Congressman Curtis currently represents Utah’s 3rd District, which is home to many of the state’s most iconic ski areas, the outdoorsman’s mecca of Moab and multiple national parks. In Congress, he has represented his district well, championing a pragmatic, conservative approach to environmental conservation. If a strong environmental focus is supposed to be a political handicap, Curtis’ constituents aren’t aware. He’s enjoyed high bipartisan approval ratings since joining Congress in 2017.

Curtis serves as vice chairman of the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security and Federal Lands subcommittees and is a member of the Roosevelt Conservation Caucus. He also founded and chaired the Conservative Climate Caucus, now 73 members strong. Curtis has managed to double the caucus’ membership since its founding in 2021, leading members of the second-largest caucus in Congress to advocate for conservative climate solutions on the world stage at COP28 in Dubai.

In his senate campaign, Curtis has demonstrated that his conservative environmentalism is an asset, not a bug. After a 16-point primary win against Trent Staggs, he has continued uncompromisingly in favor of pragmatic climate action, earning him criticism from some political pundits — and the quiet capitulation of his primary opponent. Staggs, a candidate endorsed by the likes of Kari Lake and Charlie Kirk, ended up adding an environmental policy section to his campaign website that, while concise, would actually find itself quite at home in Curtis’ platform. Despite never admitting it, Staggs adopted exactly the environmental policies Curtis has been criticized for championing — and he’s campaigned on them, too.

The key to Staggs’ eventual support of environmental issues lies in what Curtis picked up on from the very beginning: conservative climate solutions that offer something far more desirable than what Democrats have to offer. Curtis’ platform is boldly pro-environment without jeopardizing the United States’ economic or national security. He sees the ideal clean energy transition as one that prioritizes nuclear energy without demonizing fossil fuels, and has made a point to oppose what he sees as federal overreach in the name of environmental issues, with the recent Western Economic Security Today (WEST) Act making his loyalties to Utahns clear.

This posture toward climate progress is a breath of clean air compared to many of the Biden administration’s environmental policies. From poorly timed liquid natural gas export pauses that complicated pressing national security issues to the inevitable social justice scope creep of proposals like the “Justice 40” initiative, seeking to “secure environmental justice” for “historically marginalized” communities, Biden’s environmental record is ineffective at best and reckless at worst.

Congressman Curtis’ primary campaign didn’t suffer from his bold environmental advocacy, it was bolstered by it. Staggs’ campaign struggled to fundraise despite its celebrity endorsements, due in large part to its lack of popularity with Utah voters. Curtis’ success as a moderate has been buoyed especially by his ability to balance environmental issues with things like the economy and national security, making his conservation priorities more palatable to conservatives and more realistically actionable for moderates and progressives. It also stands to benefit him with Utah being the youngest state in the nation, as the majority of young Republican voters believe the U.S. should do more to expand clean energy, as well as protect water quality, air quality and wildlife.

Curtis is a proof point not only of the opportunity for conservatives to be more boldly pro-climate amongst their own, but also for them to seize the attention of voters looking for effective and practical solutions for the environment. While politicians like Sen. Lee posture against environmental issues, Republicans would do well to look to Congressman Curtis for fresh ideas for winning voters’ respect and support.

Alina Clough is a fellow with ConservAmerica.