Despite Headwinds, One Climate Group Sees Opportunity Ahead for Clean Power – Inside Climate News

Report on Strategic Pathways for Clean Energy Advancement Amid Political Headwinds

Executive Summary

This report analyzes the current state and future prospects of the clean energy sector in the United States, particularly in a challenging political environment. Despite administrative actions undermining wind and solar initiatives, a new strategic framework proposed by the non-profit organization Giving Green identifies viable, bipartisan opportunities for progress. The strategy emphasizes a pivot towards “clean firm power” technologies, such as advanced nuclear and geothermal energy, and addresses systemic barriers like federal permitting delays. This approach aims to ensure continued progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by leveraging technological innovation and seeking bipartisan consensus.

Challenges to Conventional Renewable Energy and SDG 7

The renewable energy industry has faced significant obstacles, including administrative rhetoric against wind and solar power and legislative actions accelerating the phaseout of critical tax credits established under the Inflation Reduction Act. These actions pose a direct threat to the momentum required to meet the targets of SDG 7. Furthermore, regulatory hurdles have impacted ongoing projects, such as the Empire Wind 1 and Revolution Wind offshore developments, which experienced stop-work orders before being permitted to proceed. This environment has created uncertainty and pessimism regarding the near-term expansion of conventional renewable energy sources.

A Strategic Pivot: Clean Firm Power as a Bipartisan Opportunity

In response to these challenges, the research and grant-making organization Giving Green has released a report outlining a strategy to advance clean energy through bipartisan cooperation. The report rejects a sole focus on state and local policies, arguing for continued engagement at the federal level. The core of this strategy involves championing two key opportunities:

1. Commercializing “clean firm power” technologies that provide consistent, emissions-free electricity.
2. Addressing and reforming barriers to clean energy deployment, particularly federal permitting delays.

Rationale for Diversifying Clean Energy Sources

While acknowledging the critical role of wind and solar as the most cost-effective and technologically mature clean energy sources, the report highlights their limitations in providing consistent power. Achieving a 100% clean energy grid, a key component of SDG 7, requires sources that can operate on demand to supplement intermittent renewables. This necessitates investment in a broader portfolio of technologies. The report identifies “clean firm power” as essential for grid stability and reliability as the share of renewables increases. This diversification aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by fostering a more resilient and technologically advanced energy system.

Prioritized Technologies: Nuclear and Geothermal

Giving Green’s strategy prioritizes philanthropic intervention in two specific areas of clean firm power, selected for their feasibility, scalability, and funding needs:

• Next-Generation Geothermal: Leveraging technological advances from the oil and gas sector to unlock geothermal potential beyond traditional geographic areas.
• Advanced Nuclear Fission: Focusing on modular designs to reduce costs and construction timelines, thereby increasing the viability of nuclear power.

These technologies have notably received a degree of support from the current administration, with tax credits largely preserved and their inclusion in the Department of Energy’s vision for American energy innovation.

Innovation in Clean Firm Power and Alignment with SDG 9

Next-Generation Geothermal

Technological advancements, such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, are enabling geothermal energy extraction at a previously impossible scale. Organizations like Project InnerSpace, a recipient of Giving Green grants, are developing tools to accelerate this transition. A key innovation is GeoMap, a free platform described as “Google Earth for geothermal,” which provides subsurface data to help stakeholders identify viable drilling locations and assess project costs. This initiative directly supports SDG 9 by promoting innovative infrastructure and sustainable industrialization. Efforts are underway to create business models that attract investment from the traditional energy sector, fostering a partnership for the goals (SDG 17) by transitioning existing industry expertise towards clean energy.

Advanced Nuclear Fission

Nuclear power currently constitutes a significant portion of the U.S. energy supply, but expansion has been hindered by high costs and complex regulatory processes. The promise of next-generation nuclear designs lies in modularity, allowing for standardized, repeatable construction that can significantly lower costs and expedite deployment. While acknowledging that these technologies are not yet mature and face viability risks, the report identifies them as a critical opportunity for long-term decarbonization. Overcoming these hurdles is essential for building the sustainable infrastructure required by SDG 9.

Addressing Systemic Barriers to Deployment for SDG 13

The Imperative of Permitting Reform

The report underscores that deploying all forms of clean energy—including wind, solar, geothermal, and nuclear—is hampered by inefficient regulatory processes. Federal permitting reform has emerged as an area of significant bipartisan interest. Legislative proposals like the SPEED Act aim to streamline environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by setting deadlines and limiting legal challenges. Such reforms are critical for accelerating the infrastructure development needed to achieve SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Navigating Political Concerns

Despite bipartisan support for the concept of reform, there is skepticism among some environmental groups and lawmakers. Concerns exist that in the current political climate, reforms might disproportionately benefit fossil fuel projects while renewable projects continue to face administrative opposition. Proponents suggest that a path forward requires compromise, potentially including legal guarantees within any legislation to ensure equitable treatment for renewable energy projects. This highlights the complex negotiations required to advance climate policy.

Conclusion: A Long-Term, Optimistic Outlook for Climate Action

Despite immediate political headwinds, the report from Giving Green advocates for a hopeful and proactive stance. The potential for bipartisan consensus on clean firm power and permitting reform presents a viable pathway for continued progress. Achieving long-term climate and energy goals, as outlined in the SDGs, is viewed as a marathon requiring sustained effort, strategic adaptation, and a commitment to bridging political divides. By focusing on technological innovation and pragmatic policy solutions, civil society can continue to drive the energy transition forward.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The entire article revolves around the transition to clean energy. It discusses various sources like wind, solar, nuclear, and geothermal, and the political and economic challenges associated with them. The central theme is ensuring access to reliable and sustainable energy for the future.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The push for clean energy technologies is explicitly framed as a response to the climate crisis. The article discusses policy actions (or lack thereof) that directly impact climate goals, such as phasing out tax credits for renewables and efforts to streamline permitting for clean energy projects. The goal is to decarbonize the energy grid to combat climate change.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The article highlights the critical role of technological innovation in making clean energy viable. It details advances in “next-gen” geothermal (using techniques from the oil and gas industry like hydraulic fracturing) and “next-generation” nuclear fission (modular designs). It also discusses the need to build out infrastructure, which is hampered by regulatory and permitting hurdles.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article showcases various forms of collaboration. This includes partnerships between non-profits (Giving Green, Clean Air Task Force, Project InnerSpace), philanthropic funding, bipartisan political efforts (like the SPEED Act introduced by a Republican and a Democrat), and private sector investment from traditional fossil fuel companies (Devon Energy, BP, Chevron) into geothermal startups.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article directly addresses this by discussing the limitations of wind and solar in providing 100% of electricity needs and proposing “clean firm power” like geothermal and nuclear to fill the gap and increase the overall share of clean energy.
   • Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology. The article discusses philanthropic intervention and private sector investments (e.g., Devon Energy’s $100 million investment) aimed at advancing clean energy technologies like geothermal and nuclear.
2. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article provides concrete examples of national policies affecting climate goals, such as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” which accelerated the phaseout of tax credits for wind and solar, and proposed legislation like the “SPEED Act” aimed at reforming environmental review processes for energy projects.
3. Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure):
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable… with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities. The discussion on making geothermal a viable business model for the oil and gas industry and developing modular nuclear reactors represents an effort to retrofit and innovate within the energy industry for sustainability.
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… encouraging innovation. The article emphasizes that advanced nuclear and next-gen geothermal “will require sustained research, development and demonstration.” The development of tools like GeoMap by Project InnerSpace is a direct example of enhancing research and technological capabilities to spur innovation.
4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article details partnerships between civil society organizations (Giving Green funding Clean Air Task Force and Project InnerSpace), public-private efforts (bipartisan support for permitting reform), and private sector engagement (oil and gas companies investing in geothermal startups).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 7.2 (Increase renewable energy share):
   • The article implies the use of an indicator like the percentage of electricity generated by different clean energy sources. It mentions that nuclear “accounts for roughly 20 percent of the U.S. power supply” and discusses the debate over whether wind and solar can solve “80 percent of the problem… or 50 percent,” highlighting the need to measure the contribution of each technology.
2. For Target 7.a (Promote investment):
   • The article provides specific financial figures that serve as indicators of investment flows into clean energy technology. These include: a “$4 million grant by Giving Green” to Clean Air Task Force, Devon Energy’s “$100 million” investment into a geothermal startup, and BP and Chevron’s participation in a “$40 million investment round” for Eavor Technologies.
3. For Target 13.2 (Integrate climate measures into policy):
   • The existence and content of national legislation serve as an indicator. The article names specific policies like the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and the proposed “SPEED Act,” whose provisions (e.g., changes to tax credits, deadlines for environmental reviews) can be analyzed to measure the integration of climate considerations into national strategy.
4. For Target 9.4 (Upgrade infrastructure and industries):
   • An implied indicator is the rate of adoption of clean technologies by traditional industries. The article notes that “only about 15 percent of geothermal capacity is currently operated by oil and gas companies,” providing a specific metric that can be tracked over time to measure the progress of retrofitting the fossil fuel industry.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: insideclimatenews.org