Environmental Legislation —
Washington D.C. Representation

We are Different
Our Expertise
Some of Our Initiatives
Our Team

We are Different

In today’s world, can a firm both thrive and do the right thing? Our answer is an unequivocal yes. Lead by a senior and bipartisan team, our firm is completely committed to creation of solid strategies and client success. We aren’t the type of firm that just observes forward-looking energy and environmental policy. We have written it.

To fully serve clients, we adopt a “policy hybrid” approach that joins former top environmental, energy, finance and agriculture staff with extensive Capitol Hill experience along with federal agency experts. Our policy team is uniquely positioned by practical experience on environment, natural resource and agricultural legislative issues. We have served and continue to work with a variety of client types including individual companies, broad coalitions, leading NGOs and key industry sectors.

Our Expertise

Energy and Natural Resource Solutions

The Clark Group helps its clients establish coalitions and manage outreach to enhance federal support for a national Renewable Portfolio Standard as well as clean energy projects such as wind, solar, nuclear and bio-fuels projects. The Clark Group has worked with leaders such as Senator John Warner to champion national security and energy independence. Our expertise also extends to protection and enhancement of working lands through promotion of conservation and sound agricultural stewardship.

Environmental Service Markets

The Clark Group continues to lead efforts on the development of policies for environmental service markets. Working with national agricultural leaders, we established the Agricultural Carbon Market Working Group to design carbon offset policy. Additional expertise includes nutrient trading markets, the emergence of sustainable agricultural commodities and farm bill conservation policies designed to reward environmental stewardship. We have established environmental, agricultural and political partnerships to further policies that are both environmentally sound and profitable.

Coalition Building

We have created and managed strategic alliances and coalitions that endure and strengthen over time. Because of our extensive work with all the key players involved — such as large corporations, the utility sector, the nation’s top agricultural producers, technical researchers and scientists as well as the most solution-oriented NGOs, we have a tremendous network to “ground truth” policy and market assumptions. Using our ability to tap and empower industry leadership, we have created working group alliances between agriculture leaders and major environmental groups; power sector, clean energy, health and environmental NGOs; and we have participated in numerous stakeholder and technical discussions involving key affected industries and interests.

Federal Funding for Environmental Projects

Through our bipartisan approach, The Clark Group has a demonstrated track record of success in helping our clients with environmental tax and finance strategies. Our long history working with the Senate Finance Committee has helped clients solve environmental challenges ranging from capturing federal appropriations for environmental software products to obtaining highway funding for natural gas retrofits for school buses.

Some of Our Initiatives

Federal Loan Guarantees for Domestic Uranium Production - working with a coalition of ISR companies to promote federal incentives to stimulate responsible uranium production for domestic nuclear power

Federal Climate Change and Energy Policy – advised numerous clients on climate change and renewable energy policy initiatives, from clean energy portfolio standards to agricultural greenhouse gas offsets.

Coalition Building – We have established coalitions among non-traditional partnerships such as agriculture and the environmental community in support of ag carbon markets, renewable energy and other forward-looking policy.

Federal Tax Code Changes to Promote Water Efficiency and Conservation - working with a coalition of agriculture, sportsmen and municipal interests to develop a tax package to encourage water efficiency and reuse in the West and to promote in-stream flows.

Federal Funding for Environmental Compliance Systems – worked with the Department of Defense Appropriations subcommittees to secure critical funding for a private sector client to help deploy state-of-the-art environmental compliance systems at defense installations across the country.

Our Team

Brian Kuehl, Partner – former Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Max Baucus -- tax code, environmental policy, appropriations
Chelsea Henderson Maxwell, Partner – former Professional Staff to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and Chief Climate Advisor to U.S. Senator John Warner -- energy, natural resources, coalition building
Sara Hessenflow-Harper, Partner – former Senior Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senators Hagel and Brownback -- agriculture, environmental markets
Laura Sands, Managing Partner – agriculture, coalition building, climate change, energy
Sara Brodnax, Director of Analysis – policy analysis, climate change, conservation
Steve Noah, Affiliate – tax code, appropriations