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 the state-level fight against rising energy costs, continued federal attacks on our environment, and key election victories.
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“The Trump administration’s orders represent yet another policy intended to take our nation backwards by undoing years of progress states have made toward clean, renewable energy sources — regardless of the impact on ratepayers and the environment.”
— Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on the Department of Energy’s orders to keep two Indiana coal plants in operation past their planned retirement, driving up costs for families in the region.
“Trump’s budget has one message for the Americans struggling with skyrocketing costs: he doesn’t care.”
— Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) on Trump’s proposed 2027 fiscal budget which fails to address the global energy crisis or skyrocketing costs, and would slash clean energy and energy assistance programs while propping up fossil fuel development.
“This backdoor deal to cancel these projects will undeniably have negative economic, environmental, and national security impacts for which this administration must answer.”
— House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02) and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08) in a letter demanding accountability for Trump’s $1 billion deal with French company TotalEnergies to cancel clean energy projects.
NEW YORK APPROVES WIND AND SOLAR PROJECTS: The New York State Department of Public Service announced approval of the Agricola Wind and Flat Creek Solar projects which will deliver power to a total of 55,000 homes. The projects will create hundreds of jobs, reduce carbon emissions by 350,000 tons a year, and supply homes with affordable clean energy to help lower residents’ energy bills.
NYLCV TAKE: New York LCV President Julie Tighe said, “New York’s clean energy transition depends on more than ambitious goals, it depends on taking real action to deliver projects on the ground, and today’s ORES approvals for land-based wind and solar projects does exactly that. Together, these projects will add nearly 400 megawatts of new renewable capacity, helping to cut emissions, create good-paying jobs, and advance New York’s transition to a clean energy economy. We commend Governor Hochul and ORES for continuing to streamline responsible siting and advancing much-needed clean energy projects across the state.”
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATORS PASS ENERGY AFFORDABILITY BILLS: California lawmakers are advancing a broad set of bills through the California Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee to regulate data centers and cut high energy rates. The legislation would create a special rate for large data centers and require them to report their monthly energy usage to the state, ensure utility savings are passed on to ratepayers, and increase transparency on utility costs.
DOMINION ENERGY REQUESTS RATE HIKE IN SOUTH CAROLINA: Dominion Energy is requesting a 12.7% energy rate increase that would add an average of $20 per month for customers who are already paying an average of $157 a month. Dozens of ratepayers testified in protest of the rate hikes.
CVSC TAKE: Conservation Voters of South Carolina Vice President of Policy and Government Relations John Brooker said, “The rise in new energy demands, like the power-hungry data centers needed to run artificial intelligence applications, are likely to be a bigger concern for power companies going forward. Both Dominion and Santee Cooper have said in sworn testimony before the Senate last year that the vast majority of new demand is coming from data centers. [Dominion] has a Google data center in their service area, and I think there are others in the process. Are these for people who have been here or are moving here, or are they not for people at all, but for more commercial and industrial uses, including data centers?”
MARYLAND HOUSE AND SENATE DEBATE UTILITY RELIEF ACT: Maryland legislators are negotiating a final version of the Utility RELIEF Act as the session nears its end. The Senate and House proposals differ on key issues, including changes to the state’s EmPOWER energy efficiency program, the expansion of gas infrastructure and how to tackle the impact of data centers on increased electricity demand.
MDLCV TAKE: Maryland LCV Executive Director Kim Coble said, “This session, Maryland LCV recognizes and appreciates the work by members of both the House and the Senate to enact policies that will lower ratepayers’ increasing utility bills. We also believe the best way to address the burden on ratepayers is to prioritize solutions that address affordability and promote clean air, healthy water, and climate-resilient communities. As the bill enters final negotiations, there are two essential elements that remain on the table. First, as specified in the House bill, ratepayer funds in the Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF) should be used specifically for programs that help lower Marylanders’ energy costs inside their homes, in their communities, and on their roads… Second, Maryland LCV supports the Net Energy Metering Reform (NEM) provision offered by the Senate. This proposal protects the viability of the solar industry, an indispensable component in the shared goal of lowering energy bills and achieving our climate goals.”
LCV LAUNCHES ENERGY BILLS RELIEF ACT AD CAMPAIGN: LCV has launched a six-figure ad campaign in 22 congressional districts in support of the Energy Bills Relief Act. The ads thank the bill’s sponsors for championing legislation that aims to provide immediate relief from skyrocketing energy costs, expand clean energy, and hold data centers accountable for their energy usage.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo said, “Congressional Democrats are stepping up to provide relief from skyrocketing energy costs for hardworking families. These members of Congress are meeting people where they are by prioritizing affordable, clean energy solutions. Extreme congressional Republicans who have followed the lead of President Trump and prioritized polluters over people, should reverse course and join these members of Congress to boost support for families and for clean energy solutions that helps lower costs and protect communities.”
EPA PROPOSES WEAKENING COAL POLLUTION REGULATIONS: Trump’s EPA proposed a significant rollback of coal ash regulations that would exempt 100 ash disposal sites from cleanup requirements. The drafted proposal would also scale back recent groundwater monitoring standards, leaving communities vulnerable to toxic pollutants in their water from unregulated coal ash dumps.
OUR TAKE: LCV Government Affairs Advocate for Healthy Communities Lizzy Duncan said, “For decades, the coal industry has dumped hazardous coal ash into piles and unlined pits that foul our drinking water resources, lakes, streams and rivers. Now, Trump’s EPA is trying to roll back the few recent protections communities have against this toxic substance, exposing more people, primarily in low-income communities and communities of color, to heavy metals, carcinogens, and neurotoxins that make people sick. We urge the Trump EPA to abandon this proposal and hold power plant owners responsible for cleaning up health-harming waste from coal-fired power plants, before we see more avoidable heart and thyroid disease, reproductive failure, neurological harm, and cancer.”
CHACO CANYON PROTECTIONS UNDER THREAT: The Trump administration is attempting to rollback protections for the 336,425 acres of land surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park, opening up a sacred and culturally significant landscape for oil and gas development. Administration officials allowed only seven days, an unreasonably short window of time, for the public to submit comments on the proposal.
TRUMP’S BUDGET PROPOSES CUTS TO INTERIOR DEPARTMENT, EPA: Trump’s 2027 fiscal budget proposal includes significant staffing reductions for the Interior Department, with thousands of jobs across the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Geological Survey at risk. The proposal also suggests cutting the EPA’s budget by half and reducing grants by $1 billion. This comes at a time when the National Park Service has already lost a quarter of its full-time staff and EPA has lost 4,000 employees since Trump began his second term.
CLEAN ENERGY CANDIDATES SECURE VICTORY IN ARIZONA: Record voter turnout in the election for the board of Arizona’s largest utility, the Salt River Project (SRP), led to major wins for candidates who campaigned on expanding clean energy development and lowering energy costs. The winning coalition now holds an 8-6 majority on the SRP board and are expected to push for accelerated adoption of renewable energy and the regulation of data centers. Chispa Arizona PAC’s investments and grassroots digital and paid canvassing campaigns were crucial in securing this majority win.
CHISPA ARIZONA TAKE: Chispa Arizona Executive Director Vianey Olivarría said, “Today is a great day for the people of Maricopa County who are served by SRP and whose lives are directly impacted by the decisions of the SRP board of directors. Thirteen clean energy champions were elected to serve in the SRP board and council! Voters showed up in record numbers to overcome SRP’s archaic, acreage-based process and elected leaders who have made a commitment to hold SRP accountable to affordable energy and a transition to renewable, clean energy sources. This year’s election was unprecedented, attracting three times as many voters as in 2024. Clean energy voters turned out in force to demand accountability and lower energy bills from the SRP, the only reason we did not see a clean energy sweep is because of the SRP’s archaic acreage-based process which allows wealthy land owners to drown out the voices of everyday customers. We look forward to working with these champions to explore how SRP can prioritize environmental justice and energy affordability, and to build on this momentum heading into November.”
WISCONSIN CONSERVATION VOTERS CELEBRATES ENVIRONMENT AND DEMOCRACY WINS: Wisconsin Conservation Voters is celebrating environmental protection and democracy wins for the state this week. Chris Taylor, the organization’s endorsed candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court who put voting rights at the forefront of her campaign, claimed victory in her election Tuesday night. WCV had nearly 400 volunteers working to send 200,000 postcards encouraging voters to show up to the polls. And, in a major victory for clean drinking water, Gov. Tony Evers officially signed two bills unlocking over $133 million in funds to help communities address and clean up PFAS contamination into law.
WCV TAKE: Wisconsin Conservation Voters Executive Director Kerry Schumann said, “The election of Judge Chris Taylor secures a pro-conservation, pro-democracy majority on the state’s highest court until at least the 2030 election. This judicial win is a vital shield for the long-fought funding to address PFAS, the toxic forever chemicals contaminating drinking water across Wisconsin, that Gov. Evers signed Monday. This victory, combined with the hard-won PFAS funding bill, proves that Wisconsin Conservation Voters’ electoral work is a direct catalyst for policy wins. We are setting a new stage for the fall elections where accountability and the health of our communities come first.”
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATORS PASS CLIMATE RESILIENCE BILL: Mississippi moved closer to launching a statewide home hardening program designed to protect residents from severe storms and natural disasters. Legislators passed a bill that would create the Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program, a climate resilience program which offers up to $10,000 in grants to help residents upgrade and protect their homes. The bill is now headed to Gov. Tate Reeves’ desk.
INDIANA ADVOCATES PUSH FOR “GREEN STEEL”: A new report commissioned by Indiana Conservation Voters and released by the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute and 5 Lakes Energy urges the state’s steel industry to transition to cleaner production methods to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. Data suggests transitioning from coal-based steelmaking to clean energy “green steel” could save thousands of jobs and prevent $75 million in annual public healthcare costs.
ICV TAKE: Indiana Conservation Voters said, “The top priority for Northwest Indiana must be protecting good-paying jobs that have sustained Hoosier families for generations. In their prime, these mills employed 65,000 workers. Today, that number has dwindled to 9,000. Without a change in strategy, researchers project the region could be down to just 5,000 jobs by 2034. Clean steel is an environmental goal, but more than anything it’s a vital economic survival strategy. Beyond the balance sheets and workforce, moving toward cleaner steel is about the health of the people who call Northwest Indiana home. These three primary mills are currently among the top 15 largest sources of cancer-causing air pollution in the United States. Moving to modern, clean steel technology could slash cancer-causing air pollution by 80%. This would deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in healthcare savings directly to steelworkers and their neighbors. We have an opportunity right now to turn things around. We can preserve an industry that once provided for tens of thousands of Hoosiers and transform coal-powered mills into clean, efficient industrial powerhouses that will thrive for decades.”
COLORADO LEGISLATORS PASS MOBILE HOME PARK WATER QUALITY BILL: Colorado lawmakers have sent legislation to the governor’s desk aimed at improving water quality in mobile home parks. The bill expands enforcements for water quality safety, defines water usability standards, and raises penalties and fines for noncompliance.
CONSERVATION COLORADO TAKE: Conservation Colorado said, “Big news for clean water! The Mobile Home Park Water Quality bill is on its way to being signed by the governor. Since 2023, Conservation Colorado has supported access to clean water in mobile home parks, starting with the Mobile Home Park Water Quality Act. This new bill will strengthen the existing law and further ensure communities have safe drinking water by: Notifying residents when water is unsafe, holding park owners accountable, and fixing problems faster. We’re getting closer to safe, clean water for all.”
OKLAHOMA TO PROTECT HOMES FROM OIL WASTE CONTAMINATION: Oklahoma lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would allow the state to clean up oil and brine contamination in homes and provide funding for repairs. The legislation also enables authorities to purchase or demolish properties affected by oil field waste.
MAINE TAKES STEPS TO HOLD FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE: Maine lawmakers are nearing the passage of a bill that would direct the state to study the financial impacts of greenhouse gas emissions. The results of this study will lay the groundwork for establishing a climate superfund and holding the fossil fuel industry accountable for their contributions to climate change.
MCV TAKE: Maine Conservation Voters Legislative Director Sarah Woodbury said, “We watched in horror as the violent and horrific storms of winter 2023-2024 battered homes, ravaged miles of coastline, and flooded communities. LD 1870 is the first step we can take as a state to right this egregious wrong and hold the fossil fuel companies accountable for the damage they’ve done to our state.”
REGULATORS SEEK PUBLIC COMMENTS ON PIPELINE PROPOSAL: Federal and state regulators are gathering public feedback on the Bridger Pipeline proposal that would transport 550,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Canada while passing through Montana and Wyoming. The pipeline owner True Cos. has a history of significant oil spill incidents, raising environmental concerns as the project undergoes review.
REPUBLICANS PUSH TO SHIELD FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES FROM LAWSUITS: Republican lawmakers are advancing efforts to protect fossil fuel companies from climate-related lawsuits in an attempt to block state and federal efforts to hold the industry accountable for its role in climate change.
ON THE BLOG: Stay tuned for exciting new content coming to The Power Source Blog!
ON OUR SOCIALS: Trump and Republicans are focused on the wrong priorities. Proposing deep budget cuts to environmental protections while our energy costs skyrocket and pushing the SAVE Act 2.0 that would disenfranchise millions of voters, including America’s favorite superhero. It’s a pattern of putting profits over people, but we’re fighting for a future that’s affordable and fair for everyone.
APRIL 20-26: DC Climate Week.
APRIL 22: Earth Day.
MAY 5: Indiana statewide primary election.
MAY 5: Ohio statewide primarily election.
©2026 League of Conservation Voters