100 Days In: POW’s Return to D.C.

Photos by POW Creative Alliance member Palmer Morse

Last week, Protect Our Winters returned to Washington, D.C.—100 days into the new Trump administration. We had a clear message: the outdoor community is watching, we’re engaged, and we’re ready to work across the aisle to defend clean energy investments, push for community-first energy solutions, and protect public lands from harmful budget deals.

We brought a powerful coalition from POW’s Brand, Athlete, Science, and Creative Alliances to Capitol Hill for 41 cross-partisan meetings with lawmakers and their staff (30 Democrats, 11 Republicans). Together, they brought a powerful mix of lived experience, science-backed facts, and storytelling to show lawmakers just how much is at stake for our communities and a future with clean air, clean water, and a healthy planet that we all depend on.

Here’s what we focused on:

Protecting Clean Energy Tax Credits in the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act is one of our strongest tools for cutting emissions and building a clean energy economy. Since 2022, its tax credits have sparked over $270 billion in private investment, created 170,000+ jobs, and boosted clean tech manufacturing, especially in rural and industrial areas.

“Without these tax credits, the clean energy industry would stall, said POW Science Alliance member Greg Nemet. There are now hundreds of thousands of jobs at stake in manufacturing sites that are either in motion or planned. It’s a tremendous opportunity to have clean energy that is affordable and helpful for the climate.”

These tax credits also lower household energy bills by an average of $500 a year and strengthen the grid against climate disasters. Rolling them back would undercut U.S. competitiveness and hand the clean tech lead to China and the EU. With growing cross-partisan momentum—including support from 21 House Republicans and four Republican Senators—we’re urging lawmakers to protect and expand these tax credits to ensure long-term climate and economic progress.

Energizing Our Communities: A Better Path to Clean Energy Infrastructure

As we build out clean energy, one major roadblock is becoming increasingly clear: we don’t have enough infrastructure to deliver it. In too many cases, local opposition—known as NIMBYism—is slowing or halting progress, threatening our ability to meet emissions goals.

In 2024, POW supported the introduction of the Energizing Our Communities Act (EOCA), which is now set to be reintroduced in the 119th Congress by Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) and Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL). This common-sense, cross-partisan legislation would create a fund that invests directly in communities hosting transmission infrastructure, supporting local priorities like schools, housing,  roads, outdoor access, and emergency services.

“Many communities are hesitant to support transmission infrastructure,” said Ben Howard from POW Brand Alliance partner Bemis’ Director of Sustainability. “The EOCA incentivizes them by bringing dollars back to them—80% of the funding is unrestricted, and 20% goes to outdoor infrastructure. It’s a win-win: it boosts clean energy deployment and creates real community benefits.”

The message is clear: saying “yes” to clean energy should come with real benefits. We urged lawmakers to co-sponsor the EOCA and champion fair, community-first energy solutions.

Defending Public Lands 

Once again, public lands are being used as bargaining chips. Last week, House Republicans passed a sweeping budget bill that prioritizes short-term profit over long-term stewardship, including a last-minute amendment that could authorize the sale of thousands of acres in Nevada and Utah. Framed as a housing fix, this land sell-off is just one piece of a broader attack that includes reinstating oil and gas lease sales, promising a $12 billion windfall, reopening coal leasing on federal lands, and expanding timber sales through long-term contracts. Sensitive areas like the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) are once again being opened to drilling, while royalty rates are rolled back and environmental reviews are restricted or bypassed altogether.

This is more than just a policy debate; it is a reckless assault on the environment and the outdoor way of life. We were on the ground at this critical moment, meeting with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to push back on these short-sighted moves that threaten climate progress, wildlife habitats, and the $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy supporting over 5.2 million jobs. Just one day after Rep. Amodei (R-NV) proposed selling off Nevada public lands, we had a compelling and principled conversation with his staff. Science Alliance member Anne Nolin delivered a strong message as a disappointed constituent, while POW Bike Alliance member Dillon Osleger brought rigorous knowledge of public lands policy and economic impacts.

“Public lands are more than just places to play; they’re one of the few time capsules we have left on American soil. They’re one of the few antiquities that hold the stories of our entire nation, going back before its founding,” said Osleger. “It’s about more than holding onto trees, climate sinks, recreational access, and opportunities for economic improvement in rural areas. It’s about holding onto what makes America, America.”

Public lands deserve permanent protection—not to be traded away to fund tax cuts, pad corporate profits, or satisfy political agendas. We urged lawmakers to reject any budget reconciliation bill that includes public land sell-offs, expanded fossil fuel extraction, or cuts to agencies like NOAA, the National Park Service, and the BLM. Instead, they must support long-term stewardship that protects these places for generations to come.

What’s Next

These meetings weren’t just about policy, they were about building relationships and pushing for progress in a divided Congress. We reminded lawmakers that our voices are powerful, informed, and committed to climate solutions.

“I’ve played shows to 15,000 people,” said POW Creative Alliance member Griff Washburn (aka Goth Babe). “But being in D.C.—sitting in those meetings, using your voice to advocate for the places you love—felt even more impactful. You feel part of something bigger, like you’re truly using your life for good.”

While public lands remain in flux, our conversations were open and constructive, offering us helpful insights to build on. That nuance is key as reconciliation conversations evolve, and we continue targeting key Republican offices for follow-up meetings, especially in the clean energy space.

From solar panels on rooftops to trails winding through protected wilderness, the future we want is within reach. But it’s going to take sustained action and real leadership, both from lawmakers and from all of us who love the outdoors.

We’ll head back to D.C. in the fall to follow up on these discussions, but in the meantime, stay tuned for more advocacy actions that you can be a part of both in your own community and on a national level. 

A huge thank you to all of our Alliance members who attended meetings with us:

POW Science Alliance member Nina Aragon
POW Brand Alliance member Hannah Berman (Aspen One)
POW Ski Alliance member Vanessa Chavarriaga
POW Bike Alliance member Ti Eversole
POW Brand Alliance member Ben Howard (Bemis)
POW Ski Alliance Captain Brody Leven
POW Ski Alliance member Hilary McCloy
POW Creative Alliance member Palmer Morse
POW Science Alliance Member Greg Nemet
POW Science Alliance member Anne Nolin
POW Bike Alliance member Dillon Osleger
POW Creative Alliance member Goth Babe (Griff Washburn)
POW Creative and Snowboard Alliance member Zeppelin Zeerip

Author: Stacie Sullivan

Stacie always knew she wanted to pursue a career in the ski industry from a young age, having first clicked into skis at the age of 4 and writing her 8th grade career project on being a professional skier. While her dreams of becoming a professional athlete didn’t quite pan out the way she planned at […]