[6] The group was founded out of Miller's frustration that parts of the Democratic Party support fossil fuel.
"[5] Miller has cited Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, "an open cheerleader for coal," as a motivating factor in the creation of the group.
[2][6] The group's strategy includes speaking directly to voters through knocking on doors, phone-banking, and holding rallies.
[10] The group has called for presidential leadership on climate by restricting extraction of fossil fuels on public land, particularly coal from the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming.
Rather than look at votes, the scores most heavily weigh public engagement, such as appearances at climate events, press conferences, and speeches.
The group also looks at bills authored or cosponsored, press releases, websites, and congressional caucuses that the legislators have joined.
"I wanted to create a certain toughness that I think has been missing from environmental politics ... a hard-headed, in-it-to-win-it attitude when it comes to climate change.
[3] Scores from groups such as the League of Conservation Voters look at votes but not legislators' intensity of leadership or engagement with the public.
[13][15] This rating was based in part on his marching on climate with New Yorkers and his sponsorship of bills ranked as important to the group: the Climate Protection Act of 2013 to impose a carbon pollution fee and the Residential Energy Savings Act of 2013 that would have made loans to states to provide rebates for rooftop solar systems.
[13][18] On the other hand, Senate leader Chuck Schumer was given a fairly low score and criticized by the group for not connecting climate change with extreme events such as Hurricane Sandy.