Weekly Briefing: Member of Congress responds to CCL letter in local newspaper

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Aug. 19, 2026

What happens when you write a letter to the editor (LTE) about an issue you care about? Your member of Congress might just write one back!

That’s exactly what happened to Charlotte Reith, a CCL volunteer in the Perrysburg, OH chapter. In late July, Charlotte wrote an LTE published in The Toledo Blade about permitting reform. Rep. Bob Latta (OH-05) saw the letter and published a response of his own via the same newspaper less than a week later!

In her LTE, Charlotte outlined why permitting reform is necessary for America and detailed the impact of rising energy demand on Ohioans. She ended by encouraging readers to contact their elected officials in support of permitting reform.

A week later, Rep. Latta published his own LTE about permitting reform, which he opened by saying, “I would like to thank Charlotte from Bowling Green for her insightful letter to the editor published on Tuesday.” Rep. Latta went on to share his support for permitting reform and his work to improve energy security and grid reliability.

“I was excited and pleasantly surprised to see that Congressman Latta responded to my letter,” said Charlotte. “Even though I don't share the Congressman's political affiliations, it was a great reminder that there are still possibilities for common ground when it comes to climate and energy, even when you may not be expecting them.”

The exchange is an excellent, real-world reminder that members of Congress and their staff really do pay attention to local media, especially when constituents mention them and the issues they’re working on.

If you’re looking for a new way to get in touch with your representative, consider writing your own letter-to-the-editor or op-ed. To help you get started, CCL offers a monthly LTE-writing party via Zoom.

During the session, you will learn the "LTE formula" and receive talking points for your letter that align with CCL’s latest call to action. Afterwards, you will have 20 minutes of focused time to start your LTE during the call. (In some cases, it takes only 20 minutes to write a full LTE!)

Mark your calendars for the next LTE party on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET. Whether you’re brand new or a seasoned letter writer, come write with us—and take advantage of the power of local media.

Join the party 📝

In other news this week:

Clean energy on the rise: Over 90% of new power capacity built in the U.S. in the first half of 2026 was clean! The latest U.S. Energy Information Administration data, analyzed by Inside Climate News, shows solar, wind, and battery storage are doing the heavy lifting to help America meet its energy demands. Fun fact: Out of all 50 states, Texas brought the most new clean energy online over the last six months!

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Invite your network to learn about carbon pricing. In partnership with Resources for the Future, CCL is hosting a new education series about carbon pricing! The first of six sessions, “Current economic consensus on carbon pricing,” takes place Thursday, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Sign up for the series yourself and begin to spread the word within your network by sharing our posts on Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, and LinkedIn. This first session is especially important as it will cover the basics to give a good grounding for those new to carbon pricing.

If you have more time: Catch up on BRIDGE ahead of the final section release. After nine months of BRIDGE and accompanying deep dive trainings, the final chapter — Unit 3, Section 3: The Art of Climate Storytelling — will open Sept. 1. Now is a great time to catch up on all previously released units. You’ll learn how to use the Moral Foundations framework to better engage in climate conversations with Congress, our communities, and our personal network of friends and family. Completing BRIDGE is highly recommended as much of our upcoming advocacy work will be based on the foundational concepts introduced in the BRIDGE program.

Upcoming trainings & events

8/20: Understanding and Transforming Conflict (BRIDGE Training #8) - Our second-to-last BRIDGE training is coming up! We’ll continue applying our skills in real-world scenarios. Recognize when a conversation shifts into identity-driven “high conflict,” then practice curiosity, looping, and complexity to de-escalate and reopen space for dialogue. Join us!

8/24: August 2026 Inclusion Workshop: Culture, Creativity & Climate: How the Arts Can Drive Environmental Advocacy - Climate change threatens more than our ecosystems; it also threatens the cultural traditions, knowledge, and practices that connect communities and shape our relationship with the environment. At the same time, artists and cultural practitioners are using creative expression as a tool to communicate climate issues, preserve cultural knowledge, build community, and inspire action. Join us to explore the connection between cultural conservation and climate conservation, while highlighting how the arts can serve as a mechanism for environmental advocacy and collective action. Join us!

To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Live Events Calendar on CCL Community.

Posted by Elissa Tennant on Aug 20, 2026 12:00 AM America/Los_Angeles