Grids, Gas, and AI: Can Washington Make a Deal?

Permitting reform could reshape America’s energy future — if it actually becomes law. Will Washington close the deal on landmark bipartisan legislation?

Energy project permitting sits at the center of today’s biggest debates: powering the AI boom, lowering electricity bills, competing with China, and tackling climate change. Recording together in person for the first time, hosts Julia Pyper, Brandon Hurlbut, and Neil Chatterjee unpack a new permitting proposal, what it could unlock, and the political hurdles ahead.

They also explore the growing backlash against data centers, AI’s natural gas demand, and why electricity market reform matters alongside faster permitting. Featuring New York Climate Week remarks from Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Senator John Curtis (R-UT), Anthropic’s Ariel Horowitz, and DOE’s Alex Fitzsimmons, this episode connects Washington’s negotiations to household costs and America’s global competitiveness.

Chapters:
03:54 — A bipartisan permitting breakthrough: what’s in the deal?
11:43 — AI’s natural gas boom and the climate trade-offs
17:54 — Data center backlash: rebuilding trust and deciding who pays
28:59 — Beyond tax credits: electricity market reform and the Texas model
35:55 — Who shapes your electricity bill? Utilities, regulators, and reforms
39:49 — Can the Trump administration deliver lower electricity prices?
44:33 — Rethinking China: how the U.S. could benefit from cheap imports and onshore partnerships

Political Climate is supported by ClearPath.