In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by one of the most thoughtful—and occasionally controversial—voices in energy policy today.

Neil Chatterjee served on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 2017 to 2021. During that time, he also served two stints as the chairman of the commission. At FERC, Chatterjee gained a reputation for his candor, as well as his divisive takes. For instance, in 2020, he embraced carbon pricing, a move that drew the ire of his boss and may have cost him the chairmanship. 

More recently, Chatterjee frustrated his former colleagues shortly after the 2024 election when he publicly offered to give the President-elect advice on how to shrink FERC. As part of a recent media blitz, Chatterjee has celebrated the prospect of American energy dominance in the second Trump administration.

In today’s episode, Chatterjee delves into a range of topics: he makes the case for throwing out the playbook on energy politics to meet the demands of AI, digs into the potential of distributed energy resources and explains why he wants to “put the nerds back in charge” of our energy system.

Also in today’s episode: Emily explains what may have gone wrong for permitting reform in the lame duck session of Congress, and highlights the scenarios through which reform could get included in a 2025 reconciliation package instead.

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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.

In honor of the mixed assortment of Thanksgiving leftovers in our fridges, today’s episode features a grab bag of hot topics facing energy and climate policy today.

The hosts kick things off with a frank assessment of COP29, which wrapped up in Azerbaijan a few weeks ago. Members agreed to provide $300B in annual support to developing nations, but the lack of a more comprehensive pledge left many attendees concerned about the waning influence of the conference writ large.

Then, the hosts consider pathways for permitting reform in both the lame duck session and Congress’ upcoming reconciliation package. Later in the show, they unpack a proposal from California Gov. Gavin Newsom to offer a statewide EV tax credit if President-elect Trump kills the existing federal program. The unexpected catch? It bars Tesla from participating in the program.

The hosts wrap up the episode with feedback from our listeners, including questions and comments covering everything from right-shoring and ag policy to the future of offshore wind.

Lastly, we apologize for the minor audio issues in this episode!

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

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 dust has settled on our national election, and the Republican Party has officially completed a trifecta—winning the White House and Senate, and keeping control of the House. 

As a result, the GOP will have enormous power to shape energy and climate policy in the next session of Congress. While many of the specifics are still coming into focus, the House Natural Resources Committee will certainly play a central role. 

In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by the committee’s chairman, Republican Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, to discuss some of the most pressing questions facing the energy sector: from the future of the IRA, to a pathway to permitting reform and the future of domestic mining and geothermal. 

Also in the show, we take a quick look at a few of President-elect Trump’s choices for Cabinet positions, and their potential—and nuanced—impact on energy and climate.

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

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.

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was reelected in a landslide, becoming the first Republican to win the popular vote since 2004. Republicans also re-took control of the Senate, and will likely keep a majority in the House of Representatives as well.

In today’s show — which was recorded the morning after the election — the hosts unpack the results, and consider what they mean for the future of America’s clean energy sector. They focus on a series of questions: how can Democrats better message clean energy policy and energy affordability moving forward? Which Republicans in Congress are poised to be clean energy leaders? Will the Biden Administration seek to expedite IRA funds before their term ends?

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

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 2024 election has finally arrived. Early ballots have been mailed. The candidates are crossing the country, making their final pitches. Analysts are poring over countless polls, while tension builds. 

Climate and energy didn’t surface as a central issue of this year’s presidential campaign. But the results of the race — as well as many more down-ballot — will have huge repercussions for the future of U.S. energy policy. 

In today’s episode, the hosts explore the nuanced role climate played in this election cycle, highlight some down-ballot races to watch, and consider some scenarios and priorities for the lame duck session. 

Also in the show: what lessons should lawmakers take away from recent catastrophic hurricanes? Could a new approach to FEMA funding and flood insurance lessen the impacts of the next big storm?

This episode wraps up with our lightning round segment, the Mark-Up.

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

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.

With less than four months left in office, President Biden has green-lit another divisive climate-related policy.

On October 2, Biden signed the Building Chips in America Act into law. The bill allows the manufacture of microchips—like the ones in smartphones, medical devices, cars and more—to bypass federal environmental review. 

The bill’s supporters hope it will drive domestic production and maximize the potential of Biden’s 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. But a solid chunk of congressional Democrats oppose the bill, citing the health and environmental risks that chips production facilities pose.

In today’s episode, the hosts unpack the nuanced political dynamics behind the bill and debate the impacts it could have on November’s elections.

Also in the show—the hosts take a deep dive on the climate rhetoric in the recent vice presidential debate and offer an insider perspective on New York Climate Week.

The episode wraps up with the lightning round segment, the Markup.

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

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.

The team returns back from a mid-season break rested and ready to dig into a new Congressional attempt to fast-track clean energy projects. 

Earlier this month, GOP Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas introduced draft legislation to overhaul the long-standing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The plan could provide critical momentum to get clean energy (and fossil fuel) projects built faster. Yet it has also caught flak from some Democrats who describe it as extreme, and tie it to the controversial Project 2025.

In today’s episode, the hosts consider the obstacles surrounding existing NEPA policy, as well as the impacts of Westerman’s plan and the criticisms surrounding it.

Also in this episode: Brandon, Emily, and Julia discuss the energy and climate rhetoric in this month’s presidential debate, as well as a proposal from Harris campaign adviser Brian Deese to loan other countries billions of dollars to buy American clean energy tech. 

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

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.