US Democrats’ televised debate: solar, storage and cost of the climate crisis

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders proposed ‘StorageShot’, based on the Obama administration’s SunShot R&D initiative to bring down the cost of solar. Image: Flickr user Gage Skidmore.

On Wednesday, the ten Democratic presidential hopefuls discussed their environment and energy priorities during a televised town hall meeting in New York City.

Some candidates, like Cory Booker, specifically unveiled their climate change agendas ahead of the marathon seven-hour event.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

But how do solar, energy storage, electricity and renewable promises compare across the top-polling candidates? Our sister site PV Tech has analysed their platforms to find out.

Joe Biden

Poll frontrunner Joe Biden backs net-zero emissions by 2050, bolstered by US$1.7 trillion of federal funding over 10 years. In addition, his government intends to secure additional private sector, state and local investments to bring the total up to more than US$5 trillion.

The former vice-president wants to invest US$400 billion – or “twice the investment of the Apollo program which put a man on the moon, in today’s dollars” – in clean energy and climate research, and establish “targeted programs” that would develop renewables on federal lands and waters. Biden has a goal of doubling offshore wind by 2030.

In addition, a Biden presidency would establish a new government-wide clean energy export and climate investment initiative. The scheme would promote American clean energy exports and investments around the world and offer incentives for US firms that supply low-carbon solutions to the international market.

To read how all the candidates fared at the post-Jay Inslee-drops-out watershed event hosted by CNN, visit PV Tech for the full version of this story.

Read Next

July 18, 2025
As we move through this decisive decade for clean energy, Asia’s energy storage market is stepping firmly onto the global stage.
July 18, 2025
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has made grid-forming BESS a priority for the National Electricity Market (NEM) and South West Interconnected System (SWIS) for 2026.
July 17, 2025
D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) has started construction at a 150MW solar-plus-storage project in the US state of New Mexico, the BESS for which will be manufactured in the US by LG Energy Solution.
July 16, 2025
London Stock Exchange-listed Gore Street Energy Storage Fund (GSF) has entered into an agreement to sell its investment tax credits (ITCs) for the Big Rock energy storage project in California, US.
Premium
July 16, 2025
Peak Energy president and CCO Cameron Dales speaks with Energy-Storage.news about the state of the battery storage industry after the signing of the Budget Reconciliation Act into law.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter