Ball Game
220 votes in the House of Representatives on August 12, 2022 confirmed H.R.5376 - Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) on the road to being a law. Industrial revolutions gain critical mass and momentum when political will meets economic investment and social commitments. With the players identified and a field of dreams built, let the real ball game begin.
Many of us start reflecting on the past calendar year around the holiday season. Thanksgiving of 2020 is when I drafted my thoughts on the climate change landscape and four factors when it came to the energy systems: political will to make change (policy and laws), economic investments (both private and public), social awareness (consumer demand forcing the issue in particular), and technology enablement (a more familiar topic to me). As shown below from my personal vantage point at the time, political will to incent and encourage was lacking in particular around consumer consumption.
Image: November 2020 Harvey Ball assessment of political will in energy systems
The passing of the IRA was a major statement of political will forward. Not a full Harvey Ball yet, but feels like three quarters.
Technology enablement to address consumption seemed well on its way, from heat pumps to software platforms for transparency across the emerging energy networks. The sustained efforts by Rewiring America and others bolstered the political will of many in Washington DC leading to the passing of the IRA of 2022.
Image: Rewiring America
Ford announced on September 17, 2022 that dealerships will need to fit into one of three models: Ford Model e for all-electric vehicles, Ford Blue Oval for traditional gas and hybrid cars, and Ford Pro for commercial vehicles. I am looking forward to the F150 Lightning e Team versus Blue Oval Team. Batter up!
Image: Ford HQ
Image: Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard in Wyoming, New York Times
Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia founder and reluctant billionaire with his unconventional spin on capitalism, announced his ownership transfer valued at $3 billion to a specially designed trust and a nonprofit organization to fight climate change: a very clear vote with his wallet and swing for the fences.