American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE)

AABE is a member of the Community Builders of Color Coalition, previously supporting legislation such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as well as the establishment of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). ^{4  5  6}

Activities

The main activity of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) is monitoring and analyzing federal energy policies while advocating for racial-minority representation in energy-policy debates. It oversees activities such as hosting webinars, publishing “legislative alerts” to its members, and organizing an annual Energy Policy Symposium and National Conference. ⁷ In 2024, SoCalGas sponsored the 47th National Conference of the AABE in Anaheim. ⁸

In August 2022, AABE released a statement expressing support for the passage of both the CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), claiming the legislation “promise[d] to restore American competitiveness through deficit reduction, climate policy, workforce development, and more.”  ⁶ As a member of the Community Builders of Color Coalition, AABE also supported the Biden administration’s establishment of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). ⁵

In September 2025, AABE senior vice president for external affairs and public policy Camile Moore co-authored an op-ed with Joint Center workforce policy analyst Gabrielle Smith Finne, arguing that energy policy and energy jobs are deeply connected to civil rights. Both authors claimed that “systemic barriers” are keeping African-Americans out of energy-related jobs. ⁹

Leadership

Clarke Watson was the founder of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), starting the organization in 1977. He previously worked as an activist, initially leading the Denver’s Black Panther Party chapter in the 1960s. In 1987, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Denver. Watson later worked in the energy industry and eventually started his own consulting firm. He passed away in 2003. ¹⁰

Thomas Graham is the interim president and CEO of the AABE as of 2025. He previously worked for Pepco Holdings, Inc. (PHI) in several roles including as vice president of people strategy and human resources. He later retired from the company in 2016. That same year, he founded T.H. Graham and Associates, a consulting firm that advocates on government affairs, utility construction, supplier diversity, and community relations.  ¹¹

Kevin Simmons is the AABE’s board chair. As of 2025, he also works for Deloitte as its U.S Consulting sector leader of Power, Utilities and Renewables. Prior to joining Deloitte, Simmons worked at PwC, Southern Co., Philips Healthcare, and Coca-Cola. ¹²

Finances

In 2023, the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) reported $2,998,349 in total revenue, $3,196,545 in total expenses, and $1,925,509 in total assets. ¹³