The Texas Drought Project is an environmentalist advocacy group founded by activists Jere Locke and Alyssa Burgin. It was born out of attempts from 2008 to 2009 by the Texas Climate Emergency Campaign to advocate for the passage of the Waxman-Markey Bill, which aimed to pass a cap-and-trade regulatory system to reduce carbon emissions. ^{1 2}

Since its founding, the Texas Drought Project claims to have educated many Texans on climate change, publicly criticized opponents of environmentalist climate-change policy in elected offices, organized climate conferences, and presented climate change information sessions across the state of Texas. ²

Background

The Texas Drought Project was born out of attempts from 2008 to 2009 by the Texas Climate Emergency Campaign to advocate for the passage of the Waxman-Markey Bill, officially known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES Act). The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives but was not passed by the U.S. Senate. It contained many regulations and budget allocations concerning weather-dependent energy, electric vehicles, carbon capture and storage, regulations on coal plants, building and appliance regulations, provisions for labor standards and customer assistance, a “greenhouse gas” cap-and-trade program, and offsets related to agriculture and forestry. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

The Texas Drought Project was co-founded by Jere Locke and Alyssa Burgin in June 2009. They attempted to capitalize on what they argued was a perception among Texans, particularly farmers, that “things were changing” despite Texans’ reluctance to affirm man-made climate change. They contended that by framing climate change around “drought,” they could more easily convince Texans to pass left-of-center environmentalist policies. ^{1 2}

Activities

Since its founding, the Texas Drought Project claimed to have educated many Texans on climate change, publicly criticized opponents of environmentalist climate-change policy in elected offices, organized climate conferences, and presented climate change information sessions across the state of Texas. ²

For the 2015 United Nations Climate Conference, the Texas Drought Project collected signatures of Texans concerned about climate change. ²

In 2024, the Texas Drought Project was involved with the Texas Green New Deal Mobilization Campaign, a legislative movement that began in 2019 and was backed by U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Shiela Jackson Lee (D-TX), Al Green (D-TX), and Veronica Escobar. ^{6 7}

Funding

In 2016, the Texas Drought Project received a grant of $8,000 from the Texas Harambe Foundation. The Texas Harambe Foundation, which has publicly available tax returns extending back to 2006, has the same address listed as that of the Texas Drought Project. The Foundation’s last recorded tax return was for 2018. ^{8 9}

In 2018, the Texas Drought Project received a grant of $2,000 from the Texas Harambe Foundation. ¹⁰

Leadership

The Texas Drought Project was co-founded by Jere Locke and Alyssa Burgin. ²

Locke previously served as a volunteer with the Peace Corps in Kenya and is the former director of the Texas Fair Trade Coalition. ²

Burgin is a climate activist who has been active in educational efforts in Texas for several years. She was a key player in an effort to pass an anti-fracking and conventional-fuels divestment bill in the state. ²

1. “Texas Drought Project.” Devex. Accessed January 18, 2026. https://www.devex.com/organizations/texas-drought-project-73198.
2. “About.” Texas Drought Project, December 8, 2025. Accessed January 18, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20251208120145/https://texasdroughtproject.org/.
3. “Waxman-Markey Short Summary.” Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Accessed January 18, 2026. https://www.c2es.org/document/waxman-markey-short-summary/.
4. Reilly, Amanda; Bogardus, Kevin. “7 years later, failed Waxman-Markey bill still makes waves.” E&E Daily by Politico, June 27, 2016. Accessed January 18, 2026. https://www.eenews.net/articles/7-years-later-failed-waxman-markey-bill-still-makes-waves/.
5. “H.R.2454 – American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.” Congress.gov, July 7, 2009. Accessed January 18, 2026. https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/2454.
6. “Texas Drought Project.” Texas Drought Project, April 26, 2024. Accessed January 19, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20240426185824/https://texasdroughtproject.org/.
7. “Ongoing Campaigns & Take Action – Texas Green New Deal Mobilization Campaign.” Texas Drought Project, March 25, 2022. Accessed January 19, 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20220325194701/http://texasdroughtproject.org/take-action-gnd/.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Texas Harambe Foundation. 2016. Part XV. 3 – Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year or Approved for Future Payment; Box C.
9. “Search: Texas Drought Project.” ProPublica. Accessed January 19, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205353475.
10. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-PF). Texas Harambe Foundation. 2018. Part XV. 3 – Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year or Approved for Future Payment.