Climate & Energy Policy

Balancing the imperative of decarbonization with energy reliability and economic growth.

Decarbonization Pathways

Reaching net-zero emissions requires transforming electricity generation, transportation, and industrial processes. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) relies heavily on tax incentives rather than direct pricing of carbon.

Carbon Pricing

Economists widely favor a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system as the most efficient way to reduce emissions, internalizing the negative externality of greenhouse gases. However, the political viability of direct pricing remains low in the U.S.

Grid Resilience

As the grid becomes more dependent on intermittent renewables (solar, wind), massive investments in transmission infrastructure and utility-scale storage are required. Permitting reform is frequently cited as the primary bottleneck.