#79: Bridging Political Divides on Climate Change

Hello Earthlings! This week, we journey into the world of clean energy advocacy and climate policy with Julia Pyper, co-host of the Political Climate podcast and Vice President of Public Affairs at Grid Leap. Together with host Lisa Ann Pinkerton, they delve into the growing bipartisan support for clean energy and the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Julia shares how framing climate issues as local concerns, like job creation and economic benefits, is shifting voter perspectives across the political spectrum.

We also discuss how policies, like transmission reform and energy infrastructure, are evolving to support the clean energy transition. Whether it's large-scale manufacturing or local community benefits, this episode explores the tangible ways that clean energy is impacting lives today.

Key Points

• Bipartisan Climate Action: How clean energy is gaining support from both Republicans and Democrats, transforming political landscapes.
• The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): Exploring the long-term impacts and challenges in sustaining this landmark legislation.
• Localizing Climate Issues: How focusing on local job growth and economic benefits can drive action on clean energy.
• Transmission Reform: The ongoing battle to upgrade U.S. energy infrastructure and the importance of permitting reform in clean energy projects.

Voices on The Show: 

• Julia Pyper, Vice President of Public Affairs at Good Leap and Co-Host of The Political Climate Podcast
• Linkedin 
• Lisa Ann Pinkerton, Earthlings 2.0 Host, CEO of Technica Communications, and Founder of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability 
• LinkedIn: Lisa Ann Pinkerton
• X - Lisa Ann Pinkerton 
• Instagram - @LisiAnni
• Technica Communications 
• Women in Cleantech and Sustainability

Web Resources:

• Political Climate Podcast
• Political Climate DNC dispatches: 
• DNC dispatches: It’s the climate economy, stupid!
• DNC dispatches: Navigating America’s skyrocketing energy
• Political Climate RNC dispatches: 
• RNC dispatches: The GOP’s nascent climate pivot
• RNC dispatches: The fate of the IRA
• Earthlings 2.0 Podcast Episodes Mentioned: