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Do you like history? A good policy debate on how to tackle arguably the world’s most important challenge in climate change? Want a course centered on discussion? If so, this course is for you. The central premise of this course is that the ongoing dramatic energy transition in the U.S. is not occurring in a vacuum: it is informed by previous energy transitions involving a long, and often complicated history of interactions among political, economic, social, ethical, environmental, regulatory, technology, national security, and other societal factors embedded in energy policy making in the United States. Students will benefit from studying these historical themes to understand the context and assumptions influencing current energy policy discussions, and to play a constructive and impactful role in implementing an energy transition that best serves future generations. Some of the themes we will examine include, the role of government and regulation, energy and foreign policy, emergence and impact of the modern environmental movement, social and cultural trends and role of the consumer, and the concept of “justice”. The goal is to provide context for current challenges surrounding key public policy issues in the energy sector. In short, we will use our understanding of historical developments and themes in the U.S. and relate them to debates surrounding the current transition to a decarbonized economy. Our focus is solely on the United States. Please note, this class is heavily discussion-based: if you don’t want to talk in class sessions every week, this class is not for you. There are no pre-requisites for this course and is ideal for non-DCS focus area students who want an introduction to energy-climate issues and policy, and specifically the challenges of a clean energy transition in the United States.