Dr. Liz Reynolds, former Special Assistant to the President, discusses America's largest investment in climate change. They delve into the importance of investing in infrastructure, US dependency on foreign technologies, challenges in distributing climate-related assistance, and collective responsibility.
Industrial policy plays a crucial role in kick-starting the market and addressing national concerns by incentivizing private sector investment in technologies and industries important for national and economic security.
The three laws - the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act - together commit almost half a trillion dollars to slowing and adapting to climate change, with a focus on investing in infrastructure, reducing dependency on other countries, and transitioning to clean energy.
Deep dives
Industrial Policy and Climate Strategy
The podcast discusses the importance of industrial policy in addressing climate change. Industrial policy refers to the use of tools by the government to incentivize private sector investment in technologies and industries that are important for national and economic security. The three laws - the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act - together commit almost half a trillion dollars to slowing and adapting to climate change. These laws focus on investing in infrastructure, reducing dependency on other countries for resources and technologies, and transitioning to clean energy. Industrial policy plays a crucial role in kick-starting the market and addressing national concerns.
The Three Laws and their Climate-related Investments
The three laws discussed in the podcast have significant investments in addressing climate change. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill focuses on physical and energy infrastructure, including investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, upgrading public transit vehicles, and expanding the electric grid. The CHIPS and SCIENCE Act includes funding for semiconductor manufacturing, but the climate-related investments are more focused on research and development for future technologies. The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest of the three laws, with about $370 billion allocated to climate spending. The majority of this funding is through tax credits, aimed at incentivizing private sector investment in clean energy technologies. The laws also make organizational changes to facilitate technology demonstration and deployment.
Progress and Challenges
The podcast highlights the impact of the laws and the challenges associated with their implementation. Since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed, there have been significant investments in clean energy manufacturing, indicating the private sector's response to the legislation. However, the effectiveness of these laws also depends on state and local involvement. Not all regions may have the resources to compete for federal funding or meet the fast pace of spending expected by the federal government. Balancing the need for rapid progress with necessary environmental and permitting processes presents a challenge. Nevertheless, the podcast emphasizes that this moment represents a transformational opportunity for the country, and the success of these climate policies relies on collective action and responsible implementation at all levels.
On August 16, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It was the largest of three bills signed over the course of 10 months that together make up the United States’ largest investment in addressing climate change… well, ever. Dr. Liz Reynolds, lecturer in MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning and former Special Assistant to the President for Manufacturing and Economic Development at the National Economic Council at the White House, joins the TILclimate podcast to help us see the big picture of what these bills are trying to accomplish.