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Joan Michelson3 Reasons Why Clean Energy is Here to Stay – Jennifer Granholm, 16th U.S. Secretary of Energy

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1. 3 Reasons Why Clean Energy is Here to Stay – Jennifer Granholm, 16th U.S. Secretary of Energy Joan Michelson 22:10

“Deploy, deploy, deploy. More than half a trillion dollars has been invested in the United States since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the bi-partisan Infrastructure Bill. These laws have made Investing in America irresistible. They have made the energy transition inevitable – and inexorable.”

Speech by Jennifer Granholm

Federal-level developments have delivered a series of blows, leaving many of us questioning the future of clean energy, sustainability and climate action. If you’re feeling that uncertainty, this week’s episode is for you.  

Listen to this powerful speech by Jennifer Granholm, 16th U.S. Secretary of Energy (2021-2025), who used her final public address in office to herald the clean energy revolution underway in the U.S. Her words will leave you feeling optimistic and inspired by the opportunities this transition is creating, as it also makes communities more resilient to the ravages of climate change that we have all been witnessing.  

Granholm lays out three powerful reasons to believe that the clean energy transition is built to last. She delivers a powerful reminder about how the Inflation Reduction Act, the Infrastructure Bill, and the CHIPS and Science Act have sparked investments across America, driving record-breaking economic Growth (including mostly in Republican-dominated states) with an energy revolution that she says is here to stay.You’ll hear about:

• Powerful statistics from the Department of Energy, such as how 98% of the programs have received at least one round of funding under the existing regulations.
• The 900 new clean energy manufacturing facilities and expansions across the country, many in communities that previously suffered from job losses.
• Advancements made in battery supply chains, nuclear power, and other clean energy technologies.
• How the baton is now handed to us, to advocate for these laws and ensure their continued support through our representatives in Congress.

Plus, career advice from Rachel McCleery, former Senior Advisor, U.S. Treasury Dept., Office of the Inflation Reduction Act, featured in Joan Michelson’s Forbes piece on How Women Can Look At Their Careers Differently In 2025, Especially In Climate, Energy.

“You have to have a little bit of fearlessness at this stage of your career. You have the ambition, you have the drive, you know how to do it, you have the confidence. But confidence and fearlessness, to me, they are two very different things. And in order to take that step, you have to be able to take some risks and you have to assume space that you haven’t before.”

Rachel McCleery on Electric Ladies Podcast

Read Joan’s Forbes articles here.

You’ll also like:

• Gina McCarthy, Fmr. White House National Climate Advisor & Climate Policy Head, on how climate policy boosts the Economy

• Heather Boushey, White House Council of Economic Advisors, on how federal funding is expediting the energy transition while helping to avert the worsening effects of climate change

• Tara Giunta, Global Co-Chair of ESG & Sustainable Finance Practice at Paul Hastings Law Firm, on climate risk disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission

• Lisa Jacobson & Tara Narayanan, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, on why the energy transition is in full swing despite headwinds

• Halla Hrund Logadottir, Director-General, Iceland’s National Energy Authority, on how the country has become 85% renewable energy. 

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Joan Michelson Electric Ladies Podcast - Innovation, Energy, Climate, Careers

Joan Michelson, MBA is a highly accomplished business leader and award-winning strategic social impact and ESG – environment, social, governance – leader, who drove breakthrough results at Chrysler (in EVs), American Express and Deloitte, small businesses, and government agencies. She is an instructor on ESG issues to professionals, leaders and board members across industries. Her specialties include leveraging ESG solutions and partnerships strategically for maximum benefit, helping organizations recruit innovative, diverse women, and helping these women thrive in their careers. She is based in the Washington D.C. area.

Joan is also an accomplished journalist who has worked with top media organizations and hosts and produces the acclaimed Electric Ladies podcast (formerly known as Green Connections Radio), about innovation and leadership in energy-, climate- and sustainability-related issues across industries, featuring women experts.

She writes regularly for Forbes on these issues and has also been in the Harvard Business Review, HuffPost, TheAtlantic.com, Greenbiz, The New Economy magazine (distributed at the World Economic Forum), New Thinking magazine, regional business journals; and various other media. She coproduced segments with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” ABC News, and “The Crusaders,” and television specials on NBC.

Joan has spent her career working in energy-sustainability-climate-ESG issues and in marketing communications, including as head of communications and co-leader of the sales and marketing team of Chrysler’s Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), driving “best year ever” growth and significantly accelerated the adoption of electric vehicles. Prior to GEM, she led marketing communications efforts to high-net-worth and high-visibility clients in management consulting-financial services companies Deloitte and American Express. She's a native of NYC and has a BA from UCLA, an MBA from Baruch College at City University of NY, and post-graduate studies at Harvard Business School, The New School and The Aspen Institute, among others. She has a Sustainability and ESG certification from Competent Boards.