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, electric vehicles, 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.
