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E2 (Environmental Enterprises)

Website:

e2.org/
Location:

Washington, DC
Type:

Environmentalist Activist Organization
Parent Organization:

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Formation:

2000
Executive Director:

Bob Keefe

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E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) is a left-of-center membership-based environmental advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. 1 E2 is a partner of the left-of-center Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Through its relationship with NRDC, E2 receives direct access to NRDC’s resources, including a dedicated staff. 2

E2 was founded in 2000 to support the passage of tailpipe greenhouse emission standards and regulations in California. 3 As of 2024, E2 claims more than 10,000 members across the United States that manage more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. 4 5 6 E2 has promoted rules from the Biden administration Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that regulate truck emissions, calling them “critical to protecting the U.S. economy.” 7 8

E2 supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of equity in its policy advocacy efforts. 9 10 It has claimed that the energy sector in the United States is “dominated by white men.” 11

History and Leadership

E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) was founded in 2000 by Nicole Lederer and Bob Epstein to support the passage of California AB 1493, which instituted tailpipe greenhouse gas emission standards and regulations in California. According to E2, this legislation ultimately became the model for federal-level tailpipe emissions regulations. 13

As of April 2024, Lerder leads E2’s advisory council and E2 delegations to Washington, D.C., to meet with executive branch officials. 14 15

Bob Keefe is the executive director of E2. 16 Prior to joining E2 in 2014, Keefe was the senior press secretary for the left-of-center Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). He covered the Obama  administration as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is a board member of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) and the environmentalist nonprofit Nature and Culture International. 17

Sandra Purohit is E2’s director of federal advocacy. 18 Prior to joining E2 in 2019, Purohit worked at the left-of-center Defenders of Wildlife for 12 years. In 2005, she also was a congressional fellow for then-U.S. Representative Edward Markey (D-MA). 19

Activities and Funding

E2 is a left-of-center membership-based environmental advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. 20 E2’s main areas of interest include climate-related policies, infrastructure and national security, environmentalist issues, and nontraditional forms of energy. 21

E2 is a partner of the left-of-center environmentalist activist organization, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). This affiliation gives E2 direct access to NRDC’s resources, including policy experts, government affairs insights and relationships, communications platforms, and additional support. NRDC also provides E2 a dedicated staff to support its volunteer leadership team. 22

E2 members include representatives from various energy companies in all 50 states, across the energy and environmental sectors. As of April 2024, E2 claims more than 10,000 members across the United States 23 that manage more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital. 24 Approximately 2,500 of E2’s member companies have been founded or funded by E2 members. 25 E2 also runs an emerging leaders’ program to train left-of-center climate and energy policy professionals. 26

Federal Policy Advocacy

E2 has worked to influence policy across energy, climate, oceans, water, and transportation sectors at the state, regional, and federal levels. In 2023, E2 members took more than 40 advocacy actions in support of its left-of-center policy priorities. 27

At the federal level, E2’s advocacy priorities include shaping federal legislation and executive actions as well as other national-level policy efforts. 28 E2 supports left-of-center and environmentalist approaches to policies in these sectors. It also supports incorporating the far-left concept of environmental justice and the critical race theory-influenced concepts of equity and diversity into each policy on which it works and advocates. 29 30 31 32

E2 has promoted new rules from the Biden administration Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that regulate truck emissions and has called for an increase in the number of non-internal-combustion-engine vehicles on the road. 33

E2 has called Biden administration EPA rules about light-duty vehicle tailpipe emissions “critical to protecting the U.S. economy” 34 and supports left-of-center Biden administration energy policy priorities. 35 E2’s leadership has supported expanded EPA rules and regulations targeting power plants. 36

E2 also advocates in favor of the use of nontraditional fuels and biofuels in the U.S. military. It has supported the federal Clean Power Plan and the first cap-and-trade regulations of carbon dioxide emissions through the controversial 37 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), 38 which is a mandatory program to regulate emissions in 11 states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. 39

State Policy Advocacy

E2 was founded to support the passage of California AB 1493, which instituted tailpipe greenhouse gas emission standards and regulations. This legislation ultimately became the model for federal tailpipe emissions regulations. 40 41

As of 2024, E2 has nine chapters to engage on policy issues at the state and local level. Its second-largest network is in California, where the organization maintains a presence in Los Angeles and San Diego. Its other chapters are focused on the Southeast, Mountain West, Pacific Northwest, Northeast, Northern California, New England, and Midwest. 42

E2 leverages these networks and members to sign letters to elected officials and government leaders, submit comments on federal rules and regulations, and support its policy efforts at the state level. 43

E2’s state-level activism has supported increased regulations of the automobile sector, limiting pollution from power plants, and promoting the use of weather-dependent energy forms across the United States. E2 has advocated for left-of-center energy regulations in Colorado, North Carolina, Illinois, and other states on various topics including fuel regulations in California and regulations supporting biofuel and electric vehicle industries. 44

Clean Jobs America Initiative

E2 runs the Clean Jobs America initiative, which tracks various nontraditional energy metrics in the United States. 45 Clean Jobs America Initiative tracks projects associated with the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act spending programs. 46 The initiative has released annual reports since 2016 documenting various developments in the non-traditional energy sector. 47

Clean Jobs America Initiative has claimed that nontraditional energy has a “diversity problem,” said that the energy sector is “dominated by white men,” and stated that energy sector policies should support the critical race theory-influenced concept of an equitable economy, with a focus on minority groups. 48

Funding

E2 is funded by its partner organization, the left-of-center Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). All contributions to E2 are made directly to NRDC. E2 membership dues are also routed through NRDC. 49 50

References

  1. “About” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://cleanjobsamerica.e2.org/#about.
  2. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  3. “New Emissions Rules for Heavy-Duty trucks a Good Start, But More to Be Done.” E2. March 29, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/releases/new-emissions-rules-for-heavy-duty-trucks-a-good-start-but-more-to-be-done/.
  4. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  5. “Join E2.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/join/.
  6. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  7. “E2: New Tailpipe Standards Critical to Protecting U.S. Economy.” E2. March 20, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/releases/e2-new-tailpipe-standards-critical-to-protecting-u-s-economy/.
  8. “New Emissions Rules for Heavy-Duty trucks a Good Start, But More to Be Done.” E2. March 29, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/releases/new-emissions-rules-for-heavy-duty-trucks-a-good-start-but-more-to-be-done/.
  9. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  10. “Clean Jobs America 2023.” Annual Report. 2023. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://cleanjobsamerica.e2.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/E2-2023-Clean-Jobs-America-Report_September-14-2023-2.pdf.
  11. “Clean Energy has a Diversity Problem.” E2. September 9, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/reports/diversity-in-clean-energy-2021/.
  13. 12 “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  14. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  15. “Founders.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/founders/
  16. “Staff.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/staff/.
  17. “Volunteering.” Bob Keefe LinkedIn. Accessed April 19, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-keefe/details/volunteering-experiences/.
  18. [1] “Staff.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/staff/.
  19. “Sandra Purohit.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-purohit-3a60027/.
  20. “About E2.” Accessed April 19, 2024. https://cleanjobsamerica.e2.org/#about.
  21. “Issues.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/advocacy/issues/.
  22. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  23. [1] “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  24. “Join E2.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/join/.
  25. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  26. “Emerging Leaders.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about-2/emerging-leaders/.
  27. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  28. “Chapters.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/chapters/.
  29. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  30. “Clean Jobs America 2023.” Annual Report. 2023. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://cleanjobsamerica.e2.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/E2-2023-Clean-Jobs-America-Report_September-14-2023-2.pdf.
  31. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  32. “Clean Jobs America 2023.” Annual Report. 2023. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://cleanjobsamerica.e2.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/E2-2023-Clean-Jobs-America-Report_September-14-2023-2.pdf.
  33. “New Emissions Rules for Heavy-Duty trucks a Good Start, But More to Be Done.” E2. March 29, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/releases/new-emissions-rules-for-heavy-duty-trucks-a-good-start-but-more-to-be-done/.
  34. “E2: New Tailpipe Standards Critical to Protecting U.S. Economy.” E2. March 20, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/releases/e2-new-tailpipe-standards-critical-to-protecting-u-s-economy/.
  35.  “SOTU: Biden Makes it Clear IRA and Clean Energy Fueling Strongest U.S. Economy in Generations.” E2. March 7, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/releases/sotu-biden-makes-it-clear-ira-and-clean-energy-fueling-strongest-u-s-economy-in-generations/
  36. Keefe, Bob. “BOB KEEFE: Strong EPA rules can deliver on North Carolina’s clean economy promise.” WRAL News. January 7, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://www.wral.com/story/bob-keefe-strong-epa-rules-can-deliver-on-north-carolina-s-clean-economy-promise/21224677/.
  37. Wolman, Jordan. “Shapiro proposes alternative to controversial RGGI program.” Politico Pro. March 13, 2024. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2024/03/shapiro-proposes-alternative-to-controversial-rggi-program-00146724.
  38. “E2 Advocacy.” E2. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://e2.org/advocacy/.
  39. “Elements of RGGI.” Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.rggi.org/program-overview-and-design/elements#:~:text=The%20Regional%20Greenhouse%20Gas%20Initiative%20(RGGI)%20is%20a%20cooperative%20effort,power%20sector%20CO2%20emissions
  40. “New Emissions Rules for Heavy-Duty trucks a Good Start, But More to Be Done.” E2. March 29, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/releases/new-emissions-rules-for-heavy-duty-trucks-a-good-start-but-more-to-be-done/.
  41. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  42. “Chapters.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/chapters/.
  43. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  44. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/
  45. “Clean Jobs America.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://cleanjobsamerica.e2.org/#about.
  46. “Announcements.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/announcements/.
  47. “Clean Jobs America 2023.” Annual Report. 2023. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://cleanjobsamerica.e2.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/E2-2023-Clean-Jobs-America-Report_September-14-2023-2.pdf.
  48. “Clean Energy has a Diversity Problem.” E2. September 9, 2021. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/reports/diversity-in-clean-energy-2021/.
  49. “About.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://e2.org/about/.
  50. “Join, Renew.” E2. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://action.nrdc.org/donation/e2-join-renew.
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E2 (Environmental Enterprises)

1152 15th Street, Northwest
Washington, DC