Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins

How Democrats Are Trying to Trump-proof Their Big Climate Law

Dec 4, 2024

In this discussion, Kristina Costa, Deputy Assistant to the President for Clean Energy Innovation, outlines pivotal aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act. She highlights its unprecedented scale and urgency amidst potential political shifts. Costa delves into the importance of state capacities in advancing these climate goals and the need for innovative federal tools to compete with global leaders like China. Additionally, she shares strategies to safeguard these climate initiatives from future threats, emphasizing collaborative efforts in the private sector.

01:03:40

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Episode guests

Kristina Costa

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Quick takeaways

The Inflation Reduction Act represents a historic investment in clean energy, significantly accelerating U.S. emissions reduction towards net-zero goals by 2050.

Despite substantial funding and local successes, the IRA faces vulnerability to political shifts, particularly with potential changes under a Trump administration.

Effective communication about the IRA's accomplishments is essential for public awareness, leveraging local media to highlight tangible benefits in communities across the nation.

Deep dives

Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has led to significant advancements in U.S. climate policy, achieving unprecedented momentum in decarbonization efforts. The legislation effectively doubled or tripled the pace of emissions reduction that would have likely occurred without its implementation. The achievement is projected to bring the country closer to the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, though substantial work remains. As it stands, these policies are viewed as critically vulnerable to potential policy reversals under a future Trump administration.

Intro

2min

Decarbonization Under the Inflation Reduction Act

16min

Safeguarding the Inflation Reduction Act

10min

Congress and the IRA Tax Credits: A Legislative Tug of War

7min

Navigating the Challenges of Climate Policy Implementation

4min

Navigating the Inflation Reduction Act: Opportunities and Challenges

13min

Navigating Climate Challenges and Opportunities in Clean Energy

3min

Electrifying the Skies: Advancements in Aviation

10min

The Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden’s landmark climate law, is the biggest investment in clean energy in American history. It is also in danger. In January, the Trump administration and a GOP Congress will take over the federal government — and they have made a variety of promises about how they’ll disrupt the law, ranging from full repeal to a more “surgical” reform approach.

On this week’s episode of Shift Key, Rob and Jesse talk with Kristina Costa, who has worked since 2022 to implement the IRA’s climate provisions at the White House. She joins us to discuss what went right about the Biden administration’s rush to implement the law, why state government capacity is holding back Democratic policy goals, and why the federal government needs more tools to support energy innovation if it wants to keep up with China. She also discusses how the administration is trying to Trump-proof the law. Shift Key is hosted by Robinson Meyer, the founding executive editor of Heatmap, and Jesse Jenkins, a professor of energy systems engineering at Princeton University.

Mentioned:

Biden has obligated more than $100 billion in IRA grants

The administration’s three big tax credit goals by the end of the year: hydrogen, advanced manufacturing, and technology-neutral clean electricity

Jesse’s upshift; Rob’s upshift.

(And here’s what’s 250 miles from three cities: Newark, Chicago, Las Vegas.)

This episode of Shift Key is sponsored by …

Watershed’s climate data engine helps companies measure and reduce their emissions, turning the data they already have into an audit-ready carbon footprint backed by the latest climate science. Get the sustainability data you need in weeks, not months. Learn more at watershed.com.

As a global leader in PV and ESS solutions, Sungrow invests heavily in research and development, constantly pushing the boundaries of solar and battery inverter technology. Discover why Sungrow is the essential component of the clean energy transition by visiting sungrowpower.com.

Intersolar & Energy Storage North America is the premier U.S.-based conference and trade show focused on solar, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure. To learn more, visit intersolar.us.

Music for Shift Key is by Adam Kromelow.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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