Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Blueprint for a Popular Climate Agenda

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · 16d

Please have at it. I welcome your “yes, and,” “yes, but,” and “no, actually.”

1

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · 16d

It's Climate Week. How can the climate community move from dysphoria to action?

For a proposed path forward, see my new article below

We need a climate agenda that:
1. Cuts costs
2. Expedites clean energy
3. Is written not about workers/communities, but by them
democracyjournal.org/magazine/78/...

The path forward is climate policy written not about impacted workers and communities, but by them.

democracyjournal.org

Blueprint for a Popular Climate Agenda

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · 21d

Want a blueprint for pivoting from climate rollbacks to a strategic climate offense?

That's my focus in a new article out today in Democracy Journal.

The path forward is a new climate agenda written not about impacted workers & communities, but by them.

democracyjournal.org/magazine/78/...

The path forward is climate policy written not about impacted workers and communities, but by them.

democracyjournal.org

7 29

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jul 16

What's the path forward for climate & clean energy policy?

Tune in to this symposium tomorrow, where a few of us will offer ideas for what comes next.

Livestream link below. Climate panel starts at 11:20am.

Institute for Policy Studies @ips-dc.org · Jun 26

🎙️ NEW: Join us for the 2nd Annual Henry A. Wallace Symposium!

📍 U of California Washington Center
📅 Thurs, July 17
🕑 10 am - 6 pm ET

Lawmakers, movements, experts, and activists will go in depth on building our progressive future — ft. @raskin.house.gov, @jayapal.house.gov, and more. Register now:

Bold Ideas For A New Progressive Majority - Institute for Policy Studies

The Institute for Policy Studies, The Nation, and Public Citizen in partnership with the Wallace Global Fund present the 2nd Annual Henry A. Wallace Symposium.

ips-dc.org

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jul 16

If you're in DC and abundance-curious, you might like this panel & happy hour tomorrow evening.

We'll discuss policies that would deliver abundance vs. those that would take us backwards, moderated by Claire Jones of the Financial Times.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/abundance-...

2

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jul 3

Today's vote is a gut punch.

But it's not over. Our generational task of building a more just, clean energy economy will outlive this political cycle.

We'll fight – in the states, courts, & streets. When we win a gov't that reps the majority, we’ll pick up the baton the GOP dropped & keep running.

1 7

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

Crafting a plan for clean energy abundance requires precision, not abstraction.

We need to add industrial policies, end parochial restrictions, & use the labor/equity ingredients of the "everything bagel."

To actually deliver abundance, let's differentiate between those needs.

4

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

Delay #5: Workforce shortages

Solution: Use policies that ensure fair wages for construction workers, which also support workforce retention in a tight labor market. Wage standards were also part of the IRA "everything bagel," given they advance both jobs & deployment goals.

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

Delay #4: Community opposition

Solution: Community Benefits Agreements offer a proven tool for clean energy developers to obtain community support for projects, & for community & labor groups to secure wins. The IRA "everything bagel" encouraged CBAs as a pro-building solution.

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

Delay #3: Rising local restrictions on clean energy

Solution: "Abundance" proponents are right that we must end these problematic policies. But the map of the policies — across red & blue states — suggests the core problem isn't progressive overreach, but transpartisan NIMBYism.

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

Delay #2: A 137-week wait to obtain a large power transformer, due to dependency on imports for 4 out of 5 transformers

Solution: Enact industrial policies that stimulate domestic transformer production, including new manufacturing investments & a public stockpiling system.

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

Delay #1: A 5-year wait for clean energy projects to connect to the electrical grid

Solution: Fill the regulatory void that has enabled an inefficient, piecemeal approach to transmission buildout. Require proactive, systemic transmission planning to slash the long lag time.

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

If labor & equity incentives aren't holding up clean energy projects, what is?

Here are 5 of the biggest sources of delay, according to clean energy developers themselves.

Many of these delays point not to an excess of policymaking, but an absence.

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

Labor & equity incentives didn't deter clean energy firms from applying for up to 10x the available IRA funding.

And post-IRA data show potential for a win-win-win: ~100GW of clean energy built, unprecedented clean energy union density, AND 75% of investments going to low-income counties.

1 3

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

They taste good because they combine ingredients that go well together.

The question — whether for bagels or policies — is, are we using congruent ingredients?

Clean energy, union jobs, & equitable investments — like garlic, onion, & poppy seeds — can indeed pair well together.

The Energy Transition Needs More Policy, Not Less

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

A common "abundance" critique of the IRA is that the law's core strategy — uniting climate, jobs, & justice goals — tries to do too much.

Such "everything bagel" policymaking is said to slow clean energy deployment.

But here's the thing about everything bagels: They taste good.

1 1 9

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

The article names broadly-backed remedies for 5 major clean energy delays.

While some "abundance" fans call for policy rollbacks, fixing these delays often requires the opposite.

Here's the link. Come for the policy debate. Stay for the bagel metaphors.

heatmap.news/ideas/abunda...

In defense of “everything bagel” policymaking.

The Energy Transition Needs More Policy, Not Less

2 1 11

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 4

The "abundance" debate has been long on narrative, but short on precise solutions.

What would a data-backed agenda for clean energy abundance look like?

In many cases, it'd mean more policy, not less — despite some "abundance" claims.

My piece in @heatmap.news offers examples: 🧵

2 6 20

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 3

Thanks, Mike. I'm in the UK, speaking at a convening, and just dropped the everything bagel metaphor. Thought about trying to find a scone equivalent, but turns out the bagel heuristic also works on this side of the Atlantic.

1

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · Jun 2

Despite some "abundance" claims, many clean energy delays point not to an excess of policymaking, but an absence.

I lay out a data-backed agenda for clean energy abundance in this new piece for @heatmap.news.

In many cases, we need more policy, not less.

heatmap.news/ideas/abunda...

In defense of “everything bagel” policymaking.

The Energy Transition Needs More Policy, Not Less

12 33

Reposted by Ben Beachy

Heatmap News @heatmap.news · Jun 2

"The data suggests that clean energy growth, union jobs, and equitable investments — like garlic, onion, and sesame seeds — can indeed pair well together," writes @ben-beachy.bsky.social.

Why "everything bagel" energy policy is a win-win-win:

In defense of “everything bagel” policymaking.

The Department of Energy Is ‘Giving Away the Future of Manufacturing’

10 18

Ben Beachy @ben-beachy.bsky.social · May 30

The Trump admin offers pro-manufacturing pablum while gutting funding for actual manufacturers.

Heatmap News @heatmap.news · May 30

The Department of Energy just rescinded 24 grants worth $3.7 billion. @emilypont.bsky.social has the full breakdown of impacted projects ⬇️

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright canceled 24 decarbonization grants worth $3.7 billion.