August Round-Up

For a cleaner, more prosperous world, ACC mobilizes conservatives around environmental issues, fostering collaboration in the pursuit of environmental conservation.

Who We Are

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Welcome

From launching new initiatives on the ground to shaping the national conversation on the airwaves, August was a dynamic month for the American Conservation Coalition. With the ACC Member Platform officially live, regional events sparking connections across the country, and policy wins continuing to make headlines, we’ve hit the ground running as we head into fall. Grab a cup of coffee, no judgment here if it’s pumpkin spice flavored, and dive into this month’s recap!

This Month In Policy

Majority of Americans Now Support Expanding Nuclear Energy, Poll Finds

A Pew Research Center poll released last month found that a majority of Americans still support expanding nuclear energy. Specifically, around 56% of U.S. adults favor building more nuclear power plants to provide electricity, up from just 43% in 2016. However, nuclear energy continues to face headwinds—including high upfront costs, workforce and supply chain challenges, and regulatory barriers. To capitalize on this growing support, we must enact policies that unleash clean, reliable nuclear energy in the United States.

Meta Partners with Sage Geosystems to Power Data Centers with Geothermal Energy

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is partnering with geothermal energy company Sage Geosystems to power its data centers with clean, firm geothermal energy. This collaboration marks the first use of next-generation geothermal east of the Rocky Mountains. While innovation in the geothermal energy space continues at an exciting rate, the deployment of geothermal projects remains slow due to lengthy permitting processes. Streamlining the permitting of all energy, including advanced geothermal energy, is essential to ensure reliable, affordable, and clean energy.

NASA Study: Canada’s 2023 Wildfires Emitted More Carbon Than Japan or Russia in 2022

A new NASA study found that Canada’s 2023 wildfires emitted more carbon in five months than Russia or Japan emitted in all of 2022. As climate change exposes our forests to hotter and drier conditions, active forest management will become increasingly imperative. Fortunately, natural climate solutions, like forest management, continue to enjoy broad support. According to a recent national survey, 94% of voters support expanding natural climate solutions.

 

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On the Ground

• ACC Columbia Kickoff: The ACC Columbia branch, a new Young Professionals group in South Carolina, hosted its kickoff event. The launch was met with enthusiasm and marks a promising start for their local leadership!
• ACC Members Getting Social: The ACC Orlando branch held a social event with over 20 members in attendance. This gathering provided an excellent opportunity for networking and strengthening connections within the community.
• ACC Phoenix Panel: ACC Phoenix partnered with the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) for a joint panel discussion on wildfires. This event highlighted the importance of collaboration and innovative solutions in addressing wildfire challenges.
• Regional Leadership Camp: ACC’s Midwest Leadership Camp took place from August 12-14 in Michigan City, Indiana, facilitated by The Leadership Institute. This camp provided essential training for our emerging leaders.
• Sponsorships & Conferences: Our field team attended several key conferences this summer, including the Young Americans for Liberty Conference in Orlando and the CEN Energy Summit in Houston.

Say Hello to the ACC Member Platform

Exciting News! 🎉 Our newly launched ACC Member Platform is officially live! Dive in now to explore exclusive updates, event check-ins, and valuable resources. Whether you’re a current member or considering joining, this platform is your gateway to connecting with fellow conservationists and staying informed. Don’t miss out—activate your profile today and be part of our vibrant community!

On Capitol Hill & Beyond

• ACC Policy Associate Sarah Jensen joined the State Policy Network’s (SPN) Annual Meeting in Phoenix as a Generation Liberty Fellow, where she had the opportunity to engage with policy innovators from across the nation.
• Sarah also represented ACC on a critical panel discussion about forest management at an ACC Arizona event. Joined by Madison Yablonski from the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) and Tom Torres from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, the panel explored the need for active forest management in safeguarding our forests and addressing the growing threat of wildfires.

On the Airwaves

• We secured 45 media hits this month! Notable media moments included CEO Danielle Butcher Franz’s co-authored piece in The Hill and her post-Olympic op-ed in the Washington Examiner. Our North Carolina members were featured on NPR, while Texas members made waves in the Texas Nuclear Summit press release. Additionally, President Chris Barnard joined the Political Climate podcast immediately after the RNC and appeared on Fox News Digital.
• On top of our creative team rolling out GIFs to celebrate the launch of the new Member Platform, creating NEW seasonal stickers, and preparing for our members back on campus we saw a 133% increase in returning site visitors compared to the same period last year, signaling stronger user retention
• Social Media: We garnered 5.8 million impressions on Twitter, with senior leadership accounts reaching 69 million. Forest management content gained some of the most traction as our audience showcases a commitment to proactive action!

“It is time that we stop villanizing businesses that play a role in preventing climate change.”

Charity Williamson, ACC Member for TownHall