In the months since, innovation has been at the center of federal climate politics. In September, the House passed the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act (H.R. 4447), which included a major increase in innovation funding, new programs in underfunded sectors and technologies, and environmental justice provisions. In November, Joe Biden was elected president on the most ambitious climate platform ever, including a commitment to spend $400 billion over 10 years on clean energy innovation. In December, the 116th Congress authorized $35 billion over five years for Department of Energy (DOE) clean energy programs in the omnibus spending package passed in December (and which we break down here). And in early 2021, the Administration has made strides to kickstart a decade of climate innovation, including:
January 2021
Launching a White House-led Climate Innovation Working Group to coordinate and strengthen government-wide efforts to advance climate innovation.
January 2021
Reentering the Paris Agreement, a central stage for coordinating international climate action and innovation priorities.
January 2021
Passing executive orders to start the process to end fossil fuel subsidies, increase procurement of clean electricity and vehicles, and issue guidance on implementation of the Justice40 initiative to direct 40 percent of investments to disadvantaged communities.
February 2021
Nominating and securing the confirmation of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, a clean energy leader who has placed climate change at the center of her priorities, as well as climate champions at the Environmental Protection Agency, Interior, and other important agencies for climate innovation.
February 2021
Assembling a historically diverse and equity-focused team at the Department of Energy, as well as climate experts across the federal government.
March 2021
Releasing the American Jobs Plan, which includes $35 billion for clean energy innovation, $80 billion for broader federal innovation infrastructure, and much more (see what elements of the plan overlap with the progressive innovation agenda here).
April 2021
Releasing an initial budget request with $14 billion in new climate investments across the government and expansion of the clean energy innovation budget to $10 billion across non-defense agencies, including $1 billion for ARPA-E and ARPA-C, in addition to $600 million in procurement to drive innovation.
These are crucial first steps, but meeting the climate challenge will require much more—including funding and new authorizations from Congress. In the memos below, we reflect on the prospects of the progressive climate innovation agenda under this new Congress and Administration, discussing which priorities are viable under three scenarios:
Executive action under existing authority
A jobs and infrastructure investment package like the American Jobs Plan
New authorizing legislation (requiring a filibuster-proof majority)
