High turbulence: What Trump’s first moves mean for clean energy

Feb 10, 2025

The discussion kicks off with a lighthearted Super Bowl chat before diving into the serious implications of President Trump's rapid policy shifts on clean energy. The hosts analyze the funding freeze on renewable projects and the push towards fossil fuels. They explore the challenging landscape for job creation in the clean energy sector and the negative impacts of governmental decisions. The conversation also addresses the future of solar energy, its challenges with tariffs, and the importance of adapting to changing regulations for a sustainable energy landscape.

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INSIGHT

Green New Deal's Impact

The Green New Deal slogan aimed to create green jobs through re-industrialization.
The Inflation Reduction Act achieved this, creating jobs and attracting investments, benefiting red districts.

ANECDOTE

Bureaucracy at DOE

Brandon Hurlbut recounts facing bureaucratic hurdles while working at the Department of Energy, like unused cell phones.
He suggests a systemic overhaul may be necessary to address wasteful spending, though it won't solve inflation.

INSIGHT

Clean Energy Priorities

Democrats prioritize clean energy to compete with China and reduce pollution.
China's significant solar investments demonstrate a global shift towards clean energy despite coal usage.

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Since President Trump took office on January 20, he has quickly enacted an expansive list of policies with immediate and dramatic impacts on climate and energy.

If you feel like you’re struggling to process these rapid-fire actions, you’re not alone.

Among other pursuits, the President has vowed to “terminate the Green New Deal” and paused funding for tons of clean energy projects—from offshore wind development to Solar for All and IRA grants. He has signed executive orders designed to maximize fossil fuel extraction and domestic mining, and overseen the launch of an enormous, power-hungry data center called Stargate, which could potentially employ solar as part of its fuel mix. Additionally, Trump instituted a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, and has threatened to implement additional tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods. (Okay, let’s take a breath.)

In today’s episode, the hosts dig into some of these pressing issues, debate their impact on the clean energy sector, and find some common ground on the potential upside of trimming the federal government.

This episode wraps up with the rapid-fire segment, the Mark-Up.

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Credits: Hosted by Julia Pyper, Emily Domenech, and Brandon Hurlbut. Produced by Max Savage Levenson. Edited by Anne Bailey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor.

Political Climate is co-produced by Boundary Stone Partners, a leading bipartisan climate change strategic advisory and government affairs firm. Their mission-driven approach combines innovative solutions with expertise in technology, finance, policy, federal funding, and advocacy. Learn more and get in touch today at BoundaryStone.com.

The energy industry is transforming - are you staying ahead of the curve? As the premier bipartisan strategic advisory firm, Boundary Stone Partners bridges the gap between technology, policy, and finance to drive real-world impact, empowering clients to shape a more sustainable future. Visit BoundaryStone.com to learn more.