Election Special: Deputy Secretary David Turk of the U.S. Department of Energy
Are we better off today as a nation than we were four years ago in our efforts to decarbonize the economy and build a more equitable society? With the election on the horizon, we’re taking stock of the strides made since the Biden-Harris Administration took office and prioritized the clean energy transition.
David Turk, Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, joins the conversation. As the DOE’s second-in-command and Chief Operating Officer, he has played a key role in implementing President Biden’s landmark clean energy legislation, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
In just one Presidential term, the U.S. has shifted its trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions reductions from 20% to 40% by 2030, bringing us closer to our 2030 target of a 50% reduction on our path to full decarbonization by 2050.
Here’s the kicker: cutting carbon emissions isn’t dragging down the economy. Clean energy jobs are surging, expanding at twice the job growth rate of the broader U.S. economy. With over 900 projects funded nationwide, communities in every state are seeing tangible benefits from this transition.
As we prepare to cast our votes and shape the future of our nation and the world, this conversation is important to consider.
Show Notes
Guest: David Turk, Deputy Secretary
Organization: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
US DOE Projects: Community Benefits map — where the DOE is funding projects)
Article: 2018 New York Times Op-Ed by Andrew Jones and Auden Schendler
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