Clean-energy execs to descend on Capitol Hill

Lobby “fly-in” days happen all the time in Washington. But one sponsored by Clean Energy Works and We Can Lead seems worth a mention.

Right about now, business executives from 18 20 states are beginning to congregate at a Grand Hyatt ballroom in preparation for two days of lobbying in support of climate and clean energy legislation. One source said more than 200 execs were expected.

Before heading to the Hill, the executives will hear from some Washington dignitaries, including two Cabinet secretaries. First up is former Rep. James Walsh, a New York Republican who was on the House Appropriations Committee. Walsh, now a lobbyist at K&L Gates, will brief the group on how to lobby Congress. 

Michael Meehan, a former aide to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who is leading the Senate effort to pass climate legislation, will also talk about lobbying and media strategy, according to an agenda provided E2 Wire.

Republican pollster Frank Luntz will then brief the group on the results of a survey he conducted that shows the best way to sell a climate bill. Luntz’s survey said climate change supporters should talk less about the climate and more about jobs to sell the legislation. 

Then Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Energy Secretary Steven Chu will address the group.

The executives mostly represent clean-energy companies and hail from states from Alaska to Florida. Some companies, like Dow Chemical and Florida Power & Light, are well-known and active in Washington. Mostly, though, the executives come from smaller companies like Biomass Gas & Electric in Florida, Midwest Sustainable Energy Contractors in Illinois, Carbon Green in Michigan, and Algae-Aquaculture Technologies in Montana, according to a draft list of participants.

Shuttle service to ferry the execs to Capitol Hill starts at 2 p.m. today.

There is a dinner at the Newseum tonight with speeches by former New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter, now a partner in Environmental Capital Partners, and DuPont Chairman Chad Holliday.

Tomorrow, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who is working with Kerry on climate compromise, will talk to the group over breakfast. Then the execs head out again to Capitol Hill.