How We Reframed Clean Energy As National Security to Win Historic U.S. Energy Investments

Actor Mark Ruffalo joins U.S. Army veteran Kevin Johnson on MSNBC to discuss President Biden’s ability to ramp up clean energy in defense of national security under the Defense Production Act.

The Situation

In February 2022, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia created a pivotal moment in global politics and energy dynamics. The climate movement, which had been gaining momentum, suddenly faced a major setback: There was a widespread belief that the U.S. would abandon its climate goals and commitments under President Biden's administration, opting instead to increase fracking and other fossil fuel activities in response to Russian sanctions and the soaring global gas prices. This period marked a critical juncture where the climate narrative needed a fresh perspective.

Our Approach

Recognizing an opportunity in this crisis, we launched a strategic campaign with We Stand United and a coalition of clean energy advocates, veterans groups, national security experts, and youth climate activists to reframe clean energy as a crucial element of national security. The coalition’s first move was to release a high-level PSA voiced by actress Sophia Bush, called "Clean Energy Freedom." This PSA served as a rallying cry to strengthen U.S. national security and lower energy prices, calling on President Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act to boost clean energy production. The PSA quickly grabbed national media attention and galvanized a diverse coalition of celebrities, national security experts, veterans, and clean energy advocates. This newly formed alliance secured direct conversations with the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy. Additionally, we amplified the message through media appearances and op-eds in prominent outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and more.

The ‘Clean Energy Freedom’ PSA voiced by actress Sophia Bush.

Results

The impact of our concerted efforts was swift and significant. Within weeks, and just days following our discussions with the White House, President Biden made the historic decision to invoke the Defense Production Act to ramp up domestic clean energy production. This move was a testament to the power of effective advocacy and strategic communication. Furthermore, our coalition mobilized the resulting network of influencers to support other organizations in passing the Inflation Reduction Act. This included garnering support through a sign-on letter endorsed by notable figures including Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, and more.

What We Learned

The campaign's success brought valuable insights. Primarily, it demonstrated that reframing clean energy as a matter of national security could bypass the need to focus solely on climate change to enact significant policy changes. This approach widened the spectrum of influencers and supporters, including those with conservative and bipartisan audiences. The unity of diverse groups, ranging from national security experts to youth climate activists, combined with a clear national security imperative linked to the Ukrainian conflict, transformed what was once deemed an improbable executive action into a politically inevitable outcome in a remarkably short timeframe. This case study underscores the power of strategic narrative shifts in influencing public policy and achieving substantial environmental progress.