Aspen Policy Academy

We’re excited to announce the 22 members of our 2026 Environmental Policy Accelerator. Over the course of 6 sessions, from July to November, these environmental experts workshopped innovative policy recommendations to pitch directly to key decisionmakers. From public accountability for data center developments to flood preparedness support for Southern schools, their proposals tackle some of the most pressing climate challenges facing our communities. 

Please join us in congratulating this year’s cohort:

California Gas Stoves: Recommending restored and expanded California funding to switch low-income households from gas to electric stoves, reducing harmful indoor air pollution.

• Rachit Sharma, Postdoctoral Scholar in environmental health sciences at the University of California, Berkeley

Texas Carbon Removal: Advocating for a Texas feasibility study for a pilot pairing a data center with direct air capture on state school-fund land, creating a dependable long-term buyer for carbon removal.

• Keri Waters, CEO and Founder of Petrichor Labs

Texas Flood Mitigation: Proposing a Texas Education Agency program that would apply FEMA flood mitigation and resilience grants on behalf of school districts.

• Gabriella Bermea, Senior Associate at Perkins Eastman; Founder of Practice & Purpose Co.

The City of Tucson Team: Advocating for a single digital Community Resource Hub where Tucson residents facing extreme weather and housing insecurity can find resilience programs.

• Denisse Ortega Lorona, Community Reinvestment Manager for the City of Tucson
• Thelma Magallanes, Community Services Project Supervisor for the City of Tucson
• Karina G. Martinez Molina, Community Relations Coordinator for the City of Tucson
• John Stringfellow, FUSE Executive Fellow for the City of Tucson and FUSE 

The Cloud City Conservation Center Team: Proposing Colorado restrictions on mining near freshwater sources to protect Lake County’s water and natural resources from contamination.

• Libby Caldwell, Graduate Student Contractor at Cloud City Conservation Center
• Emily Olsen, Executive Director at Cloud City Conservation Center
• Madisen Riebock, Master of Environment student at CU Boulder and Cloud City Conservation Center

The Florida Food Education and Preparedness Team: Recommending a statewide K-12 flood literacy standard and toolkit, built into existing courses and resources, for adoption by Florida’s State Board of Education.

• Tracy Fanara, Founder of Inspector Planet and CTO at Project ENKI
• Mequela Moreno, Managing Principal at Apex Legislative Group
• Jason Seedall, Executive Director at The Roosevelt Alliance
• Dylan Welch, Chief Development Officer at The Roosevelt Alliance

The Nature Conservancy Team: Advocating for a California bill that would phase out plastic polymer seed coating in agriculture by 2030.

• Claire Hirashiki, Conservation Data Scientist at The Nature Conservancy
• Patrick Jurney, Plastics Project Director at The Nature Conservancy

The RECLAIM Team: Recommending updates to NYC’s construction guidelines that would create a shared materials database, so salvaged building materials can be reused.

• Melissa Chow, Freelance Environmental Planner 
• Erica Neiges, Consultant at Thru-Line
• Magdalena Zink, Architect at Spacesmith

Virginia Data Center Accountability: Proposing changes to Virginia’s public records law requiring a public vote before localities sign non-disclosure agreements with large data center or gas plant developers.

• Melissa Thomas, Policy Director at Climate Equity Working Group

Washington Air Quality:Recommending a Washington rule change requiring early learning providers to include hazardous air quality events in their emergency preparedness plans. 

• Sharon A. Jones, Professor of Engineering and Policy at the University of Washington Bothell

Washington Grid Fund: Advocating for an amendment to Washington’s HB 2516 creating a community benefit and grid fund so new large data centers pay their own way and leave cost communities better off.

• Jacob Morrison, PhD student in computer science at the University of Washington and researcher at the Allen Institute for AI

For more information about the Environmental Policy Accelerator and its impact, visit our program page.