Biden's clean energy infrastructure plan draws interest of lobbyists
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President Biden's attempt to steer huge energy infrastructure plans through Congress and his wide-ranging executive agenda are together creating intense lobbying and advocacy efforts to shape the policies.
Why it matters: The new proposal for an energy infrastructure package is vastly larger than the roughly $90 billion for clean energy in the 2009 stimulus, and the constellation of interests in play is huge.
Driving the news: Fresh signs are everywhere of efforts to influence the unprecedented infrastructure plan, as well as Biden's executive agenda.
They range from a burst of K Street lobbying hires by energy interests to new public advocacy campaigns and more.
Here's just a few snapshots...
- The auto industry's main U.S. trade group and the United Auto Workers yesterday unveiled an open letter to Biden and Congress on their goals for the package.
- Environmentalists are spending millions on advertising in support of clean energy infrastructure.
- A coalition of green groups and labor this week sent Biden and Democratic leaders a letter calling for a $4 trillion economic package. Bloomberg has more (subscription).
- The oil industry's most powerful lobbying group laid out its agenda for the administration and Congress last week.
- On Tuesday a coalition that includes Google, Adobe, environmentalists, and energy trade groups sent the White House a letter and memo with proposals for federal clean power procurement.
What we're watching: One thing is pressure from the left on Biden and lawmakers for an even larger package.
- The umbrella Green New Deal Network is launching a series of efforts today — including billboards in Pittsburgh ahead of Biden's speech — and in coming weeks in support of the "THRIVE" agenda.
- It's a $10 trillion, 10-year proposal from progressive Democrats. HuffPost has more.
