New coalition seeks bipartisan support for climate policies

A new lobbying group, the Cleaner Economy Coalition (CEC), aims to reframe green policies from the Biden administration as beneficial for Trump-era supporters. The CEC plans to promote carbon tariffs and green energy tax credits, despite the lack of GOP support in previous years. The coalition is hiring lobbyists with ties to former President Trump and has a budget of over a million dollars. They hope to persuade Republicans to adopt climate policies they have traditionally opposed. Greg Bertelsen, the group's leader, emphasized the need to focus on U.S. competitiveness in climate policy. The CEC will seek funding from corporations and other allies. More than 20 House Republicans are reportedly interested in preserving some provisions of Biden's climate law, which could significantly cost the government in the long term. The group also wants to advocate for penalties on imports with high carbon emissions, pushing for policies that align with Republican interests. While some Republicans have previously shown support for legislation that investigates the carbon emissions of U.S. products, critics worry this could lead to future carbon taxes. The CEC has not yet commented on their plans.