Australian inventor Saul Griffith is at the centre of a push to speed up household electrification in Australia and abroad, even as climate politics in the United States turns sharply against clean energy policy. The Australian Story episode traces Griffith’s journey from his upbringing in southern Sydney to his work in Silicon Valley, where he co-founded technology ventures focused on energy, engineering and climate solutions.
Griffith, who received a MacArthur “genius” grant in 2007, has spent years arguing that the fastest path to cutting emissions is to replace gas-powered household appliances with efficient electric alternatives and run them on renewable energy. Through Rewiring America, the group he helped build in 2019, he and colleagues helped shape major climate legislation in the US, including rebates and incentives aimed at helping households electrify. They say the 2022 climate bill represented a historic breakthrough, but still fell short of what is needed to meet climate targets.
The program shows how that US momentum has been undermined by the return of Donald Trump to the presidency and a wider rollback of federal climate action. Griffith says his colleagues in the climate movement have been badly affected, and Rewiring America has lost funding and faced serious political headwinds, including frozen bank accounts and the cancellation of a major contract. Even so, the organisation says it remains committed to fighting for electrification policy and better financial support for households.
After moving with his family from San Francisco to the Wollongong area during the pandemic, Griffith shifted much of his focus to Australia. He and his wife Arwen say the move gave him a chance to apply the same ideas locally, where he saw strong community appetite for action. That led to Rewiring Australia and the launch of Electrify 2515, a community-led pilot project in the Wollongong postcode of 2515.
The project aimed to show that households could replace gas hot water systems, heaters and cooktops with electric versions, supported by solar and batteries. What began as a local experiment quickly attracted hundreds of households and helped inspire similar initiatives across the country. Organisers say the campaign has changed the national conversation by showing that electrification can save money as well as reduce emissions.
Participants describe lower energy bills and practical benefits from switching to induction cooking and heat-pump systems. Supporters argue that community-led projects can make climate action feel achievable rather than abstract. Griffith’s team has also used an AI tool, “Electric Saul,” to help people navigate rebates, installers and appliance choices.
Despite setbacks in the US, Griffith says electrification is an irreversible global trend, and he believes Australia can move faster through community pressure, government support and practical demonstration projects. NSW Treasurer Matt Kean’s announcement of $8 million for a pilot to help up to three communities electrify is presented as a sign that the idea is gaining traction.
