Former Bill Gates Climate Lobbyists Launch New Clean Energy Nonprofit
WASHINGTON D.C. – A new nonprofit organization, the Clean Economy Project, has been founded by former lobbyists from Bill Gates’s breakthrough Energy, following the disbandment of that organization’s energy policy team in March. The new venture aims to accelerate the transition to clean energy by focusing on project progress, innovation, and investment.
The Clean Economy Project, informally known as CleanEcon, shares a core belief with Breakthrough Energy: that clean energy sources can become economically competitive with fossil fuels. The organization is backed by over 10 undisclosed funders, including philanthropists and venture capitalists, and currently employs a team of 10.
according to a press release, CleanEcon’s three primary goals are “building energy projects faster; accelerating innovation to lower costs; and derisking private investment into clean industries.”
The launch of CleanEcon follows a strategic decision by Bill Gates to scale back Breakthrough Energy’s lobbying efforts earlier this year. A New York Times report from March indicated Gates determined that lobbying would be ineffective during the Trump governance.
Leading the new organization is Aliya Haq, who previously served as vice president of U.S. policy and advocacy at Breakthrough Energy for nearly six years.
