Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
What happens when global energy supply chains can no longer be trusted? Has the U.S. given up its edge in the clean energy race to China? And can politics keep up with the speed of the energy transition and the rise of AI?
This week on Cleaning Up, Michael Liebreich sits down with former U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of global energy, politics, and clean technology.
They explore how geopolitical tensions, from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz to shifting alliances, are reshaping global energy markets and accelerating the move away from fossil fuels. Granholm offers an insider’s perspective on the impact of U.S. policy decisions under both Joe Biden and Donald Trump, including the rise, and partial dismantling, of the Inflation Reduction Act and what that means for US clean energy investment, manufacturing, and competitiveness.
The discussion dives into the growing divide between ‘petrostate; U.S. and ‘electrostate’ China, the global race for dominance in electric vehicles and battery storage (with companies like BYD leading the charge), and the unintended consequences of tariffs and industrial policy.
Looking ahead, Granholm reflects on lessons learned from her time in office, what a future Democratic administration might do differently, and the political and economic challenges shaping the road to the next presidential election 2028: inflation, energy affordability, and the disruptive impact of AI on jobs.
Leadership Circle:
Cleaning Up is proud to be supported by its Leadership Circle. The members are Actis, Alcazar Energy, Arup, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Cygnum Capital, Davidson Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Schneider Electric, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information about the Leadership Circle, visit cleaningup.live
Links and more:
• What Democrats Can Learn From the Trump Energy Playbook bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-26/jennifer-granholm-democrats-should-use-trump-playbook-for-climate
• For Real Energy Dominance, We Need the IRA: https://heatmap.news/ideas/energy-dominance-ira-granholm
• Can Data Centres Play Nice With The Grid? Varun Sivaram & Steve Smith: youtube.com/watch?v=4kSrgRZUCwE
• The Future of Clean Tech Under Trump — Ep198: Jigar Shah: youtu.be/PCOaF-qQ_TU
• Why Renewables Are Booming Despite the Politics | Ep245: Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade: youtu.be/5oL_XlZ8k_M
• How the US Lost The Race for Clean Energy | Ep 219: Ethan Zindler youtube.com/watch?v=YQLkLXt9Uek
Chapters:
00:00 - Coming Up
02:51 - Impact of Middle East Crisis
08:30 - Inflation
11:30 - Inflation Reduction Act Dismantling
15:36 - Why Wasn’t IRA Locked In?
23:00 - US-China Competition
26:00 - US Out Of The Game
32:30 - What We Got Wrong
37:30 - 2028 Elections
39:40 - AI & Job Losses
41:50 - Return To Government
43:20 - Outro
What happens when global energy supply chains can no longer be trusted? Has the U.S. given up its edge in the clean energy race to China? And can politics keep up with the speed of the energy transition and the rise of AI?
This week on Cleaning Up, Michael Liebreich sits down with former U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of global energy, politics, and clean technology.
They explore how geopolitical tensions, from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz to shifting alliances, are reshaping global energy markets and accelerating the move away from fossil fuels. Granholm offers an insider’s perspective on the impact of U.S. policy decisions under both Joe Biden and Donald Trump, including the rise, and partial dismantling, of the Inflation Reduction Act and what that means for US clean energy investment, manufacturing, and competitiveness.
The discussion dives into the growing divide between ‘petrostate; U.S. and ‘electrostate’ China, the global race for dominance in electric vehicles and battery storage (with companies like BYD leading the charge), and the unintended consequences of tariffs and industrial policy.
Looking ahead, Granholm reflects on lessons learned from her time in office, what a future Democratic administration might do differently, and the political and economic challenges shaping the road to the next presidential election 2028: inflation, energy affordability, and the disruptive impact of AI on jobs.
Leadership Circle:
Cleaning Up is proud to be supported by its Leadership Circle. The members are Actis, Alcazar Energy, Arup, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Cygnum Capital, Davidson Kempner, EcoPragma Capital, EDP, Eurelectric, the Gilardini Foundation, KKR, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Schneider Electric, SDCL and Wärtsilä. For more information about the Leadership Circle, visit cleaningup.live
Links and more:
• What Democrats Can Learn From the Trump Energy Playbook bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-26/jennifer-granholm-democrats-should-use-trump-playbook-for-climate
• For Real Energy Dominance, We Need the IRA: https://heatmap.news/ideas/energy-dominance-ira-granholm
• Can Data Centres Play Nice With The Grid? Varun Sivaram & Steve Smith: youtube.com/watch?v=4kSrgRZUCwE
• The Future of Clean Tech Under Trump — Ep198: Jigar Shah: youtu.be/PCOaF-qQ_TU
• Why Renewables Are Booming Despite the Politics | Ep245: Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade: youtu.be/5oL_XlZ8k_M
• How the US Lost The Race for Clean Energy | Ep 219: Ethan Zindler youtube.com/watch?v=YQLkLXt9Uek
Chapters:
00:00 - Coming Up
02:51 - Impact of Middle East Crisis
08:30 - Inflation
11:30 - Inflation Reduction Act Dismantling
15:36 - Why Wasn’t IRA Locked In?
23:00 - US-China Competition
26:00 - US Out Of The Game
32:30 - What We Got Wrong
37:30 - 2028 Elections
39:40 - AI & Job Losses
41:50 - Return To Government
43:20 - Outro
