
Volts Sen. Brian Schatz wants permitting reform, but not like this
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Dec 31, 2025 Senator Brian Schatz, a prominent advocate for climate action from Hawaii, dives into the current energy policy landscape and the Democrats' messaging shift toward affordability. He critiques efforts on permitting reform, especially the SPEED Act, arguing it undermines critical environmental protections. Schatz discusses the importance of local community involvement in climate politics and emphasizes the need for equitable funding. He envisions harnessing data centers to support local clean energy initiatives, all while advocating for a clearer Democratic pitch on energy affordability.
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Cheap Is Clean, Use It Politically
- Clean energy is now often the cheapest option, letting politicians frame climate action as affordability.
- Brian Schatz says 'cheap is clean and clean is cheap' can flip political narratives and win votes.
IRA Was Bold — Not Unrepealable
- The IRA succeeded technically and politically but was overconfident about being unrepealable.
- Schatz argues it was the best available approach to drive emissions down while managing a coalition for passage.
Restore Credits And Invest In Breakthroughs
- Reestablish the ITC and PTC and keep deploying subsidies to lower consumer costs.
- Invest in game-changing tech like carbon removal, geothermal, and storage alongside considering border adjustments.

