Generation180 is a left-leaning climate activist group that supports weather dependent energy and opposes nuclear energy. ¹

Generation180 operates as a fiscally-sponsored project of Virginia Organizing, a left-of-center advocacy group based in Charlottesville, Virginia. ² The group advocates for the use of weather dependent solar energy for homes, schools, and transportation. ³

Activities

Generation180 conducts “Electrify our Schools” campaigns in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, which seek to increase public-school access to solar power. ⁴ The group is partnered with the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) as part of the MEA’s $24 million “Decarbonizing Public Schools” program. ⁵

In 2018, Generation180 launched a petition urging retailers to stop leaving their doors open during summer months, claiming this practice to be a waste of electricity. This was part of the group’s “Keep it Cool” campaign, where the public was encouraged to inform Generation180 of stores that ran their air conditioning with open doors. ⁶

Generation180 manages the School Leadership in Clean Energy (SLICE) network, consisting of school administrators and teachers from 23 states. The SLICE Network promotes the adoption of solar energy technologies in public schools across the country. ⁷

In 2023, the group held a “Clean Energy Schools Symposium,” consisting of 50 SLICE members from 16 states. The event centered around the increased adoption of electric school buses, highlighting the Biden administration’s multi-billion-dollar Clean School Bus program that offers rebates to schools that switch to electric buses. ⁸

In 2024, the group started a “Climate Cultura” fellowship, in which 8 Hispanic American artists were gathered from Georgia for a two-day training experience. The artists were instructed to mobilize Hispanic American voters in Georgia in favor of the group’s environmentalist policies. ⁹

Opposition to Nuclear Energy

In Generation180’s solar school campaign toolkit, it excludes nuclear energy from other “clean energy” sources, encouraging the phasing out of nuclear energy in favor of weather-dependent energy sources. Nuclear power plants produce no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions, and as of 2021 accounted for 20 percent of American electricity production—the largest source of zero-carbon electricity in the United States.  ¹⁰

People

As of June 2024, Wendy Philleo was the executive director of Generation180. She also served as program officer at the World Wildlife Fund, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. ¹¹

As of June 2024, notable advisors included Jason Halbert, deputy director of the Oak Hill Fund, Sergio Knaebel, vice president of the Sandler Foundation, and the CEO and president of the Marin Community Foundation, Rhea Suh.  ^{12 13 14}

Funding

Generation180’s fiscal sponsor is the left-leaning advocacy group Virginia Organizing, which had net assets of over $10 million in 2022. The group did not disclose any amount given to Generation180 on its tax returns.  ¹⁵

In 2021, ImpactAssets Inc gave $625,000 to Virginia Organizing for Generation180. ¹⁶ The Prospect Hill Foundation also gave $250,000 to Generation180 through Virginia Organizing in 2022.  ¹⁷

1.  “Solar Schools Campaign Toolkit .” Generation180. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://generation180.org/resource/solar-schools-campaign-toolkit/
2. “Privacy Policy.” Generation180. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://generation180.org/privacy-policy/.
3. “For the Media.” Generation180. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://generation180.org/about/for-the-media/.
4. “Electrify Our Schools.” Generation180. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://generation180.org/electrify-our-schools/.
5. “Electrify Our Schools: Maryland.” Generation180. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://generation180.org/electrify-our-schools/maryland/.
6.  “Generation 180 Petitions Stores to Close Their Doors to Wasting Energy.” Business Insider, June 17, 2018. https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/generation-180-petitions-stores-to-close-their-doors-to-wasting-energyevery-store-that-shuts-their-door-can-prevent-2-2-tons-of-carbon-dioxide-pollution-1027322603.
7.  “School Leadership in Clean Energy (SLICE).” Generation180. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://generation180.org/electrify-our-schools/school-leadership-in-clean-energy/?visc-qf-school_leaders_tax_filter_school_leader_type=&visc-qf-school_leaders_tax_filter_school_leader_state=.
8.  Schoeck, Michael. “Solar, Microgrids and EV Buses Discussed at First Clean Energy Schools Symposium.” pv magazine USA, March 30, 2023. https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2023/03/30/solar-microgrids-and-ev-buses-discussed-at-first-clean-energy-schools-symposium/.
9.  “Generation180 Launches Climate Cultura Fellowship to Equip Latinx Creatives as Clean Energy Ambassadors.” FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News, May 23, 2024. https://fox5sandiego.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/714015144/generation180-launches-climate-cultura-fellowship-to-equip-latinx-creatives-as-clean-energy-ambassadors/.
10. “Nuclear explained.” U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accessed August 16, 2021. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/us-nuclear-industry.php.
11. “Wendy Phileo Experience .” LinkedIn. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyphilleo/details/experience/.
12. “Jason Halbert.” Generation180. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://generation180.org/person/jason-halbert/.
13. “Sergio Knaebel .” Generation180. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://generation180.org/person/sergio-knaebel/.
14. “Rhea Suh.” Generation180. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://generation180.org/person/rhea-suh/.
15. “Virginia Organizing Inc, 2022 Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/541674992/202342279349301464/full.
16. “Impactassets Inc, 2021 Form 990, Schedule I – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/262048480/202243159349306794/IRS990ScheduleI.
17. “Prospect Hill Foundation Inc, 2022 Form 990PF – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed June 26, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136075567/202340599349100004/IRS990PF.