Industrial Policy and the Clean Energy T

Achieving global net-zero emissions by 2050 in line with the Paris Climate Agreement will require substantial policy intervention, particularly to decarbonize the energy sector by ensuring that the necessary supply chains and manufacturing capacity for clean energy technologies are available and affordable. The concept of “industrial policy” is not a new one, as it has been employed by governments for many years to ensure military readiness and economic competitiveness in sectors of national interest. The application of industrial policy to the clean energy transition is a more recent development, however. The International Energy Agency (IEA) in its seminal Energy Technology Perspectives report for 2024 proclaimed that “well-designed industrial strategies will be crucial for clean energy transitions to continue gathering pace.”  

This seminar explores the theory, history, and practice of industrial policy and its application to the clean energy transition. The course will focus on U.S. efforts to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and also draw on international case studies from advanced and developing economies. Students will critically engage with the interdisciplinary endeavor that is industrial policy—assessing the technical, financial, and regulatory considerations in enacting effective industrial policy agendas to further the clean energy transition in a national and global context.