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In this episode, Louis DeMaso interviews Daniel Wolf, a Policy Manager at The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE).
They discuss Daniel’s work advocating for policies that accelerate the United States’ transition to renewable energy, including clean energy taxes and legislation for transmission lines.
Daniel shares his personal journey into advocacy, skills that are important for success in his field, and emerging trends in renewable energy technology.
Listen to this episode to learn how advocating for renewable energy policy can make a tangible impact in advancing sustainability and how you can enter this exciting field.
What does this job involve?
Daniel Wolf is a Policy Manager at The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), a national nonprofit organization that aims to accelerate our transition to an economy run on renewable energy.
Daniel’s main objective is to inform legislators of important developments in his field and advocate for relevant policies on Capitol Hill.
His job involves conducting legislative and regulatory research, monitoring renewable energy trends to identify threats and opportunities, organizing networking events, and talking to legislators and their staff to advocate for certain bills.
The bills he and his team promote often relate to clean energy taxes, permitting reform, inter-regional transmission, and trade policies.
Daniel enjoys working in policy advocacy because he feels like he is having a tangible, positive impact on the world. He is passionate about decarbonizing our energy systems and addressing climate change.
One of his major challenges is that the legislative process can be slow and complicated to influence.
What skills are important for success?
Knowledge of the Legislative Process
Daniel understands how to influence the legislative process that a bill must go through to become law.
This involves the introduction of a bill in either the House or the Senate, committee review and approval, a vote in both the House and the Senate, reconciliation of differences between versions, and ultimately, the President’s signature.
Without understanding the legislative process, a policy advocate would not be able to determine the most effective course of action for promoting a bill.
For individuals interested in pursuing policy work like him, Daniel recommends gaining experience with the legislative process through a diverse range of internships, working for federal, state, or local agencies, or working on political campaigns.
Monitoring Trends and New Developments
Daniel spends a significant amount of time monitoring clean energy trends, identifying threats and opportunities, and analyzing data to develop policy recommendations.
To do this effectively, he must be able to quickly learn new topics, such as technological advances, changes in governmental regulations, and trade agreements related to his field.
He must have a deep understanding of the energy sector, including generation methods and distribution networks, and he must be able to analyze market data.
Additionally, he must understand the unique perspectives of local communities and government officials so that he can incorporate their needs into his recommendations.
To do all of this effectively, Daniel has learned to power skim resources, such as online articles, government reports, and research findings.
This skill allows him to filter through large amounts of information quickly while identifying critical components that he should address.
Daniel advises aspiring policy professionals to practice monitoring policy trends and staying informed on current events affecting their field.
He suggests that it is important to understand and be able to speak intelligently about these topics so that you can take advantage of advocacy opportunities when they arise.
Persuasive Communication
Persuasive communication is a key part of Daniel’s work, as he needs to be able to effectively convey policy recommendations to legislators and their staff while encouraging them to take action.
This involves developing clear and concise messaging that highlights the key points of a policy proposal and its potential benefits.
Daniel recommends that aspiring policy advocates practice their public speaking, presentation, and professional writing skills.
He also advises practicing creating compelling narratives using data and stories to demonstrate the significance of policies.
Finally, Daniel stresses the importance of adjusting your communication style for different audiences, whether policymakers or the public, to make your message as powerful as possible.
Everyone sees the world differently, and it’s important to understand what motivates them if you want to make the strongest case.
Networking
Daniel describes that it is important to build strong relationships with legislators, their staff, and other professionals to form partnerships and pass legislation. This is a key component of success in policy advocacy.
He recommends attending conferences, participating in workshops, and joining professional organizations related to your field to stay informed and network with others.
To accelerate your success, consider seeking out mentorship opportunities, whether through formal mentorship programs or by reaching out to professionals who inspire you.
These relationships can provide valuable guidance and advice to help you navigate the complex policy landscape.
Career Advice
Daniel suggests obtaining a formal degree in public policy when seeking employment in his field.
It is generally expected that policy advocates will pursue a graduate degree, which can give them an advantage when applying for jobs and set them apart from other candidates.
However, Daniel suggests gaining work experience and clarifying your career goals before committing to a graduate degree to ensure that you are on a path relevant to the work you intend to pursue long-term.
He also advises aspiring policy advocates to remain curious, be receptive to learning, and take advantage of opportunities to work on a wide variety of issues to broaden their areas of expertise.
Transcript
The following transcript has been edited to make it easier to read.
Louis DeMaso 0:01 Hey, Danny, thanks for coming on the show.
Daniel Wolf 0:03 Of course, thanks for having me.
Louis DeMaso 0:06 Can you provide a brief overview of your position and the company you work for?
Daniel Wolf 0:12 Sure, I’d be happy to. Currently, I am employed by the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), a 501(c)(3) national non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the transition to a renewable energy economy. I have been with ACORE for about three years now and my main focus is on Congressional Affairs. This involves advocating for policies on Capitol Hill that will speed up the transition to renewable energy. Over the past few years, my work has largely focused on clean energy tax policy. In fact, earlier this year, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which is the first comprehensive climate policy ever passed by the US Congress. Fortunately, this bill includes long-term extensions of the clean energy tax credits that have made utility-scale wind and solar more affordable and economical, thus accelerating their deployment.
Since then, we have shifted our focus to other areas that have been hindering renewable growth, including siting and permitting reform, a lack of inter-regional transmission, and trade policies. We are also thinking about our domestic supply chain and how to ensure that we have access to all the components needed to build these projects. That’s the gist of what I’ve been doing, and I’d be happy to answer any further questions you may have.
Louis DeMaso 2:04 That sounds really interesting. So, are you advocating for policies that accelerate the transition to renewable energy? What do these policies look like?
Daniel Wolf 2:14 I’d be happy to go into a bit more detail. Clean energy tax policy has been a crucial driver of renewable energy adoption in the absence of federal policies such as a clean energy standard, a renewable portfolio standard, or a price on carbon. For the last few decades, Congress has established subsidies for wind and solar power. These subsidies, which have been permanently in place for fossil fuels for over a century, amount to several billion dollars per year and potentially trillions over the past decade worldwide. One key example of these subsidies is the investment tax credit, which provides a 30% subsidy for utility-scale solar, and the production tax credit, which is used for utility-scale wind. The ten-year extension of these tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act was a major win for the renewable energy sector, which had previously had to fight each year for extensions of one or two years at a time. Meanwhile, fossil fuels continue to receive permanent subsidies.
However, a lack of inter-regional transmission is currently the biggest barrier to renewable energy adoption. In the past, coal, nuclear, and hydropower plants were built right next to population centers, where electricity demand was highest. Now, the best solar and wind resources are located in remote areas, such as the Great Plains, and the South stretching from California to Florida. Building large-scale renewable projects in these areas is challenging because the electricity must be transported over long distances to reach population centers, requiring high-voltage transmission lines. However, building these lines can take over a decade due to regulatory, political, and economic factors. Given that we have only 20 years to decarbonize our economy and meet the goals of the Paris Climate Accord, time is of the essence. If we do not build enough renewables in a timely manner, we risk failing to meet our climate goals. Therefore, at our organization, we are focused on incentivizing the construction of transmission lines in order to maximize the benefits of Congress’s clean energy bill.
Louis DeMaso 6:42 It makes a lot of sense. You need both the generation and transmission components of the infrastructure in place. This is a key part of sustainability – location-specific design. Using fossil fuels, you can generate energy wherever you were. However, transitioning to a more sustainable energy grid means generating electricity where there are natural sources of power, like wind or solar, and then transporting it to where it needs to be consumed.
Daniel Wolf 7:08 Exactly.
Louis DeMaso 7:12 How are you involved in advocating for policies regarding transmission lines in your role? Specifically, what is your role in this advocacy?
Daniel Wolf 7:20 Sure, there are a couple of different ways to approach my everyday job. A lot of it involves monitoring trends, identifying threats and opportunities, and talking to legislators and their staff to set up meetings advocating for certain bills that could help with planning, paying, and permitting. We’re taking a two-pronged approach: working in the congressional arena to get legislation passed, and pushing for regulatory changes through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The FERC has jurisdiction over transmission planning in all regions of the country, and we hope to institute new policies reducing barriers to building transmission lines.
One of the biggest difficulties with transmission is that it’s incredibly expensive to build these lines. We’ve advocated for a tax credit to make it cheaper. Another problem is the permitting process. Since transmission lines span hundreds of miles and connect many different regions, each state has a say in the route the line will take through their area. This can lead to multiple public utility commissions needing to approve the line, and disagreement among them can halt progress. We hope to get congressional authorization for the FERC to permit interstate lines and override states that are blocking progress.
Planning is another challenge. Each regional transmission organization is responsible for planning transmission in their region, but when it comes to planning across regions, different assumptions, models, and cost-benefit scenarios can make it hard to agree on where a line should go and who should pay for it. We’re advocating for Congress to authorize fixes that make it easier for transmission developers to recoup costs in different regions based on the benefits provided.
Building transmission lines is crucial to decarbonize the grid and provide clean electricity. We need to act quickly to make it happen.
Louis DeMaso 12:04 It sounds complicated, but also important. So, in summary, are you acting as a middleman trying to build consensus between different regulatory commissions? Or are you mostly advocating for policies that would make those kinds of discussions easier at the government level?
Daniel Wolf 12:25 Personally, in my role, I focus on the federal side of things. Although we have many regional partners in various states and regions advocating for policies on a more local level, our core focus remains on the federal high level.
Louis DeMaso 12:44 Got it. So, there are two main arenas where you advocate for change: the congressional arena and the regulatory arena, correct?
Daniel Wolf 12:50 Yes, exactly. The regulatory body would be the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Recently, the Department of Energy (DOE) has taken an active role in addressing the lack of transmission infrastructure as a major barrier. The Biden administration has recognized this issue and has allocated significant resources towards helping states and regions build this infrastructure as well.
Louis DeMaso 13:18 Could you further describe the difference between the congressional arena and the regulatory arena?
Daniel Wolf 13:24 The congressional arena refers to Congress, specifically the Senate and House of Representatives. The legislative process, as depicted in Schoolhouse Rock’s “I’m Just a Bill” animation, involves committees with specific jurisdictions. Our focus is mostly on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Senate Energy Committee, and a few other relevant ones. We work with individual members and committee staff to draft legislation and move it through the process. Both chambers must pass the bill, and then, ideally, the President would sign it.
The regulatory side, on the other hand, is more focused on the executive agencies that are part of the administration. These agencies do not create laws, but rather implement the laws that Congress creates. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan infrastructure law from the previous year contained a significant amount of grant money that Congress authorized and appropriated. The federal agencies, such as the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior, then implement the law and distribute the funds. They are the ones who put out funding opportunities and distribute the money. The regulatory process is quite different from the legislative process, and although I am more familiar with the latter, I am familiar with both.
Louis DeMaso 14:59 That’s helpful. So, it sounds like your work in ACORE aims to pass bills that make it easier to install renewable energy and green grid systems. Is that correct?
Daniel Wolf Yes, that’s right.
Louis DeMaso Great. Could you describe how you got into this work and why it’s meaningful to you?
Daniel Wolf 15:19 Yeah, of course. It’s horribly cliche, but I knew what work I wanted to do from a very young age. I was with my dad watching Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, which was released around 2006. I remember being flabbergasted by irrefutable scientific evidence that the climate was changing in a way that was being accelerated by human activity and, if nothing was done to change that progression, we were going to run into serious trouble. At the time, public opinion was divided, so I dedicated my life to doing something about it.
At first, I thought I would spend my time educating people about climate change. Fortunately, we’re at a point now where climate science is much more accepted, though people may disagree on why or to what extent the climate is changing. As a result, I shifted my focus from education to decarbonizing our energy systems.
I earned an undergraduate degree in political science and a graduate degree in energy policy, which I find fascinating. However, my first job after college didn’t have much to do with energy. Instead, I worked for a lobbying firm in DC that focused on water policies, including flood control, environmental restoration, desalination, and canal dredging. Although I gained skills in the legislative process at that job, working on water policies wasn’t my ultimate goal. So, I transitioned to the American Wind Energy Association, where I learned about transmission and wholesale electricity market reforms. From there, I moved to my current role with the American Council on Renewable Energy.
It took some time to find the sweet spot, but I’m happy with where I am today. I feel like I’m making a real, tangible difference. I can’t understate the significance of the Inflation Reduction Act that was passed last August, which finally puts the United States within striking distance of its climate goals. I’m proud to have played a small part in getting that enacted.
Louis DeMaso 21:24 Certainly. The ability to clearly link the impact of the policy work you do with your passion for addressing climate change is a major benefit of the job, I assume.
Daniel Wolf 21:40 Yes, absolutely. I feel good every day about what I’m doing.
Louis DeMaso 21:47 You mentioned the legislative skills you developed early in your career. How would someone who is interested in performing policy work similar to you typically get started?
Daniel Wolf 22:00 That’s a great question. I would say having a wide variety of internships is crucial. Employers are looking for foundational knowledge of policy and how it is affected. If someone wants to pursue a career like mine, I recommend working for Congress, a state legislature, or a campaign to learn about the legislative process.
Additionally, experience in regulatory matters is valuable. I can be helpful to work for a federal, state, or local agency. Always be ready to learn and do your research. Keep up with news articles and stay aware of emerging topics in debates in your field so you can talk about them intelligently. That’s what employers are looking for.
Louis DeMaso 23:36 Definitely. It seems that the first step is to gain experience with the legislative process. This experience does not have to be focused on your topic of interest. For example, you did not start working on renewable energy policy right away. However, obtaining that general legislative experience is crucial. Over time, you can find your niche and specialize in the topic that you want to work on.
Daniel Wolf 24:02 Yes, definitely. As I mentioned, I began my career in water policy, which is a completely different field from what I do now. However, I was able to transfer all of those skills to my current work. Understanding the legislative process is key, and it applies to any topic in the context of Congress.
Louis DeMaso 24:27 That’s great. So, what past experience or skills, specifically, led to you being hired with ACORE?
Daniel Wolf 24:35 I believe my experience at the lobbying firm gave me a better understanding of how bills are introduced, drafted, debated, and passed. This understanding of the legislative process, and familiarity with how Congress operates, has been invaluable. It’s important to note that Congress is actually two different chambers, and the Senate operates very differently from the House of Representatives. Each committee has its own flavor, and individual members (Senators and Representatives) have their own key issues. Knowing who champions a particular issue or who opposes it, understanding which legislation is just a messaging bill with no chance of passing, and identifying which bills have a route to passage are all important skills that can be developed over time. It’s also important to be aware of the administration’s opinion on a particular issue and whether the President would sign or veto a bill. These are all skills that can be learned, but it takes time to build up the institutional knowledge—knowing which offices to talk to, which committee has jurisdiction, and being able to navigate the halls of Congress, both in person and virtually.
Louis DeMaso 26:04 Do these skills apply across time and different administrations?
Daniel Wolf 26:20 New administrations will come in with new priorities. The control of Congress, or the respective chambers, will flip between Democrats and Republicans. Therefore, what can be achieved in a given Congress or administration may change, but the process itself remains the same.
Louis DeMaso 26:46 That’s great! So, understanding the process is key. What other skills are involved in your day-to-day work? Is it communication and networking skills? Is it research or data analysis? or other skills?
Daniel Wolf 27:02 I’m not heavily involved in data analytics or modeling, nor do I have much experience in communication. However, when hiring an intern or someone else, the number one trait I look for is the ability to learn quickly and pick up a new topic. While some issues remain the same over time, oftentimes you’re presented with something completely new that could have a real impact on the sector. Being able to quickly assess a new topic, understanding the opportunities and threats around it, is a transferable skill that every employer will value.
For instance, last year, the Department of Commerce initiated an investigation into solar panels imported from overseas. The Obama administration had previously put tariffs on panels coming from China to help domestic manufacturers compete. However, the Commerce Department found that Chinese panels were circumventing the tariffs by being shipped to other Southeast Asian countries, where they were given a finishing touch before being shipped to America. This completely upended the industry, froze the market, and depressed projections for solar deployment. As a result, I had to quickly become an expert on trade policy and the Department of Commerce investigations, despite having no prior experience. Myself and my colleagues at ACORE were able to put together a coalition and work with the White House and congressional champions to introduce a two-year moratorium on tariffs. While it didn’t solve the entire problem, it helped alleviate the immediate concerns and was a victory for the sector. This experience highlighted the importance of being able to identify threats and solutions quickly, and come together to defend the sector from emerging threats.
Louis DeMaso 31:32 It sounds like a lot to learn quickly. In crunch time, what resources do you use? Are there internal resources maintained by your organization, or do you perform research online to find the information you need?
Daniel Wolf 31:49 I have cultivated a set of resources over time that I use every morning to catch up on the latest news related to energy and renewable energy. I start by reading trade press, including publications like RTO Insider, which covers wonky regulatory issues happening on the regional level, and news organizations like Utility Dive. I also read Politico for news on congressional activity. Additionally, I am an avid Twitter user and follow energy and congressional reporters to stay up to date on what’s happening. I receive notifications from certain think-tanks and NGOs when they release new work, and I filter out what’s actually important from the constant barrage of information that I receive. It takes time to cultivate these sources, but once you do, you’re constantly receiving information and need to be selective about what you read.
Louis DeMaso 33:52 How do you filter and manage all that information?
Daniel Wolf 33:57 I don’t know how to explain it, but I’ve become very skilled at power skimming. With enough practice, you can read 10 articles in five minutes and determine whether it’s news, fluff, or anything else – it just comes with practice.
Louis DeMaso 34:17 That’s really interesting. Common themes among sustainability professionals are their curiosity, ability to learn quickly, and desire to keep up with current trends. These traits seem especially important in a policy role, where the core function is to keep up with changing information and distill it into something useful.
Daniel Wolf 34:44 Yes, absolutely. What’s really exciting about renewable energy, and energy in general, is that we’re experiencing rapid change and innovation. There’s a ton of new technology emerging. While wind and solar are proven technologies that have existed for decades, the technology is always improving, becoming cheaper and more effective. Additionally, new types of storage are emerging such as lithium-ion battery storage which is currently the most popular and widely used, but there are other experimental technologies like hydrogen storage, which experts believe is the only way to decarbonize hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as steel, cement, and glassmaking, as well as long-distance trucking. There are also advances in small modular reactors and fusion. Offshore wind is another area of development. While most of the wind in the US is currently onshore, offshore wind is rapidly gaining popularity in Europe, particularly in the North Sea where the UK is a leader in generating electricity from offshore wind. In the US, there are plans to place massive wind turbines off the East Coast, California, and the Gulf of Mexico. These machines are as tall as the Chrysler Building. The constant development and emergence of new technologies keep the field exciting and constantly evolving. As we work to implement existing technologies, we also get to learn about new ones and stay aware of emerging trends.
Louis DeMaso 37:48 Definitely! It’s exciting to consider not only the technology you can implement now, but also what’s coming down the pipeline.
Daniel Wolf 37:58 Exactly.
Louis DeMaso 38:00 Once you have gathered all this information and identified trends, what do you do with it? Do you mostly write reports or brief others? Or do you present your findings to Congress or other entities?
Daniel Wolf 38:22 That’s a great question. I don’t write many reports myself. We have some very smart people at ACORE who handle that. We also work with partners and consultants who author many reports on sustainable finance and renewable energy. ESG is currently a huge topic of conversation, but it’s a controversial one since the Republicans took control of the House. They’ve prioritized passing legislation against ESG investing, and several red states have started passing laws preventing state investments from being made with firms that engage in ESG investing. Texas has even boycotted Blackrock. I’m not an expert on this topic, but we’re tracking these discussions generally.
In my position, I mainly present the findings of those reports as evidence to policymakers. I often use evidence to explain why a proposed policy is a good idea. For example, reliable transmission of renewable electricity to population centers is critical for energy security and the resiliency of our power system. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, which can lead to power generation shutdowns. This can be a huge problem, as we saw in Texas during winter storm Uri in 2021. The grid went down for several days, and tragically, over 200 people passed away. Texas is essentially an energy island, with very few interconnections between their grid system, ERCOT, and the rest of the country. This is a political decision, as they don’t want to come under the jurisdiction of the FERC. When generation inside Texas went down, they couldn’t import any more resources from the rest of the country, which is a major resilience issue.
ACORE has done an excellent job putting together reports quantifying the value of additional transmission capacity during extreme weather events. We put out a report a year ago estimating that an additional gigawatt of transmission capacity connected to Texas would have saved ratepayers a billion dollars and kept the lights on for an additional 200,000 homes. We put out another report estimating that a transmission line between Texas and the Carolinas during winter storm Elliott would have saved ratepayers $100 million. We use these reports to advocate for bills that support more transmission because presenting data-backed figures to policymakers is a very effective advocacy strategy.
Louis DeMaso 44:00 Within a company, making the business case for sustainability improvements is crucial. Having the facts and figures to back up your arguments is important for driving change. It’s interesting that this is exactly what you are doing, but at a macro level.
Daniel Wolf 44:22 Absolutely.
Louis DeMaso 44:25 So, your role focuses on presenting findings to policymakers. Do they request meetings with you or does ACORE place you in front of them?
Daniel Wolf 44:35 It’s a combination of both. If we’re targeting a specific policy, we’ll request meetings and identify the committees of jurisdiction. We’ll talk to personal offices, meaning the main offices of members that belong to that committee, and their staffers who have portfolios of different topics. We’ll also talk to the professional staff dedicated to the committee, for example, the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House. We fine-tune our advocacy outreach and strategy based on what we’re trying to accomplish.
At the same time, we’ve developed relationships with congressional staff, who will come to us for opinions, feedback, and thoughts on a particular piece of legislation. Building ongoing relationships with staffers is key, so you’re not constantly requesting meetings and presenting your ideas. If you demonstrate that you’re trustworthy, knowledgeable, and know what you’re talking about, they’ll often come to you, and it becomes a two-way relationship. That’s where the real progress happens.
Louis DeMaso 46:01 It seems that another important skill here is the ability to network and develop relationships with legislators.
Daniel Wolf 46:08 It’s important to remember that the staff of Congress also play a crucial role. Members of Congress are incredibly busy, and with so many topics to cover, they rely on dedicated staff to develop expertise and specialization in specific areas such as energy, transportation, and health. Building personal relationships with staff and demonstrating your knowledge and trustworthiness is essential for successful networking.
Louis DeMaso 46:47 So, is the objective of your role to become a subject matter expert on renewable energy policy, and then share that information with policymakers in order to help them make better decisions?
Daniel Wolf 46:59 That’s an excellent way to put it. Yes, a subject matter expert. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Louis DeMaso 47:06 Well, that’s really interesting. I know you enjoy spending time reading and learning about new things, and always trying to push new technology.
Daniel Wolf 47:14 I enjoy advocacy work because I love talking to and meeting new people. Earlier today, I had a meeting on Capitol Hill. In-person meetings are just more effective. Unfortunately, since COVID-19 hit, I go there less often than I used to, so it’s always exciting to go back. Walking around the House and Senate office buildings still gives me a rush. It’s a major perk of the job.
Louis DeMaso 47:46 That must be an incredible environment to be a part of.
Daniel Wolf 47:49 It’s great. I love it.
Louis DeMaso 47:52 We only have a few minutes left to talk, so let’s discuss any specific education or certification requirements for a role like this. I imagine there aren’t many, but you mentioned that you went to grad school. Is that a requirement for a policy role, or is it just an added bonus?
Daniel Wolf 48:13 Oh, I don’t think it’s necessary, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. I did things a bit differently, finishing my undergrad and then immediately going into graduate school without taking a break in between.
Louis DeMaso 48:31 Could you remind us what you studied in grad school and where you studied it?
Daniel Wolf 48:35 I attended the University of Maryland and studied political science as an undergrad. I then pursued a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree with a specialization in Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. The program was a five-year BA/MPP combined degree, which was a great opportunity for me. However, I generally advise people not to go straight into grad school. It’s important to finish undergrad, gain some work experience, and figure out what you really want to do before pursuing a higher degree. Grad school is more focused and specific, so make sure you’re truly interested and motivated before committing to it.
While I don’t think a graduate degree is required to work on policy in Washington DC, it’s generally expected that you will eventually pursue one. Having a graduate degree can give you an upper hand when applying for jobs and set you apart from other candidates. However, it’s not a barrier to entry.
I don’t have any certifications. However, data analysis and visualization skills can also make you stand out among candidates. Even if you don’t have expertise in those areas, being able to present information in a compelling way is always valuable in policy work.
Louis DeMaso 50:58 The team aspect is crucial here, isn’t it? I’m sure you have people on your team who handle the number-crunching, while others like yourself network and present the information to the right people. This division of labor is essential for success.
As you mentioned earlier, entering the workforce and learning the legislative process is a key first step, regardless of what you’re working on. After that, you can figure out what subject matter you want to focus on and become an expert in. Grad school might be a good option for that.
Daniel Wolf 51:29 Yes, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I realize that most of your listeners may not be located in the DC area and therefore cannot simply drop everything and head to Capitol Hill. However, each state has its own legislature, providing similar opportunities for gaining experience. Most state legislatures are modeled after the US Congress, so the skills you learn are replicable. Additionally, many companies, such as energy companies, have government affairs departments where you can intern or work and learn about the legislative process from the other side. This can also be a valuable way to develop skills. Although running a campaign is not quite the same, there are candidates running for positions everywhere, providing an introduction to the legislative process as well.
Louis DeMaso 52:26 These are great tips for someone who wishes to work on policy but does not live in the DC area. They provide ways to get involved in the legislative process and learn the skills needed to take the next step. Danny, you’ve shared a fascinating world with us that not many people have access to or understand. I’m sure many people will find your insights valuable.
Daniel Wolf 52:48 It’s been my pleasure.
Louis DeMaso 52:51 It’s been great talking to you today. Thanks for jumping on the show!
Daniel Wolf 52:53 Of course. Thanks for having me.
