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12 - America at a Crossroads

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 January 2022

Shanti Gamper-Rabindran
Shanti Gamper-Rabindran
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
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Summary

The Trump administration inflicted long-term damages on America’s health, economy and environment. But America can still reset its path toward an energy transition that shares benefits with local communities hosting renewable energy projects and that supports the economic diversification of communities reliant on oil and gas extraction. The Biden administration reorientated federal agencies’ actions under existing laws to support the clean energy transition. These actions – strengthening environmental regulations, requiring mandatory corporate disclosure on climate risks and aligning federal leasing of public lands and seas and permitting-processes to value conservation and climate mitigation – can help incentivize investment flows into renewable energy and low-carbon economic activities. Ambitious federal investments into clean energy infrastructure and assistance to oil- and gas-reliant communities requires legislative actions. With Republicans who support both economic progress and environment and climate protection no longer a strong voice in Congress, the budget reconciliation process may well be the unique avenue for Democrats to enact legislation on public investments to accelerate the energy transition. The voices of younger Republicans who favor climate protection, alongside those of their Democrat counterparts, offer some hope that Congress will be forced to return to bipartisan stewardship of America’s air, water, lands and seas.

Keywords

energy transitionbudget reconciliationdisclosureregulationsclimate risksstress testsjust energy transitionAmerican Jobs Planclean energyinfrastructureenvironmental justice
Type
Chapter
Information
America's Energy Gamble
People, Economy and Planet
 , pp. 463 - 502
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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