Conservative Climate Foundation

Background

The Conservative Climate Foundation (CCF) is a 501(c)(3) created¹ by two conservative groups, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions and ClearPath, to finance Republican members of Congress traveling to Glasgow, Scotland, to attend COP26.² ³

In 2023, CCF sent a Republican Member delegation to COP28 in Dubai. In those disclosure forms, CCF included its invitation to Senator Mike Crapo’s legislative director, Molly Carpenter, and described itself as follows:⁴

“The Conservative Climate Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 2021 to support Republican Members of Congress and their staff to better understand climate and energy issues and conservative solutions to address them.”

According to its website, CCF’s mission “is to engage and inform the public and policymakers about reducing global and domestic emissions with commonsense, economic, and environmentally sustainable strategies and solutions based on conservative principles.”⁵

Stance on Climate Change

2024

CCF advocates for “conservative solutions to climate issues“:⁶

According to the CCF website: “Reducing emissions is a global cause, and CCF sees that there are countless opportunities to engage this issue outside of the United States’ borders. Since its inception, CCF has hosted programming at the United Nations Climate Change Conference’s COP (Conference of Parties), bringing Republican members of Congress to the global stage to highlight conservative solutions to climate issues.”

Funding

Below is based on publicly available 990 forms accessed via ProPublica:

Donor	2022	Grand Total
Citizens For Responsible Energy Solutions Forum	$336,000	$336,000
Clean Future Forum	$250,000	$250,000
Business Roundtable	$50,000	$50,000
Nuclear Energy Institute	$35,000	$35,000
Grand Total	$671,000	$671,000

View the attached spreadsheet for additional information on CCF’s funding by year (.xlsx).

CCF 990 Forms

According to its 2022 990 tax form, the Conservative Climate Foundation received $366,101 in 2021 and $1,918,300 in 2022, totalling $2,284,401 from “Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees.” The names and amounts from contributors are redacted.⁷

CCF in turn gave out $150,000⁸ in 2022 to ClearPath Inc., a group also classified as a 501(c)(3) with EIN 82-5026325.⁹ As of 2022, Richard J. Powell—CEO of ClearPath and ClearPath Action, and CCF board member—also chaired the non-profit ClearPath Inc.¹⁰

Key People

The following is based on the above public 990 forms, via ProPublica.¹¹

Name	2021	2022	Description
Andrea Steiner	1	1	Director
Christine Harbin		1	Director
Colin Finnegan	1		Former Director (July – Sept 2021)
Heather Reams	1	1	Director
Lauren Wright		1	Executive Director
Luke Bolar		1	Director
Matthew DelCarlo	1	1	Director
Richard Powell	1	1	Director

Andrea Steiner — Director

Andre Steiner is ClearPath’s Chief Operating Officer, where she leads their “people, processes, programs and partnerships.”¹²

Christine Harbin — Director

According to her since-removed profile at CCF, Harbin is vice president of external affairs at Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), “where she advances policy priorities by cultivating strategic partnerships on and off Capitol Hill.”¹³

Harbin previously served as the vice president of external affairs at the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity, and also held economic policy roles at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a group that has been described as a “corporate bill mill.”¹⁴ AFP has been accused of “using the guise of nonprofit status to work, behind a screen of anonymity, on behalf of the Kochs’ corporate and political interests.”¹⁵

Colin Finnegan — Former director (July – Sept 2021)

According to his LinkedIn account, Colin Finnegan previously worked as a senior account manager at DCI Group before joining the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as their communications and outreach associate manager. Finnegan then held several roles at Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) and then worked at Forbes Tate Partners. In 2024, he joined ExxonMobil as a global issues and advocacy advisor.¹⁶

Heather Reams — Director

Heather Reams was listed as co-chair of CCF as of 2023; however, her profile has since been deleted from the CCF website. According to her archived profile, Reams is also co-chair and president of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) and CRES Forum, “a right-of center non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that engages policymakers and the public about responsible, conservative solutions to address our nation’s energy, economic, and environmental security while increasing America’s competitive edge.”¹⁷

She is also a Western Caucus Foundation advisory board member and is a board member of the American Conservative Coalition. She has previously worked for several “top D.C.-based public affairs firms,” and began her career working in the office of Senator Bob Smith and Congressman Gerald Weller, and as an intern for Senator Slade Gorton.¹⁸

Lauren Wright — Executive director (as of 2022’s 990 filing)

According to her since-removed profile at CCF, Lauren Wright is the group’s executive director, “where she strategizes, plans, and executes the Foundation’s mission of supporting the conservative climate community.” She was formerly the senior manager of Congressional engagement at the Aspen Institute’s Congressional Program, and before that was a legislative assistant to late Senator John McCain.¹⁹

Luke Bolar — Director

Luke Bolar is ClearPath’s lead for external relations and communications. He was previously Edelman’s senior vice president of the Energy and Environment practice, where he led “communications strategy and public affairs campaigns for energy companies, trade associations and government entities.”²⁰

According to his profile at ClearPath, Bolar previously served as chief of staff to former U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-LA). Before that, he served as communications director to the senator and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. He was also previously communications director for Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Deputy Press Secretary to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).²¹

Matthew Del Carlo — Director

According to his LinkedIn account, Matthew Del Carlo is the former chief of staff to Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES). He has also been the principal of the Del Carlo Group, a public and corporate affairs firm “advising elected officials, corporate, and political clients nationwide.”

CRES described the Del Carlo Group as “providing management consulting and advisory services to political advocacy organizations and campaigns” and noted Del Carlo previously served as chief of staff to California Republican Assemblyman Guy Houston.²²

Richard Powell — Director

Powel’s since-removed profile at CCF listed him as the co-chair of CCF as of 2023.²³

Rich Powell is CEO of ClearPath and ClearPath Action. He is also part of the advisory group to the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center.²⁴ DeSmog has previously reported on the Atlantic Council’s ties to the oil and gas industry, including as a recipient of at least $100,000 from both Chevron and Cheniere Energy.²⁵

According to the Milken Institute’s profile of Powell, he “frequently testifies before Congress on climate change and energy innovation.” He also serves on the board of the 2040 Foundation,²⁶ a group that once claimed on its now-offline website that “the world’s energy systems will undergo a near total transformation over the coming decades. The only question is the pace, and whether American technology will lead the transition.”²⁷ His other listed roles include a strategic advisor to the Silverado Policy Accelerator, and having previously worked with McKinsey & Company‘s Energy and Sustainability practices.

Actions

December 7–11, 2023

According to disclosure documents, CCF sent a Republican Member delegation to COP28 in Dubai. CCF described itself in the invitation, noting the group is “dedicated to convening Republicans through organizing educational programming, networking opportunities with industry, think tanks, and innovators, as well as international delegations and domestic site visits.²⁸

According to that document, CCF sponsored the following travellers:

Name	Representing
Stephen Wackowski	Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Brian Hughes	Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Grace Bellone	Conservative Climate Caucus
Jacob Bornstein	Rep. John Curtis
Molly Carpenter	Sen. Mike Crapo
Alexandria Fulling	Rep. Tim Walberg
Tyler Menzler	Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Ryan Mowrey	Sen. Lindsey Graham
Taylor Playforth	Rep. Garret Graves
Thomas Reynolds	Rep. Buddy Carter
Craig Wheeler	Rep. Bob Latta
Aniela Butler	House Natural Resources
Micah Chambers	Sen. Kevin Cramer
Adam Cloch	Conservative Climate Caucus
Ashley Nichols	House Natural Resources
Jacob Tyner	Sen. Dan Sullivan
Allen Klump	Rep. Jeff Duncan
Elise Krekorian	House Energy & Commerce
Brandon Mooney	House Energy & Commerce
Kaitlyn Peterson	House Energy & Commerce
David Burns	House Energy & Commerce
Gerald Couri	House Energy & Commerce
Patrick Weaver	Rep. Brandon Williams
Vivian Moeglein	House Natural Resources
Joseph Guy	Rep. Brandon Williams
Andrew Lingle	House Energy & Commerce

Contact & Address

According to its 2022 990, the Conservative Climate Foundation’s address and phone number were as follows:³³

1090 Vermont Avenue NW STE 750
Washington, DC 2000
Ph: (909) 583-3698

That address matches the offices of the Washington, D.C. law firm Sandler Reiff Lamb Rosenstein & Birkenstock, P.C. The firm describes itself as “focused on advising clients involved in the business of politics,” including non-profits and contributions to political and non-profit organizations.³⁴

The Conservative Climate Foundation does not appear to be active on Social Media.

Other Resources

Resources

1
Joseph Siegel. “Daily on Energy: House Republicans plan trip to UN climate conference in Glasgow,” Washington Examiner, October 20, 2021. Archived February 2, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/mBji3
2
George Cahlink. “‘Not going there just to drink’: GOP serious about COP talks,” E&E News by Politico, December 22, 2021. Archived March 18, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/n5bbJ
3
Nick Cunningham. “House Republicans with Ties to Fossil Fuel Industry Head to COP26 Climate Talks,” DeSmog, October 27, 2021.
4
“RE-2 Employee Post Travel Disclosure of Travel Expenses: Molly Carpenter” (PDF), January 3, 2023. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
5
Homepage, CCF. Archived February 6, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/5Qs36
6
“International Conferences,” CCF. Archived February 6, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Q7Nt9
7
“Conservative Climate Foundation Inc: Full text of ‘Full Filing’ for fiscal year ending Dec. 2022,” ProPublica. Accessed Feb 2024. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
8
“Conservative Climate Foundation Inc: Full text of ‘Full Filing’ for fiscal year ending Dec. 2022,” ProPublica. Accessed Feb 2024. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
9
“Clearpath Inc,” ProPublica. Accessed February 2024. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
10
“Clearpath Inc: Full text of ‘Full Filing’ for fiscal year ending Dec. 2022,” ProPublica. Accessed February 2024. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
11
“Conservative Climate Foundation Inc,” ProPublica. Accessed February 2024. Archived .pdfs on file at DeSmog.
12
“Andrea Steiner,” ClearPath. Archived February 5, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/mLgTq
13
“Christine Harbin,” CCF. Archived June 1, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/epUEf
14
Brendan Keefe and Media King. “Legislators and corporate lobbyists meet in secret at Georgia resort,” WXIA–TV Atlanta, June 2, 2015. Archived May 21, 2015.
15
Jane Mayer. Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, Doubleday, January 19, 2016.
16
“Colin Finnegan,” LinkedIn. Accessed February 2024. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
17
“Heather Reams,” CCF. Archived June 1, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Etnyc
18
“Heather Reams,” CCF. Archived June 1, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Etnyc
19
“Lauren Wright,” CCF. Archived June 1, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/rhnXA
20
“Luke Bolar,” ClearPath. Archived February 5, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Byce6
21
“Luke Bolar,” ClearPath. Archived February 5, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Byce6
22
(Press Release). “CRES Hires Matthew Del Carlo as First Chief of Staff, Awards Dave Banks Inaugural CRES Forum Fellowship,” Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, March 16, 2021. Archived February 6, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/XOhkA
23
“Rich Powell,” CCF. Archived June 1, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/oAgfD
24
“Rich Powell,” Milken Institute. Archived February 5, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/QplCG
25
Sharon Kelly. “Thousands of Pages of Confidential Think Tank Documents Detail Corporate Ties, New York Times Reports,” DeSmog, August 9, 2016.
26
“Rich Powell,” Milken Institute. Archived February 5, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/QplCG
27
Homepage, 2040 Foundation. Archived March 22, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/7N6g1
28
“RE-2 Employee Post Travel Disclosure of Travel Expenses: Molly Carpenter,” (PDF), January 3, 2023. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
29
Nick Cunningham. “House Republicans with Ties to Fossil Fuel Industry Head to COP26 Climate Talks,” DeSmog, October 27, 2021.
30
Nick Cunningham. “House Republicans with Ties to Fossil Fuel Industry Head to COP26 Climate Talks,” DeSmog, October 27, 2021.
31
“Conservative Climate Solutions on the Global Stage,” ClearPath. Archived February 6, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/ZUirG
32
“Clearpath Inc: Full text of ‘Full Filing’ for fiscal year ending Dec. 2022,” ProPublica. Accessed February 2024. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
33
“Conservative Climate Foundation Inc: Full text of ‘Full Filing’ for fiscal year ending Dec. 2022,” ProPublica. Accessed Feb 2024. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
34
“Firm Profile,” Sadler Reiff. Archived February 5, 2024. Archived February 5, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/GU3tA

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