Did you know there is a group called the Conservative Climate Caucus (CCC) comprised of over 80 congressional Republicans from across the country, including the Asheville area’s US Congressman, Chuck Edwards of NC-11?
In contrast to the left’s extreme agenda, which is destructive to our economy and our way of life, the caucus is dedicated to commonsense climate solutions that embrace all forms of American-made energy (from renewables like wind and solar to baseload resources like natural gas and nuclear), expand energy choices, and bolster the economy while lowering emissions nationwide.
That’s where the Conservative Climate Foundation (CCF) comes in. CCF, a nonprofit organization founded in 2021 to support the conservative climate community, recently held its Third Annual Communicators Retreat for US House and Senate communications staff and energy stakeholders in Asheville. It chose this city in the North Carolina mountains because it exemplifies the importance of balancing environmental protection and economic prosperity.
From the gorgeous views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Mills River to a burgeoning craft-beer industry and thriving agriculture economy, this area provides innumerable reasons to believe in and work toward leaving our planet better than we found it.
Attendees of the Communicators Retreat saw firsthand how sustainability and tourism go hand-in-hand by visiting the Biltmore Estate, which boasts an impressive 9-acre, 1.7-megawatt solar panel system that provides up to 20% of the estate’s energy needs. The Biltmore’s agriculture practices also utilize biodiesel created from recycled fryer oil and a Field to Table Program that celebrates local agriculture and climate-smart practices.
The group also visited the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, home to the largest solar array in craft beer. Sierra Nevada diverts 99.8% of solid waste from the landfill, sending spent grain and yeast from beer production to regional cattle and dairy farms, where it is converted into feed. They also built the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum production brewery in the United States, right here in Asheville.
These are just a few examples of what was on display for the retreat. In addition, attendees learned about local clean-energy initiatives from the Land of Sky Regional Council and heard from experts about how to communicate complex topics with conservative audiences, from the emerging clean hydrogen industry to the benefits clean energy tax incentives are having in local communities across the United States.
As an advocate for conservative, small government climate solutions, I was proud to showcase the important work happening in Asheville as an example for the rest of the country.
CCF will continue working together to ensure that communities throughout the United States understand that we can protect our environment without shutting down our economy. In fact, if we want to continue leading the world in emissions reduction, we must continue to invest in our local communities, reduce burdensome government regulations, produce homegrown energy, and continue to foster American clean-energy innovation.
By doing this, we will not only maintain our global leadership, but we will create jobs, strengthen regions like western North Carolina, bolster US energy security, and create an environment we are proud to give our children and grandchildren.