In the final moments of 2020, the most important U.S. energy legislation passed in a decade flew in under the radar, attached to the coronavirus relief and government funding bill.
It’s an astonishing collection of measures. It sets aside $35 billion in new funding for clean energy R&D, phases out some of the most egregious greenhouse gases and extends tax credits for wind, solar, nuclear and carbon capture. What’s the impact?
A bill this big would alone have merited an entire episode of dedicated discussion. But it’s been eclipsed by the possibility of more ambitious legislation under a Democrat-controlled Congress, thanks to some big Senate wins in Georgia on Wednesday.
With a window of action open, how much can get done in the next two years? We’ll dig in.
Lastly, we turn to one of the biggest business stories from the last year: Tesla. A stratospheric stock price, strong sales growth and the second-richest man in the world. What do Elon Musk’s fortunes foreshadow for EVs?
Recommended reading:
- Greentech Media: What Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Did, and Didn’t, Get from Congress This Week
- E&E News: 13 Ways the Massive Omnibus Hits Energy
- Dave Roberts Volts Podcast: The Energy Act
- E&E News: Things to Watch in a 50-50 Senate
- Bloomberg: Tesla Poised for Expansion After Just Missing 2020 Target
- Barron’s: Tesla Passes a Market-Cap Milestone. It’s Worth More Than Facebook.
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