Bill Gates’s old climate lobbyists launch a new firm

In a significant move toward promoting clean energy, a group of former staffers from Bill Gates's Breakthrough Energy organization has established a new nonprofit known as the Clean Economy Project. This initiative comes after Breakthrough Energy disbanded its energy policy team in March, resulting in the departure of numerous employees. The Clean Economy Project aims to demonstrate that clean energy can eventually outcompete fossil fuels in terms of cost, even if that moment has not yet arrived. The decision to dissolve Breakthrough’s lobbying group was reportedly influenced by the belief that further efforts would yield limited success under the Trump administration, as noted in a New York Times report from earlier this year. Affectionately referred to as CleanEcon, the new organization is supported by a group of over ten undisclosed funders, including philanthropists and venture capitalists. The team, which consists of ten members, has outlined three primary objectives: to expedite the development of energy projects, to foster innovation that reduces costs, and to mitigate risks associated with private investments in clean energy sectors. Leading this charge is Aliya Haq, who previously served as the vice president of U.S. policy and advocacy at Breakthrough Energy for nearly six years and now holds the title of president at the Clean Economy Project.