On the Grid: The Year America Embraced Clean Energy 12/21/23

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2023 saw an unprecedented surge in clean energy investments–made possible by a trifecta of legislative support and over $176 billion in private sector investment. It’s the beginning of a new age of American manufacturing. And yet, most Americans still don’t know it–60% know little or nothing about the Inflation Reduction Act one year after its passage.

With 2024 on the horizon, this week’s On the Grid–the last one of the year–showcases some of our proudest accomplishments of the year and highlights the narratives that will dominate next year. 

Happy Holidays from Third Way’s Climate and Energy Team–we’ll see you in the New Year! 

1. America’s Will to Win: Polling Insights on US Clean Energy Competitiveness with China: The clean energy transition plays an essential part in America’s global economic competitiveness – and voters are all in. Our public opinion polling shows that a large majority of the American electorate supports the US aggressively competing for clean energy leadership against the Chinese government. We also saw that voters do not like the defeatist narrative, which Republicans have been using, that the US can’t compete with big economies like China. 

What We’re Watching: We’re hoping in 2024, Democrats will lean into talking about winning the competition with China and remind voters that, thanks to BIL and IRA, the rise of clean energy means the rise of US manufacturing. 

2. How to Talk About Electric Vehicles: We developed a set of messaging guides to push back on misinformation about EVs and help policymakers explain the importance of EV manufacturing to preserve America’s auto manufacturing legacy. 

What We’re Watching: We expect to see the Republican Party continue to use EVs as a cultural issue and paint them as a technology for out-of-touch coastal elites. This, we might add, is a narrative that conveniently ignores their importance to working-class manufacturing communities. We’ll work to set the record straight and reposition EVs as an essential part of our economy and our nation’s security.

3. Retaking the Podium: US National Security Hinges on Surpassing Russia and China in Nuclear Energy: The Russian and Chinese nuclear industries pose a direct threat to America’s competitive edge in nuclear energy and, more worryingly, our national security. We led the successful effort for the US government to fund domestic nuclear fuel production and the strengthening of both regulatory infrastructure and available financing to boost US nuclear security. 

What We’re Watching: This year marked a pivotal shift in public opinion on nuclear, challenging old assumptions that Americans are not supportive of nuclear energy. Instead, we saw that the majority of Americans, and those across Europe and Asia, want nuclear energy as a source of their electricity. In 2024, we’re eager to grow this emerging wave of support.

4. When America Leads: Competing for the Future of Clean Energy Executive Summary: Third Way partnered with Breakthrough Energy and Boston Consulting Group on a report detailing how the US can leverage strategic investments in clean energy technologies to build global leadership and secure a durable competitive advantage in 10 emerging global markets valued at $130 trillion.

What We’re Watching: Policymakers at all levels are beginning to see that clean energy industrial strategy will shape the next century of America’s economy. We’re looking out for new ways to build on the successes of BIL, IRA, and CHIPS and set a course for the next phase of clean energy industrial strategy in the US.