Power Consensus in America’s Energy Future

John Davies, CEO Davies

 

Turning Energy Projects into Public Victories

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Navigating America's energy future takes more than money or technology. It takes trust. John Davies has spent his career helping companies earn that trust by turning complex and often controversial projects into community success stories.

As Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Davies Public Affairs, he brings decades of experience in persuasion, psychology, and strategic communications to some of the nation's high-profile energy initiatives. His approach blends research, message discipline, and engagement built on one guiding rule: listen first.

Leading with Research, Not Rhetoric

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This year, the Davies Group conducted its 2025 National Energy Study, a nationwide survey of nearly

800 Americans. The results were clear. Support for a diverse mix of energy sources is strong and grow-Eighty four percent of Americans have a positive view of solar, 82 percent support natural gas, and 75 percent back wind. "Americans want more energy from more sources, built right and built here," Davies said. "The data confirms what we see on the ground every day. The challenge is not whether people like energy. It is whether they trust the people building it."

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Davies emphasizes that support is never automatic. A community that feels uninformed or left out is primed for resistance. "Approval begins by listening. People want to be heard before they are asked to agree," he explains. His six-step engagement model-Listen First, Target Audiences, Address Dreams and Fears, Tell Your Story, Cultivate Advocates, and Ask for Help-has become a proven framework for earning local support and preventing opposition from taking root.

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Building Support Across a Divided Landscape

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From solar farms to micro-nuclear facilities, Davies Group helps developers navigate the social, political, and emotional terrain that determines whether a project succeeds or fails. The team combines original research with on-the-ground outreach, translating technical and policy information into stories that reflect what people value.

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"Our work is not about selling," Davies often says. "It is about connecting. You cannot persuade what you do not understand." That focus on empathy allows his team to succeed where others struggle, bridging divides between industry and community, progress and preservation, innovation and trust.

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Crisis as a Test of Credibility

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Davies is also recognized for his crisis management expertise, where he treats every challenge as a test of credibility. His philosophy is simple: get it right, tell it fast, and mean it. The same skills that build support for new projects-listening, honesty, and timing-also protect reputations when pressure mounts

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"Crisis is not about spin," he says. "It is about clarity. The faster people hear from you, the less they will believe from someone else." Over the years, he has guided clients through environmental disputes, industrial incidents, and misrepresented stories in the media. His approach helps organizations protect credibility, maintain trust, and emerge stronger.

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A Lifetime of Leadership and Lessons

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Davies' reputation rests on results and on how he achieves them. He believes persuasion be gins with understanding people: their dreams, their fears, and their sense of fairness. His strategies are grounded in behavioral insight and decades of fieldwork in communities where skepticism runs deep and stakes are high.

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"The three fears drive most opposition," he says. "Fear of change, fear of insignificance, and fear of the unknown. Once you address those, you unlock the power of consensus."

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Under his leadership, the firm has been recognized by PRWeek and others as one of the nation's trusted public affairs companies. Its success reflects Davies' core philosophy: do the hard work of listening, move quickly with facts, and tell stories that matter to real people.

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The Road Ahead

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For Davies, the next frontier is rebuilding trust in how America powers itself. As the energy sector evolves, he sees a rare moment of alignment between innovation, opportunity, and public sentiment.

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"The future of American energy is not about choosing sides," he said. "It is about building bridges. The data proves that when you respect the public enough to tell them the truth, they will reward you with trust." That trust is what powers America's energy future, and it is the reason John Davies's work continues to shape it.

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