Energy Policy Seminar: Joe Aldy on "Learning to Build Back Better"

Name: Energy Policy Seminar: Joe Aldy on "Learning to Build Back Better"
Start: 2022-09-19T12:00:00-0400
End: 2022-09-19T13:15:00-0400

RSVP Required Open to the Public

Join us for an Energy Policy Seminar featuring Joe Aldy, Professor of the Practice of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. Aldy will give a talk on "Learning to Build Back Better." Q&A to follow. Buffet-style lunch will be served.

Attendance: In-person attendance is limited to Harvard ID holders. Room capacity is limited and seating will be on a first come, first served basis. Members of the public are welcome to attend virtually via Zoom.

Recording: The seminar will be recorded and available to watch on this page (typically one week later). Those who register for this event will automatically receive a link to the recording as soon as it becomes available.

Accessibility: Persons with disabilities who wish to request accommodations or who have questions about access, please contact Liz Hanlon (ehanlon@hks.harvard.edu) in advance of the session.

Registration: Both in-person and virtual attendees should register using the button below. Upon registering, all attendees will receive a confirmation email with a Zoom link; virtual attendees should use the Zoom link to access the seminar. Registration will remain open until the event begins.

Date: Mon, Sep 19, 2022 Time: 12:00pm - 01:15pm Location: Rubenstein Building - David T. Ellwood Democracy Lab, Room 414AB

Professor Aldy's talk will draw from his recent working paper, Learning How to Build Back Better through Clean Energy Policy Evaluation.

Abstract

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act authorized and appropriated unprecedented spending and tax expenditures to decarbonize the American economy. In the spirit of “build back better,” this paper examines how integrating evaluation in the design and implementation of these new clean energy policies can facilitate the learning necessary for policymakers to make policy better over time. It draws lessons from two case studies: (1) on institutionalizing evaluation based on the experience with regulatory review, and (2) on conducting evaluation based on the research literature assessing the 2009 Recovery Act’s clean energy programs. The paper identifies in recent legislation the programs and their characteristics amenable to various evaluation methodologies. The paper closes with recommendations for a clean energy program evaluation framework that would enable implementation of climate-oriented learning agendas under the Evidence-Based Policymaking Act.