A conservative clean energy group stepped up its lobbying game on Thursday by hiring an experienced Capitol Hill adviser to push its policies with the Trump administration and lawmakers in the new Congress.
ClearPath, which is seeking to make clean energy a Republican issue and take it away from the Democrats, has tapped Jeff Morehouse, a veteran House Republican aide, as its lead lobbyist and director of government affairs.
“Jeff provides an immediate boost to our already-strengthening campaign,” said Jay Faison, a well-known conservative activist and the group’s founder and CEO. “His impressive background, including his strong expertise in energy policy, will be a huge addition to our effort.”
Faison was successful in helping a number of Republican lawmakers get re-elected in November by underscoring their support for clean energy policies that help nuclear and natural gas. Faison said he believes his group’s message resonated with voters and he will continue to push for policies that support his clean energy agenda.
Morehouse will help lead ClearPath’s effort “to work with the new Congress and President-elect Donald Trump’s administration on conservative clean energy policies,” the group said. The group promotes what it calls a conservative clean energy agenda, which aligns with President-elect Trump’s agenda to revitalize the coal industry by building “clean coal” power plants.
ClearPath’s platform supports clean coal technologies, new natural gas power plants, hydropower, nuclear and advanced energy research and development programs. It doesn’t advocate for wind and solar, but focuses on technologies that provide electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and aren’t intermittent such as wind farms and solar panel arrays, according to the group.
Morehouse will assist ClearPath Managing Director of Government Affairs Zak Baig “in working not just with House Republicans but also the Trump administration,” the group said.
Morehouse served as chief of staff for Texas Republican Rep. Bill Flores, who serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Morehouse also served as executive director of the House Conservatives Fund and oversaw the Republican leadership PAC during the 2014 election cycle.
