Indiana Jones and the Biden climate agenda - POLITICO

Indiana Jones and the Biden climate agenda - POLITICO

Indiana Jones and the Biden climate agenda

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It might seem odd that a shortage of archaeologists would pose a big hurdle to switching America to renewable energy.

But it’s true.

Almost every major infrastructure project that moves dirt has to show it isn’t damaging a site with historical or cultural significance. Today, that makes the humble archaeologist a critical cog in the workforce that’s building wind farms, large-scale solar projects, transmission lines and other clean energy infrastructure.

The shortage of field experts is another headache for the Biden administration, which is now spending billions of dollars set aside for clean energy in the Inflation Reduction Act and the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. Archaeologists say there might not be enough of them to keep up with soaring demand, Miranda Willson writes.

Some development is in tribal regions in the West and in waters off the U.S. coast. For example, archaeologists have studied whether installing offshore wind turbines in the Northeast could affect areas that were once above sea level and where Native American artifacts have been found, explained archaeologist Cinder Miller, president of the American Cultural Resources Association.

Permitting fights

The surge in project development tied to President Joe Biden’s signature climate law is putting pressure on builders and agencies to hire archaeologists. “There is a short-term, acute shortage right now,” said Shawn Patch, a senior archaeologist at New South Associates, based in Georgia.

But archaeology programs at universities are more likely to shrink than grow, according to a paper published last year in the industry journal Advances in Archaeological Practice. Universities have also failed to train students for the types of hands-on archaeology jobs now in highest demand.

Reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act are at the center of a roiling debate in Congress about how to streamline permitting. Critics complain the process can stretch on for years.

Environmental and preservation groups that support the law say it’s critical to ensure that records of enslaved African Americans and Native American tribes aren’t lost in the race to build energy infrastructure.

The challenge, archaeologists say, is finding people with deep, expert knowledge of historic and cultural preservation to help comply with NEPA and the National Historic Preservation Act.

“The agencies, environmental consulting firms and industry, we’re all in demand of experts needed to facilitate this clean energy transition,” said Erin Lieberman, executive vice president of environmental compliance and strategy at Invenergy, a Chicago-based developer of renewable energy projects.

It’s Thursday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO’s Power Switch. I’m your host, Miranda Willson. Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to

Today in POLITICO Energy’s podcast: Ry Rivard talks about why Orsted canceled two of its biggest offshore wind projects in New Jersey.

Power Centers

Meet the new (deputy) boss

Laura Daniel-Davis, whom President Joe Biden appointed as the Interior Department’s acting deputy this week, is on her third tour of the agency, Robin Bravender and Heather Richards write.

Daniel-Davis, who started in 1993 as an aide to then-Secretary Bruce Babbitt, has the support of conservationists and former Interior officials. But she’s garnering criticism in other circles after her nomination to serve as assistant secretary for land and minerals management.

The Biden officially withdrew that nomination Wednesday.

Which way will offshore wind blow?

Governors and lawmakers are looking to the White House for help on offshore wind after a major project was canceled in New Jersey, Heather Richards writes.

The industry was already facing headwinds because of supply chain issues and inflation. Now, officials want the Biden administration to speed up permitting and make sure wind companies can take advantage of tax benefits to better buffer the industry.

Meanwhile, Republicans on Capitol Hill celebrated the demise of Orsted’s offshore wind plans in New Jersey, Nico Portuondo writes.

A growing number of House Republicans, including New Jersey Reps. Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith, oppose any offshore wind development because they argue it hurts tourism, commercial fishing and marine life.

Republicans take on China competition

Three Senate Republicans are introducing a bill aimed at shielding American manufacturers from competition from China and other countries with lighter environmental standards, Josh Siegel scooped.

The bill would levy a so-called carbon border adjustment fee on products that come from countries with high greenhouse gas emissions. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) is sponsoring the bill along with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a national security hawk, and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Cassidy characterized the bill as a “Republican climate policy” in an interview with Josh.

In Other News

Hot for coal: While China is on track to meet its clean energy targets ahead of schedule, it’s also building new coal-fired power plants at a fast pace.

Stormy skies: Climate change is contributing to the increase in severe, damaging thunderstorm winds across the central U.S., according to a new study.

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The Biden administration will delay an oil lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico while a federal court decides on protections for the endangered Rice’s whale.

A Pennsylvania appeals court dealt a serious blow to the state’s plans to participate in a carbon-trading program known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Federal regulators replaced the word “climate” with “weather” in a long-awaited update to an anti-redlining law, prompting concern from climate finance advocates.

That’s it for today, folks! Thanks for reading.

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