Adrian Deveny, former Director of Energy and Environmental Policy for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, was a key architect of the Biden-era climate policy agenda, including the landmark Inflation Reduction Act. In this conversation, we explore Adrian's perspective on what to expect from Washington, D.C., in the years ahead, as the federal government transitions to Republican control of the executive branch and both chambers of Congress.

We discuss the likely fate of the climate and clean energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act over the next couple of years and whether there are viable pathways for new clean energy policy in the near term. Given the ambitious policies rolled out in recent years, Adrian also shares insights on the "unfinished business" he sees as critical. Spoiler alert: he believes we need to more than double our policy efforts to meet U.S. emissions targets. 

In this episode, we cover: 

• [3:36] Adrian’s background and  journey in the Senate
• [8:26] Republican trifecta’s impact on climate policy
• [11:47] Regulatory challenges, including Supreme Court rulings
• [17:48] Challenges in EPA funding and appropriations
• [19:53] Defending clean energy tax credits under the IRA
• [24:08] IRA’s impact on manufacturing and the EV supply chain
• [31:48] Bipartisan opportunities in geothermal, nuclear, and defense projects
• [45:28] Debates on permitting reform for energy projects
• [52:00] Future clean energy growth and market forces
• [55:12] Adrian’s focus on advancing federal climate policy

Recommended listening: 

• Crafting Landmark Climate Legislation Russel Kenneth DeGraff

Episode recorded on Nov 20, 2024 (Published on Jan 13, 2025)

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant