Bill Gates’s old climate lobbyists launch a new firm

In March 2025, Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy organization disbanded its energy policy team, resulting in the loss of dozens of staffers, after Gates concluded that the lobbying group would struggle to make progress under the Trump administration. Subsequently, some former members of this team have launched a new nonprofit called CleanEcon, which shares a similar mission of promoting clean energy by focusing on its potential to become more cost-competitive with fossil fuels in the near future. CleanEcon is supported by over ten undisclosed funders, including philanthropists and venture capitalists, and is led by Aliya Haq, former vice president of U.S. policy and advocacy at Breakthrough Energy. The organization’s three primary goals are to accelerate the construction of energy projects, drive innovation to reduce costs, and reduce investment risks in clean energy industries. This new effort reflects a continued commitment to advancing clean energy solutions despite previous setbacks in policy advocacy.