Fair Haven Residents Met with Legislators in Washington, D.C., about Affordable Clean Energy

Many people think of lobbying as a job for highly paid professionals representing big corporations. But last month, two Fair Haven residents were in Washington, D.C. lobbying on behalf of ordinary citizens to improve energy affordability and reduce climate pollution.

Ted Wardell and Sarah Fischell are both members of the Lincroft chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL). On July 28, they joined 800 other CCL members at the organization’s annual Lobby Day. CCLers, as they call themselves, came from all across the country, paying their own way, to urge members of Congress to adopt policies that will slow climate change and speed the adoption of clean energy. Their asks included full funding for the United States Forest Service and changes to streamline the permitting process for clean energy.

Over the course of the day, CCLers held over 400 meetings with House and Senate members from both sides of the aisle. Fischell, a co-leader of the CCL-Lincroft chapter, met with staffers from the offices of Representative Frank Pallone (New Jersey District 6), as well as with the offices of Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee and Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas. Wardell organized the meeting with Rep. Pallone’s office, and he also met with other offices. Fischell, a five-time veteran of Lobby Day, said of the event, “It's so powerful to have your voice heard in this way. I'm hopeful that our elected officials will work hard on our behalf to streamline government processes to get more energy—especially clean energy—built faster so our energy bills can be more affordable and to reduce pollution.”

Anyone interested in learning more about Citizens' Climate Lobby can go to www.citizensclimatelobby.org.