From left, Travis Conway, Allison Dolan, former U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos and former U.S. Representative Bob Inglis participate in a Congress to Campus discussion at Ithaca College on September 29, 2026. Photo by Nathan Glasser.
Big policy changes ride in on political waves. We’re seeing two waves converging.
The first is blue and portends a change in the U.S. House leadership and possibly the U.S. Senate leadership on November 3rd. The second wave is a revulsion against unfettered AI/data center development.
The policy that could ride in on the combined waves is further regulation of AI and data centers. That regulation could take the form of requiring developers to use clean energy to power their data centers. Even if federal regulation is slowed by the executive branch, state and local regulation may step in. Failing all of that, the developers of data centers will in all cases face a public relations requirement of clean energy, noise reduction, and water recycling. The result will be a huge market pull for clean energy.
Recently, I was talking to a Georgia Republican who ran statewide this year.
He told me that opposition to data centers was the hottest issue in his race. Republican primary voters, he told me, cared more about his opposition to data centers than his opposition to abortion or his support of gun rights.
That intensity is driving a substantial political wave that will land with greater demand for clean energy. Data centers’ need for clean energy could save the planet by driving the successful production of small modular nuclear reactors, for example. Now as to whether the AI powered by those data centers will destroy the planet, well, we have more prayers than predictions on that!
Onward,
Bob
Community Outreach & Engagement
Is Anyone Still Hitting Send?
Our latest Flash Poll asks whether contacting Congress about climate and energy policy still feels worthwhile, and it is already sparking conversation. One member called it an “essential question,” while many others say their elected officials have already made up their minds or describe feeling tired of contacting lawmakers who seem unlikely to listen. At the same time, a longtime Capitol Hill advocate acknowledged the frustration with a “do nothing” Congress but urged us to consider what sustained, personal engagement still accomplishes.
Those different reactions are exactly why these polls matter. As responses continue to come in, members are sharing experience, frustration, and ideas about what still works, from personal messages and phone calls to petitions, local gatherings, and conversations with friends. Once the poll closes, we’ll use what we learn to rethink how republicEn helps members make their voices heard.
Interested in taking the poll yourself? Click here.
EcoRight Speaks Podcast
The (lucky)13th season of EcoRight Speaks is humming along! Per our usual, we had Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions on to preview their annual National Clean Energy Week (celebrating its 10th anniversary this year). New to the podcast, Rebecca Knuffke, who worked on the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020, spoke to the continued need for maintenance investments in our national parks. We welcomed Doran Tucker to the Mason 4C fold, and hot off her two-year stint on the Miami Herald editorial board, Mary Anna Mancuso talks about what she learned from that gig and what is next for our most prolific writer.
Latest episodes:
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- 09/01: How to hold space for those you disagree with (featuring the hosts of the “We’ve Got To Talk” podcast
- 09/14: National Clean Energy Week 2026, celebrating ten years of bipartisan clean energy policy and advocacy (featuring James Dozier of CRES)
- 09/22: Maintaining America’s Greatest Idea (featuring Rebecca Knuffke of the Pew Charitable Trusts)
- 09/29: Communicating climate risk (featuring Mason 4C’s Doran Tucker)
- 10/06: An EcoRight favorite returns (featuring Mary Anna Mancuso)
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EcoRight News Hub
Your weekly newsletter plus podcast show notes and stories.
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- 09/01: Holding space for those you disagree with
- 09/04: Climate Week En Review: The Sun Also Rises
- 09/11: Climate Week En Review: Remembering 9/11
- 09/14: Previewing and Celebrating National Clean Energy Week
- 09/18: Climate Week En Review: Having a Moment
- 09/22: Maintaining America’s Greatest Idea
- 09/25: Climate Week En Review: Embracing Autumn
- 09/29: Communicating climate risk (including to family)
- 10/02: Climate Week En Review: Gone Hiking
- 10/06: An EcoRight favorite returns
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In the Media
republicEn mentions/quotes/coverage
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- 09/03: Western Carolina Journalist, WCU College Republicans plan to bring candidates and do some cleaning up
- 09/22: The Telegraph, This tax cut could save Britain – and the planet
- 09/22: AOL, This tax cut could save Britain – and the planet
- 10/06: The Ithacan, Congress to Campus brings bipartisan dialogue about climate change to IC
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Events
Upcoming events
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- 10/09: Virtual – Healthy Water, Healthy Economy: Building Florida’s Next Generation of Water Infrastructure, Florida Climate Week
- 10/14: Charleston, SC – Guest lecturer at The Citadel
- 10/14: Charleston, SC – Interview on Palmetto Talk Live radio show
- 10/22: Athens, GA – Guest lecturer for Environmental Economics class at University of Georgia
- 10/24: Georgetown, SC – Featured speaker at SCELP’s 17th Annual Wild Side
- 11/02: Fountain Inn, SC – Speaking event with Fountain Inn Rotary Club
- 11/05: Dahlonega, GA – Speaking event with Lumpkin County GOP
- 11/10: Virtual – Guest lecturer for Principles of Fish and Wildlife Conservation class at Virginia Tech
- 11/10: Columbia, SC – Speaking event with Capitol City Republican Women
- 11/12: Anderson, SC – Speaking event at Anderson University
- 11/18: Virtual – Speaker for the Environment Seminar Series (ESS) at University of Toronto
- 01/20/27: Key West, FL – Speaking event with Southernmost Republican Club
- 01/26/27: Aiken, SC – Speaking event with Aiken County Republican Club
- 02/02/27: Winston-Salem, NC – Speaking event with Rotary Club of Winston-Salem
- 02/02/27: Winston-Salem, NC – Guest lecturer for Environmental Policy and Politics class at Wake Forest University
- 02/05/27: Bloomington, IN – Keynote speaker for Indiana Sustainability and Resilience Conference
- 04/06/27: Greenville, SC – Speaking event with Rotary Club of the Reedy River Greenville
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Recent events
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- 09/14-09/17: Inishbofin, Ireland – Participant at The Climate Gathering event
- 09/22: Cullowhee, NC – Speaking event with College Republicans of Western Carolina University
- 09/29-09/30: Ithaca, NY – Speaker at Congress-to-Campus at Ithaca College
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