Powering the Energy Transition

The Penn Political Union is excited to host Ali Zaidi and Olivia Wassenaar for a conversation on the evolving role of U.S. climate policy and its implications for private capital allocation and investment opportunities.

Zaidi is a Penn Professor who has advised two U.S. Presidents on energy, technology, and economics, most recently as Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor, where he led the White House Climate Policy Office and coordinated the  government-wide strategy on climate change.

Wassenaar is a Partner and Head of Infrastructure at Apollo Global Management, where she leads investments across energy transition, power, transportation, and digital infrastructure. Prior to Apollo, she held roles at Goldman Sachs and the World Bank Group.

Drawing on perspectives from both public policy and private markets, this conversation will explore how recent U.S. climate initiatives are reshaping investment landscapes, influencing infrastructure deployment, and creating new opportunities across energy and industrial sectors. The discussion will also examine how government policy frameworks interact with institutional capital to accelerate the energy transition.

This event is especially relevant for students interested in climate policy, investing, infrastructure, and political economy.

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Host or Publisher Penn Political Union