By Kelsey Brugger

E&E DAILY | California Rep. Scott Peters is taking over as Democratic co-chair of the House Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus at a time when both parties are trying to find their footing on the issue.

An environmental attorney who has separated himself from others in his party on climate, Peters replaces Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), the group announced Tuesday. She will step down to fill a newly created role of vice chair.

Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) will continue to co-chair the group while Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) is taking on a new role of Republican vice chair.

“Like any big problem, the answer is desperate for bipartisanship,” Peters said in an interview. “It’s not the time to go to our corners.”

Peters has long positioned himself as a deal-maker on environmental issues. In recent years, he’s stuck his neck out on permitting, arguing Democrats should open up the National Environmental Policy Act in an effort to accelerate the build out of solar and wind energy.

He pointed to artificial intelligence and permitting overhaul as areas ripe for compromise. After reconciliation cut out some Republican permit ideas, lawmakers this week are turning in earnest to bipartisan talks.

“There's so many different groups playing in this,” Peters said, mentioning the Problem Solvers Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition, where he has leadership roles on the environment groups. “I'm hoping using my position in all of them, I can consolidate some of the efforts and make sure that we have critical mass.”

The climate caucus, which includes 56 lawmakers, evenly divided between the two parties, was resurrected two years ago after years of inactivity. It aims to forge common ground at a time when Republicans and Democrats in Congress agree on very little — particularly when it comes to climate change.

Since 2023, the caucus has had limited, if any, legislative success. Nevertheless, in a statement, Houlahan said that she and others “transformed this Caucus into an active community, demonstrating that bipartisan cooperation is possible during these challenging times.”

“After all, climate change is a ‘no duh’ issue — it directly impacts the security, safety, and wellbeing of Americans,” Houlahan said.

Peters’ new role comes just after Republicans largely repealed the Democrats’ 2022 clean energy tax credits in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Garbarino told POLITICO’s E&E News last week he was “satisfied with what we got in the bill” because “it was not a full repeal, which a lot of people demanded and said was a red line for them.” He also mentioned permitting as the next big-ticket item.

Originally founded in 2016 by then-Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), the caucus languished after the 2018 “blue wave,” when Curbelo, along with numerous other Republican moderates, lost reelection.

Over the years, it has been subject to some criticism on both sides — from environmentalists who claim the group merely gives political cover to moderate Republicans and from conservatives who question its accomplishments. It's financially supported by the Climate Solutions Foundation.

In a release announcing Peters’ appointment, the group said, "with this new leadership team in place, the caucus is confident that it can cultivate meaningful progress in securing America's energy future and strengthening the nation’s competitive edge on the global stage."

Garbarino added, “The Climate Solutions Caucus remains committed to fostering a productive dialogue and advancing practical, forward-looking solutions that strengthen America’s energy security, expand domestic production, drive economic growth, and address the impacts of climate change.”