Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. This week, we’re covering climate champions and progress in the states.
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“Energy prices are way too high and millions of Americans are struggling to pay their energy bills because we’re caught in a cycle of favoring dirty energy producers over consumers. The path to lower energy costs must include consumer-first policies that prioritize clean, cheap energy.”
— Representative Mike Levin (CA-49) on the Cheap Energy Act, which aims to address factors impacting rising energy bills.
“We need to move more quickly on these energy-producing projects, and we’ve got to hold down costs. If PJM cannot do that, then Pennsylvania will look to go it alone.”
— Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on the need for reform in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection (PJM) as data centers drive up costs for consumers.
“Democrats are fighting for a budget bill that meets the needs of the American people. Cancel the Cuts. Lower the Cost. Save Healthcare. We will not simply go along to get along.”
— House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) on Republicans’ refusal to negotiate and pass a spending bill.
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U.S. CLIMATE ALLIANCE TACKLES CLIMATE POLLUTION AND BOOSTS THE ECONOMY: The U.S. Climate Alliance, a coalition of 24 governors supporting climate action, released new data this week showing that collectively, their states have reduced greenhouse gas emissions 24% below 2005 levels while increasing their GDP by 34%. The alliance is also reducing emissions faster than the rest of the U.S. through actions like employing clean energy workers, lowering air pollutants, and planning for disasters.
ALLIANCE TAKE: U.S. Climate Alliance Executive Director Casey Katims said, “While the federal government moves to stop measuring pollution, deny science, and obstruct climate action, the Alliance and its members are relentlessly pressing forward. These new pollution reduction figures show that when we come together, set big goals, and take bold action, we build healthier communities and a stronger economy.”
CAMPAIGN FOR GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HEATS UP: Climate and environment organizers gathered in Atlanta at the “Watts at Stake” event to strategize and mobilize voters ahead of November’s election for two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission, responsible for regulating utilities. Groups like Georgia Conservation Voters, one of the organizers of the summit, said they are holding both virtual and in-person town halls to educate voters. With energy costs rising across Georgia and around the country, and the Trump administration doing everything it can to ban and undercut clean energy, it’s critical that the PSC has commissioners who will protect Georgians and put their interests above polluters.
STATES TAKE ACTION TO ACCELERATE CLEAN ENERGY BEFORE FEDERAL TAX CREDITS EXPIRE: Governors around the country including Gavin Newsom of California, Kathy Hochul of New York, Jared Polis of Colorado, and Katie Hobbs of Arizona have recently issued orders to focus resources and expedite clean energy projects to take advantage of federal tax credits enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act before they expire, after being slashed by President Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill.” Regulators and utilities in additional states have taken similar actions, such as in Maine, Minnesota, and Oregon. These efforts to increase clean energy development will help meet rising energy demand and save customers money.
ILLINOIS EXPANDS ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING NETWORK: After winning in court to restore funds illegally frozen by the Trump administration, Illinois will dedicate over $18 million towards building 25 new electric vehicle fast charging stations. The stations, which can service more than 150 vehicles at once, will be installed along highway corridors, expanding the state’s electric vehicle infrastructure and network.
130+ JOIN CHISPA NEVADA’S SOL Y SOUL HIKE: This past Sunday, Chispa Nevada united with over 130 community members and partners for Sol y Soul: Black & Brown Unity Hike to celebrate Latino Conservation Week. It was a day of community, connection, and shared commitment to protecting our tierra. View pictures of the event here!
CHISPA ARIZONA RISES WITH THE SUN TO PROTECT IRONWOOD FOREST NATIONAL MONUMENT: On Sunday, Chispa Arizona brought community members together at Ironwood Forest National Monument for a powerful Latino Conservation Week sunrise gathering. Participants grounded themselves on sacred land, heard from Indigenous leaders and local advocates, and lifted up the importance of defending public lands from threats that endanger both culture and ecology. With reflections, postcard writing, and a shared breakfast, the event highlighted a collective message: our public lands are not for sale. View pictures from the event here!
CHISPA CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY: Chispa, a program of the League of Conservation Voters, celebrated its 10 year anniversary during Latine Heritage Month. To honor a decade of Latine and communities of color advocating for climate justice, Chispa released a new bilingual video highlighting their journey, achievements, and the critical work ahead.
OUR TAKE: Chispa Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-González said, “As our Latine communities face growing threats and attacks, it’s important that we acknowledge our work so far, and our commitment to the future and fight ahead. Our Promotoras and Lideres are family and community members who boldly step up, organize for their neighborhoods, learn how to demand and create change, and become climate champions. We would not exist without them, and we wanted to celebrate their work and tell the world about it.”
ADELITA GRIJALVA WINS ARIZONA SPECIAL ELECTION: Climate champion Adelita Grijalva won the special election for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona’s 7th district. Representative-elect Grijalva will be the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress, and has committed to fighting to protect the environment and democracy.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said, “Adelita Grijalva is a climate champion who will now continue to fight for Arizona communities in Congress! Trump and extreme congressional Republicans are continuing to attack protections for our health and safety and raise costs for families with their latest threats to shut down the government unless critical programs are gutted. We look forward to working with Adelita Grijalva to fight back against these attacks on our environment and democracy, and to protect our public lands, address the climate crisis, and fight for environmental justice and future generations.”
CHISPA AZ TAKE: Chispa Arizona Executive Director Vianey Olivarría said, “We are extremely proud that Arizona is sending its first Latina to Congress! Adelita Grijalva is a climate champion and Earth protector with deep roots in the communities she has been serving for decades. We are excited to see her take that leadership to the national stage and put the interests of her constituents at the forefront. ¡Felicidades!”
LCVAF ENDORSES ROY COOPER FOR SENATE: LCV Action Fund (LCVAF) endorsed Roy Cooper for election to the U.S. Senate representing North Carolina. As governor, Cooper worked to protect North Carolina’s climate and clean energy, and will fight to keep North Carolina safe and healthy as a U.S. Senator.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said, “North Carolinians know firsthand the devastating impact of extreme weather and pollution on families, and Roy Cooper will fight to protect North Carolinians in the Senate as he did as governor. People across the country are facing rising energy costs and continued threats to our environment and our fundamental rights — it’s more important than ever to have champions like Roy Cooper in the Senate who will help ensure we all can have a more healthy and just future.”
NCLCV TAKE: North Carolina LCV Executive Director Carrie Clark said, “As we approach the anniversary of Hurricane Helene, we appreciate Roy Cooper’s strong leadership during and after that devastating disaster. We need someone in Washington who understands the increasing threat extreme weather poses to lives and livelihoods across our state. At the same time, he led the creation of North Carolina’s thriving clean energy economy and made us the top state in the country in rural clean energy jobs. These are just a few of the many reasons Roy Cooper is the leader North Carolina needs in the U.S. Senate.”
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REPUBLICANS PUSH COUNTRY CLOSER TO SHUTDOWN: As the government funding deadline looms, Trump and Republicans in Congress have refused to negotiate on a budget bill and continue to threaten a government shutdown. LCV joined environmental groups including Climate Action Campaign, Climate Power, Earthjustice Action, Evergreen Action, Friends of the Earth Action, NRDC Action Fund, and Sierra Club to urge Republicans to take action and pass a bipartisan funding bill that will lower costs and protect our environment.
OUR TAKE: LCV and environmental groups said, “President Trump and Congressional Republicans have spent this year raising costs for working families, from energy to groceries to health care, while rolling back programs that help families deal with those costs. Now, Donald Trump and Russell Vought clearly want to shut down the government and continue illegally gutting essential services that make people’s lives more affordable. Given the fact that the administration and Republicans in Congress are already ignoring the funding levels set by law that protect clean air and water, and a healthy climate, it is plainly false to call the GOP’s continuing resolution ‘clean.’ Without real commitments, a deal isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.
“Republicans who voted to raise energy and health costs in the Republican Rate Hike have a choice to make: they can start to side with their constituents desperate for relief and come to the negotiating table to pass full-year bipartisan funding bills that help lower costs and protect our environment, as the Senate has shown is clearly possible, or they can continue to cower to Trump and shut down the government.”
TRUMP DOJ SUES SIX STATES TO OBTAIN SENSITIVE DATA FROM VOTER ROLLS: The Department of Justice has filed lawsuits demanding that California, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and New Hampshire share unredacted voter rolls, which include sensitive data like drivers license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers. It is highly unusual to release voter rolls without redacting this information. Last week, similar lawsuits were filed in Maine and Oregon as well.
CVPA TAKE: Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Executive Director Molly Parzen said, “This lawsuit from the Trump Administration is just the latest blatant attempt to intimidate voters and undermine our elections. The voter rolls requested contain sensitive, personal information for Pennsylvania voters, and handing that information over to the Trump Administration does nothing to make our elections more safe or secure.
“The Trump Administration has repeatedly tried to sow doubt and create fear around our elections. This lawsuit takes their political game a step further – breaching the trust of all Pennsylvanians and putting our privacy at risk.
“The first step in protecting our environment is protecting our democracy and ensuring all Pennsylvanians can participate in free, fair, and secure elections. Lawsuits like this undermine our core systems of democracy and represent a blatant abuse of power for political gain.
“We look forward to supporting Pennsylvania leaders as they fight this overreach and work to protect our rights and freedoms.”
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ON THE BLOG: Exciting things coming, stay tuned for new content on The Power Source Blog!
ON OUR SOCIALS: One thing about us (or three): We’re going to support lowering energy costs, protest for democracy, and push to get those last public comments on the Endangerment Finding in before the deadline (pencils down, your time has concluded)! Find all of that and more on our socials this week.
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SEPTEMBER 15 – OCTOBER 15: Latine Heritage Month.
SEPTEMBER 30: Government Funding Deadline.
OCTOBER 1: Yom Kippur begins at sundown.
OCTOBER 13: Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
OCTOBER 18: No Kings October Mobilization.
OCTOBER 18: Clean Water Act 53rd anniversary.
©2025 League of Conservation Voters