The 'Pro-Growth' Democrat Path to Fighting Climate Change

If you’re following political news then you’ve probably heard of The Squad, a group of four newly elected congresswomen advocating for progressive policies like the Green New Deal.

But have you heard of the New Democrat Coalition and its plans for dealing with climate change? In the latest episode of Political Climate, we hear from a lawmaker who is leading that charge.

Last year, Sean Casten ran one of the most overtly pro-climate action campaigns of the 2018 midterms in a historically Republican district. In the end, Casten, a biochemical engineer and a clean energy entrepreneur, beat out six-term Republican Rep. Peter Roskam.

Rep. Casten’s race in the Illinois 6th District was identified as a 2018 battleground that could have determined whether or not Democrats took control of the House. And it’s a moderate, suburban district that Democrats will want to keep in 2020.

As a testament to where his voters stand, upon joining Congress Casten became a member of the New Democrat Coalition — a group of 103 Democrats committed to “pro-economic growth, pro-innovation, and fiscally responsible policies.”

Casten currently serves as a co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force. He’s also a member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. 

As you’ll hear in this interview, Rep. Casten is intent on finding solutions to climate change and doesn’t shy away from getting wonky on topics like energy storage and attracting capital to the solar sector. But he also has a critical view of some of the policies his fellow Democrats have put forward, claiming they emphasize scarcity over growth.

Listen to how "pro-market" Democrats plan to combat the climate crisis on this week's Political Climate, available on Greentech Media or wherever you get podcasts!

Recommended reading:

• New Democrat Coalition Climate Principles
• ThinkProgress: Newly elected Democratic congressman casts doubt on Green New Deal
• GTM: A Green Wave? How Climate and Clean Energy Are Playing Into the 2018 Midterms

Political Climate is produced in partnership with the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, and thanks to invaluable support from producer Victoria Simon.

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