Political Climate

Latest Episodes:

DNC dispatches: Navigating America’s skyrocketing energy demand Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

In today’s episode, the Political Climate team takes us back behind the scenes of the 2024 Democratic National Convention to chat candidly with lawmakers and leading activists about some of the most pressing issues that Democrats will have to navigate after the election - no matter who occupies the Oval Office - and how they plan to tackle them.

In this episode, we’ll hear from a range of experts and leaders: from Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Representative Sean Casten of Illinois to Maria Korsnick of the Nuclear Energy Institute and Boise, Idaho mayor Lauren McLean.

These climate advocates help unpack a series of top questions facing the country—how can the U.S. mitigate rising energy demands? What are the risks of embracing nuclear energy? Should Democrats take the imperfect Manchin-Barrasso permitting reform deal, or wait for a more appealing alternative?

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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.

Concerned about how the 2024 election might impact the programs, policies, and incentives that matter most to you? Let Boundary Stone Partners' Climate24 service help you navigate the political landscape with their policy navigator tool, resources, and bespoke services. Learn more at BoundaryStone.com/Climate24.

DNC dispatches: It’s the climate economy, stupid! Aug 30, 2024

Show notes

In today’s episode – the first of a two-part dispatch – the Political Climate team takes us behind the scenes of the 2024 Democratic National Convention to chat candidly with lawmakers and leading activists about Democrats’ strategy for pitching climate policies in the lead up to November’s election.

Although Vice President Harris barely mentioned climate policy in her marquee speech, clean energy advocates from the public and private sectors are championing the economic impacts of the IRA and other policies.

In this episode, we hear from a range of experts and leaders – from climate champions like Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts and former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, to activists like Saad Amer and congressional leaders like Representative Sean Casten of Illinois – who explain what’s working, and how to use climate issues to appeal to swing voters.

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John Podesta Celebrates the IRA for “Catalyzing a Clean Energy Boom” Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

Exactly two years ago, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. With more than $800 billion devoted to renewables, batteries, transmission, carbon removal, EVs, and the factories to build them, the bill is America’s largest-ever investment in climate solutions.

Yet the rollout of the IRA hasn’t been the smoothest. Some projects have been slow to come online, and polls show that many voters remain unaware of its impact.

In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by veteran Democrat John Podesta, a key player in crafting the IRA. Podesta currently serves as senior adviser to President Biden for clean energy innovation and implementation

In the interview, Podesta reflects on the bill’s triumphs over the past two years, and addresses concerns around its implementation–voters’ unfamiliarity with the bill, reports that 40% of IRA projects have been delayed or paused, and general apprehension that the bill can’t reach its full potential without expansive permitting reform.

Later in the show, the hosts take a quick look at two new federal bills that could also impact the future of clean energy in America: a bipartisan stab at permitting reform from Senators Manchin and Barrasso, and a plan to bar Chinese companies from benefiting from the IRA.

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RNC dispatches: The fate of the IRA Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

In today’s episode — the second of a two-part dispatch — Political Climate co-host Emily Domenech takes us behind the curtain at the 2024 Republican National Convention to chat with the lawmakers championing clean energy from within the GOP.

We’ll hear from members of Congress like Rep. John Curtis of Utah and Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota, as well as advocates like Jason Grumet of the American Clean Power Association and Heather Reams of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions.

In this second installment, Emily and her guests discuss the urgency of permitting reform, and consider the fate of the IRA in a Republican administration. They also dig into the state of nuclear energy, and offer some climate policy advice for former President Trump’s campaign.

At the end of the episode, all three Political Climate hosts gather to discuss and debate the policies that surfaced during Emily’s reporting trip, as well as Vice President Harris’ record on climate policy.

This episode of Political Climate was made possible by ClearPath Action, a conservative energy advocacy organization focused on reducing global emissions.

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RNC dispatches: The GOP’s nascent climate pivot Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

In today’s episode — the first of a two-part dispatch — Political Climate co-host Emily Domenech takes us behind the scenes of the 2024 Republican National Convention to chat candidly with lawmakers.

Emily talks with Rep. John Curtis of Utah, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, as well as advocates like Chris Barnard of the American Conservation Coalition and Heather Reams of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions.

This first installment focuses on the incremental shift within the GOP to change the conversation around climate change. Emily and her guests also explore the long-held belief in energy independence, and consider whether soaring demand for energy in the U.S. shifts the policy conversation.

This episode of Political Climate was made possible by ClearPath Action, a conservative energy advocacy organization focused on reducing global emissions.

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Rep. Scott Peters on our “old, small and dumb” grid Jul 19, 2024

Show notes

Among members of Congress, few have approached climate change with the experience and diligence of Democratic California Representative Scott Peters.

Peters spent decades as an environmental lawyer and Environmental Protection Agency economist prior to becoming a US Representative. Now in his sixth term, Peters has put clean energy at the top of his priority list.

In today’s episode, Representative Peters joins hosts Julia Pyper and Emily Domenech to explore a range of topics: from the Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down the Chevron doctrine, to his unexpectedly fruitful relationship with Republican Representative Bruce Westerman and how he believes a second Trump term could impact US energy policy.

Peters, who serves on the House Energy & Commerce and Budget Committee, also digs into the details of his recent energy and climate related bills.

The Fix Our Forests Act
The Advanced Reactor Fee Reduction Act
The SPEED and Reliability Act, which seeks to expedite the permitting process for new transmission lines
The PROVE IT Act, which seeks to study the carbon footprint of twenty-odd industrial imports.

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Making sense of nuclear’s resurgence Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

The past month proved to be a dramatic one for America’s long-stagnant nuclear sector.

First, on June 10, TerraPower – the company co-founded by Bill Gates – broke ground on the Western Hemisphere’s first advanced nuclear facility, in Wyoming. A week later, the Senate passed the ADVANCE Act on a vote of 88-2. (The House already passed the bill by similar margins in February.) If signed into law, ADVANCE will streamline permitting and funding policies for future nuclear projects.

In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by Boundary Stone co-founder Jeff Navin – who also serves as TerraPower’s Director of External Affairs – to explore the momentum behind nuclear’s resurgence. Later in the show, Jeff takes us behind the scenes of TerraPower’s Natrium project to highlight its challenges, and its promise.

The episode kicks off with a discussion of both the recent Presidential debate and the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the wide-reaching Chevron doctrine, which gave federal agencies like the EPA the room to implement ambiguous laws as they saw fit. In Chevron’s absence, those decisions will be left to Congress and the judiciary.

Subscribe to Latitude Media’s newsletter to get weekly updates on tech, markets, policy, and deals across clean energy and climate tech.

And listen to Climate One, a weekly podcast hosted by journalists Greg Dalton and Ariana Brocious featuring discussions with climate advocacy experts on various aspects impacting climate change, from AI to inflation. You can find Climate One on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Republican Garret Graves’ data-driven approach to the climate crisis Jun 21, 2024

Show notes

Among Republicans in Congress, few, if any, have wielded as much influence on climate and clean energy as Louisiana Representative Garret Graves.

In the past few years, Graves served as the ranking member on the House Select Committee on Climate and ran the Republican Task Force on Energy, Climate, and Conservation. He also played a central role in last year’s debt ceiling negotiations, which included a bipartisan deal on infrastructure permitting reform that the Biden administration later revised, to many lawmakers’ chagrin.

In this special episode of Political Climate, Graves sits down with co-host Emily Domenech in his Washington office to dig into Congress’ record on climate, as well as his own. In the interview, Graves champions natural gas, calls for an emotion-free approach to lowering emissions, reflects on the impacts of climate change on his home state, and considers the future of U.S. energy policy, among other topics.

Later in the show, all three hosts gather to discuss Graves’ comments, find consensus, and highlight areas of disagreement. (On June 14, after both Emily’s interview and the hosts’ discussion, Graves announced that he will not seek re-election this November.)

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The politics of carbon removal heat up Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

In recent weeks, carbon management has found itself in the spotlight – for reasons both encouraging and concerning for its proponents.

On May 28th, the DOE unveiled the semifinalists for a new funding competition for carbon removal and storage companies, as well as a plan to buy over $30 million in carbon credits from the eventual winners. The same day, President Biden also revealed new policies that aim to guide and bolster the larger voluntary carbon credit market.

These moves follow Biden’s much larger investments in carbon removal last year: $1.2 billion to fund two direct-air capture facilities in Texas and Louisiana, as well as nearly a billion to fund carbon storage and transport.

It’s not all good news for the sector, however. The week before the DOE’s announcement, on May 23, the trade group Edison Electric Institute joined a coalition of utilities providers to sue the EPA over new federal requirements to use carbon capture technologies in their power plants. The plaintiffs argue that the tech isn’t ready for wide-scale deployment.

In today’s episode, we’ll consider whether these various forms of carbon management – from removal to capture and storage – are on a pathway to scalability, and whether industry resistance will slow their advancement.

The show wraps up with the hosts’ rapid-fire hot takes in “The Mark-up.”

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Biden’s Chinese EV and solar tariffs: Big boost or hot air? May 24, 2024

Show notes

On the heels of a climate and energy rules blitz, President Biden has announced a plan to quadruple existing tariffs on Chinese EVs – from 25 all the way up to 100 percent – and dramatically hike tariffs on Chinese solar cells, batteries, and critical minerals as well.

While these numbers look huge on paper, loopholes and caveats in the policy will likely dilute their impact.

On this episode of Political Climate, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Emily Domenech debate whether the tariffs will boost American EV and solar production, or if they add up to little more than political posturing.

Then they zoom out to consider a series of new polls showing that despite the President’s wide-ranging efforts – and $1.6 trillion of funds in the IRA – a plurality of voters appear unaware of Biden’s efforts to fight climate change.

The show wraps up with some rapid fire hot takes in our new segment “The Mark-up.”

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