American Clean Skies Foundation (ACSF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization based in Washington, D.C., United States. It advocates for a cleaner, low-carbon environment through the expanded use of alternative energy sources and energy efficiency. ACSF stopped operations in 2019 pending further funding.

History

When it was formed in 2007 and during its initial years, the foundation was chaired by Aubrey McClendon, the former CEO and chairman of Chesapeake Energy, which provided funding. In February 2013, McClendon resigned from the ACSF Board of Directors and neither he nor Chesapeake Energy are currently involved with the foundation. Denise Bode, a former Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner, was ACSF's first CEO. On 1 January 2009, Bode resigned from ACSF to become the new CEO of the American Wind Energy Association. Gregory C. Staple, a Partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Vinson & Elkins LLP, was named to replace Bode in December 2009.

Campaigns

The foundation is involved in research and advocacy on federal and state clean energy policy. Its activities include:

Media Programs

In its early years, the foundation created an energy and environmental news service, branded as Clean Skies News; information was webcast twice daily and a half hour TV show was aired each Sunday on WJLA TV, the Washington, DC ABC affiliate. In 2010, the foundation adopted a new magazine–news style format for the weekly show and changed the name to energyNOW!. The new show was distributed by Bloomberg TV to 65 million cable homes; it also aired on WJLA–TV in Washington, DC. Andrew Heyward, the former President of CBS News, served as the show's adviser and ombudsman. The final episode of energyNOW! was distributed in January 2012. In 2012, the foundation announced a $250,000 Energy Visions Prize contest to reward innovative clean energy apps and videos.