Over the last two years, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has transformed his state into one of the most aggressive leaders on climate change in the country, maintaining a positive approval rating despite his embrace of progressive energy policies that have come under attack in red, and even purple, states across the country.
As Kamala Harris’ pick for vice president, Walz has climate change-minded organizations, ranging from traditional environmental groups to clean energy developers, convinced that he would bring the practical experience necessary to address the difficult problems emerging from the energy transition.
Billions of dollars in funds to usher in the clean energy transition sit snarled up by a host of problems, ranging from arduous permitting processes to long lines to connect to the grid and political resistance to wind, solar and electric vehicles. If the Harris-Walz ticket wins the presidency, the pair will need to address these issues for the Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure bills to actually have their intended transformative effect.