Name: Here's What NRG Energy's CEO Thinks About Trump's Climate Change Policies
Uploaded: 2020-01-02
Duration: 3 min 56 s
Description: Mauricio Gutierrez shares his thoughts.

 Mauricio, is getting to that time of year that we're looking ahead for predictions for the year 2017. What is your outlook for the US economy? Well, the outlook is-- you know, we see it as a positive outlook from where we see it. Renewable generation is still on the rise. Economic activity that could be impacted by some policies to stimulate infrastructure and construction could help. We are seeing a very low commodity price environment, which makes the US very competitive compared to other parts of the world. So you know, a combination of that actually paints a picture that could potentially be more constructive than what other people may think. Given that we have a new president-- Donald Trump, who is very pro-growth-- how do you see the business environment? Do you see it changing? Look. I mean, I think it's going to be about the same. If you look at the last eight years, we actually have seen a very attractive business environment. We're in the renewable business. And renewables have been growing steadily in the United States over the past 10-15 years. And so the renewable business looks very promising. Donald Trump has said that he wants to cut taxes. He wants to reduce regulations. A lot of CEOs are getting very excited about those prospects. Do you think that's going to happen? And if so, how soon make that happen? These changes don't happen overnight. They will take some time. And usually, these changes come with trade offs. And we need to understand those trade offs. So what would be some of the trade offs? What could be some of the unintended consequences? Well, some of the unintended consequences is a rising level of debt. As we try to perhaps have a program around construction and infrastructure, that money has to come from somewhere. And if we want to have tax breaks at the same time, we need to make sure that, you know, these objectives are not contrary to each other but actually are complementary. Because at the end of the day, it's a zero sum game. It needs to add up. Mauricio, NRG has been a trailblazer when it comes to clean energy goals, reducing carbon emissions, things like that. But our new president seems to have some very contrarian views on the environment. What kind of policy changes are you expecting from Donald Trump? Well, it's very difficult to know what is the final policy that he's going to have once he's President. But based on his rhetoric, you know, we would think that some of the climate change policies-- specifically the Clean Power Plan-- may be at risk. And perhaps other environmental regulations will be less stringent. Let's say that Donald Trump does do some of the things that he said on the campaign trail, like abolishing the Environmental Protection Agency, reviving the coal industry, things like that. Does that get you off of your own goals that you just talked about? From our perspective and from my perspective, we believe in climate change. We have set, you know, some of the most aggressive goals in any industry for our company. A reduction on our carbon footprint-- 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050. Our strategic goals, our vision, our mission, and everything that we're doing in the company is consistent with achieving those goals that we have set for ourselves. So I don't think the next four years will deviate us from what we think is the right thing to do. 

Here's What NRG Energy's CEO Thinks About Trump's Climate Change Policies

Leadership

Mauricio is getting to that time of year that we're looking ahead for predictions for the year 2017. What is your outlook for the U. S economy? Well, the outlook, ese. You know, we see it as a positive outlook from where we see, um, renewable generation still on the rice, um, economic activity that could be impacted by some policies to stimulate infrastructure and construction could help. You know, we're seeing a very low commodity price environment, which makes the U. S very competitive compared to other parts of the world. So, you know, a combination of that actually paints a picture that could potentially be more constructive than what other people may think, Given that we have a new president, Donald Trump and who is very pro growth. How do you see the business environment? Do you see it changing? Look, I mean, I think it's gonna be about the same if you look at you know, the last eight years, um, we've actually have seen a very attractive business environment. We're in the renewable business, and renewables have bean growing steadily in the United States over the past 15 years. And so the renewable business looks very promising. Donald Trump has said that he wants to cut taxes. He wants to reduce regulations. Ah, lot of seals. They're getting very excited about the prospects. Do you think that's gonna happen? And if so, how soon like that happen? These changes don't happen over time. Overnight, they will take some time. And usually these changes come with trade off. And we need toe. Understand those traders. So what would be some of the trader for could be some of the unintended consequences. Well, some of the unintended consequences is a rising level of debt. A CZ. We try to, um, perhaps have a program around construction and infrastructure. Yeah, that has to come That money has to come from somewhere. And if we wanna have tax breaks at the same time and we need to make sure that you know, these objectives are not contrary to each other but actually are complementary because at the end of the day, a similar sum game needs to adult. Mauricio NRG has been a trail blazer. When it comes to clean energy cools, reducing carbon emissions, things like that. But our new president seems to have some very contrarian views on the environment. What kind of policy changes are you expecting from Donald Trump? Well, it's very difficult to know, You know, what is the final policy that he's gonna have once he's president? But based on his referee, you know, we would think that some of the climate change policies, specifically that clean power plan may be at risk, and perhaps other environmental regulations will be less stringent. Let's say that Donald Trump does do some of the things that he said on the campaign trail, like abolishing the Environmental Protection Agency, reviving the coal industry, things like that. I mean, does that get you off of your own goals that you just talked about? From our perspective and from my perspective, we believe in climate change. We have said, you know, some of the most aggressive goals in any industry for our company. A reduction on our carbon footprint, 30% sorry, 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050. Our strategic goals, our vision, our mission and everything that we're doing in the company is consistent with achieving those goals that we have set for ourselves. So I don't think a the next four years will deviate us from You know what we think is the right thing to do