3 Ways to Build Clean Energy’s Political Power

Every morning, our team heads into the office under a giant logo on top of our building with the letters “API.” That’s because the American Petroleum Institute—the oil and gas trade association—is the main tenant, occupying the top several floors of the 12-story edifice.

From their perch, they look out at pristine views of the US Capitol, the Washington Monument, and a 180-degree view of the Greater Washington area. It’s hard to find a better spot in DC. I’ve been thinking a lot about their influence recently, as they’ve achieved massive wins through the One Big Beautiful Bill and regulatory changes over the last seven months—which followed from electoral victories they helped power last November.

The oil and gas industry boasts a massive budget, direct access to ideologically aligned decision-makers, and a sophisticated political and communications strategy. I once heard the former head of communications for API share that she instructed her team to never let a reporter’s call ring more than once. That’s stuck with me. Their goal was to engage and influence coverage at every opportunity, tirelessly, and this simple example exemplifies their relentless approach.

Meanwhile, clean energy’s fortunes have taken a decidedly negative turn, and the industry has faced an uphill battle from the start of the Trump administration. However, despite setbacks and disadvantages, clean energy can take action now to build political power. 

To prevent another successful attack on the industry like the One Big Beautiful Bill—and to build the case for swift policy action in the next Congress and administration—clean energy companies should take three critical steps:

1. Adopt a Campaign Mindset 

A few weeks ago, when asked by a reporter what the clean energy industry could have done differently in the OBBB fight, and what might change going forward, the head of a major trade group replied, “The politics will adjust…The facts are just gonna reveal themselves” as the consequences of the bill play out.

This statement embodies a passive approach we’ve seen too often. Clean energy companies and their trade groups should go on offense. Every seasoned communications pro knows: We don’t just respond to the narrative—we shape it. Waiting for consequences to unfold lets the industry’s opponents set the terms of debate. The industry should take charge to shape the narrative, lest Trump succeed in blaming clean energy for rising energy bills in the months and years ahead.

I’ve heard too many stories recently of clean energy leaders hesitating to take common-sense steps to defend their industry—either paralyzed by fear or convinced that the facts will speak for themselves. It’s frustrating and short-sighted. Everyone in this space has a role to play in making the case for clean energy, the fastest, most affordable way to meet rising energy demand. The most effective approach to countering false or damaging claims is to respond quickly and consistently. Silence only allows negative narratives to take hold. Don’t sit back—push back. And if the industry is going to face attacks, it should at least go down fighting.

The industry also needs to adapt to today’s political and information environment. Understand what matters and what doesn’t. It’s about driving and shaping a narrative through a strategy that’s underpinned by deeper political savvy and understanding of the information ecosystem. 

All the studies, reports, white papers, and analyses about job losses, higher carbon emissions, canceled projects, increased energy costs and other impacts of repealing major pieces of the IRA were necessary but insufficient. It’s quaint to think that, in 2025, these move the needle in a congressional fight over Trump’s top legislative priority. Facts have never mattered less. 

Clean energy must play hardball. Learn from President Trump. He is relentless in attacking clean energy from every direction, and the industry must be equally relentless in pushing back. 

We need to build a content machine that reaches Americans everywhere and captures their attention. Build a stable of pro-clean energy spokespeople, especially workers, who don’t speak in perfectly crafted talking points but are authentic in their experiences. Deploy them on podcasts and YouTube channels of all stripes and types, encourage them to make compelling content on TikTok and Instagram, set them up to push back in right-wing media outlets, and pick apart their fact-free claims. Win the arguments with Alex Epstein. Conflict in these settings draws attention by ricocheting around social media, reaching potentially massive audiences.

As Brandon Hurlbut put it on LinkedIn recently, “the fight is now cultural.” The clean energy industry collectively never really understood that, and that’s why they never had a chance. The opportunity now is massive, and it’s constrained only by a lack of focus and understanding of its importance. 

2. Make Congressional “Allies” Think Twice About Voting Against Clean Energy Again
   

The belief that congressional Republicans who expressed support for clean energy tax credits would ultimately save the day was a grave miscalculation, revealing a profound misunderstanding of D.C.’s political landscape. When it truly counted, every single one of them voted against the industry.

The OBBB was entirely a partisan exercise, and Republicans feared crossing Trump far more than crossing clean energy companies. But it’s not just that they voted for the bill. They failed to use leverage they had in the House to make the bill better. They had other priorities. Clean energy was no one’s top concern. In their political calculation, they thought that even if they vote against our biggest priority, losing the industry’s support won’t affect their chances of reelection. Indeed, even representatives who now stand to see projects in their districts canceled were unmoved, because they didn’t feel the political pressure.

That has to change. Elected officials need to know there are real consequences for voting against clean energy—and, for that matter, their constituents. If the industry lets these members of Congress off the hook now, they’ll never see clean energy as a priority.

Members of Congress in competitive districts spend several hours a day raising money by making call after call to donors, and they attend fundraisers to raise more money at breakfast, lunch, or dinner–and sometimes all three in one day. They are constantly thinking about filling their campaign coffers, much more than they’re thinking about policy. How and if clean energy companies choose to give is meaningful to them. Giving to true congressional champions should increase. 

This isn’t partisan, it’s pragmatic. Who will vote with clean energy when it matters most? Clean energy dollars should go to members and candidates who have the industry’s back, and no one else. Clean energy leaders considering further contributions to anyone who voted for the OBBB should think twice.

3. Invest Money Strategically to Build Lasting Political Power

Money is essential to winning in Washington, yet many clean energy companies and leaders still underestimate its importance. The industry needs an unapologetic advocate willing to invest real dollars—not just in policy, but in electoral battles, hammering the most effective messages that resonate broadly. 

While grassroots groups and PACs exist, they don’t operate at the scale required to make a major impact. If current organizations can’t—or won’t—rise to the challenge, a new one should. This should be business-backed and -minded, not a partisan effort—pairing the grassroots organizing chops of the League of Conservation Voters with the business sense and nonpartisan approach of the Solar Energy Industries Association and the strategic communications savvy of Climate Power. 

A critical part of this work should include building grassroots support across the sector. As Jesse Jenkins argues, “political organizing efforts and institution-building around an economic constituency”—clean energy workers—“that benefits from an ongoing clean energy transition…will sustain this [pro-clean energy policies] in the long term and has political salience across both sides of the aisle and across a wide swath of the American populace.” 

Convincing companies to invest won’t be easy, but they should be motivated by the OBBB and the Trump administration’s full-fledged attack on the industry. 

Conclusion

Jigar Shah nailed it when he wrote recently, “We must adopt a wartime footing. Survival requires unity, speed, and resourcefulness. Political power can no longer be optional. It must be treated as essential infrastructure.”

To build lasting political power for clean energy, leaders must approach this moment with the urgency and strategy it demands. That means adopting a campaign-style communications approach—one that actively shapes public narratives and adapts to today’s political and media environment. It also requires holding so-called congressional allies accountable when they vote against the industry’s interests. 

And above all, they must recognize that money is not a secondary concern—it’s a foundational tool for building the political infrastructure needed to win.

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