Podesta: US Climate Momentum to Persist, 200 GW Roadmap Unveiled

TL/DR –

The US is planning to deploy 200 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050, a move that will not reverse the country’s momentum towards transitioning to clean energy, according to the White House’s Senior Advisor for International Climate Policy, John Podesta. The Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have enabled a clean energy boom in America, reducing costs of clean energy technology by as much as 25% and speeding up its deployment worldwide. The roadmap issued by the White House highlights that achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the US by 2050 will require 1,500 to 2,000 GW of clean generation capacity, with nuclear energy playing a critical role in this transition.

Tuesday, 12 November 2024

The US Administration has recently released a roadmap projecting the setup of 200 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050. John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, believes that the US’s momentum towards clean energy transition, which includes new nuclear, will not waver.

At the COP29 UN climate conference in Baku, Podesta expressed disappointment over the US election results considering the strides made under the current Biden administration. These include commitments to reduce emissions by 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels, reentering the Paris Convention, and investments through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Despite the potential shift in governmental focus under Donald Trump, Podesta reassured that efforts to mitigate climate change will persist in the United States with determination and belief. He highlighted the Inflation Reduction Act’s influence in triggering a clean energy surge in America, thereby reducing costs for clean energy technology by up to 25%.

Podesta emphasized the need for the private sector’s continued leadership in investing and innovating clean energy technologies for building a net zero economy. He also noted the growing bipartisan support for clean energy in the USA and recognized the role of new power generation for clean energy transition.

Existing legislations under Biden Administration – the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and others like the Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act – have played a vital role in promoting new nuclear, preserving existing US nuclear generating capacity, and invigorating domestic nuclear supply chains.

The recently released roadmap indicates that achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the USA by 2050 necessitates the installation of 1,500 to 2,000 GW of clean generation capacity, with nuclear playing a significant role in this shift.

The roadmap outlines actions the US government, the US nuclear industry, and power customers can adopt for successful deployments. However, it also underscores that any federal activities beyond those already in the President’s budget will be subject to applicable budgetary, regulatory, and policy development processes before implementation.

While the actions of the future Trump Administration on climate and nuclear policy remain uncertain, Trump has hinted a possible support for new nuclear. For instance, at a campaign rally, Trump pledged to bring advanced small modular nuclear reactors online if elected.

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