Musk has emerged as a prominent member of Trump's inner circle. Tesla has lobbied for electric vehicle subsidies and other benefits over the years.

The billionaire Tesla CEO is in a stronger position to influence development of federal rules that would put more of the fully self-driving cars on the road.

The Biden administration is playing it smart, laying the groundwork to protect clean energy programs from a potential rollback under Trump. By finalizing a wave of loans and grants for clean energy before year-end, they're effectively locking in incentives, making it far harder for a new administration to undo them come January.