Finding Common Ground on Energy Reform – Vanderbilt Law School

Report on Bypassing Polarization on Energy Issues in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

Vanderbilt Law hosted a discussion with former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, focusing on pragmatic solutions to energy challenges. The event, part of “The Private Sector and The Planet” series, explored strategies for bridging political divides to advance energy policy. This report analyzes the key discussion points, with significant emphasis on their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

The event was a collaborative effort, reflecting SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), with sponsorship from:

• The Private Climate Governance Lab (PCG)
• The Iowa Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative
• Dialogue Vanderbilt
• Vanderbilt’s Center for Sustainability, Energy, and Climate (VSEC)

2.0 A Pragmatic Framework for Sustainable Policy

Moderated by Professor Michael Vandenbergh, the discussion highlighted Governor Bredesen’s career in both the public and private sectors as a model for integrating economic and environmental objectives. His experience underscores a problem-solving approach to governance, essential for creating durable policies that support sustainable development.

2.1 Public and Private Sector Experience

Governor Bredesen’s career path from a healthcare entrepreneur to a two-term mayor and two-term governor demonstrates a commitment to public service and innovation. His current role as a co-founder of Silicon Ranch, a major solar developer, directly contributes to advancing SDG 7 by increasing the share of renewable energy in the national grid.

2.2 Environmental Stewardship and Land Use

Bredesen’s approach to environmentalism aligns with multiple SDGs. His actions as a public official focused on tangible outcomes that support community and environmental health.

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Expanded Tennessee’s park system.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): Placed large tracts of land under public ownership to preserve them, protecting biodiversity and watersheds.

3.0 Accelerating the Transition to Clean Energy (SDG 7)

The core of the discussion centered on the practical steps needed to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, with a specific focus on solar power as a key driver for achieving SDG 7.

3.1 The Case for Solar Energy

Bredesen identified solar energy as the most cost-effective and practical path for new electricity generation. He noted that market forces, not just subsidies, are driving this transition.

• Economic Viability: Solar is now the cheapest form of new energy generation.
• Corporate Demand: Major corporations like Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft are investing heavily in renewables to meet the energy demands of data centers and electric vehicles, as well as stakeholder expectations. This private-sector leadership is crucial for achieving SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

3.2 Overcoming Institutional Barriers

The primary obstacle to clean energy expansion is not technology but inefficient regulatory processes. This challenge directly impacts the ability to build the resilient infrastructure required by SDG 9 and SDG 13.

1. Permitting Delays: Current regulatory frameworks, designed for large fossil fuel plants, create significant delays for renewable projects. A solar project can take three years for permitting and only one year for construction.
2. Institutional Reform: Bredesen argued that streamlining the permitting process, adequately staffing regulatory agencies, and modernizing interconnection standards would be more effective than new subsidies in advancing renewable energy deployment. This speaks directly to the need for effective and accountable institutions as outlined in SDG 16.

4.0 Strategies for Bipartisan Climate Action (SDG 13 & SDG 16)

A significant portion of the discussion was dedicated to navigating political polarization to create effective and lasting climate policy. This aligns with SDG 16’s goal of promoting inclusive societies for sustainable development.

4.1 Finding Common Ground

Bredesen advocated for a balanced approach that incorporates diverse political viewpoints to achieve lasting outcomes.

• Economic Co-benefits: He emphasized that clean energy projects create shared economic value, a powerful tool for building consensus. For example, a large solar array often becomes the single largest taxpayer in a rural county, providing a tangible benefit that appeals across the political spectrum and supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Effective Messaging: Bredesen criticized climate advocacy that fails to acknowledge the economic concerns of working-class citizens. He stressed that for climate policy to be successful, its proponents must be sensitive to the everyday financial realities of all communities, ensuring a just transition.

4.2 The Role of Academia and Innovation

The conversation highlighted the role of academic institutions and innovative framing in overcoming policy gridlock.

• Professor Vandenbergh introduced the concept of “solution aversion,” where opposition to a policy stems from dislike of the proposed solution rather than denial of the problem itself.
• Framing climate solutions around private-sector innovation (SDG 9) rather than government regulation was shown to increase support across the political spectrum.
• Bredesen called on academia to help reframe complex issues and engage with a wider range of lived experiences to develop more sophisticated and successful policy arguments.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

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

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The article’s central theme is the transition to renewable energy, specifically solar power. It discusses solar energy as a practical, cost-effective, and essential solution for meeting electricity needs while reducing emissions, directly aligning with the goal of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article connects the development of renewable energy projects with economic benefits. Former Governor Bredesen notes that a large solar array can become the “biggest taxpayer” in a rural county, thus promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The discussion highlights the need to modernize infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to support the expansion of renewable energy. Bredesen’s call to streamline the permitting process for solar projects to reduce delays is a direct appeal for building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The entire conversation about bypassing polarization on energy issues is framed within the context of addressing climate change. The promotion of solar energy is presented as a key strategy to reduce emissions and combat the impacts of climate change.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: Bredesen’s broader definition of environmentalism, which includes “species preservation, planting trees and planting hedgerows, making wildlife habitat, and keeping watersheds clean,” connects directly to this goal. His past actions of expanding Tennessee’s park system and preserving land from development also support the protection of terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article heavily emphasizes the need for bipartisan solutions, collaboration, and durable policy reform. The call to streamline permitting processes and adequately staff regulatory agencies points to the need for more effective and accountable institutions to achieve energy and environmental goals.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article showcases partnerships at multiple levels. The event itself was a collaboration between several academic institutions. The discussion also highlights the importance of public-private partnerships, citing the role of companies like Silicon Ranch and the investments by Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft in renewable energy.

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

1. 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’s focus on expanding solar energy as the “most practical and cost-effective pathway” directly supports increasing the share of renewables.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation. The article links the development of solar energy projects to significant local economic growth, noting they become the “biggest taxpayer” in their counties.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The discussion on building “durable reform” and finding pragmatic, bipartisan solutions for energy policy is an example of integrating climate action into political and economic planning.
4. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. Bredesen’s description of his environmentalism, including “species preservation” and “making wildlife habitat,” and his actions to expand parks and preserve land align with this target.
5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The critique of the current permitting process for solar projects—which can take three years—and the call to streamline approvals and adequately staff agencies are aimed at making these institutions more effective and efficient.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article implicitly supports this by highlighting the collaboration between academic institutions for the event, the role of private companies like Silicon Ranch in developing energy solutions, and the need for bipartisan political cooperation.

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

1. For SDG 7 (Target 7.2):
   • Implied Indicator: The share of solar energy in the national electricity generation mix. The article argues for the expansion of solar power to meet U.S. electricity needs, implying that an increase in its share would be a key measure of progress.
2. For SDG 8 (Target 8.2):
   • Implied Indicator: Tax revenue generated by renewable energy projects in local jurisdictions. Bredesen’s statement that a “big solar array in a county… instantly becomes the biggest taxpayer” suggests that this financial contribution is a direct and measurable indicator of local economic growth.
3. For SDG 15 (Target 15.5):
   • Implied Indicator: Area of land placed under public ownership for conservation. The article mentions that as governor, Bredesen “placed large tracts of land under public ownership to preserve them from future development,” which serves as a quantifiable measure of habitat protection.
4. For SDG 16 (Target 16.6):
   • Implied Indicator: Average time required for the permitting of new renewable energy projects. Bredesen explicitly states that a new solar project can take “three years for permitting and one for construction.” A reduction in this permitting time would be a clear indicator of institutional efficiency.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: law.vanderbilt.edu