DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Sally Benson, the deputy director for energy and chief strategist for the energy transition at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). She discusses her background as a scientist and how it influences her work in energy policy. Benson explains the role of OSTP in driving innovation and meeting the Biden administration's net zero emissions goals by 2050.
Benson outlines the five immediate priorities of the Net Zero Game Changers initiative, which include zero-emission heating and cooling, a zero-emission grid and electrification, zero-emission industrial processes, net-zero aviation, and fusion energy. She emphasizes the need for a holistic approach that considers supply chains, jobs, workforce training, and environmental justice.
Benson also talks about the challenges and opportunities of carbon capture and storage technology, the importance of collaboration between agencies and the private sector, and the need to attract and train a skilled workforce to support the energy transition. She stresses the synergy between achieving net-zero emissions and creating good jobs and economic opportunities.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy plays a key role in driving innovation and deploying clean energy technologies to meet the Biden administration's net zero emissions goals by 2050.
- The Net Zero Game Changers initiative focuses on five immediate priorities: zero-emission heating and cooling, zero-emission grid and electrification, zero-emission industrial processes, net-zero aviation, and fusion energy.
- A holistic approach is needed, considering supply chains, job creation, workforce training, environmental justice, and national security alongside emissions reduction.
- Integrating diverse energy resources while maintaining reliability and resilience is a major challenge in transitioning to a clean energy grid.
- Carbon capture and storage technology is seen as a crucial component of achieving net zero emissions, particularly in heavy industry.
- Collaboration between agencies, the private sector, and labor is essential for developing and deploying clean energy solutions at scale.
- Attracting and training a skilled workforce is critical to support the energy transition and create economic opportunities in emerging industries.
- Pursuing a circular economy and secure supply chains for critical minerals is important for the long-term sustainability of clean energy technologies.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “If we're going to get to net zero emissions, that a major piece of this is going to be transformation of the energy system. And as we're going to require massive technological change on a very short timeframe, and therefore, it deserved the extra attention that it would.“ by Sally Benson
- “We need all three legs of that stool, and we're pushing forward strongly on all of those.“ by Sally Benson
- “We do not want to mine these, process them, and then put them in landfills we want to keep them in the economy. We want to build the national stocks of these critical materials.“ by Sally Benson
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Episode Information
Columbia Energy Exchange
Columbia University
6/20/23
Clean energy technology deployment will play a major role in meeting the Biden administration’s “net zero by 2050” goal. To stay on target, America will need to shore up clean energy supply chains, reduce the cost of existing technologies, and fund innovation for up and coming solutions – like carbon capture and storage and fusion energy.
The Energy Team at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is a driving force behind these efforts. With its expertise in policy and science, the team helps develop innovation priorities that facilitate a swift, equitable energy transition.
So what is the strategy for deploying the clean energy technology needed to meet net zero goals? What is the timeline for emerging technologies? And how does the OSTP’s Energy Team plan to make the transition equitable?
This week host Bill Loveless talks with Sally Benson about the OSTP’s history as an innovation engine, and its current role in meeting net zero by 2050 goals.
Sally is the deputy director for energy and the chief strategist for the energy transition at OSTP. She helps oversee the Net Zero Game Changers Initiative, which funds innovation in clean energy technologies for building heating and cooling, aviation, nuclear fusion, and other areas. Sally joined the Biden administration as the Precourt Family Professor of Energy Resources Engineering at Stanford University. She has also held various positions at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.