Now that Congress has passed and President Trump has signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we talk about the final language and what it means for the U.S. energy sector on this episode of Political Climate.
We discuss short term implications for solar and wind developers, particularly in light of a new executive order calling for new Treasury rules to strictly enforce the repeal of renewable energy tax credits. We also tackle what the OBBB means for American energy competitiveness on a global scale.
Plus, a new Department of Energy report warns that blackouts could increase by 100 times in 2030 if the U.S. continues to close baseload power plants and fails to add additional firm capacity. Is the U.S facing a grid reliability crisis without coal and natural gas plants?
We weigh in on the DOE report and the growing mismatch between US electricity supply and demand (for a primer, listen to our previous episode with Asim Haque, VP with grid operator PJM Interconnection).
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The Grid's 'All Hands on Deck' Moment
U.S. grid operators braced for a surge in electricity demand and possible power outages this week as scorching temperatures hit the eastern half of the country. Heat waves are just one of the challenges facing increasingly strained electricity systems across the country, amid rapidly growing demand from data centers and a looming shortfall in supply.
On this episode of Political Climate we’re joined by Asim Haque, SVP of Governmental and Membership Services for PJM Interconnection. Haque helps us unpack this historic "all hands on deck" moment for the U.S. power grid. Challenges and opportunities lie ahead: from preparing for AI's energy usage and tackling interconnection queues, to managing diverse resource portfolios and price increases that drag grid operators into the political fray.
This period of transition is taking place against a historic debate in Congress on the future of energy tax policy, which could have major implications for how grid operators manage the supply crunch and demand spikes they're facing.
We kick off the episode with our ongoing coverage of the Big, Beautiful Bill as we dig into the Senate Finance Committee's version of the tax and spending cuts package. We unpack some of the differences between the House and Senate language, next steps ahead of the President's July 4th deadline, and what the reconciliation bill means for the U.S. power system.
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BRB, Processing Senate Text
Dropping in with a quick update that Political Climate is pushing the release of our next full episode to next week. As our listeners know, the Senate is in the process of revising and releasing their version of the reconciliation bill that the House passed a few weeks ago. Senate Finance Committee text dropped Monday evening and there is a lot to unpack.
While there are many things we want to talk about that aren’t directly related to the bill, so much of the energy sector is set to be impacted by the big bill that we wanted to take the time to read it — and to bring in a guest or two who can help us unpack what it all means.
So, while we don’t have an episode for you this week, we’ll have another one coming soon. Stay tuned!
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Unpacking Trump’s Energy Dominance Agenda
President Trump’s return to office has reignited a bold push for energy dominance — a sweeping agenda to supercharge U.S. energy production, slash regulatory red tape, and reestablish America as a powerhouse in global energy markets.
In this episode, we dive deep into what that actually means. From a wave of recent executive orders to the high-stakes reconciliation bill moving through Congress, we explore how the administration aims to lower energy costs, secure supply chains, and leverage American energy to bolster both the economy and national security.
During President Trump's March address to Congress, he pledged to combat inflation by “rapidly reducing the cost of energy.” His administration is also laser-focused on winning the AI race against China, which requires a massive amount of new energy development. The stakes are high — and in many ways, Congress holds the keys to making the president’s energy dominance agenda a reality. But is the House-passed reconciliation bill aligned with that vision, or does it fall short?
Finally, we announce some exciting if bittersweet news, as we welcome a new voice onto the show and bid farewell to another!
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Reconciliation Revs Up
If you’re tracking the world of budget reconciliation then you know it’s crunch time as House Speaker Mike Johnson works to pass a party-line megabill by Memorial Day. House Republicans have a lot on their plates as they try to make significant spending reductions while extending tax cuts and raising the debt ceiling.
The fate of U.S. energy tax credits also hangs in the balance, as debate continues to rage around the GOP’s so-called big, beautiful bill.
In this episode of Political Climate, we’re back from a break to discuss the latest developments on the reconciliation package now that the House has released legislative text. Which clean energy policies and programs remain at risk of repeal? Which ones could the Senate step in to save?
Plus, we look at how the energy sector is responding to tariffs and how all of this is shaping up to fulfill President Trump’s Energy Dominance agenda.
Listen and subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and beyond! Follow us on X at @Poli_Climate or find the show on LinkedIn.
Political Climate delivers an insider’s view on the most pressing policy questions in energy and climate. Through biweekly analysis and debate, the podcast explores the nuances of how policy and politics shape the energy transition in the U.S. and around the world. Political Climate goes beyond partisan echo chambers to bring you insider scoops and authentic conversations with voices from across the political spectrum – all with a healthy dose of wit. Tune in every other Monday for the latest takes from hosts Julia Pyper, Emily Domenech, and Brandon Hurlbut. Political Climate is produced by Latitude Media in partnership with Boundary Stone Partners.
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