How Climate Policies Boost Economic Opportunities – Gina McCarthy, Fmr. White House National Climate Advisor & Head of the Climate Policy Office (Biden Admin.), Fmr. EPA Administrator (Obama Admin.)
Release Date: 10/29/2024
Electric Ladies Podcast - Women Leaders Discuss Careers, Trends, Technologies and Innovation in Energy, Climate, and Corporate Responsibility
“Talking to people from different disciplines pushes your thinking about your assumptions, going out and listening to what other people are doing helps inform the way that you creatively solve the problem that's in front of you. Leaders often are scared by some of these ideas that are coming out of their workforce and that's why they're shutting them down. But if you can demonstrate yourself to be receptive to ideas, then you can help guide a creative future.” Telle Whitney on Electric Ladies Podcast Massive innovation is crucial to meet the scale of the climate crisis, but achieving...
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“We've worked with partners like AcelorMittal… and oil and gas refineries. Emissions that would've been destined for the atmosphere are piped into our bioreactor and our magnificent microbes turn that gas into ethanol. When we pull out that ethanol, we can send it a lot of different places. You can go to On, Adidas, Athleta and buy products made by these mighty microbes from steel mill emissions. We actually flew a Virgin Atlantic flight from Orlando to London with 50 percent of the fuel in that plane made from our ethanol.” Zara Summers on Electric Ladies Podcast Addressing...
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“One of the big differences between Canada and the United States on climate policy spending broadly is that unlike the United States, Canada has a national carbon pricing system. So, we have a carbon pricing system that sets a national minimum standard…. Without strategy, coordination, investment, we will be putting ourselves at a painful disadvantage in terms of not just the energy transition, but just geopolitically.” Claire Seaborn on Electric Ladies Podcast An independent analysis found that the renewable energy strategies in New York state may help insulate New...
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"The [sub-national level] is where we can incubate and to effectuate the private sector shifts that we see happening every day. We are looking to move markets in a direction that can improve not only quality of life, but the very metrics that we're solving for. And when you look at this over years or even decades, you can see the pace accelerating and market momentum taking off." Doreen Harris on Electric Ladies Podcast As the fourth largest state in the U.S., New York consumes a staggering amount of electricity annually to power an economy that ranges from finance to manufacturing, so...
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“We’re giving [companies] the avenue to take something that historically has been an inconvenience and turn that into an opportunity to make them some money, whether that be selling energy to the grid, or putting energy back into the operations of their facilities. So, what could have cost them money in the past can now be a huge benefit. At the same time, you're doing something great for the world and our future.” Autumn Huskins on Electric Ladies Podcast Addressing climate change presents two big questions: How do we reduce waste and keep it out of landfills, and how can we power our...
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“I think there needs to be more women stepping up and realizing that they proudly should play the game…I hear a lot of women second guessing themselves before they step out on their own. And that is what we have to recognize. We have so much to offer, and half this battle is just us opening our mouths and letting it out.” Majora Carter on Electric Ladies Podcast This Women’s History Month takes place amid significant changes to women everywhere, from political headwinds threatening progress, to rollbacks in corporate support. Women leadership has shown to be valuable in driving...
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“We're ceding ground to China, which has become everyone's favorite punching bag. Whether Democrat or Republican, both sides are beating up on China. Meanwhile, China is saying, ‘Okay, we'll make all your solar panels, electric and autonomous vehicles,’ because they see the financial opportunities. It's past time for the U.S. and our politicians to step out of their corners and come together – this is the greatest crisis we will ever face.” Chelsea Henderson on Electric Ladies Podcast Political polarization may have stifled discussions on the climate, but Mother Nature doesn’t...
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“When we think about sustainable living, it's not just about electricity. Energy encompasses more than electricity. As we advocate for sustainability and net zero, let's not forget the heating and cooling of our homes, businesses, and industries - geothermal is a direct resource for that.” Dr. Marit Brommer on Electric Ladies Podcast Drilling for geothermal energy - the heat beneath our feet - promises to be one of the most sustainable sources of energy and a game changer for the clean energy transition. One of the biggest opportunities lies right here in the U.S., where we have the...
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“Thinking about an opportunity to rebuild... So now what are we going to do? And, how do you rebuild in a way that actually does involve equity and equality and sustainability in ways that impact people of all different kinds. And that's, I think, the opportunity that we should be looking toward." Majora Carter on Electric Ladies Podcast After devastating wildfires reduced entire neighborhoods in Los Angeles to ashes, the city faces the challenge of rebuilding - not just its infrastructure, but its communities. This is an opportunity to integrate climate resilience, especially for...
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“Deploy, deploy, deploy. More than half a trillion dollars has been invested in the United States since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the bi-partisan Infrastructure Bill. These laws have made investing in America irresistible. They have made the energy transition inevitable - and inexorable.” Speech by Jennifer Granholm Federal-level developments have delivered a series of blows, leaving many of us questioning the future of clean energy, sustainability and climate action. If you’re feeling that uncertainty, this week’s episode is for you. Listen to this...
info_outlineHow Climate Policies Boost Economic Opportunities – Gina McCarthy, Fmr. White House National Climate Advisor & Head of the Climate Policy Office (Biden Admin.), Fmr. EPA Administrator (Obama Admin.)
“(People) just have to work with their own local communities….We are talking about $400 billion of investment in the Inflation Reduction Act already captured. That's just two years. This is a 10-year bill…To me, what's most exciting is that the opportunities are real, and you can grab them.…Already 3.4 million families have grabbed Inflation Reduction Act tax breaks, and put solar on their roofs, made their homes more energy efficient, which considerably lowers energy bills for those families. And, when you get into families and communities and people can see and feel the benefits, that's when it's going to take off. And so I'm seeing that happening already, but we're also recognizing that we just have a, a wealth of broader opportunities available.” Gina McCarthy on Electric Ladies Podcast
In this year’s historic election, many people may be confused about how climate policy relates to the economy – or they may think it’s only an economic drain. But it turns out that climate and energy policy are huge economic drivers. How?
Listen to Gina McCarthy, fmr. White House National Climate Advisor & Head of the Climate Policy Office and fmr. EPA Administrator in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson live from the Democratic National Convention. They also share insightful career advice.
You’ll hear about:
- How do the Inflation Reduction Act & Infrastructure Investment Act create economic growth?
- How can regular people, homeowners and small businesses seize opportunities in the IRA, no matter what state they’re in? (McCarthy offers tips & explains where the money is going so far.)
- How will Vice President Kamala Harris address climate change and clean energy? Why doesn’t she talk about it more?
- Where the funding and incentives are for training in these new climate- and clean energy-related industries and fields.
- Plus, insightful career advice, such as…
“My advice would be to look for a career path that makes you happy. One that makes you feel like when you got home, you did something….and I would be open to many different things…I don't think women should pigeonhole themselves. I think they should look for stretch goals. Go into something you didn't do before, and it will excite you to learn….I just want women to consider something new and different. I want them to have the courage to say, ‘I can do this.’” Gina McCarthy on Electric Ladies Podcast
Read Joan’s Forbes articles here.
You'll also like these episodes: (some may be recorded under our previous name, Green Connections Radio)
- Rachel McCleery, Senior Advisor, Treasury Dept. Inflation Reduction Act Program, on how to leverage the IRA to save money reducing a building or business’s energy use and carbon footprint.
- Vanessa Chan, Ph.D., Chief Commercialization Officer of the Department of Energy and Director of the Office of Technology Transitions, on the Inflation Reduction Act and the transition to clean energy.
- Polly Trottenberg, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, on the transportation revolution taking place.
- Heather Boushey, Member National Council of Economic Advisors and Chief Economic of the Invest in America Cabinet, in the Biden Administration, on climate and energy policy and the economy, and the Inflation Reduction Act & Infrastructure Investment Act.
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