Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II New Co-Chair of House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

March 27, 2024—U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.) is the new Democratic Co-Chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. He was invited to serve as co-chair by U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the co-chairs of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (REEE) Caucus. U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) serve as deputy co-chairs of the Senate REEE Caucus.

“The future belongs to those who are willing to take advantage of energy efficiency and renewable energy,” said Rep. Cleaver. “There is wide bipartisan support for technologies that create domestic jobs, save money, reduce pollution, and protect our planet for future generations. I look forward to taking the helm of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus as America seizes those opportunities.”

"We look forward to working with Rep. Cleaver and his great team on the upcoming 2024 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum, as well as on raising awareness in Congress about the many benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency," said Sens. Reed and Crapo in a joint statement. "Congratulations on taking on this important leadership role in the House."

The House and Senate REEE Caucuses have been working together since the late 1990s to increase awareness of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in Congress. They are bipartisan and do not lobby for specific legislation.

The REEE Caucuses serve as the honorary co-hosts of the Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum, held every summer and organized by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). The REEE Caucuses also serve as honorary sponsors for Congressional briefings throughout the year, such as the upcoming briefing on the 2024 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook, co-hosted by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and EESI.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II is serving his tenth term representing Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services; ranking member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance; member of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets; and member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission.

In 2009, Cleaver launched the most ambitious project of his political career: the creation of a Green Impact Zone in his district. The Zone transformed 150 blocks of the declining, high-crime urban core of Kansas City, Missouri, into one of the most climate-aware and livable urban areas in the world. The project rebuilt a key avenue; rehabilitated bridges, curbs and sidewalks; weatherized homes; installed smart grid technology in hundreds of homes; and created hundreds of jobs for Green Impact Zone residents.

“The House REEE Caucus is an important resource for members and their staff, and a key partner of ours in Congressional education about clean energy issues,” said EESI President Daniel Bresette. “Rep. Cleaver is taking on this leadership role at a critical time. Renewable energy and energy efficiency are everywhere in the news, and that drives the need on Capitol Hill for timely, relevant information. That is what the REEE Caucuses are all about.”

Members of Congress who wish to join the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus are invited to reach out to Harden Spencer (Harden.Spencer@mail.house.gov). Learn more about the Caucus here: www.eesi.org/caucuses_reee.