Washington advocacy trip highlights climate innovation leaders, energy incubators and accelerators
In early March, Launch Alaska CEO Isaac Vanderburg and I flew to Washington, D.C. for the 3rd annual Cleantech Innovation Advocacy Day – an opportunity to advocate for the clean tech sector and its role creating economic opportunities in Alaska.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski meets with members of the National Coalition of Clean Energy Incubators. Courtesy photo.
Organized by the National Coalition of Clean Energy Incubators (NCCEI), the event brought together 17 coalition members, including Launch Alaska, the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (California), Greentown Labs (Massachusetts and Texas), Austin Technology Incubator (Texas), Elemental Excelerator (Hawaii), VertueLab (Oregon), and Grid Catalyst (Minnesota). In meetings with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, we highlighted the work that our combined portfolios of companies do to create jobs and economic opportunity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in communities across the U.S. We especially enjoyed meeting with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska who is a champion for the work done by Launch Alaska and our portfolio companies.
In 2023, Launch Alaska Portfolio companies received awards for 19 projects in Alaska. These innovative technology deployments are poised to bring long-lasting benefits to the communities served. Accelerators and incubators help make these kinds of projects possible.
Above: Some of the Launch Alaska Portfolio and current cohort company representatives in D.C.: Todd Solomon (ZeroAvia), Noa Schachtel (BoxPower), Penny Gage, Geoff Curless (Vibrant Planet), Isaac Vanderburg.
Organizations like Launch Alaska and our NCCEI peers have the capacity, programs, and existing partnerships to receive and deploy Department of Energy and other federal funding to support technology demonstrations and scale-ups across the U.S. with the goal of rapid commercial deployment and broad national adoption of game-changing climate technologies. It’s important that our voices – reflecting the perspectives of the companies we represent – are heard in the halls of power.
The National Coalition of Clean Energy Incubator’s priorities this year include funding of the National Clean Energy Incubator Program that was authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, as well as increased funding for the Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
In Washington, we also participated in events of the inaugural Clean Energy Business & Innovation Week, organized by Elemental Excelerator, Ceres, Climate Power and others. This event highlighted stories of success and private sector wins, showcasing job creation and the surge of investment sparked by the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act. The week’s events drew over 100 clean economy entrepreneurs and leaders – including five companies in the Launch Alaska portfolio and accelerator cohort. These founders engaged in meetings with key Biden Administration officials, visited members of Congress on Capitol Hill, and networked with one another.
While the impact of Launch Alaska’s programming is hyper-local, it’s important for our team to engage with partners in Washington, D.C. and other states to share best practices, trade suggestions on common pain points, and to advocate for our sector, because we know the technologies are ready, the financing is available, the demand for climate tech solutions is strong – yet policy and regulation can be some of the last remaining barriers to deploying the solutions needed at scale.
Policymakers have a keen interest in hearing these perspectives, and many are eager to support these growing economic sectors. Having entrepreneurs at the table is critical to ensuring the government’s solutions are the right fit for those on the ground doing the work. And it’s critical to accelerating the energy transition and catalyzing our clean energy economy, from Alaska to Washington D.C.
Thanks to our friends at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator for coordinating the NCCEI, and Clean Energy Business & Innovation Week for the additional opportunity to connect.
Above: Isaac Vanderburg (Launch Alaska), Mayte Sanchez and Michael Swords (Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Penny Gage (Launch Alaska), Nina Axelson (Grid Catalyst), Ryan Jeffery (gener8tor Sustainability), and Aina Abiodun (VertueLab) in Washington, D.C. Courtesy photo.