Weekly Briefing: Congressional staffer ‘confident’ that permitting reform will boost clean energy

May 13, 2026

Last Saturday’s May Monthly Meeting featured guest speaker Shane Londagin, Senior Policy Advisor for Energy & Climate in Senator Hickenlooper’s (D-CO) office. Sen. Hickenlooper recently introduced a draft bill focused on transmission, and CCLers have been encouraging other congressional offices to review the proposal and participate in bipartisan negotiations around it, so we were excited to hear perspective directly from this office.

In a conversation with CCL Congressional Liaison Director Mindy Ahler, Shane’s message was clear: Permitting reform will pave the way for more clean energy. 

“When we talk about transmission lines, we talk about them as just moving electrons. They’re not moving a specific kind — they’re just moving electrons,” he said. “But when you look at the interconnection queue and see that 93% of projects waiting to be built are clean, it’s pretty clear what electrons they’re going to move. We feel pretty confident that if we build more transmission lines, what is going to get built is clean.”

We appreciated Shane’s insights, but he was quick to let us know he appreciates our work, too! “It’s so inspiring to see all the photos and events and actions that you all are doing at the grassroots level,” he said. “It truly gets me amped up. Knowing that a lot of folks are pushing in the same way as our office and keeping up the good fight is really helpful.”

The full recording of Mindy’s conversation with Shane as well as CCL’s national updates and a review of this month’s Action Sheet is available now. 

Watch the Recording

In other news this week:

• Jigar Shah announced as conference keynote: ICYMI: We’re excited to announce that Jigar Shah will join CCL’s 2026 Summer Conference & Lobby Day lineup as a keynote speaker! Shah has spent his career breaking down financial and structural barriers to clean energy deployment. If you’ve followed the news or listened to any podcasts on clean energy over the last few years, you’ve likely seen Shah’s impact. You won’t want to miss the chance to hear his insights firsthand — plan to join us in D.C. for his talk on July 27. Register now before the May 21st Early Bird deadline and we’ll see you in D.C.!
• FOFA Study in Science: A new study published in “Science” finds that wildfire management saves money, bolstering the case for the Fix Our Forest Act. The study, led by UC Davis scientists, found that U.S. Forest Service wildfire management saves about $3.42 for every $1 spent. Find the link to the full study and an analysis from CCL Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli on the Nerd Corner. And don’t forget to write your senator in support of FOFA!

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Ask your senator to cosponsor the Save Our Sequoias Act. The bipartisan Save Our Sequoias Act passed the House with unanimous consent in March and has officially been introduced in the Senate. We took action to support the bill during last Saturday’s Monthly Meeting, but if you weren’t able to attend live, you can take the action now. Ask your senators to support the bill, because even though sequoias themselves are primarily in California, these forest management practices are important nationwide, and forests do important work to remove climate pollution from the atmosphere. As our messages add up, they will signal more and more support for smart forest management to Congress, which can pave the way for additional national legislation in this important area. 

If you have more time: Work on getting a letter from a trusted messenger. As we look ahead to this summerʼs Lobby Day, now is the time to start thinking about letters from trusted messengers. When trusted messengers express their support for climate policies, it can strengthen the conditions necessary for a Member of Congress to act. This year, we’re collecting letters of support from trusted messengers on permitting reform. Work with your chapter to follow the step-by-step process in CCL’s May Action Sheet, or watch our latest training on Building Relationships With County Commissioners As Trusted Messengers for inspiration.

Featured: CCL Palouse

By: Aruzhan Sakhariyanova, CCL Communications Intern

The CCL Palouse chapter, which includes members from both Washington and Idaho, celebrated Earth Month with an incredible electrification event. On April 4, the chapter hosted its first-ever Palouse Region Energy Efficiency and Electrification Fair, which brought together around 20 sponsors and more than 30 exhibitors. 

More than 350 people attended the fair, which connected residents with businesses and organizations offering practical ways to cut energy costs and reduce emissions. Displays ranged from high-efficiency HVAC systems and insulation to community solar, electric lawn equipment, and Energy Star appliances.

The event also featured presentations from local university and high school students. Notably, attendees heard from Moscow High School students currently organizing an effort to install solar panels on a Moscow School District building.
 
“Our goal is to reduce emissions through community outreach,” chapter co-leader Leonard Garrison explained. “When people see what’s possible—whether it’s heat pumps, induction stoves, or solar—they’re more likely to take action.”

With a steady presence across the region, CCL Palouse volunteers regularly speak at schools, civic groups, and local organizations, including the League of Women Voters and regional building associations. In September 2025, the chapter also co-hosted an Electric Transportation Fair which allowed another 350+ attendees to get the lowdown on electric cars and trucks and test-ride electric bicycles.
 
After the success of these events and the Electrification Fair, the chapter is now exploring further community opportunities.

“It was about bringing the public and industry together to share real solutions,” said chapter co-leader Judy Meuth. “People leave with ideas they can actually implement in their homes and communities.”

Keep up the great work in the Northwest, CCL Palouse!

CCL has more than 350 chapters across the country. Find your local chapter today and get plugged in.

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