Exclusive: Bill Gates vets launch group aiming to boost cleantech policy
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A veteran team of advocates and wonks is launching a group to win policy changes that make clean energy "the most affordable, reliable, and fastest way to power America's economy," the group exclusively tells Axios.
Why it matters: The group is made up of former top policy and advocacy staff at the Bill Gates-founded group Breakthrough Energy.
- The nonprofit Clean Economy Project (or "CleanEcon") lands amid rising power demand and costs — and a mix of headwinds and tailwinds for climate-friendly tech.
The big picture: "Our mission is to figure out, how does clean energy become the default choice for everyone?" CleanEcon President Aliya Haq said.
- "From consumers to countries to companies, everyone should be able to choose clean energy if they want to," said Haq, who formerly led Breakthrough's policy team.
State of play: The group envisions a spectrum of work, including lobbying, issue campaigns, coalition-building and connecting policymakers to startups, and more.
- It has a multimillion-dollar budget and roughly 10 funders. They're not disclosing but say they hail from philanthropy, VC investing and beyond.
- Board members include Rich Powell, who is CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers Association, and Mike Boots, Breakthrough's former executive VP.
- The 10-member staff includes Farah Benahmed, Sophie Brougham, Amber Jones, and Maria A. Martinez, and other Breakthrough alumni.
Catch up quick: Gates, while still working on clean energy, has reoriented some of his philanthropy around global health. That brought the decision to launch CleanEcon, organizers said.
- But the new group has a strong relationship with Breakthrough, Haq said, adding that Gates "remains a major champion of innovation."
My thought bubble: The group defies easy categorization in the advocacy world.
- On one hand, it's pro-climate tech at a time when some sources — like renewables and EVs — and climate policy overall are waaay out of favor in Trump 2.0.
OTOH, it's focused on areas of overlap like permitting reform, building transmission, and funding early-stage demo projects.
- It backs tech the Energy Department favors, like nuclear, geothermal and storage.
- Haq more broadly sees alignment on lower costs, innovation, and harnessing private capital. She calls the group "aligned" with the "abundance" movement.
The intrigue: "And we're not that focused on slowing down fossil fuels," she said.
- Such a slowdown "might actually increase costs, and we're better off trying to accelerate clean energy so that that lowers costs for people."
What we're watching: The power sector is the biggest emphasis right now, though its scope also includes transport, industrial decarbonization, and advanced manufacturing.
- Haq said its work on market structure will be vital.
- She cited examples like easing grid access for clean sources; figuring out how markets can price in electricity storage assets; and incentivizing advanced conductors that move more power through existing lines.
The bottom line: It's a new player to watch as energy advocacy and lobbying evolve quickly.
