Power Players: Rich Powell on Energy Policy and Clean Buying

In this episode of Know Power, hosts Noha and Mike speak with Rich Powell, CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA). Rich outlines the evolving dynamics in U.S. electricity markets, focusing on the policy decisions shaping clean energy deployment and pricing. He shares insights into CEBA’s advocacy priorities, including maintaining voluntary clean energy markets, removing permitting roadblocks, and ensuring market structures support diverse buyers. The conversation digs into the political complexities of federal tax credits, grid reliability concerns, and what it takes to meet fast-growing demand from sectors like AI and data. Rich also reflects on global competitiveness, the future of firm clean energy, and the realities of work-life balance in a high-stakes policy world.

Guest bio: Rich Powell is the CEO of Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), a business association with 400 members including energy buyers and partners dedicated to advancing low-cost, reliable, carbon emissions-free global electricity systems. CEBA’s members represent more than $20 trillion in market capitalization. 

Prior to CEBA, Rich was the CEO of ClearPath and ClearPath Action, the DC-based organizations advancing policies that accelerate breakthrough innovations to reduce emissions in the energy and industrial sectors. He currently sits on the Advisory Board of ClearPath.

In addition, Rich advises policymakers on investing wisely in energy innovation, removing roadblocks to building and exporting American clean energy and industrial technology, and maintaining and promoting our flexible clean energy resources.

Previously, Rich was with McKinsey & Company in the Energy and Sustainability practices. He focused on corporate clean energy strategy, government low carbon growth strategy, and clean tech market entry.

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[00:01:21] Rich Powell explains the mission and membership of the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA).

[00:03:23] His career journey from environmental studies to McKinsey to nonprofit leadership in climate policy.

[00:07:13] How CEBA builds consensus across a diverse range of electricity buyers.

[00:10:24] CEBA’s three policy goals: voluntary clean energy markets, removing development barriers, and enabling market structures.

[00:11:07] The critical role of clean energy tax credits and what’s at stake in current federal policy negotiations.

[00:14:02] Rich breaks down the budget reconciliation process and its timeline implications for clean energy.

[00:20:16] Senate dynamics and strategic outreach to protect clean energy incentives.

[00:23:09] Projected electricity price impacts if clean energy tax credits are rolled back.

[00:24:29] What a legislative compromise could look like to preserve tax certainty without open-ended subsidies.

[00:30:52] How policy uncertainty is slowing corporate clean energy deal flow and affecting investment.

[00:33:09] Global competition: why some U.S. companies are reconsidering international siting decisions.

[00:36:37] Optimism for meaningful permitting reform under the current administration.

[00:42:49] Balancing clean energy goals with reliability demands from large energy buyers.

[00:47:33] The Department of Energy’s role in grid reliability and market-based approaches to preserving resilience.

[00:50:10] ERCOT as a case study for effective market signals, clean energy deployment, and reliability gains.

[00:55:07] Realistic expectations for future power sources and timelines in today’s interconnect-limited environment.

[00:58:28] Rich’s optimistic forecast for a fast-growing, tech-integrated U.S. power grid by 2035.

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