stakeholders from all over the world made new commitments to combatting climate change. But the spotlight was really on California, where Governor Jerry Brown signed an historic bill into law — requiring the state to power its electric grid with 100 percent carbon-free resources by 2045.

That’s not all. Brown kicked off the week with a bang by also signing an executive order committing the California to complete carbon neutrality by 2045.

So the Political Climate team sat down with a man who knows a thing or two about decarbonization in the Golden State: Michael Picker, president of the California Public Utilities Commission.

The CPUC is responsible for regulating the state’s electricity sector, and will oversee many aspects of California’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Managing that transition will be the state’s greatest challenge, according to Picker.

Recommended reading:

GTM: On to Governor Brown’s Desk: What 100% Clean Energy Means for California
Vox: California Gov. Jerry Brown casually unveils history’s most ambitious climate target
NYT: Jerry Brown Made Climate Change His Issue. Now, He’s Not Sure How Much Politicians Can Do.
GTM: How Community Choice Aggregation Fits Into California’s Clean Energy Future

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

Taking 100% From 'Radical' to Reality

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 10:47:40 -0000

California lawmakers just passed an historic 100 percent clean electricity mandate.

A few years ago, advocating for 100 percent clean energy was considered radical. Even some political allies of the cause argued that the concept was so far-fetched it was damaging to the climate movement.

Democratic podcast co-host Brandon Hurlbut recalls the early days of championing 100 percent renewables as a member of the Solutions Project — and the lessons learned.

Next, we hear from Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols, to learn how his red Southern state became a top 10 U.S. solar market without any incentives.

And we explore how other states can follow in California’s clean energy wake.

Recommended reading:

GTM: On to Governor Brown’s Desk: What 100% Clean Energy Means for California
Vox: A beginner’s guide to the debate over 100% renewable energy
Inside Climate: How Georgia Became a Top 10 Solar State, With Lawmakers Barely Lifting a Finger
NYT: In Trump Country, Renewable Energy Is Thriving
GTM: Senator Heinrich: A 100% Clean Energy Grid Is ‘Completely Doable’

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

Senator Heinrich's 100% Clean Energy Vision

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 20:24:54 -0000

Senator Martin Heinrich believes a 100 percent clean energy electric grid is within reach during his lifetime. There will be technical challenges to overcome, but it’s “completely doable,” he said, in an exclusive interview with Political Climate.

This week marks the launch of Senator Heinrich’s “Clean Energy Vision,” a part of his re-election campaign for this fall. The ad and supporting document outline a multi-pronged approach for strengthening New Mexico's clean energy economy — including investments in energy storage, wind and solar, transmission lines and workforce development.

The plan doesn’t explicitly call for a 100 percent clean energy grid, but “clearly stating that the grid should be 100 percent clean energy is so important, because people need an idea to rally around,” said Heinrich.

In this special episode, the senator describes his Clean Energy Vision, and how he intends to make that vision a reality in these highly partisan times.

Recommended reading:

Martin's Clean Energy Vision
GTM: Senator Heinrich: A 100% Clean Energy Grid Is ‘Completely Doable’
Albuquerque Business First: See where NM's headed on oil and renewables
Heller, Heinrich Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish Investment Tax Credit For Energy Storage
Alaska Public Media: Energy bill fails; Murkowski blames House
GTM: Your Guide to the Bitter Debate Over 100% Renewable Energy

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

Too Alarmist? Not Alarmist Enough?

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 19:13:10 -0000

Are people who care about climate change downplaying the issue under social and political pressure? Has their alarmism been too muted? Or has the outcry become so loud that it's drowning out the possibility of collective action? The jury is out.

In this episode of Political Climate, we tackle a difficult question posed by a listener on the severity of the climate threat and the appropriate policy response. Amy Harder, energy and climate reporter for Axios, joins us to discuss.

But first we revisit the Democratic National Committee. The DNC has decided to once again accept donations from fossil fuel interests. The move comes just two months after the committee adopted a separate resolution banning donations from political action committees tied to coal, oil and gas companies. The reversal has spurred a debate among Democrats on matching up policies and values.

We also discuss the Kigali Amendment — a global climate agreement that key U.S. industry players, and many Republicans, are urging President Trump to ratify.

Recommended reading:

GTM: Fossil Fuel Dollars and Democrats
Huffington Post: Democratic National Committee Backtracks On Its Ban Of Fossil Fuel Donations
Axios: Trump clashes with business on Obama-era climate treaty
NYT: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change
NYT: Science Alone Won’t Save the Earth. People Have to Do That.

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

LIVE: 'What's So Upsetting?'

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 13:20:25 -0000

Political tribalism has created gridlock on climate policy — even more so than the polarization on climate science — according to a new peer-reviewed study.

If that’s the case, is there any hope of action any time soon?

Tensions are running high. It’s officially less than 100 days until the 2018 midterm election. Democrats are angry and hell-bent on taking back Congress. Republicans are fighting to keep it.

Will climate change even be on the election agenda? We discuss in this episode, recorded live at the Sun Valley Forum in Ketchum, Idaho.

For this show, the Political Climate co-hosts were joined David Crane, the former CEO of NRG Energy, who argued that too many corporations are still “sitting on the sidelines” when it comes to ditching fossil fuels.

We also addressed the Trump administration’s proposed freeze on fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, and threat to revoke California’s clean-air waiver.

Recommended reading:

NYT: Actually, Republicans Do Believe in Climate Change
GreenBiz: My three wishes for America
E&E: Meet the other Republican who wants a carbon tax
Politico: Kochs blow up their détente with Trump
WAPO: Trump administration to freeze fuel-efficiency standards and fight states

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

Millennials Seek Bipartisan Action on Climate

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 22:24:54 -0000

What does the rise of millennials mean for climate action? Will this plugged-in generation make climate change a priority? Can they find common ground between liberals and conservatives to solve this issue collectively?

Millennials are on the brink of becoming the largest generation in America. That means they will have an enormous impact on U.S. politics in the years ahead. In fact, they’re having an impact on politics already.

In this episode of Political Climate we talk to millennials who are channeling their concerns about climate change into action — inclusive and bipartisan action.

We speak to Benji Backer, president and founder of the American Conservation Coalition, a nonprofit focused on rallying young conservatives around environmental policy reform; and to Lydia Avila, executive director of the Power Shift Network, an organization working to mobilize the collective power of young people to mitigate climate change and create a just, clean energy future.

But first, we address the latest climate news from Capitol Hill: Congressman Carlos Curbelo’s new carbon tax bill, and a House resolution denouncing the idea of a carbon tax altogether.

Just how hopeful for climate action can Americans be?

Recommended reading:

Guardian: Republican lawmaker pitches carbon tax in defiance of party stance
Inside Climate: House Votes to Denounce Carbon Taxes. Where Was the Climate Solutions Caucus?
GTM: Reading Republicans on Climate a Decade After America’s Cap-and-Trade Collapse
Teen Vogue: Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Candidate Scott Wagner Called Me “Young and Naive”
Pew: Millennials projected to overtake Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation
American Conservation Coalition
Power Shift Network

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, TuneIn, Overcast, Stitcher and Spotify.

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

Fossil Fuel Dollars and Democrats

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 11:30:48 -0000

The Democratic National Committee recently decided to no longer accept campaign donations from fossil fuel companies. The move signals the party’s commitment to addressing climate change. But could blocking contributions from oil, gas and coal companies end up hurting Democrats in the midterm election?

We discuss the new DNC policy with RL Miller, political director at Climate Hawks Vote, chair of the California Democratic Party’s environmental caucus, and a co-author of the resolution.

Before that, we answer a listener’s question about the influence of billionaire conservative activists Charles and David Koch. Did Republicans start to resist climate action because of the Koch brothers' involvement?

We also check in on the non-partisan, non-profit Citizens' Climate Lobby, which met with members of Congress last week to advocate for a price on carbon. One participant admits progress is slow, but insists the dialogue is valuable.

To kick off the show, we briefly circle back on the Climate Solutions Caucus, bipartisan group of lawmakers seeking to advance climate change policies. Several Republican members recently voted against valuing carbon in environmental regulations. Is the Caucus a sham?

Recommended reading:

HuffPost: DNC Quietly Adopts Ban On Fossil Fuel Company Donations
NYT: How G.O.P. Leaders Came to View Climate Change as Fake Science
GTM: Conservative Groups Come Out Against the Suniva, SolarWorld Trade Case
E&E News: Here’s how one group pitches a carbon tax to the GOP
Washington Examiner: House GOP blocks Obama-era rules on cost of climate change

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, TuneIn, Overcast and Stitcher. Look out for us soon on Spotify!

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

The Hypocritical Politics of Gas Prices

Tue, 05 Jun 2018 19:30:08 -0000

Gas prices are always a hot-button political issue, and especially in an election year.

In the latest showdown, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blames a spike in gas prices on President Trump’s “reckless decision” to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal.

Republicans say these claims are insincere. If Democrats are so worried about high gas prices, why do they oppose oil drilling in the U.S. and support increasing gas taxes?

We’ve seen this play out before. When President Obama was in office, Republicans placed the blame for high gas prices squarely on the Democrats — and used cherrypicked statements from then Energy Secretary Steven Chu to help make their case.

In this week’s episode we tackle the hypocritical politics of gas prices. We also discuss the Pope’s upcoming climate summit with leading oil companies.

To kick it all off, we weigh in on a leaked memo with new details on the Trump administration’s unprecedented efforts to bail out struggling coal and nuclear plants. Is this an abuse of power?

Recommended reading:

GTM: DOE Plans to Order Guaranteed Profits for Coal, Nuclear Power Plants
Axios: Pope convenes Big Oil, investors to talk climate change
The Hill: Senate Democrats look for traction on gas prices
Rolling Stone: What President Obama Should Have Said About High Gas Prices
NY Mag: Higher Gas Prices a Headache for GOP — Except in California
The Verge: Three US states will spend $1.3 billion to build more electric vehicle charging

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, TuneIn and Stitcher. Look out for us soon on Spotify!

Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

Correction: Rebecca Schenker, who submitted news topics for the "Constituent Services" segment of this show, is a transportation planner with the LADOT. This episode incorrectly referred to her as the head of transportation planning at the LADOT. We regret the error.

The 2018 Election Preview

Tue, 29 May 2018 12:33:58 -0000

There are a lot of questions swirling around the 2018 midterm election — including how energy and climate issues will play into this broader political moment.

Can pro-climate Republicans hold on to their seats in Congress? Will Democratic candidates with cleantech industry experience win over voters? Could the outcome of Nevada’s Senate race affect how the nation deals with nuclear waste?

Then there’s California and Texas, the nation’s leading clean energy states, where the results of this year’s election could determine which political party controls Congress in 2019.

In this election preview show we discuss several key races where energy and climate issues are expected to be major factors. To up the ante, Political Climate co-hosts Shane Skelton and Brandon Hurlbut make a friendly election wager.

As always, we end with our segment "If you can't say something nice," where our Republican and Democratic representatives have to say something they recently found redeeming about the opposing party.

Recommended reading:

Popular Mechanics: NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine: "I Believe Fully In Climate Change"
Think Progress: Progressive candidates are embracing clean energy as a campaign issue
Time: Can Beto O'Rourke Turn Texas Blue?
Florida Politics: Committee touts Carlos Curbelo’s climate change record in new ad
PV Magazine: Republicans request utility-scale solar panel tariff exemption
Mother Jones: California’s “Jungle Primary” Could Turn Democrats’ Enthusiasm Into a Fiasco
SF Chronicle: California and climate change: Jerry Brown’s would-be successors make plans

Political Climate is now available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play or TuneIn. Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

LIVE: 'The Only Way to Save Ourselves'

Fri, 04 May 2018 19:33:29 -0000

Republicans are often viewed as enemies of the clean energy transition. Some people believe the GOP will never embrace climate action. So is voting them out the only way to save the planet?

If you ask environmental policy pioneer Terry Tamminen, the solution isn’t that simple.

As Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s pick to lead the California EPA, Tamminen found ways to craft ambitious clean energy policies and programs with buy-in from both Democrats and Republicans. In his current role as CEO of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, Tamminen is working to advance sustainability solutions across the country and around the world.

In this episode of Political Climate, recorded live at GTM’s Solar Summit, we talk to Tamminen about why it’s important to get Republicans on board with the climate change agenda. Even if it means avoiding the words "climate change" altogether.

We also discuss why Democrats are rallying around a 100 percent renewable energy target, when it has yet to be proven technically feasible. Plus, we talk about California's clash with Washington D.C. over fuel economy standards and whether philanthropy is proving we don't need to spend taxpayer dollars on fighting climate change.

Recommended reading:

Terry Tamminen: Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
LDF: Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation awards $20 million in environmental grants
GTM: Solar and Wind Companies Spend More on Republican Candidates Than Democrats
GTM: Mark Jacobson Drops Lawsuit Against Critics of His 100% Renewables Plan
NYT: California Sues Trump Administration Over Car Emissions Rules
BBC: Michael Bloomberg pledges $4.5m for Paris deal

Or you can find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play or TuneIn. Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

Winners and Losers in Trump's America

Fri, 27 Apr 2018 19:11:54 -0000

President Trump is considering the use of a Cold War-era defense act to shore up struggling coal and nuclear power plants, something the administration argues is essential to U.S. national security. But critics say this is the government picking winners and losers for political purposes.

Republicans repeatedly slammed President Obama for investing taxpayer dollars in clean energy technologies during his tenure. Obama even invoked the Defense Production Act, the same law Trump is looking to use, to justify testing biofuels in the Navy. Was he picking winners and losers too? Or was he investing in the next generation of American competitiveness?

In this episode of Political Climate we debate who is picking favorites in the energy space, and how solar was a loser in the roll out of Trump’s protectionist trade agenda.

We also touch on the unusually tight Arizona special election, where Democrat Hiral Tipirneni came within a few points of upsetting Republican Debbie Lesko in a deep red district. Did the candidates’ views on climate change play a role in the outcome?

Next, we discuss the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, which recently added two new members. Does the group represent an honest effort to combat climate change? Or is it political greenwashing?

In our final section, “If you can’t say something nice,” our Republican and Democrat co-hosts share something they recently found redeeming about the opposing party.

Recommended reading:

AZ Central: Here's where West Valley congressional candidates stand on climate change
Citizens’ Climate Lobby: What is the Climate Solutions Caucus?
Bloomberg: Trump's Latest Plan for Saving Coal Comes From the Cold War
GTM: The Trumpian Politics Behind SunPower’s Planned Purchase of SolarWorld USA
GTM: New Bipartisan Legislation Would Repeal Trump’s Solar Tariffs
Time 100: Scott Pruitt

Or you can find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play or TuneIn. Follow Political Climate on Twitter @Poli_Climate.

Paul Ryan Bows Out, Scott Pruitt in Hot Water

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 20:05:28 -0000

House Speaker Paul Ryan announced last week that he won't seek reelection in 2018. His decision will have major consequences for the Republican Party — and potentially for climate and energy policy.

In the second episode of GTM’s new podcast Political Climate, co-host Shane Skelton, former energy adviser to Paul Ryan, explains why losing the Wisconsin lawmaker's leadership in Congress will be bad for advancing environmental legislation.

Next, we tackle the controversy surrounding EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. We’ve seen the reports of his $25,000 phone booth (later revealed to be more like $43,000), first-class plane tickets, and a $50-per-night apartment linked to energy lobbyists. Equally troubling, employees were reportedly sidelined for questioning Pruitt. Kevin Chmielewski, a Trump supporter who served as deputy chief of staff for operations at EPA, felt compelled to notify Congressional staff of Pruitt's spending habits.

Where there other ethical missteps? Podcast co-host Brandon Hurlbut, a former White House staffer to President Obama, thinks a whistleblower situation means there's more to come.

If Pruitt is ultimately removed, his new second in command, Andrew Wheeler, a former coal industry lobbyist, could take the helm of the EPA. If he does, what will that mean for the environment agency?

Finally, we discuss the nomination of Mike Pompeo, President Trump’s new pick to lead the State Department, and what his leadership could mean for U.S. climate action.

Recommended reading:

ABC: House Speaker Paul Ryan says he will leave Congress in January: 'I have given this job everything I have'
NYT: E.P.A. Officials Sidelined After Questioning Scott Pruitt
CNN: Former Inhofe aide Wheeler confirmed as EPA's No. 2
Quartz: Mike Pompeo is warming up to manmade climate change
GTM: How Will Climate and Energy Play Into the 2018 Election?

Subscribe to the Political Climate podcast via Apple Podcasts. Look out for us soon on all other platforms!

The Inaugural Episode

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 10:59:20 -0000

The November midterm election is coming up fast. It could trigger a major power shift with both the House and Senate up for grabs. Will energy and climate be voting issues in 2018?

Recent Gallup polling shows the partisan divide is widening over human-caused climate change. At the same time, a majority of Americans say they prioritize environmental protection over energy production, and favor clean energy resources over fossil fuels. How candidates respond to these trends could influence whether Democrats take control of Congress or if Republicans hold on to the legislative branch.

In the inaugural episode of Political Climate we discuss how energy and environment issues fit into the broader political landscape, at a time of intense political division and high stakes for the nation.

Co-hosts Brandon Hurlbut, former chief-of-staff to DOE Secretary Steven Chu, and Shane Skelton, former energy adviser to Representative Paul Ryan, offer insider perspectives on how policy decisions get made -- and the political interests driving them.

We cover past clashes over the Keystone XL pipeline and Solyndra, new controversies over EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, and Russia’s influence in energy. We discuss midterm races to watch and debate the potential influence of younger voters.

We also address the recent Gallup polls and get a straight answer on why it’s so hard for Republicans to embrace a climate agenda. And we pose the question: Does it matter what someone believes if they’re willing to promote good policy?

Recommended reading:

Gallup: Global Warming Concern Steady Despite Some Partisan Shifts
Gallup: U.S. Energy Concerns Low; Increasing Supply Not a Priority
CNN: EPA Chief Scott Pruitt’s long list of controversies
Shane Skelton biography
Brandon Hurlbut biography
Julia Pyper biography

Political Climate

Grid Utilization: Unlocking the Cheapest Megawatt in America

Will EVs Surge Amid Iran Oil Shocks?

Win or Learn: Shane Battier on Energy’s March Madness Moment

Energy Shocks: Iran, AI, and the 2026 Midterms

Unpacking a Volatile Year in Climate and Energy

Inside the American Energy + AI Initiative

America's Critical Minerals Crisis

How FERC and Your Home Could Fast-Track AI Power

Power Struggles: From DC to Beijing

US vs China: Who's Winning the Energy Race?

Shutdowns and Shakeups: What's at Stake for US Energy

What an 'Unapologetic Focus' on US Competitiveness Means for Climate Action

The Big Bill Got Done. Now What?

The Grid's 'All Hands on Deck' Moment

BRB, Processing Senate Text

Unpacking Trump’s Energy Dominance Agenda

Reconciliation Revs Up

In recess, back soon!

Unpacking the EPA’s aggressive moves on energy and climate

Live from Winterfest: Rich Powell and Travis Kavulla talk GOP energy priorities

High turbulence: What Trump’s first moves mean for clean energy

Fire-killing robots and executive orders galore

Will Biden’s 11th-hour climate strategy have lasting impact?

Neil Chatterjee: “Make energy policy boring again!”

A grab bag of climate conundrums: COP’s waning influence, Gov. Newsom’s Tesla troll, and more

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman: What's next for permitting, geothermal, and the IRA?

Trump won. Now what?

Election showdown: Down-ballot drama, closing arguments, and more

Chips Ahoy: Unpacking the politics of microchip deregulation

Can Congress pull off a NEPA overhaul?

DNC dispatches: Navigating America’s skyrocketing energy demand

DNC dispatches: It’s the climate economy, stupid!

John Podesta Celebrates the IRA for “Catalyzing a Clean Energy Boom”

RNC dispatches: The fate of the IRA

RNC dispatches: The GOP’s nascent climate pivot

Rep. Scott Peters on our “old, small and dumb” grid

Making sense of nuclear’s resurgence

Republican Garret Graves’ data-driven approach to the climate crisis

The politics of carbon removal heat up

Biden’s Chinese EV and solar tariffs: Big boost or hot air?

Biden’s permitting plan: silver bullet or more red tape?

Taking stock of IRA wins and political threats

Political Climate is back!

The Most Pivotal Years for Climate Policy

Retooling Old, Polluting Infrastructure for the Clean Economy

What a Divided Government Means for Climate Policy

How Voting Rights and Redistricting Shape Climate Policy

Clean Energy Gatekeepers You’ve Never Heard Of

What's Shaping the 2022 Midterms?

How Clean Energy Can Strengthen Democracies

Newsflash: Private Sector Reactions to the Inflation Reduction Act

Feeling the Heat, California Amps Up Climate Action

Newsflash: Going Electric? The New Climate Law Can Help

A New Era for US Energy Innovation

The Inflation Reduction Act Roller Coaster

Rebooting America's Nuclear Supply Chain

Newsflash: A Powerful Way to Expand Solar Access

What Comes After the Supreme Court's EPA Ruling?

Building the Arsenal of Clean Energy

Newsflash: What to Do With Clean Energy Waste?

America's Clean Hydrogen Economy Gets a Jumpstart

Newsflash: EPA’s ​‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Opportunity

Is EV Adoption Turning a Corner?

How to Boost American-Made Clean Energy

Rolling Out Historic Infrastructure Funding

Are Paris Climate Goals Still Within Reach?

Mineral Security and Implications for the Energy Transition

Russia's War Reshapes the Energy Transition

How to Elect State Leaders on Climate

Senator Padilla on Climate, Equity & Partisanship

Biden's Climate Record, One Year In

Unpacking Newsom’s Bold $22B Climate Plan in the California Budget

How States Powered Climate Policy in 2021

Build Back Never? And Tackling Methane Emissions

Amy Harder on Trends and Challenges in Getting to Net Zero

10 Climate Stats You Need for Holiday Season

COP26: Mobilizing Trillions in Climate Finance

Is American Offshore Wind Becoming a Reality?

David Roberts, Part 2: Winning Political Messages

Newsflash: EPA’s ‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Opportunity