Show notes
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribeClean energy is the cheapest, fastest-growing source of power in the country, yet politically it barely registers. Republicans gutted its tax credits last year without fearing any consequences. The Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, a super PAC backed by clean energy investors, is trying to change that the old-fashioned way: by punishing the industry’s enemies. It went six for six in this year’s primaries; it’s now spending at least $15 million against seven Republican House candidates in the midterms. Its chair, Tom Matzzie, makes the case for fear as a political asset, explains why the industry has been so slow to throw elbows, and describes what it would take for clean energy to become a lion instead of a gazelle.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction02:55 - How the Invest in Tomorrow Coalition started06:23 - Why a super PAC, and the idea of mythic power09:50 - Punishing opponents to send a message to Congress12:55 - Proving impact, and the permitting bill17:13 - How ITC picks its general election races21:41 - Does knocking out extremists help Republicans?24:53 - Free riders and barriers to industry politics28:58 - Who funds ITC, and why the industry underinvests32:44 - Why clean power stays politically weak38:28 - Did the IRA’s red-state investments pay off?40:35 - Fear of Trump’s retaliation45:05 - Avoiding the Democratic PAC label49:30 - Presidential primaries and the ethanol playbook53:20 - Gas inside the clean power trade groups58:37 - Where ITC goes after November
