Encourage public-private partnerships – for geothermal, perhaps an “adopt-a-lease” program where companies and DOE identify prime sites and fast-track demonstration projects.
Encourage industry coalitions to pilot solutions while policy catches up, including faster geothermal demonstration projects and voluntary battery collection and recycling pathways. Use public-private partnerships to prove what works and build support for formal rules. This matters because visible success can accelerate adoption, but voluntary efforts need reinforcement to scale.
Why this works
- Industry buy-in can preempt the need for heavy regulation and show success (for instance, if automakers voluntarily retrieve most of their sold EV batteries for recycling, it builds case for formalizing it).
Sierra Club
AdvocacyExploring, enjoying, and protecting the planet
Mechanism
About GrassrootsHow Sierra Club uses funding
- Convene geothermal developers and partners to identify prime sites and pilot streamlined permitting approaches
- Coordinate with agencies on pilot pathways that still address environmental and cultural considerations
- Support battery coalitions to expand voluntary collection programs like Call2Recycle to cover EV batteries in the interim
- Develop shared standards for labeling, collection logistics, and transport practices consistent with emerging guidance needs
- Publish pilot results and operational lessons to inform agency guidance and legislation
- Recruit lagging companies and reduce free-rider problems through coalition commitments and transparency
Milestones
Checkpoints and the expected timing for each step
- 1
Form industry working groups and select pilots
Near-termCoalition partners agree on pilot locations, roles, and success criteria
- 2
Launch geothermal demonstration pilots
Mid-termPilot projects begin under streamlined, well-documented permitting pathways
- 3
Expand voluntary battery collection coverage
Mid-termMore collection points and participating companies adopt shared logistics
- 4
Publish standards and recommendations
Mid-termPilot results translate into clear, reusable standards and policy inputs
- 5
Transition pilots into scaled policy and operations
Longer-termAgency guidance or legislation adopts proven approaches and scaling begins