For a cleaner, more prosperous world, ACC mobilizes conservatives around environmental issues, fostering collaboration in the pursuit of environmental conservation.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Welcome
May showed that conservative environmental leadership is gaining ground fast. From national stages to local chapters, ACC leaders stepped up to shape the energy conversation. We submitted recommendations on AI energy demand, spoke at high-level events like The Hill’s Energy & Environment Summit and Fusion Forward, and earned media recognition for our local work on nuclear energy.
From Cincinnati Zoo tours to Texas clean water coalitions, our members kept the momentum going. Proving once again that the next era of American energy leadership isn’t just coming. It’s here, and our members are building it from the ground up.
On the Ground
- Behind the Scenes at the Zoo: ACC Miami (Ohio) got an exclusive look at sustainability in action during a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the Cincinnati Zoo led by its sustainability department.
- Young Professionals, Activated: ACC Wake County hosted their first-ever Young Professionals event, building momentum for pro-environment engagement in North Carolina’s capital region.
- Clean Water Coalition-Building in Texas: ACC DFW partnered with Americans for Prosperity and the Texas Land & Liberty Coalition for a community event focused on clean water and local energy resilience.
- Lanterns, Wildlife, and Chili’s: ACC SHSU took members on a nighttime nature hike, guided by lanterns and solar-powered flashlights, to experience Texas wildlife after dark— followed, of course, by a celebratory stop at Chili’s.
- Invasive Ivy? Not on Our Watch: ACC Terps (University of Maryland) rolled up their sleeves to remove invasive English ivy outside Symons Hall, with help from the UMD Tea Club and Landscaping team. SustainabiliTEA and stewardship all in one!
Advocacy In Action
- Building Nuclear Momentum in Colorado: ACC’s growing influence on nuclear policy was recognized in The Denver Gazette, which highlighted our role in shaping the conversation around advanced atomic energy in the Mountain West.
- Powering AI Responsibly: This month, the Hamm Institute for American Energy gathered public comments for EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on how the United States can prepare for the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence. In response, ACC submitted formal recommendations outlining how to meet that demand with resilient, reliable American power.
- Defending Energy Through Education: As reconciliation efforts put clean energy tax credits on the line, ACC doubled down on building well-equipped community advocates. Our team joined the Southeast Wind Coalition and Dominion Energy for a behind-the-scenes offshore wind tour in Representative Jen Kiggans’ district, highlighting how tax incentives fuel American manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy security.
Driving The Agenda
- ACC President Chris Barnard (pictured above) represented the organization on a high-profile panel at The Hill’s Energy & Environment Summit, where he offered a conservative, solutions-first perspective on energy policy in the era of American energy dominance. The summit brought together top voices from government, industry, and sustainability to discuss how the U.S. is adapting to rapid policy shifts and global energy challenges.
- External Affairs Director Isaiah Menning took the stage at Fusion Forward in Washington, D.C.—a major event hosted by the Fusion Industry Association in collaboration with ACC, ClearPath, and SCSP. Isaiah joined leaders from across the energy and policy world to explore how fusion energy can support U.S. security, economic competitiveness, and global leadership in the race toward commercial fusion power.
This Month In Policy
IEA Report Warns of China’s Grip on Mineral Supply Chains, Calls for Domestic Reform
The International Energy Agency’s 2025 Global Critical Minerals Outlook reinforces the urgent need to strengthen domestic supply chains and work with allies to counter China’s dominance in the critical minerals market. The report highlights that demand for key minerals continues to rise, even as China tightens its grip on global supply chains. To secure America’s energy future, we must reform the permitting process for domestic critical mineral projects and invest in both onshoring and friend-shoring supply chains.
New Study Confirms Forest Thinning Boosts Water Yields and Reduces Wildfire Risk
A new study from researchers at the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources found that active forest management practices, such as thinning and prescribed fire, not only reduce the risk of wildfires but also positively impact water resources. The report finds that restoring forests to their natural densities through active management can increase water yields by 8% to 14% in drought years. We must make it easier to manage our forests—not only to address the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires, but also to protect one of our most precious natural resources: water.
President Trump Signs Orders to Quadruple U.S. Nuclear Power by 2050
President Trump signed executive orders aimed at quadrupling nuclear energy production in the U.S. by 2050. The orders seek to streamline the licensing process for nuclear reactors, refocus the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on its core mission of ensuring safety while advancing the benefits of nuclear energy, strengthen the nuclear workforce, bolster advanced reactor testing, and onshore nuclear fuel supply chains. Nuclear energy remains a vital tool in our energy toolbox—essential for meeting growing demand while reducing emissions.
On the Airwaves
- This month, we didn’t just join the conversation—we drove it. From energy freedom to tariffs on China to conservative leadership, our voices were heard across the country.
- U.S. Representative Gabe Evans (R-CO) joined our new State Director, Hunter Rivera, in a The Colorado Sun op-ed highlighting the state’s all-of-the-above energy strategy and potential to serve as a national model.
- External Affairs Director Isaiah Menning joined the Moving Forward podcast to discuss the role of innovation, like cloud seeding, in environmental conservation.
- Alina Voss, Strategic Communications Program Manager, argued in RealClearEnergy for maintaining tariffs on Chinese solar imports to protect US clean energy supply chains.
- North Carolina State Director Jack Morrissey emphasized the importance of energy freedom and consumer choice in North Carolina’s energy future for Energy Platform News.
“They say the best time to plant a tree is yesterday. The best time for transmission buildout was 20 years ago.”
ACC Member Joey Menning for Deseret News, Upgrading Utah’s power grid will help us achieve energy abundance