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Special Edition: What was (and wasn't) said at the DNC about energy.
Does a shift away from the climate-first agenda spell meaningful policy shifts?
Welcome to today’s Grid Brief! Today we offer a special edition to cover the DNC and exactly what was (wasn’t) said relating to energy.
The 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) told us much about the Democratic Party’s feelings on energy and the environment: They want to avoid it, at least for now. This year’s convention was notable for its relative silence on climate change and a shift towards framing environmental policy within economic contexts. Below, we analyze the few key moments from the convention, highlighting the direction U.S. energy policy might take under a Harris administration.
DNC Offers Nebulous Insight on Harris’ Future Energy Plans
1. Relative Silence on Climate & Vague Policy Proposals: Compared to previous DNCs, this year’s event featured minimal discussion on climate change. Kamala Harris’s brief mention of the issue during her speech underscores a potential deprioritization of climate issues. This shift away from detailed environmental proposals suggests that a Harris administration may focus on broader, more politically palatable issues rather than making climate action a central agenda. The lack of specific policy initiatives signals a cautious approach, possibly to avoid alienating moderate voters or to keep her options open once in office.
Mother Jones: “n a personal, wide-ranging speech to close out the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday night, Vice President Kamala Harris briefly touched on climate change, but largely avoided the topic.
Many “fundamental freedoms are at stake” in this election, Harris said, including the “freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water and live free from the pollution that fuels the climate crisis.” That was it.”
2. Lip Service to Biden's Climate Legacy: President Biden used the DNC to tout his administration's environmental achievements, particularly the Inflation Reduction Act, which he described as “the most significant climate law in the history of mankind.” However, the overall downplaying of climate issues at the convention suggests that this legacy may not be a cornerstone of Harris’s platform. Biden's rhetoric may be aimed at solidifying his own legacy rather than setting the stage for aggressive future climate policies under Harris. The minimal emphasis on climate change might indicate a pivot towards other pressing concerns, like the economy or healthcare, which could take precedence in a Harris administration.
President Biden: “We passed the most significant climate law in the history of mankind, the Inflation Reduction Act.”
3. Millennials Lead the Environmental Charge: The DNC highlighted a generational shift in environmental leadership, with figures like Maxwell Frost and AOC taking the forefront. Frost’s speech emphasized the urgency of climate action, reflecting the growing influence of younger Democrats on the party’s environmental platform. This shift suggests that while senior party leaders may focus on broader economic and social issues, the younger generation will be tasked with driving the environmental and energy agenda. This could indicate a decentralized approach to climate policy, with younger voices advocating for bolder actions at the grassroots and legislative levels, while the administration takes a more measured stance.
Maxwell Frost: “Fighting the climate crisis is patriotic. It’s about protecting our homeland, our communities, and our future. The wildfires, the hurricanes, the floods—we’re living through them right now. And they’re only going to get worse if we don’t take action. But this isn’t just about weather patterns; it’s about justice. It’s about ensuring that our most vulnerable communities, who are hit first and worst by these disasters, aren’t left behind. And it’s about jobs—good-paying, union jobs in clean energy that can power the economy of tomorrow. We can’t afford to wait any longer. The time to act is now. And when we do, we’ll be saving the planet, yes, but we’ll also be saving ourselves. That’s why I say: fighting the climate crisis is patriotic.”=
4. Focus on Jobs & Economy: Throughout the convention, environmental issues were frequently framed within the context of economic growth and job creation. Harris’s approach to clean energy is closely tied to her economic vision, emphasizing the potential for job creation through investments in renewable energy infrastructure. This narrative aligns with the broader Democratic strategy of appealing to working-class voters by linking climate action to economic benefits. However, the emphasis on economic aspects may also dilute the urgency of addressing climate change, positioning it as just one component of a broader economic agenda rather than a standalone priority.
Vice President Harris: “Clean energy isn’t just about fighting climate change—it’s about creating millions of jobs.”
The 2024 DNC provided subtle yet telling insights into how a Harris presidency might approach energy and environmental issues. The relative silence on climate change, combined with a focus on jobs and economic growth, suggests a cautious, pragmatic approach. However, the involvement of younger leaders and significant corporate sponsorship indicates that environmental policies will remain a key, though perhaps not central, part of the Democratic agenda. As the campaign progresses, the true priorities of a Harris administration will likely become clearer, but for now, energy policy appears to be taking a backseat to broader economic concerns.
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