COVID-19 has had significant impacts both on the energy sector and on economic activity in the United States. Moving forward, Americans will have to decide which candidate they will want in the next Presidential Election to lead the US through the crises it’s facing. If President Trump is re-elected, there is likely to be little change from the current Administration in the deregulation of the environment and energy. Trump’s administration has prioritized politics over science, and the EPA has lost a significant number of scientists. These scientists are being replaced by industry. While industry’s voice should be heard regarding regulations, the industry should not be in control of the regulations. It will be important for the next administration to put someone in charge of the Agency who will actually do the job of the Agency, which is to protect the health and environment. However, Vice President Joe Biden offers a starkly contrasting platform that is centered on climate change issues as one of the focuses of his Build Back Better campaign. Biden’s platform may be the opportunity that the US needs to re-enter the global discussions on climate change and regain the leadership in the climate change efforts. Achieving net-zero emissions means that the emissions created must be balanced by technologies or land-use considerations. The current energy industry must look at a broad spectrum of technology innovations that will lead the industry to net- zero emissions by 2050. The US will need an aggressive plan to assist the communities most impacted by the energy and climate transition. This will need to be an integrated part of the approach. One important dimension to this challenge is the need to rapidly develop technologies for CCUS. That will be a big opportunity for workers in the oil and gas industry. China’s emissions are 40% of the world’s total emissions, and if we don’t have China’s cooperation, we will not reach the global climate change goals. This doesn’t mean we have to find ways to be allies, but that we have to find ways that we can play together nicely. China is going to own the EV market if the US does not engage soon. The US should look to build alliances with Europe and other competitors that look to curb China’s looming monopoly on EVs.