DeepSummary
The podcast episode begins with a discussion on the potential impact of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing on environmental issues and climate change policies in the Supreme Court. The co-hosts analyze Ginsburg's rulings related to EPA regulations and state rights in regulating polluters, as well as the implications of a more conservative court on Trump's deregulation agenda and Biden's climate ambitions.
The conversation then shifts to an investigation by NPR and Frontline on how the plastics industry deliberately misled the public into believing that plastics were being recycled, despite knowing about the infeasibility of widespread recycling. The co-hosts discuss the role of plastics in fossil fuel companies' profits and the need for policy interventions to address plastic pollution.
Finally, the episode covers a recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) order that allows distributed energy resources like rooftop solar, batteries, and electric vehicles to participate in wholesale energy markets. The co-hosts highlight the significance of this order for grid modernization and the integration of renewable energy resources.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing could have significant implications for environmental regulations and climate policies, given the potential shift in the balance of the Supreme Court.
- The plastics industry has deliberately misled the public about the feasibility of plastic recycling, prioritizing profits over environmental concerns.
- FERC Order 2222 represents a significant step towards integrating distributed energy resources into wholesale energy markets, promoting grid modernization and renewable energy adoption.
- Policy interventions, such as banning certain plastic products or mandating recycling programs, are necessary to address the issue of plastic pollution effectively.
- Congress needs to provide clear and updated legislation to guide agencies like the EPA in addressing environmental issues, rather than allowing them to interpret existing laws in unintended ways.
- State-level initiatives and policies play a crucial role in driving progress on environmental and energy issues, particularly in the absence of comprehensive federal action.
- Public outrage over environmental issues should be channeled into concrete policy solutions rather than merely criticizing corporations or industries.
- The fossil fuel industry's vested interests in plastic production present a significant challenge to addressing plastic pollution and transitioning to more sustainable alternatives.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I do think that from a policy standpoint, let's take that outrage that you feel and that many other people feel, and let's channel it into actual policy that solves the problem as opposed to vilifying these folks and then letting them operate like we did the tobacco industries.“ by Jigger Shah
- “Yes, the American Chemical Council deliberately misled us, which is basically funded by the oil industry, but also, yes, consumers wanted to actively be misled because they love plastic.“ by Jigger Shah
- “And I think what this also does is it is it really forces utilities to consider this, too, because utilities are going to have to be part of this. And they've known it's coming. They've been fighting all of this and trying to just get incremental progress. And this is going to force some leapfrogging.“ by Katherine Hamilton
- “I do think that EPA has taken positions within the Clean Air act and clean water acts that were never intended by Congress. It is Congress's job to actually tell EPA what they intended and pass updated legislation.“ by Jigger Shah
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Episode Information
The Energy Gang
Wood Mackenzie
9/25/20
Does the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg mean the future of federal climate policy is in jeopardy? What will a changed Supreme Court mean for climate change, and for the all-important endangerment finding? The Gang weighs in.
Then, the great plastic cover-up. How important are plastics to the profits of fossil fuel companies? We dive into an important investigation from NPR and Frontline into how fossil fuel companies hoodwinked the public on plastics recycling.
Then last, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is out with an important and long-awaited policy that opens the door for all types of distributed energy – hot water heaters, batteries, rooftop solar, electric cars – to feed energy into the grid in the aggregate. Are we finally there?
Recommended reading, viewing:
- Scientific American: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Leaves a Nuanced Legacy on Env. Issues
- Politico: Ginsburg Left a Long Environmental Legacy
- Axios: The Climate Stakes of the Supreme Court Fight
- Guardian: Oil industry lobbies US to help weaken Kenya’s strong stance on plastic waste
- Fast Company: Surprise: Your cleaning supplies are full of fossil fuel
- Frontline: Plastic Wars
- NPR: How big oil misled the public into believing plastic would be recycled
- Greentech Media: ‘Game-Changer’ FERC Order Opens Grid Markets to DER
- Houston Chronicle: FERC opens grid to power aggregators
- Twitter: Peter Cavan’s thread
- Twitter: Ari Peskoe’s thread
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