Political Climate

2025 has been one of the most turbulent years on record for U.S. climate and energy policy. The One Big Beautiful Bill is in; the Inflation Reduction Act is out. Clean energy grants have been canceled, permits delayed, and federal priorities reshuffled. At the same time, electricity demand is surging, consumers are worried about affordability, and trade disputes are disrupting supply chains. Amid all this volatility, has the clean energy transition stalled? To help make sense of it all, we’re joined by Jane Flegal, Executive Director of the Blue Horizons Foundation and former member of the Biden White House climate policy team, who brings a rare perspective spanning academia, philanthropy, government, and the private sector. In this episode, we step back to assess the major forces shaping climate and energy today and in the months ahead—including the federal policy reset, the AI-energy nexus, and contentious geopolitics. Plus, how advocacy needs to evolve in light of these shifts. Together with Jane, we unpack lessons learned from a wild year in climate and energy—and make some bold predictions about where we're headed next. *** Political Climate is hosted by Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut and Neil Chatterjee. Bruno Falcon is the show's producer. Check out redesigned website at www.politicalclimatepodcast.com and be sure to follow the show wherever you like to listen. The podcast will be taking a couple month hiatus in early 2026 while one of our hosts is on maternity leave. But we’ll be back again with new episodes soon!

A hyperscaler, an energy developer, and a government official walk into a room. It’s not a joke — it’s the new reality as the U.S. scrambles to lead the global race for AI dominance. As frontier AI companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic push for fast, clean, and reliable energy at unprecedented scale, policymakers are racing to understand how America’s grid will keep up. In this episode, we sit down with Ann Bluntzer Pullin, Executive Director of the Hamm Institute for American Energy, to explore how the new American Energy + AI Initiative is convening senior federal officials, top tech leaders, energy CEOs, investors, and academics around one urgent question: Can the U.S. build the power and infrastructure needed to meet AI’s explosive electricity demand? We dig into the risks of getting it wrong — from grid instability to higher energy costs — and the opportunities for America to strengthen both its AI leadership and its energy system. If the U.S. can get the AI-energy equation right, the economic and strategic payoff could be enormous. Before diving in, we kick off with updates on COP30, recent political leadership shakeups, and early insights from FERC’s new proposal on interconnecting large loads. The interview with Ann begins at the 22:30 mark.

Critical minerals sit at the heart of modern life—from phones and data centers to EVs, defense systems, and the power grid. Yet the U.S. remains heavily dependent on foreign supply chains for these resources that are dominated by China. In failing to develop holistic and responsible mineral supply chains the U.S. risks bottlenecks in semiconductors, defense, and clean energy. This puts both economic security and climate goals at risk, while perpetuating human rights abuses. In this episode, we discuss what counts as a “critical mineral,” why obtaining these resources is so consequential, and how U.S. policy is shifting as geopolitical pressures mount. We also explore a new biotech and machine learning approach to recovering minerals from existing mine waste with Liz Dennett, founder & CEO of Endolith. Liz explains how American-led innovation can unlock new supplies for critical minerals, such as copper, in a more efficient and sustainable manner—and why the stakes are so high for these resources today.

AI is reshaping the economy — and now it’s reshaping the electric grid. The growth of AI data centers is fueling an unprecedented spike in power needs — and policymakers are scrambling for creative ways to meet it. In this episode of Political Climate, we explore two different approaches to expanding the nation’s power capacity: A novel federal initiative to fast-track large-load interconnections for data centers and other energy-hungry facilities. A bottom-up vision from Rewiring America showing how electrified homes could meet 100% of projected AI-driven demand growth — all while saving households money and strengthening the grid. At the heart of the discussion is a bold directive from Energy Secretary Chris Wright to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The proposal would establish new guidelines to expedite interconnection for large loads, especially those willing to be curtailable or co-located with dispatchable generation. The goal: speed to power, without the years of costly grid upgrades that have long stalled progress. But will this fast-track strategy position the U.S. to lead on AI innovation and clean tech competitiveness — or will FERC encounter speed bumps along the way? Hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Neil Chatterjee are also joined by Ari Matusiak, co-founder and CEO of Rewiring America. Ari explains how household electrification — from heat pumps to rooftop solar and batteries — could act as a powerful distributed solution to meet the AI era’s growing energy appetite. Topics discussed: 06:54 – D.C. Dispatch: The hosts discuss Capitol Hill updates, shutdown politics, and permitting reform. 13:48 – The Filibuster Debate: How Senate rules, party control, and institutionalism affect energy and climate policy. 20:43 – DOE’s Big Move: Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s directive to FERC to expedite large-load interconnections. 27:37 – What FERC’s Proposal Means: Neil Chatterjee explains how “speed to power” could transform AI-era grid planning. 34:31 – The Flexibility Frontier: Data centers, curtailment, and co-location—how flexibility can unlock faster power delivery. 41:26 – Rewiring America Interview: Ari Matusiak on how household electrification can meet hyperscaler demand and save consumers money. 48:20 – Politics and the Power Bill: The hosts wrap up with what rising electricity costs and AI growth mean for 2025 election politics.

As the U.S. government enters its fourth week of shutdown, the fallout is spreading far beyond Washington. Billions in clean energy and technology funding have been frozen or slashed — disproportionately in blue states — as the administration uses the budget standoff to push through parts of its policy agenda. How will the shutdown showdown end? Meanwhile, U.S.–China tensions are escalating once again. Beijing has announced new restrictions on exports of rare earth elements — critical for everything from EVs to AI — prompting President Trump to hit back with another 100 percent tariff. The rivalry between the world’s two largest economies is now reshaping global energy supply chains and the race for technological dominance. In this episode, the Political Climate team unpacks how shutdown politics, trade wars, and shifting climate rhetoric are colliding, with energy at the center of both America’s domestic and geopolitical struggles. While you're here, be sure to subscribe to Political Climate on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

When we think of the U.S.–China rivalry, headlines often focus on trade wars, Taiwan, or Artificial Intelligence. But one of the most consequential battlegrounds is undoubtedly energy, which underpins each economy. Who will invent, build, and export the technologies that power the 21st century? This week, Political Climate sits down with global energy policy expert Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at NYU, to unpack the race for energy dominance. On one side, the U.S. is pumping record amounts of oil and gas, while policy momentum for low-carbon solutions has stalled although the industry has not. On the other, China is deploying solar, wind, EVs, and batteries at record scale and exporting clean energy technologies worldwide as part of a strategic plan, even as it continues to rely heavily on coal at home. So which strategy holds the upper hand? Where do the cracks appear in each country’s approach? And who is truly positioned to be the global leader on energy (and perhaps on other issues too) in the decades to come? We also kick off with a recap of recent developments in Washington, highlights from RE+ in Las Vegas, and a preview of New York Climate Week.

With August recess behind us, Washington D.C. is gearing up for a busy fall. For many in the cleantech space – more questions than answers loom ahead. What is the outlook for wind and solar permitting, with renewable energy projects in the political crosshairs? Will Congress avoid a government shutdown before the end of September deadline? If not, what’s at stake? The Trump administration has frozen or cancelled hundreds grants in the climate and energy space and continues to conduct funding reviews. What’s on the chopping block? And how will shakeups at the Department of Energy affect the US technology competitiveness? In this episode, we set the table and discuss what’s on the menu in DC this fall when it comes to climate and energy policy. 03:58 Permit cancellations & prospects for reform 10:00 The electricity affordability crisis 20:42 The looming government shutdown 26:47 Federal funding cuts for clean energy 35:07 DOE program changes with Sydney Bopp 38:21 Changes at LPO & new lending programs 46:45 Impacts of a shutdown on US energy

This week on Political Climate we’re live from Aspen Ideas: Climate in Chicago. We were joined by guest Greg Bertelsen, CEO of the Climate Leadership Council, and former senior director of energy and resources policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, as well as a fantastic live audience. The "energy transition” has been underway for decades. In the United States, this shift has been supported by 20 years of policy aimed at diversifying and securing the American energy system. U.S. emissions dropped by roughly 20% in that time. Now, we're entering a new inning for climate action marked by policy change, technology advancements, and increased global competition. In this episode, we discuss how an "unapologetic focus" on advancing U.S. competitiveness could be the key to continued progress on climate, while advancing U.S. priorities amid rising geopolitical tensions, increased energy demand, decreased affordability, and a fierce AI face. Much of the most important technology for realizing that success does not exist yet, which means it's a ripe area for American ingenuity and leadership. Will we seize the opportunity? To close out the show, we took a few audience questions focused on the winners and losers of this new climate future, and where we can focus our energy on building new infrastructure to ensure the most good and the most gain -- for everyone.

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).

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.

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!

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!

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.

Hey Political Climate listeners, we’re jumping on to let you know that we’re taking a short recess. The show will be back in another couple of weeks, with hosts Julia Pyper, Emily Domenech, and Brandon Hurlbut to help you understand the latest news with perspectives from across the political spectrum. There is no shortage of activity, from tariffs to reconciliation, DOGE program cuts, and so much more. Follow Political Climate wherever you listen, so you don’t miss the latest episode release. Thank you for listening! Back soon.

As “Political Climate” marks the one-year anniversary of its re-launch, the deluge of energy sector news continues. In today’s episode, the hosts dig into a series of recent and contentious moves from the Environmental Protection Agency—from massive power plant deregulations and an intention to undo the 2009 endangerment finding, to the termination of $20 billion in climate grants. Which of these policies could have the most impact, and where can the hosts find some unexpected common ground? Also in this episode—21 House Republicans have issued a letter calling on leaders to preserve some clean energy tax credits in the upcoming Congressional reconciliation bill; they’ve suggested they might vote against the bill if the credits are repealed. But will they really die on that hill? And later, the hosts assess some of the issues that Trump’s tariffs could inflict on the energy sector. The show wraps up with some reflections on the past year. --- 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 our 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.

In this special episode of “Political Climate,” hosts Brandon Hurlbut and Emily Domenech travel to Big Sky, Montana, to record the podcast live at the Winterfest conference. Now in its twentieth year, Winterfest brings together leaders in clean energy and finance to help move the global energy transition forward; this year the conference focused on finding solutions in a singular and difficult political moment. To help make sense of the political headwinds rocking clean energy and decarbonization efforts, the hosts are joined by two conservative-minded insiders with decades of experience: Rich Powell, the CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers’ Association, and Travis Kavulla, the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at NRG. In their wide-ranging conversation, the hosts and their guests explore the clean energy projects most likely to make gains during the Trump administration, discuss how skyrocketing energy demand impacts supply, and offer advice for industry leaders unsure of how to move their projects forward amidst compounding political challenges. --- Credits: Hosted by Emily Domenech and Brandon Hurlbut. Produced by Max Savage Levenson. Edited by Anne Bailey. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is our 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.

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. --- 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.

As most of the Los Angeles fires begin to calm down and recovery efforts begin, the conversation around mitigation and prevention has accelerated. In today’s episode, the hosts are joined by Anukool Lakhina, the CEO and co-founder of BurnBot. The company produces tank-sized robots that take in biomass, incinerate it, and extinguish it as they move. Prescribed burns are a normal part of forest management, but they typically require specific weather conditions for safety purposes. But BurnBot can operate around the clock, no matter the weather. In the interview, Anukool explains how his robots work and their potential to diminish the strength of fires like those in LA. He also discusses the bills and policies that he believes can make the biggest impact on fire mitigation moving forward. Earlier in the show, the hosts unpack and debate some of the first moves from the new Trump administration on climate and energy, including the President’s “national energy emergency,” the unwinding of President Biden’s tailpipe emissions rules, and the impact of an EPA study on the social cost of carbon. --- 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 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.

When President Biden departs the White House on January 20th, he will leave behind a nuanced and divisive legacy on climate and energy policy. On one hand, his Administration passed the momentous Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act, which have collectively stimulated massive investment and jobs creation. Yet IRA funds were slow to get out the door. Americans remained unaware of its impact and opportunities. Much of Biden’s work could be undone by President-elect Trump. To some of his supporters’ chagrin, Biden also oversaw record oil and gas extraction during his term. In today’s episode, the hosts discuss Biden’s successes and misses. In particular, they consider some of his Administration's final decisions: doling out huge LPO grants, instituting an offshore drilling ban and more. Later in the show, the hosts dig into a swan song report from Biden’s Department of Energy; it cautions that a further expansion of liquified natural gas could hurt consumers and the environment alike. What will the Trump Administration make of its warning? The episode wraps up with our 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 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. --- 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.