Carper in April. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Sen. Tom Carper leaves Congress with a message for colleagues: "Bipartisan solutions are lasting solutions."
Why it matters: Carper, the Environment and Public Works Committee chair, is departing after three decades at a time of rising gridlock and one-party reconciliation packages.
- President-elect Trump's win and GOP control of Congress have raised concerns that much of Democrats' energy and climate agenda will be rolled back in legislation and executive orders.
The big picture: Carper — a moderate who likes to disarm with humor and a wink — doesn't seem concerned about long-term repercussions.
- He compared the IRA's widespread benefits embedded in communities to those of Obama's Affordable Care Act, which ultimately survived GOP rollback pledges.
- Even though Kamala Harris unsuccessfully campaigned for president on the IRA's appeal, "all politics is local," he told Axios in his office.
- IRA provisions "are really fostering economic growth, and not just in Democratic states or Democratic districts, but in, frankly, in a lot of Republican districts."
Zoom in: Carper worked with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, EPW's ranking member, to pass nuclear legislation this year aimed at smoothing the regulatory path for advanced reactors.
- Carper now sees nuclear growth as a zero-carbon civilian power source that can create high-paying jobs.
- He's also bullish on hydrogen as a way to decarbonize heavy industry, with Delaware spearheading a $750 million Mid-Atlantic regional hub that DOE hasn't finalized yet.
- He's pressing President Biden to finish it: "You're like, on the 10-yard line. Let's get the ball in the end zone."
Carper is also still at the center of unfinished business on reaching a permitting deal before the end of the year.
- He's having talks about what Republican-proposed NEPA changes he could support as part of a bipartisan deal.
- Rolling back the IRA methane fee, a likely target for Republicans, will make it "much harder to actually meet our climate goals," Carper said.
- He reached a "reasonable compromise" with departing ENR Chair Joe Manchin, and "we'll see if that holds — we put a lot of time and effort into crafting it."
What's next: Carper lavished praise on Capito, the incoming EPW chair.
- "She's a very big part of finding a way to 'yes' on huge issues," including recycling legislation that Carper hopes will pass before year's end.
Carper plans to take it slow after leaving office. But he said he has his eye on opportunities that involve "saving the planet."
Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect that Carper said a methane fee rollback — not the fee itself — will make it harder to meet climate goals.
