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In this episode:
Guest: Alex Flint, executive director, Alliance for Market Solutions
Host: Todd Snitchler, president and CEO, Electric Power Supply Association
Can conservatives learn to love climate policy? As more and more Republicans understand the need to reduce emissions, Alex Flint talks to industry and walks the halls of Capitol Hill to find and share ideas that can accelerate decarbonization – without sending America over the fiscal cliff. Hear what matters to conservatives when it comes to improving our environment, economy and energy security – and why competitive market-based solutions like a carbon price will accelerate the energy transition and could gain elusive bipartisan agreement.
I remember one Republican Senator saying, “Alex, you’re the first person to talk to me about climate change.” And we’ve found that a lot of members weren’t reading about climate change, they weren’t, they didn’t know a lot about the issues. They weren’t comfortable talking about it, they certainly would not have been comfortable talking about it at a town hall meeting or something. Over the last four years, I will say we’ve seen a massive change in that…”
Alex Flint, executive director, Alliance for Market Solutions
Follow along with a transcript of the episode here.
Highlights
[2.28] “Republican orthodoxy on climate change needed to evolve.” Alex shares what Alliance for Market Solutions is all about.
[6.02] “We need to… identify policies that will last for the long-term.”
[8.05] Managing the Cost of the Energy Transition
[12.45] Is there a viable path forward for an economy-wide price on carbon?
[14.25] Market Forces Accelerate Transformation
[15.10] Alex shares what he’s hearing from policymakers on the Hill.
[19.40] Alex says the government can’t afford to remake the energy infrastructure of this country – but markets can.
[22.03] Is the energy policy discussion moving in the right direction? Todd asks Alex what he thinks of the current slew of energy proposals.
[27.30] What can industry do to move the energy policy needle?
[29.57] “Markets are responding, and I think they will respond faster than we expect.” Alex shares his optimism for the future.
[32.10] Bonus: We explore a cap-and-trade program from the 1990s, and how it could be implemented in the future.
Production
Producer, Audio Editor: Christina Nyquist, communications director, Electric Power Supply Association
Production Associate: Sarah Krieger, communications associate, Electric Power Supply Association
Learn more:
The Alliance for Market Solutions’ Approach to Reduce Carbon
Economy-wide Carbon Price: The Least-Cost Path to Reduce Carbon Emissions | EPSA | April 12, 2021
A Carbon Price Can Reduce Power Gen Emissions and Save Billions: Unpacking E3’s New PJM Grid Report | Brian George for EPSA | November 4, 2021
Bipartisan Energy and Environment Wins for the 117th Congress: EPSA’s 2021 Congressional Outlook | Brian George for EPSA | January 11, 2021
