# A ‘rain delay’ for the energy transition [partner content]

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2026-01-20
- Length: 19m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-01-20-a-rain-delay-for-the-energy-transition-partner-content

## Summary

Tom Burton, chair of Mintz’s sustainable energy and infrastructure practice, describes the U.S. clean energy sector as entering a 'rain delay' following a surge of projects racing to meet 2026 tax rule deadlines. He explains that while load growth from digital infrastructure and data centers provides a tailwind, federal policy hostility, weaponized permitting, and foreign sourcing rules are creating significant headwinds and a pipeline slowdown for 2027-2028. Burton argues that permitting uncertainty is now a greater threat than tax policy itself, as it prevents projects from even starting, and predicts a consolidation where well-capitalized, agile developers will survive the shakeout.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-01-20-a-rain-delay-for-the-energy-transition-partner-content#t=8) Introduction: Tom Burton and Mintz
- [0:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-01-20-a-rain-delay-for-the-energy-transition-partner-content#t=48) The 'Rain Delay': 2027-2028 Pipeline Slowdown
- [1:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-01-20-a-rain-delay-for-the-energy-transition-partner-content#t=100) Political Headwinds and Creative Finance
- [3:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-01-20-a-rain-delay-for-the-energy-transition-partner-content#t=189) Load Growth vs. Federal Hostility
- [5:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-01-20-a-rain-delay-for-the-energy-transition-partner-content#t=347) Developer Shakeout and FIJA Rules
- [7:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-01-20-a-rain-delay-for-the-energy-transition-partner-content#t=456) Permitting Reform and State vs. Federal Challenges
- [11:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-01-20-a-rain-delay-for-the-energy-transition-partner-content#t=673) Digital Infrastructure and Data Center Power Needs
- [13:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-01-20-a-rain-delay-for-the-energy-transition-partner-content#t=828) Capital Stack and the 'Missing Middle'
- [15:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-01-20-a-rain-delay-for-the-energy-transition-partner-content#t=917) Offshoring Risks and Commercialization

## Topics

- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Packaging design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/packaging-design)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Factory operations & automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/factory-operations)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Mintz (company)
- Latitude Studios (company)
- Mintz Energy Transition Summit (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Renewable Energy Policy with Ari Gerstman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-05-02-renewable-energy-policy-with-ari-gerstman) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-01-20-a-rain-delay-for-the-energy-transition-partner-content. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.