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 Trump’s attacks on our democracy, sounding the alarm on high energy costs, and what our state affiliates are doing to push for clean energy and climate change legislation.
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“As he puts us on the fast track to climate disaster, he is making families sicker, polluting our country, and driving up health care and energy costs — all to benefit Trump’s billionaire donors. Zeldin is a disgrace, and it is beyond time for him to go.”
— Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) as Senate Democrats call for EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s resignation over dereliction of duty, subverting EPA’s mission, and lying under oath about climate grants cancelled without proper review.
“Regardless of what this administration does, I think what we’re seeing and will continue to see, not only in wind but in solar, is the price continuing to drop and to be competitive with, if not outpace, traditional energy sources.”
— Rob Werner, New Hampshire Director for LCV, in response to Trump’s attacks on offshore wind despite the reality that renewable energy is cheaper than fossil fuels and will save ratepayers money.
“Attacking mail-in voting is an affront to all Americans’ constitutional rights, especially working families, seniors, Americans with disabilities, and members of the military who rely on mail-in voting to make their voices heard.”
— A statement from the Democratic National Committee in response to Trump’s executive order as he attempts to undermine mail-in voting ahead of the November midterms.
VIRGINIA GOVERNOR SIGNS ENERGY AFFORDABILITY BILLS: Governor Abigail Spanberger signed six bipartisan energy bills into law that focus on modernizing grid infrastructure, improving reliability and lowering energy costs, as well as protecting ratepayers. Spanberger also created a new Cabinet-level position of chief energy officer to oversee the state’s decarbonization and electrification goals.
MICHIGAN REGULATORS RAISE ENERGY COSTS: The Michigan Public Service Commission approved a $276.6 million rate hike for Consumers Energy, raising energy costs for 1.8 million customers and increasing the average residential bill by $6.46 per month beginning in May. Consumers Energy has indicated it will seek another rate increase as early as June. Michigan LCV and coalition partners are urging lawmakers to adopt a “Ratepayer Bill of Rights” that would protect consumers from skyrocketing energy costs and hold utilities accountable.
MLCV TAKE: Michigan LCV Energy Accountability Manager Alex Kellogg said, “Working families and businesses are struggling with skyrocketing energy costs. Meanwhile, monopoly utility company Consumers Energy is raising our energy bills again while making billions in record profits for shareholders. Our bills are too damn high, and it’s time for leaders in Lansing to pass a Ratepayer Bill of Rights to rein in rising energy costs and out of control utility greed.”
NORTH CAROLINANS GATHER TO OPPOSE RATE HIKES: North Carolina LCV and Climate Power hosted a press conference to speak out against utility company Duke Energy’s proposed 18% increase in electricity rates over the next two years. At the conference, North Carolina residents provided testimony on how these rate hikes will impact them and their families and advocate for energy affordability.
NCLCV TAKE: North Carolina LCV Senior Director of Public Affairs Dan Crawford said, “Former Duke Energy state president and former state Sen. Paul Newton introduced a bill that allows Duke Energy to charge us for power plants before they’re even completed or fully built, charge industrial customers lower rates than residential customers, and eliminate clean energy goals that make us more dependent on coal and natural gas.”
COLORADO CLEAN ENERGY PUSH LINKED TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS: A new report commissioned by Conservation Colorado, Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Rewiring America, and Western Resource Advocates found Colorado’s average cost per unit of electricity is nearly two cents per kilowatt hour below the national average and has increased more slowly than the rest of the country. Colorado’s strategy to expand renewable energy projects, mandate greenhouse gas limits, and retire coal plants has now been proven to lead to lower utility bills for state residents compared to nationwide rates.
CONSERVATION COLORADO TAKE: Conservation Colorado Climate Campaign Manager Paul Sherman said, “Colorado proves that climate action does not have to come at the expense of affordability. While consumers across the nation have seen rates skyrocket by more than 30% over the last decade, Colorado has successfully developed one of the nation’s leading clean energy economies while keeping our residential rates nearly two cents below the national average. We are showing the nation that a just transition is not only a lofty goal, but a reality.”
SOUTH CAROLINA REGULATORS APPROVE GAS POWER PLANT: Duke Energy has secured regulatory approval to build a gas power plant on 200 acres of land in Anderson County, South Carolina, in close proximity to homes and schools. The plant poses a significant risk to streams and wetlands and would expose surrounding communities to harmful air pollution and increase public health risks, in addition to families’ costs.
CVSC TAKE: In collaboration with Sierra Club of South Carolina and South Carolina Environmental Law Project, Conservation Voters of South Carolina said, “Duke Energy is pushing forward with a polluting gas plant on a greenfield site with streams and wetlands in a community already overburdened with pollution and health stressors. Now they’re asking for a huge tax break, shifting the burden onto the community while they profit. We don’t have to accept higher bills, polluted air and damaged ecosystems in exchange for more dollars in Duke Energy’s pocket. They should be required to pay their fair share, which would bring essential funding for schools and infrastructure.”
OHIO UTILITIES COMMISSION APPROVES ENERGY RATE INCREASE: The Ohio Public Utilities Commission is allowing utility company AEP Ohio to raise its electricity rates, even as it hands out lavish bonuses. Customers could see a potential increase of $4.38 a month to their bills this year and an average increase of $10.28 a month by 2028.
OEC TAKE: Ohio Environmental Council Senior Attorney for Clean Energy Karin Nordstrom said, “The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio’s decision comes at a time when many households are facing an energy affordability crisis. This order will raise rates despite otherwise claims from the utility. In the last year, AEP Ohio’s parent company celebrated record profits with its shareholders and announced a $15M bonus for its CEO. Ohioans continue to struggle to keep their lights on, and they deserve real solutions to the energy affordability crisis, not more false promises from regulators and utilities. The Ohio Environmental Council is disappointed the Commission did not give AEP Ohio’s request the scrutiny needed to ensure the company exhausts lower cost methods before approving expensive capital expenditures with high rates of return. Furthermore, the Ohio Environmental Council is deeply disappointed to see the PUCO downplay the existence of Ohio’s ongoing energy affordability crisis, as they did in response to the Ohio Consumers Counsel. This is concerning as we head into another summer with anticipated rising electricity costs.”
NV ENERGY DELAYS PRICE INCREASE: Nevada regulators have further delayed NV Energy’s proposed residential demand charge which would factor peak electricity usage into customers’ costs and raise their bills. The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada granted the extension after customers, including those organized by Chispa Nevada and Nevada Conservation League, voiced concerns about the potential for higher energy costs and a lack of billing transparency.
CHISPA NV TAKE: Chispa Nevada Program Director Audrey Peral said, “Demand charges will make our bills confusing, unpredictable and unaffordable. Hard-working families are already struggling with high costs and will not be able to rearrange their lives to satisfy NV Energy’s new rules. Electricity is a necessity, not a luxury, and we can’t let corporate greed get in the way of protecting Nevadans. We need state lawmakers and Governor Lombardo to step in, tell NV Energy to eliminate the demand charge, and avoid a preventable affordability crisis.”
PRICE OF GAS OVER $4 A GALLON FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2022: Gas prices have surged above $4 a gallon as the fallout from Trump’s war against Iran continues to drive up energy costs. Crude oil is hovering around $100 a barrel and could surge to $150 or higher if supply disruptions worsen. Meanwhile, diesel fuel has climbed above $5.45 a gallon, putting numerous industries at risk and causing the cost of living to rise even higher for struggling families. Meanwhile, across the country, charging an electric vehicle is equivalent to half to a quarter the cost per gallon of gasoline.
NEW TOOL AIMS TO BOOST ENERGY COST TRANSPARENCY: In response to growing concerns over energy affordability and limited transparency from utility companies, Heatmap News in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology launched the Electricity Price Hub, a public platform offering detailed, monthly estimates of energy costs across utilities nationwide. The new platform gives users clearer insight into factors causing electricity bills to rise over the past five years, state by state and county by county.
TRUMP TARGETS MAIL IN VOTING WITH NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER: In another attack against free and fair elections, Trump signed an executive order seeking to overhaul mail-in voting rules, directing federal agencies to create a list of eligible voters and limiting ballot distribution based on that data. The move comes as the administration and congressional Republicans continue to push for the SAVE America Act, which would disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters and poses a significant threat to our democracy.
TRUMP EXEMPTS GULF DRILLING FROM ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTIONS: The Trump administration announced all oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is now exempt from the Endangered Species Act in a move that will threaten critically vulnerable wildlife in the Gulf like the Rice’s whale, of which only about 50 remain.
TRUMP ADVANCES LOAN FOR IDAHO MINING PROJECT: The Trump administration is moving forward with a $2.7 billion loan for a gold and antimony mine to be constructed in Idaho, moving the project to its final approval stage. The funding would support Perpetua Resources’ Stibnite Gold Project in the Payette National Forest. The Indigenous Nez Perc Tribe is challenging the move on the grounds that mining development would pollute and damage sensitive ecosystems and violate the tribe’s hunting and fishing rights.
U.S. FOREST SERVICE HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO UTAH: The U.S. Forest Service announced it will relocate its headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City, Utah as the Trump administration attempts to erode the effectiveness of and decentralize the agency and cut experienced staff. The move is similar to when Trump moved the Bureau of Land Management to Grand Junction, Colorado in his first term which resulted in 90 percent of staff leaving the agency.
NYC INSTALLS NEW EV CHARGING STATIONS: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the city will install 10 new electric vehicle charging stations in underserved neighborhoods to accelerate the adoption of EVs among for-hire drivers and residents. As gas prices soar past $4 a gallon, powering an EV is half as expensive as driving a car, so expanding access to EV charging can help lower people’s costs while supporting the city’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
NYLCV TAKE: New York LCV Deputy Director of NYC Policy Alia Soomro said, “NYLCV applauds Mayor Mamdani and DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn for expanding fast, reliable EV charging, which is essential to making New York’s clean transportation future a reality. By prioritizing professional drivers and bringing high-speed chargers to underserved neighborhoods like Flushing, NYC DOT and NYPA are helping ensure that the benefits of electrification are both practical and equitable while moving the city closer to its net-zero goals.”
COLORADO LAWMAKERS TO MODERNIZE TRANSPORTATION: Colorado lawmakers announced legislation to reform the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in the Denver metro area. The bill’s proposed reforms would reduce the size of RTD’s board, add appointed experts and increase accountability measures to strengthen transit as a reliable and affordable option, while also reducing transportation costs and air pollution.
CONSERVATION COLORADO TAKE: Conservation Colorado Climate and Transportation Campaign Manager Renée Larrarte said, “Coloradans are already feeling the impacts of rising costs and worsening climate pollution. With transportation as a major source of emissions and household costs, modernizing RTD is essential to expanding affordable transit options and cutting pollution.”
ALASKA ORGANIZERS GATHER IN SUPPORT OF CLIMATE BILLS: Alaska residents, organizers and lawmakers rallied on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol in support of bills to combat climate change. The Alaska Center is supporting HB 247, which would require oil producers to pay a tax of 20 cents per barrel that would be used for a climate change mitigation funds, and SB 120, which would establish a climate change emergency response commission to research climate impacts and provide grants to affected communities.
AK CENTER TAKE: The Alaska Center Partnerships Coordinator Felix Rivera said, “These are two bills that we really need to make sure that we are responding adequately to these emergencies and then being proactive, so that when these things do happen, our communities are more resilient.”
ALASKA PASSES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS: The Alaska legislators passed Senate Bill 64 which will improve voting access and includes several provisions aimed at making it easier to cure a ballot, providing prepaid postage for returning ballots, and establishing a rural community liaison to support rural districts. The Alaska Center’s democracy team worked hard to champion the bill.
AK CENTER TAKE: The Alaska Center said, “More equitable access to the polls is on the horizon in Alaska! The Alaska Center is pleased to see that the House and Senate have passed an election reform bill. If signed into law, it will make positive changes to our state’s voting laws to help Alaskans vote. We are excited to see the creation of a ballot curing process, a new rural community liaison position, and the requirement for the state to pay for return postage on mail-in absentee ballots. Now the governor needs to sign the bill into law. If he doesn’t and vetoes the bill, the legislature can override it with a two-thirds majority.”
PROPOSED CONNECTICUT BILL WOULD INCREASE ELECTRIC VEHICLE FEES: A proposed Connecticut bill would significantly increase registration fees to $345 for electric vehicles and $233 for plug-in hybrids. The increase would discourage EV adoption and place an unfair burden on drivers as the state continues to work toward its emissions reduction goals. This attack on clean transportation is especially egregious as families grapple with gas prices over $4 per gallon.
CTLCV TAKE: Connecticut LCV Executive Director Lori Brown said, “HB 5568 is simply unfair and would impose a significant financial hardship on the very consumers we are trying to motivate with better charging infrastructure and rebates. If anything, electric vehicles should be incentivized, not penalized because they don’t use gasoline. According to DEEP’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory report, the transportation sector accounts for 40% of all emissions in Connecticut. Electric vehicles are critical to help reduce our state’s overall emissions in line with our state policies.”
MAINE TAKES STEPS TO MAKE BIG OIL PAY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE DAMAGES: Maine lawmakers advanced a bill that directs the state’s Department of Environmental Protection to study and calculate the economic toll of greenhouse gas emissions. The bill is a critical step toward making polluters pay for the impacts of climate change through a Climate Superfund program.
MCV TAKE: Maine Conservation Voters Legislative Director Sarah Woodbury said, “Whether it be drought, extreme weather, or sea level rise, climate change is costing Maine a fortune. LD 1870 is the financially prudent and responsible first step the state can take to assess the damage climate change is costing the hardworking people of this state.”
NEW YORK GOVERNOR SUPPORTS CLIMATE RESILIENCY PROJECTS: Governor Kathy Hochul announced $100 million in new funds for climate resiliency projects through the state’s $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. The projects will include designing infrastructure to reduce flood risk and enhancing community resilience to extreme weather. Funding is available to eligible municipalities and nonprofit organizations.
NYLCV TAKE: New York LCV said, “Good news! Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced $100 million in grant funding from the Environmental Bond Act of 2022 will go towards NY State climate resiliency projects. The nature-based, green infrastructure grant funding would be split into two programs, the Resilient Watersheds Grant (RWG) Program and Community Resilience and Flood Risk Reduction Grants Program. This funding represents a win for a safer, more #sustainable New York State.”
NEW JERSEY GAS PIPELINE PERMIT MEETING CANCELED: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Tidelands Resource Council canceled a meeting to approve the final permit needed for the Williams Transco Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) methane gas pipeline expansion project. The decision subjects the pipeline to additional review amid concerns over toxic sediment disruption as well as air pollution, climate impacts, and risks to public health. New Jersey LCV collected almost 600 constituent messages opposing the project ahead of the scheduled vote, coordinated a sign on letter with bipartisan local elected officials in the pipeline path, and held a press conference with coalition partners calling on the state to reject the pipeline.
NJLCV TAKE: New Jersey LCV Interim Executive Director Allison McLeod said, “We applaud the Tidelands Resource Council and the NJDEP for listening to the concerns of New Jerseyans and subjecting this dangerous project to further scrutiny. This pipeline is as unnecessary as it is hazardous. It would risk the health and safety of our communities and working families while providing zero benefit to our state, all while threatening our water quality and polluting the air we breathe. Governor Sherrill promised to be a champion for our health and our wallets, and today’s action shows she is delivering. Over the past months, we have seen dozens of local governments and hundreds of residents raise their voices in opposition. We need the administration to continue standing firm against corporate interests that value profits over our communities. By subjecting this project to scrutiny, we are protecting the Raritan Bay and ensuring that New Jersey remains on a path toward a cleaner, more affordable energy future.”
NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY PASSES VOTING RIGHTS ACT: The New Jersey Assembly passed the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act which aims to protect voting rights, expand access to voting registration, and ensure equitable participation for marginalized and language-diverse communities. The bill is expected to be voted on in the Senate later this spring.
NJLCV TAKE: New Jersey LCV Interim Director Allison McLeod said, “The passage of the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act through committee is a major victory for every New Jerseyan who believes that our government should be accountable to the people, not just the powerful. Now, more than ever, Trenton must step up and protect fundamental rights that are under attack by a federal government that is working overtime to suppress our votes. We know that a strong, inclusive democracy is the best defense we have against corporate polluters who threaten our health and safety in their relentless pursuit of profits. When we protect the ballot, we protect our air, our water and our future. We are deeply grateful to Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Mercer) for her tireless leadership and sponsorship of this vital bill,” continued McLeod. “Her commitment to honoring the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis will ensure that New Jersey remains a firewall against the erosion of civil rights happening at the federal level. We now call on both houses of the Legislature to move swiftly and send this bill to Governor Sherrill’s desk. In these concerning times, New Jersey must act with urgency to protect the sacred right that empowers all our other work: the right to vote.”
WASHINGTON PASSES VOTER PROTECTION BILLS: Washington state lawmakers passed a series of measures this legislative session to protect voters and strengthen election safeguards. HB 1916 allows courts to dismiss baseless voter registration challenges, while HB 1710 creates a system to keep voting accessible. SB 5892 enhances protections for voter data privacy. These reforms were championed by Washington Conservation Action and aim to ensure equitable and secure voting access.
VERMONT DEFENDS FIRST-IN-THE-NATION CLIMATE SUPERFUND FROM ATTACKS BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND POLLUTERS: This week, the state of Vermont asked a federal judge to throw out two lawsuits challenging the state’s landmark make polluters pay legislation, the 2024 Climate Superfund Act. The law requires the largest fossil fuel companies to pay the state back for the damages caused by climate change, providing funding for climate adaptation projects.
VCV TAKE: Vermont Conservation Voters Executive Director Lauren Hierl said, “Vermont’s citizen legislators really stepped up on this bill. Without the Climate Superfund, the costs of climate change fall entirely on taxpayers – and that’s not fair. Now, there is a law in place to require the corporations that caused the damage to pay, too.”
WHITE HOUSE RELEASES ‘SKINNY BUDGET’: Trump’s proposed 2027 fiscal budget calls for major cuts to climate change and affordable clean energy programs while boosting support for fossil fuel production and burning. The plan would include canceling billions in clean energy funding and eliminating EPA programs that would help communities disproportionately impacted by pollution. The administration’s proposal ignores skyrocketing energy costs as Trump continues to prioritize the fossil fuel industry and increasing defense spending by $1.5 trillion.
OUR TAKE: LCV Legislative Director David Shadburn said, “Instead of prioritizing lowering energy costs for hardworking families, Trump is focused on creating a global energy crisis. This proposed budget fails to address the skyrocketing costs of groceries, housing or energy across the country, but rather escalates the extreme cuts this administration and Congressional Republicans have instituted that will lead to more pollution in our air and water, put the health of our communities at risk, and make basic needs even more expensive. Instead of propping up expensive, polluting fossil fuels, we should be investing in affordable clean energy, the fastest and cheapest way to tackle skyrocketing energy bills and meet rising energy demand. We urge Congress to work together to do just that.”
MILLIONS PARTICIPATE IN NO KINGS PROTESTS: A third wave of “No Kings” protests took place across the country and internationally as millions gathered to oppose Trump’s war with Iran and immigration policies, among many other grievances. Organizers estimate 9 million people participated across more than 3,100 events.
NYLCV TAKE: New York LCV said, “Together, we’re making it clear to Pres. Trump and the world that every billion dollars funding this unconstitutional war abroad is a billion dollars stolen from our communities at home – including from our environment. Every time Trump attacks our freedoms, millions more Americans take to the streets to say NO KINGS.”
CVP TAKE: Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania said, “Thousands of Pennsylvanians showed up for #NoKings protests across the state. We won’t let our voices be silenced. Keep showing up. Keep speaking out. Your actions make a difference.”
OLCV TAKE: In collaboration with Building Resistance and Oregon Just Transition Alliance, Oregon LCV said, “We need a healthy democracy to respond together to the climate crisis. The climate crisis, driven by oil, gas, and coal corporations and their political enablers, is a disruptor. Extreme weather, high cost of fossil fuels, unsafe housing… All these things make people feel less safe and more uncertain. Fear is a breeding ground for authoritarians, who try to convince people only they can ‘fix’ things, once we give up all our power to them. That’s exactly the wrong answer. We’re pro-democracy because we are the only ones who can save ourselves. We need freedom, community, and hard work to turn this thing around. And we’re gonna Make Polluters Pay.”
WCA TAKE: Washington Conservation Action said, “We had organizers at Olympia, Vancouver, Tacoma, and Seattle speaking to our communities about the importance of defending our voting rights and environmental protection. Thank you for rallying for our people, our democracy, and our planet. We’ve got a lot of work to do together. Let’s continue to show up and take action!”
LCV ACTION FUND ANNOUNCES SENATE AND HOUSE ENDORSEMENTS: The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund announced a new slate of endorsements in key Senate and House races, backing candidates who will prioritize clean energy expansion, lowering utility costs, and standing up for environmental protections. LCV Action Fund officially endorsed U.S. Representatives Brendan Boyle (PA-02) and Rick Larsen (WA-02), U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico (TX), and U.S. House candidates Jonathan Nez (AZ-02), Jake Johnson (MN-01), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11) and Jamie Ager (NC-11).
OUR TAKE: LCV Action Fund Vice President of Political Affairs Craig Auster said, “As gas and energy costs continue to skyrocket because of Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress, we need to elect leaders who will fight for the clean energy solutions that will bring down utility bills, create jobs and protect our health and environment. We are thrilled to support these candidates because we know that they will fight tirelessly to make life more affordable, hold the utilities and fossil fuel companies accountable, and ensure we all have clean air to breathe and water to drink.”
ADVOCATES PROMOTE REPORT SHOWING OFFSHORE WIND STRENGTHENS THE GRID: Labor unions and environmental groups in the New England for Offshore Wind coalition held a press conference in Concord, New Hampshire unveiling the findings of a recent report showing how power from the nation’s planned offshore wind projects would make the electrical grid more resilient. The report detailed how additional energy generation from offshore wind would have helped mitigate energy shortfalls in the winter of 2024-2025.
OUR TAKE: LCV New Hampshire State Director Rob Werner said, “Regardless of what this administration does, I think what we’re seeing and will continue to see, not only in wind but in solar, is the price continuing to drop and to be competitive with, if not outpace, traditional energy sources. That, really, at the end of the day is going to be the driver as to why we, from an economic point of view, pursue these projects for the energy that we need.”
ON THE BLOG: Stay tuned for exciting new content coming to The Power Source Blog!
ON OUR SOCIALS: Energy bills are on the rise, but so is the momentum to push for change. We’re shining a spotlight on leaders fighting to lower costs and hold utilities accountable, and the millions who took to the streets to stand up for our democracy during No Kings. We’re stronger together, and we’re staying hopeful for an affordable, clean future.
TODAY: Good Friday.
APRIL 5: Easter.
APRIL 20-26: DC Climate Week.
APRIL 22: Earth Day.
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