When the Midterm Dust Settles, the Path Forward for Clean Energy Will Be to Double Down on RD&D, Says ITIF

WASHINGTON—Following the results of the midterm Congressional elections, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Senior Policy Analyst Stefan Koester:

Passing the gavel always signals a new direction in Congress, but this time is different when it comes to clean energy innovation because the main task at hand is to follow through on legislation that has already passed.

The path forward is to fully fund energy innovation and RD&D programs under the new energy law, oversee how those programs are implemented, and round out the federal investment portfolio in clean technologies that have been neglected.

Republicans and Democrats differ on any number of issues, but energy RD&D is an area of bipartisan agreement. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle want America to lead the world in the burgeoning clean energy sector. They should keep their eyes on that ball.

Opportunities to accelerate the pace of energy innovation in the new Congress will extend beyond funding lab research on the ‘next big things’ in climate-tech. Just as important are practical matters like permitting reform, because breakthroughs can only have an impact if sites are approved to demonstrate and commercialize them.