Reshaping the Race
Bantam Communications
Bantam delivers strategic consulting and public affairs protocols that support the growth of the clean energy economy.
Good morning and happy Friday,
This week, presidential candidate Kamala Harris “supercharged her climate cred” by naming Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Swing regions like the Keystone State will be key to a Democratic victory in November – but as climate cash pours in, will voters notice?
On a more somber note, a new report from Ember finds that the world needs more wind to meet 2030 decarbonization targets; while China is “overachieving,” the U.S. is the biggest laggard with the most sizeable gap between its expected wind installations and what’s actually getting built.
Meanwhile, a group of 18 Republican U.S. representatives wrote a letter urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to not repeal the IRA, suggesting “Johnson may not have the support to undo the Inflation Reduction Act if the GOP retains control of the House next year.”
And, SunPower, a solar icon once valued in the billions, filed for bankruptcy this week, due in part to high interest rates and inflation that have “walloped” residential solar.
Read on for more.
Reshaping the Race
Harris’ choice of Walz as her veep has “delighted” climate change activists; the former congressman-turned-governor “has a history of pitching skeptical voters on climate action”, and former Democrat-turned-centrist Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) “praised Walz as ‘the real deal.’” Here are several perspectives on what he brings to the table:
⚡️The Takeaway
“This is the climate pick.” Clean energy advocates view Walz’s record as an asset and think he could “reshape the race.” Republicans, however, see it as a liability they can exploit, and the Trump campaign immediately bashed Walz as a “West Coast wannabe,” although several ex-Trump White House officials and dozens of Republicans have already endorsed Harris.
Revitalizing Renaissance
A new ACP report Clean Energy Investing in America lays out a bevy of impressive stats on the financial impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act since its passage two years ago, finding that “the U.S. clean energy industry has announced $500 billion in new investments, spurring the American economy and creating tens of thousands of new jobs.” Here are some highlights:
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⚡️The Takeaway
Restorative economic growth. A companion blog post provides an overview of the new U.S. manufacturing renaissance, which the report says is “restoring pride, purpose, and local economies” across the country“ and revitalizing a “backbone of the American economy.” In addition to the report itself, there’s a one-pager that summarizes key stats, and a “PowerCast” on the report will be held on August 15 from 1:00-2:00 pm ET.
From Servant to Ambassador
Today, access to electricity is taken for granted by most Americans, but a century ago things were quite different. In 1907, just 8% of U.S. homes had electricity – but things changed quickly in the 1920s, and by 1930, nearly 70% did.
As investor-owned utilities became commonplace, they started to look for ways to grow demand. Encouraging customers to own and use more electric appliances offered a perfect way to do this, and in 1926, the spokescharacter / mascot Reddy Kilowatt was born, invented by a marketer at the Alabama Power Company in 1926.
Reddy’s key features included a cheery personality, “a lightning-bolt body and a lightbulb nose,” and he was “licensed to hundreds of utility companies throughout the greater part of the 20th century to promote electricity,” using messaging that framed electricity as a low-cost, ever-ready servant.
Today, Reddy serves as Xcel Energy’s “Energy Ambassador.” In this role he’s “actively involved in education, sharing his insights and expertise on the energy industry and the benefits of electrification.” In contrast to his early days promoting energy consumption, Reddy now offers advice on “how to use electricity safely and efficiently.”