Summer Conference & Lobby Day
The conference
Congress is coming to the table on policies that could support clean, affordable energy.
You can be at that table, too.
What to expect at the conference:
Learn about federal policies that can push America forward on clean, affordable energy
Connect with other climate advocates and take your place in this powerful, nationwide team
Join face-to-face meetings with lawmakers and their staff on Capitol Hill
Three days
Sunday, July 26
Settle into D.C., then join your fellow CCLers for social time.
Monday, July 27
Buckle up for a packed day that will get you ready to lobby — the big picture, our Lobby Day asks, policy deep dives, and experience-based workshops.
Tuesday, July 28
Hit the Hill for productive meetings with Congress, then celebrate at our Lobby Day after party.
Agenda
All times are Eastern. We update the program as the conference gets closer, so check back for the latest.
Pre-conference. Settle into D.C., then join your fellow CCLers for social time.
5:00–9:00 pm
6:00–8:00 pm
6:00–7:00 pm
Join the PGM Caucus and Affinity Action Teams for dinner — a place to connect, share stories, ask questions, and hear past conference experiences from long-time members. RSVP by July 18 at cclusa.org/2026PGMDinner. This is an intentional space for those who identify as people of color. If you are a white ally, please honor this space by not participating.
6:30–7:30 pm
Attendees ages 13–17 are invited to attend. RSVP required.
6:00–9:00 pm
8:00–9:00 pm
For those who identify as politically right of center, meet us in the Marquee bar of the Omni Shoreham Hotel.
Day 1: Conference. Buckle up for a packed day that will get you ready to lobby.
8:00–9:00 am
9:00–9:20 am
Live streamed.
Executive Director, CCL/CCE
9:20–9:50 am
How do we accelerate the clean energy needed to strengthen the economy, support the grid, and meet today’s climate challenges? As former Director of the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office, Jigar Shah helped reshape the federal government’s approach to investing in energy infrastructure. In this keynote conversation he shares his perspective on permitting reform — what it takes to build faster and smarter, and what role advocates can play in advancing durable solutions. Live streamed.
Co-host of the “Open Circuit” podcast
9:50–10:20 am
Where Congress stands today, what has changed in recent months, and how to make the most of your visit to Capitol Hill. CCL’s Government Affairs team walks through our legislative strategy, our primary and supporting asks, and the latest points of persuasion — so you arrive on the Hill informed, aligned, and ready. Live streamed.
VP of Government Affairs, CCL/CCE
Research Manager, CCL/CCE
10:20–10:30 am
10:30–11:30 am
See how BRIDGE (Building Relationships in Dialogue, Growth, and Engagement) comes to life beyond online training. Discover why facts alone rarely change minds and how listening for values helps us communicate across differences, with volunteer stories, practical exercises, and simple tools for staying curious in hard conversations. Live streamed.
VP of Field Operations, CCL/CCE
11:30 am–12:00 pm
A practical session on communicating across the aisle, from moderate and progressive Democrats to conservative Republicans. Examine the values and priorities that shape support for permitting reform in different congressional offices, learn how to frame conversations for each audience, and identify where common ground already exists. Live streamed.
VP of Government Affairs, CCL/CCE
Research Manager, CCL/CCE
12:00–1:30 pm
1:30–2:00 pm
A fireside chat on where carbon pricing stands in the current U.S. policy landscape, and how CCLers can engage thoughtfully and effectively on it in today’s political climate. Whether you are brand new to the topic or have been advocating for years, expect invaluable perspective. Live streamed.
Fellow and Director, Carbon Pricing Initiative, Resources for the Future
Executive Director, CCL/CCE
2:00–2:15 pm
Congressional Liaison Program Director, CCL/CCE
2:30–3:45 pm
4:00–5:00 pm
5:10–5:30 pm
5:30–11:00 pm
Day 2: Lobby Day. Hit the Hill for productive meetings with Congress, then celebrate at the after party.
8:00–8:30 am
9:00 am–6:00 pm
Refer to your personal lobby schedule, emailed to you before the conference.
7:00–11:00 pm
Cap off your conference and Lobby Day experience and celebrate your lobbying efforts. Snacks and cash bar.
Who you will hear from
Co-host of the “Open Circuit” podcast
Fellow and Director, Carbon Pricing Initiative, Resources for the Future
Executive Director, CCL/CCE
VP of Government Affairs, CCL/CCE
Research Manager, CCL/CCE
VP of Field Operations, CCL/CCE
Congressional Liaison Program Director, CCL/CCE
Venue
The Omni Shoreham Hotel is one of Washington, D.C.’s largest conference hotels, at 2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC 20008. It sits close to the Woodley Park Metro station, making it easy to reach from the airport or Amtrak station. The CCL group rate is $209 a night plus tax if you book by July 3, 2026 — book early, the room block fills up fast.
Book a roomGet a glimpse of last year’s conference!
“Fellow CCLers are inspiring and energizing, and speaking with real people on the Hill gives me hope that our future will be bright.”
Tickets are going fast
Registration is $199, or $35 for students, and closes Thursday, July 9, 2026. Rooms in the CCL block at the Omni Shoreham Hotel are $209 a night plus tax if you book by July 3, 2026.
Get tickets
Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of your level of experience in CCL. We provide training for all levels of experience during the conference. If you are attending with someone under 18, see the question about children and teens below.
Registration runs through Eventbrite and closes Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Early-bird registration was $149 (April 11 through May 21). Regular registration is $199 (May 22 through July 9) and student registration is $35 (April 11 through July 9). Students are asked to share the school they are currently enrolled in.
You can also pay by check: choose “pay by check” at the payment step, then mail a check payable to Citizens’ Climate Education to PO Box 181020, Coronado, CA 92178, with “2026 Summer Conference” in the memo. Payment must be received by July 9.
Walk-in registration is available for the conference only (July 26–27), at $199 or $35 for students, by credit or debit card or personal check. Walk-in registrants do not receive a Lobby Day schedule for July 28. You do not need a printed ticket — we check you in by name on-site.
We have exhausted the funding that provided scholarships in prior years and are not able to offer them this year. If you have financial hardship and would like to request a registration discount, please email us.
Meals are on your own — the area is packed with restaurants. We will have a post-Lobby Day reception the evening of Tuesday, July 28, which includes hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
Youth under 13 are not eligible to participate in CCL/CCE programming as individual volunteers, but are welcome to accompany their parents. We welcome children ages 13–17 as long as they are accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or grandparent who is also registered.
Minors cannot register themselves. The parent, legal guardian, or grandparent registers both people by selecting two tickets — one “Conference & Lobby Day” ticket and one “Student” ticket — and entering each attendee’s information. The minor is paired with their adult on Lobby Day, and both receive matching schedules.
Contact us as soon as possible by email or by phone at (619) 437-7142. The deadline for cancellations and refunds is July 9, 2026. Refunds are only available through July 9 — you can still cancel after that date, but we cannot process a refund. Registration fees are not transferable.
Yes. The Climate Advocate Lobby Training covers CCL, our history, and our methods for generating political will, as well as the basics of how to lobby Congress using CCL’s specific approach. If you are new to CCL or have never attended before, we strongly encourage you to attend it in person at the conference; a virtual version of the workshop is also available. This training is required to lobby with CCL.
Based on our past experience, we expect each person to have 2–4 lobby meetings, with 4–6 volunteer lobbyists in each meeting. This is subject to change depending on how many offices we schedule appointments with and the timing of those meetings. In lobby days past we have met with over 400 offices, and we hope to meet that goal again this year.
We have a limit of 1,200 citizen lobbyists for Lobby Day, so if you want to participate in lobbying we encourage you to register early. There is plenty of room at the conference itself on July 26–27 even if you cannot lobby. Lobby schedules are emailed to attendees by July 23, 2026.
We live stream the sessions on the main stage, marked in the agenda above. Live stream access is a separate $20 registration, and instructions for connecting are emailed to registered attendees.
Business casual for the conference on July 26–27, and business professional for Lobby Day on July 28 — a suit, a dress, or a professional top and jacket. Comfortable dress shoes are essential; you will be walking a lot on Capitol Hill. A reusable mug, a laptop, a notebook, and your CCL button are all worth bringing.
We strongly recommend you do not take your luggage with you to Capitol Hill. Check in at the hotel first, or use a bag-storage service.
The host hotel is the Omni Shoreham, 2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC 20008. The CCL group rate is $209 a night plus tax for up to four people per room, and you must book by July 3, 2026. The Omni is the only block we have secured; independent hotels, hostels, and short-term rentals are also available nearby. To find a roommate, sign CCL’s liability waiver on CCL Community to access the Room Share Forum.
The Metro Red Line stops at Woodley Park, blocks from the hotel, and requires a reloadable SmarTrip card. Valet parking at the hotel is $64.90 plus tax per day; self-parking is not available.