Reconciliation allows lawmakers to pass legislation in the Senate with only 50 votes. Normally it can only be done once per calendar year, but for complicated procedural reasons, Democrats are able to use budget reconciliation twice in 2021.
Right now Congress is busy passing Biden’s COVID relief package through reconciliation. That process is expected to be completed by the end of February. Then in late spring or early summer, the Biden team will announce an infrastructure/energy bill. That legislation will be enormous and mostly focused on infrastructure, but it will be the vehicle that will carry our climate hopes and dreams over the finish line.
The Democrats will give the Republicans a few weeks, maybe even a month, to come to the table and negotiate in good faith, and if/when that does not lead to a breakthrough then the Democrats will pass the infrastructure package through reconciliation too.
We need to make sure that the infrastructure package includes 100% clean electricity by 2035, which can be done through reconciliation. That package is our one and only shot. Once the doors of reconciliation slam shut behind that bill, then we will be stuck needing 60 votes to do anything, which means we will be able to do nothing.