In this episode of The Ezra Klein Show, Robinson Meyer sits down with Jigar Shah, the director of the Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office (LPO). They dive into how the LPO is pivotal in advancing clean energy technology, especially following the Inflation Reduction Act. Shah points out that the LPO's mission goes beyond just climate goals; it's about boosting American economic growth and competitiveness by backing innovative clean energy projects that create jobs. He reflects on past missteps, stressing the need for thorough due diligence and collaboration with communities and labor unions to ensure success and avoid repeating failures like the Solyndra loan. Despite facing some delays, Shah remains optimistic about the LPO's potential to drive clean energy innovation and deployment, even if a future Trump administration were to take office.
