Chair of 38 North Solutions Discusses How Public Policy Intersects with Innovation
By Julia Concolino, Marketing and Events Coordinator
Katherine Hamilton, Chair of 38 North Solutions, joined Anna J. Siefken, Executive Director of the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, to discuss how public policy intersects with innovation in technology and business models—and how entrepreneurs and leaders can build it into their long-term goals.
During this Distinguished Lecture, Hamilton largely discussed the Build Back Better Act (Reconciliation) bill. She emphasized that there are many factors that weigh into this bill and in order for this Bill to be passed and have success, facilities and generators must be incentivized.
When asked how we can impact policy, Hamilton listed that we must:
- Start with a strong narrative
- Solve for bigger problems
- Show path from pilot to scale
- Develop modeling and case studies
- Build credibility
- Become trusted resource
- Create echo-chamber
- Build relationships
- Find allies
She further stated that in order to make the provisions in the infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better Act resonate with the average voter in the 2024 election, that it is necessary to write messaging that shows positive impact as well as incentivization.
“There is a way to talk about climate that reaches and tells a story to people. Everybody wants the same things in life and if we can distill it to show a positive impact, that will help.”
When specifically looking at clean energy, these policies have an impact: tax credits, grant programs, loan programs, regulation such as environmental, performance, market-based and financial.
She closed her lecture by emphasizing that everyone can have an impact. “Everyone can participate. If everyone tries in some way and if they care, they can have a say. Everyone should have an impact. There is a lot of noise that can be difficult to filter, but we need to let elected officials know that it’s something you deeply care about; it will help it cross over the finish line.”
Katherine Hamilton is Chair of 38 North Solutions. In this role, Katherine has been listed on the #Solar100 board by kWh Analytics and received a Cleanie Award as Entrepreneur of the Year. Katherine has led several councils of the World Economic Forum as a global policy and technology thought leader and is currently Co-Chair of the Global Future Council on Clean Electrification. Katherine served as President of the GridWise Alliance, advocating for nearly $5 billion in funding for smart grid projects in the Recovery Act. Prior to that role, Katherine was a policy advisor for Good Energies, Inc., a private investment company with a portfolio in clean energy technologies of nearly $6 billion. She co-directed the American Bioenergy Association, working with the states of Maryland and New Jersey to develop renewable portfolio standards. At the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Katherine led buildings research and then managed government relations in Washington, DC. Katherine spent a decade at Virginia Power, designing overhead and underground electrical systems for commercial and residential developments. Katherine studied electrical engineering at Northern Virginia Community College and holds degrees from Cornell University and the Sorbonne. Katherine is part of The Energy Gang podcast through Greentech Media.