Solutions Summit

The SEEC Institute Solutions Summit is an annual convening where Congress and cross-sector leaders come together to tackle the most pressing challenges facing America's environment, economy, and energy future.

Designed as a collaborative working forum, the Summit creates opportunities to connect policymakers with practitioners, researchers, businesses, advocates, and communities to share real-world experience and build the partnerships needed to advance durable solutions.

By bringing together voices from different sectors, levels of government, and international communities, the Summit creates space for diverse perspectives to inform one another. These connections extend beyond the event, helping ensure that future policy is grounded in real-world experience and shared expertise.

Explore the Summit

Planning for the Fourth Annual SEEC Institute Solutions Summit is underway. Details will be announced soon.

Since its launch in 2024, the Solutions Summit has grown into one of SEEC Institute's most important convenings, bringing together an expanding community of leaders from across government, business, philanthropy, academia, advocacy, and communities. Each year has built on the last, evolving from expert panels and roundtable discussions into an increasingly interactive working forum where participants engage directly with Members of Congress and exchange ideas to help shape climate, energy, and economic solutions.

Click below to get a preview of each year.

Third Annual

SEEC Institute Solutions Summit

June 23, 2026 · Martin Luther King Jr. Library, Washington, DC · Daylong conference & reception

SEEC Institute’s Third Annual Solutions Summit brought together leaders from Congress, government, business, philanthropy, academia, advocacy, and communities for a full day of action-oriented dialogue focused on advancing practical climate, energy, and economic solutions.

Centered around interactive breakout sessions, the Summit created opportunities for participants to engage directly with Members of Congress, exchange expertise, and explore how policy ideas can be translated into real-world solutions.

Across the breakout sessions, keynote remarks, and conversations with leaders from across sectors, attendees helped refine policy recommendations and contribute to SEEC Institute’s Thriving Economy Project, a comprehensive policy blueprint for a stronger American economy, environment, and communities.

SEEC Institute Solutions Summit

Full Agenda

June 22 · 5:00 – 7:30 PM
🍸🌍 Solutions on the Rocks: Supporter Reception
Details for this pre-Summit reception will be shared with SEEC Institute supporters and VIP ticket holders.
8:30 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast
Continental breakfast.
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Opening Session
Rep. Doris Matsui, SEEC Institute Board Member
Max Frankel, Executive Director, SEEC Institute
Rep. Sean Casten, SEEC Institute Board Member
Thriving Economy Project: Eric Fins, Project Lead, Vice President at Grove Climate Group and former Deputy Staff Director of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
10:00 – 10:10 AM
Transition
10:10 – 11:10 AM
Concurrent Sessions · Breakout Session Block One
  • Thriving Economy Project: Cheap, Abundant, and Clean American Energy for All
    Rep. Don Beyer
  • Thriving Economy Project: Accessible, Low-Cost Finance for a Clean Energy Future
    Rep. Sean Casten
  • Thriving Economy Project: 21st Century Agricultural Opportunities
    Rep. Nikki Budzinski
  • Thriving Economy Project: Safe, Clean, and Prosperous Ecosystems
    Rep. Maxine Dexter
  • Energy Security, Innovation, Access, and Affordability: One Conversation to Forge the Future
    Sec. Ernest Moniz & Sen. Angus King
  • Energy Efficiency: Homes, Vehicles, and Businesses
    Sen. Peter Welch
  • Special Session for Congressional Staff: Building a Career That Moves the Needle
    Melanie Nakagawa • Steve McBee • David Schutt
11:10 – 11:20 AM
Transition
11:20 AM – 12:20 PM
Concurrent Sessions · Breakout Session Block Two
  • Thriving Economy Project: A Nationally Secure, Globally Competitive Energy Sector
    Rep. George Whitesides & Rep. Sean Casten
  • Thriving Economy Project: Growing Rural Economies
    Rep. Melanie Stansbury
  • Thriving Economy Project: Next-Generation Energy Technology Researched, Developed, and Built in America
    Rep. Deborah Ross
  • The Built Environment
    Rep. Dave Min
  • Diverging Perspectives, Shared Goals: The Path Ahead for Permitting Reform
    Rep. Nikki Budzinski
12:20 – 2:00 PM
Lunch and Networking
Lunch from local DC restaurant Ilili.
2:00 – 2:10 PM
Transition
2:10 – 3:10 PM
Concurrent Sessions · Breakout Session Block Three
  • Thriving Economy Project: Thriving, Affordable, Resilient Communities
    Rep. Kathy Castor
  • Filling the Gap: Facilitating Environmental Action Abroad
    Rep. Lloyd Doggett
  • Redefining the Climate Workforce
    Rep. Suzanne Bonamici
  • Extreme Weather Rapid Response: What the Public Wants to Hear From Leaders in a Crisis
    Rep. Eric Sorensen & Rep. Dina Titus
  • Democracy and Climate
    Rep. Jennifer McClellan
3:10 – 3:20 PM
Transition
3:20 – 4:20 PM
Concurrent Sessions · Breakout Session Block Four
  • Thriving Economy Project: Government that Delivers
    Rep. Gabe Amo
  • Session with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
  • Federal Actions to Help States Meet Their Energy Goals
    Rep. Paul Tonko
  • A Proactive Agenda for Public Lands and Waters
    Rep. Jared Huffman
4:20 – 4:30 PM
Transition
4:30 – 5:00 PM
Closing Session
Remarks: Max Frankel, Executive Director, SEEC Institute
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Reception
Networking.
Second Annual

SEEC Institute Solutions Summit

October 23, 2025 · Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Washington, DC

On October 23, leaders from Congress, subnational government, business, academia, and civil society came together at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. for a full day devoted to climate and clean energy solutions.

The Summit highlighted the policies, partnerships, and innovations driving a resilient and prosperous climate and clean energy future. It fostered collaboration among Congress, the private sector, advocacy, academia, philanthropy, and beyond through high-level conversations and roundtable deep dives.

SEEC Institute Solutions Summit

Full Agenda

Arrivals & Breakfast
Breakfast catered by Colada Shop.
Opening Video
Opening Remarks
Max Frankel, Executive Director, SEEC Institute
Opening Discussion: SEEC Institute and the Next Generation of Climate Leadership
Max Frankel, Radha Adhar, Jesse Young, Lara Hopkins
Lightning Talk: The Off Ramp — Profitable Growth Without Fossil Fuels
Duncan Meisel, Executive Director, Clean Creatives
Lightning Talk: Scaling Climate Solutions
Garrett Boudinot, CEO, Vycarb
Discussion: The Thriving Economy Project
Eric Fins, Fatima Ahmad, Callie Eideberg, Satyam Khanna, Samantha Medlock
From Kitchen to Climate Action — Chefs Leading Change
Anne McBride, Chef Miguel Guerra, Chef Jovana Urriola
Video Message
Governor JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois
Discussion: Advancing Climate Justice in This Moment
Shalanda Baker, Janis Bowdler, Jacqui Patterson
Networking Lunch
All attendees.
Main Stage Discussion: Meeting Americans Where They Are on Climate Action
Steve McBee, Kyle Baker, Rep. Mike Levin
Member of Congress Roundtables
1:30 – 3:30 PM
From Washington to Belém — Advancing Global Climate Progress at COP30
Dave Turk, Rep. Sean Casten, Amb. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti
Fireside Chat
Jay Inslee and Sam Ricketts
Member of Congress Discussion: Congressional Leadership on Climate and Clean Energy
Closing Remarks
Clinton Britt, Board President, SEEC Institute
Inaugural

SEEC Institute Solutions Summit

December 3, 2024 · Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Washington, DC

The inaugural Solutions Summit convened over 200 leaders from Congress, the Biden Administration, industry, academia, advocacy, and beyond at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC.

With dynamic roundtable discussions, expert-led panels, and actionable takeaways, the Summit emphasized collaboration and innovation as drivers for progress in the climate and clean energy space.

SEEC Institute Solutions Summit

Full Agenda

8:00 – 9:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
9:00 – 9:35 AM
Welcome and Opening Session
Video screening: Protect Our Winters: How To Recall
Welcome: Clinton Britt
Moderator: Max Frankel
SEEC Institute Board Members: Ernest J. Moniz, Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Rep. Paul Tonko
9:35 – 10:15 AM
Fireside Chat
John Podesta in conversation with Rep. Doris Matsui.
10:15 – 10:25 AM
Break
10:25 – 11:10 AM
Breakout Sessions: SEEC Institute Research Projects
  • Catalyzing Climate Solutions: Assessing IRA and IIJA's Use of Public Funds to Spur Private Investment
    Tim Profeta, Eric Fins, Elizabeth Noll, Satyam Khanna, Stephen Comello
  • Tax Policy for a Clean Economy
    Ben King, Christina Theodoridi, Emily Kent, Michael Kaercher
11:10 – 11:20 AM
Break
11:20 AM – 12:05 PM
Breakout Sessions: Finding Environmental Solutions
  • Communicating Climate Change: Mobilizing Trusted Voices
    Moderator: Rep. Kim Schrier
    Anne McBride, Rep. Eric Sorensen, Christopher Blevins, Amie Engerbretson
  • Unlocking Innovation: Meeting the Challenges of the Clean Economy from Startups to Multinationals
    Moderator: Rep. Don Beyer
    Katie McGinty, Kellyn Blossom, Sasha Stashwick, Christina Angelides
12:05 – 1:05 PM
Lunch
Catering by Maketto by Chef Erik Bruner-Yang.
1:15 – 2:35 PM
Small Group Roundtables with Members of Congress
Two rotations of 40-minute roundtable sessions with Members of Congress including Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Jennifer McClellan, Rep. Kathy Castor, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Don Beyer, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, Rep. Sean Casten, Rep. Salud Carbajal, Rep. Matt Cartwright, Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Jared Huffman, Rep. Mike Levin, Rep. Ted Lieu, Rep. Chellie Pingree, Rep. Mike Quigley, Rep. Kim Schrier, and Rep. John Sarbanes.
2:40 – 2:50 PM
Return to Auditorium
2:50 – 3:10 PM
Share Out from Roundtables with Members of Congress
3:10 – 3:50 PM
A Productive Future for Climate in the 119th Congress: Is Opposition Enough?
Moderator: Ian Harrison
Panelists: Rep. Matt Cartwright, Xan Fishman, Lindsey Griffith
3:50 – 4:10 PM
Food for the Future: How Chefs and Policymakers Drive Climate Solutions
A fireside chat with Chef Rob Rubba and Rep. Chellie Pingree.
4:10 – 4:20 PM
Closing Remarks
Rep. Kathy Castor, SEEC Institute Board Member.
4:30 – 6:00 PM
Happy Hour and Closing Reception

thank you to our supporters

At a moment when climate and clean energy solutions cannot wait, the Solutions Summit brings Members of Congress, experts, and partners together to focus on what we can do now. Your support helps create the space for collaboration, hands-on problem solving, and real momentum toward actionable solutions. To learn more about supporting the Solutions Summit, please reach out to Arianna Soresi, Senior Development Associate at arianna.soresi@seecinstitute.org.

SEEC Institute programming is designed to comply with House and Senate Ethics rules.