Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions is an American non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that advocates for clean energy policy solutions in the United States. CRES was founded in 2013 to engage Republican lawmakers in the national conversation about clean energy and promote the concept of energy policy as a nonpartisan issue.
History
CRES was founded by Republican grassroots organizer James Dozier in 2013. On July 17, 2017, former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte was named as the organization’s senior advisor. CRES announced Managing Director Heather Reams’ promotion to Executive Director and added Brandon Audap to the roster as VP-government relations on January 7, 2019.
Activities
CRES supports Republican elected officials who sponsor clean energy legislation in federal and state elections. During the 2018 midterm elections, CRES endorsed Representatives Mark Amodei, Carlos Curbelo, Brian Fitzpatrick, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Tom Reed, and Elise Stefanik as incumbent candidates for the U.S. House. Rep. John Katko also received an endorsement from CRES during the 2018 midterms. In 2017, CRES endorsed Ed Gillespie for Governor of Virginia and Jill Vogel for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. In 2016, CRES endorsed 29 candidates and spent $1.7 million on phone, radio and TV advertising in support of candidates for the U.S. Senate and House who have a track record of enacting renewable energy solutions. In the 2014 midterm election cycle, CRES endorsed eight candidates and supported their campaign efforts with more than $1.5 million. During the week of March 11, 2019, conservative state representatives associated with CRES Forum, CRES’ nonprofit branch, flew into Washington D.C. to talk clean energy policy with Sens. Joni Ernst, Lindsey Graham, Cory Gardner, Ted Cruz and Chuck Grassley and Reps. William Timmons, Greg Pence, Justin Amash, Mike Gallagher, Debbie Lesko and Patrick McHenry. On February 15, 2019, CRES worked with ClearPath to release a white paper, "Clean Energy Solutions Must Include Nuclear," in cooperation with fellow energy organizations ClearPath, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and American Council for Capital Formation. The white paper cites nuclear energy’s importance in the transition to clean energy. On November 29, 2018, CRES was one of many energy organizations who co-signed a letter to the US Senate and House leaderships, advocating for a modified tax code that would allow energy storage technology to be eligible for the Investment Tax Credit. CRES formed the House Clean Energy and Innovation Working Group and the Senate Energy and Environment Working Group to help lawmakers collaborate on clean energy policy. In celebration of National Clean Energy Week, on September 26, 2017, CRES hosted a Clean Energy Champion Awards Reception, where the organization recognized six Republican party elected officials as clean energy champions: Kim Reynolds, Brian Sandoval, Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Mia Love. In 2018, CRES named six other elected officials as clean energy champions: Gary Herbert, Larry Hogan, Lisa Murkowski, Tom Reed, Tim Scott and Elise Stefanik. The organization also publishes polls that analyzes voters’ sentiments toward clean energy policies and the elected officials who support those solutions.
Policy Areas
CRES works with clean energy policy and weighs in on other issue areas as they relate to clean energy, such as the Paris Agreement.
