Building the Arsenal of Clean Energy

How can we walk the fine line between meeting today’s energy security needs, maintaining lower prices for consumers, and achieving our critical global climate goals?

That's one of the central questions addressed in the new podcast series The Arsenal of Clean Energy, airing on Political Climate with support from the think tank Third Way. In the wake of Russia's war on Ukraine, the series explores how the U.S. and Europe can strengthen clean energy markets to protect their economies against volatile global oil and gas prices, while enhancing national security.

In the first episode, "Building the Arsenal of Clean Energy," I host a conversation with leading economists and energy policy experts Ellen Hughes-Cromwick of Third Way, Dana Peterson of The Conference Board, and Christy Goldfuss of the Center for American Progress, on the role fossil fuels will play in meeting the U.S. and its allies' immediate energy demands, without losing sight of the need for climate action. (Listen here)

“This is going to be a transition. It’s not a comfortable thing to say, but I think it’s the truth.” - Dana Peterson

As nations scramble to wean themselves off of Russian energy, the U.S. has committed to supporting its European allies in their quest for energy security. At the same time, American consumers are confronting the highest rate of inflation in 40 years, paying more at the pump and for their utilities than ever before.

These trends have led to an increase in U.S. oil and gas production — and to calls for even broader market expansion. But this shift could have serious implications for the clean energy transition. On this episode, we grapple with how to balance these critical issues.

"This particular historic moment, with the largest ground war in Europe that we've seen since WWII and the instability in energy markets, has brought back to life for people the idea that we really don't want to be dependent on petro-leaders for the rest of our lives... So, if we're going to be spending money to build out energy infrastructure, it better be clean energy." - Christy Goldfuss

The Arsenal of Clean Energy episodes publish monthly on Political Climate, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or anywhere you like to listen! Subscribe so you don't miss these timely conversations.

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