Columbia Energy Exchange Editor's Pick: Sean Casten on US Energy Policy in a Partisan Era
Dec 30, 2025
Sean Casten, U.S. Congressman from Illinois and former clean energy entrepreneur, dives into the tumultuous state of U.S. energy policy. He discusses the repercussions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on clean energy incentives and critiques Congress's limited energy knowledge. Casten argues for a focus on affordable energy and outlines the urgency for climate action. He champions utility reform and emphasizes the need for bipartisan trust amid rising electricity demand, all while maintaining an optimistic outlook for America's energy future.
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Grew Up Inside Energy Policy
- Sean Casten recounted growing up around district energy and PERPA, shaping his energy expertise.
- His family history included building one of the first qualifying facilities in Trenton, New Jersey.
Prioritize Consumers Not Producers
- Energy policy should prioritize reliable, affordable energy for consumers over boosting producer profits.
- Current U.S. policy often subsidies producers and blocks consumer-focused measures like rooftop solar adoption.
Extraction Culture Shapes U.S. Energy
- The U.S. historically prioritized resource extraction, which shaped incentives to extract rather than use energy efficiently.
- Other countries achieve higher GDP per unit energy, showing large efficiency gains are possible.