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 attacks on clean energy development from the Trump administration and efforts to raise awareness of the harms of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill.
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“It’s a little bit heartbreaking, but we’re not giving up.”
— Jimme Hughes, Republican city council member in St. George, Utah, on Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill canceling a federal grant that would have helped improve the safety and walkability of his neighborhood.
“The bottom line is that Trump is creating a national energy crisis that Americans are already seeing in their utility bills and is bound to get even worse, and Republicans voted for it.”
— Senator Ron Wyden (OR) on the impacts of Trump’s new clean energy tax rules on household electricity bills.
“Trump refuses to release the ‘study’ they used to justify the stop work order for Equinor’s Empire Wind project in NY. There was never a study. Trump was just doing the bidding of his buddies in Big Oil. The result? Higher energy bills, and dirtier air for our kids to breathe.”
— Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) on the Trump administration redacting the entire NOAA study they used to justify a stop work order for the Empire Wind project in New York.
NEW YORK CITY RELEASES COMPREHENSIVE GREENWAY PLAN: New York City released its roadmap for expanding its citywide greenway network – connected corridors with pedestrian and bike paths, and space for outdoor recreation. This network helps promote safer, cleaner transportation options, and increase access to public green spaces, especially for historically underserved neighborhoods.
NYLCV TAKE: New York LCV Deputy Director for NYC Policy Aila Soomro said, “We are thrilled to see New York City take this major step forward with the release of the Greenway Master Plan. Transforming our city’s patchwork of greenways into a unified, citywide network will make New York more equitable, sustainable, and connected – especially for historically underserved communities that need and deserve better access to open space and clean transportation. The New York League of Conservation Voters applauds DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, and EDC’s Chief Infrastructure Officer Josh Kraus for their leadership and vision in shaping a healthier, more resilient city for all New Yorkers.”
LCV AND MCV HOST PUBLIC LANDS ART INSTALLATION: LCV and Maine Conservation Voters held an art installation in South Portland, Maine, to celebrate public lands and raise awareness of threats to these places from the Trump administration. The installation featured two dozen handcrafted flags representing some of Maine’s iconic landscapes.
OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick said, “The Trump administration has continued to launch countless attacks on funding for critical programs, our public lands and waters, and the health and safety of our communities. Trump and his extreme allies have gutted our land management agencies, opened up millions of acres of our lands to drilling and logging, and allowed corporate polluters off the hook after they poison our lands and waters. We are all-in with our local partners to fight back against the Trump administration’s sell-off of public lands to Big Polluters and corporate interests.”
MCV TAKE: Maine Conservation Voters Communications Manager Gabe Cole said, “Getting outdoors, experiencing the natural world, connecting with nature… that’s part of what it means to be a Mainer and public lands are what make that possible. Attempts to sell-off public lands, cuts to land management agencies, and the ongoing reversal of environmental protections are a grave threat to our way of life and will have destructive and irreversible impacts to our people and local economies.”
MICHIGAN CONTINUES TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST CAMPBELL COAL PLANT: Michigan LCV joined community members rallying against the Campbell coal-fired power plant outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The power plant, which was set to close in May, has remained open by order of the Trump administration, who ordered a second 90-day extension of its operations on Wednesday. This forced delay in retirement has cost electricity customers an estimated $29 million, and continues to pollute Michigan communities.
MI LCV TAKE: Michigan LCV Executive Director Lisa Wozniak said, “At a time when energy costs are skyrocketing, the Trump administration is guaranteeing rate hikes for Michiganders by extending the life of this expensive, outdated Campbell Coal plant. Closing the coal plant was expected to save Michigan ratepayers $600 million by 2040. Now, we’re on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in costs because of this action. Every day it remains open means more pollution in our air and higher energy costs for Michigan families. Our bills are already too high, and Trump’s reckless energy policies are making it worse.”
LCV LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS OF BIG UGLY BILL IMPACTS: LCV launched a $4 million campaign across 15 states of the Conservation Voters Movement to educate the public on impacts the Big Ugly Bill will have on household costs and communities. The campaign includes town halls, phone banks, digital ads, partnerships with local leaders and content creators, canvassing and tabling, and on the ground field operations.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Campaigns Sara Schreiber said, “People deserve to know why their energy bills and groceries are going up. Congressional Republicans who voted for the Big Ugly Bill have broken their promise to lower costs and have instead given tax breaks to the ultra wealthy and sided with Big Oil, polluters and other special interests. We cannot afford Republicans’ raising our costs and eliminating good-paying jobs when we should be investing in affordable and sustainable options like clean energy that lower costs for families and create jobs in this country.”
TREASURY DEPARTMENT RELEASES GUIDANCE RESTRICTING CLEAN ENERGY: Trump’s Treasury Department issued new commence construction guidance for clean energy projects. These new rules further restrict clean energy development, slashing essential energy supply and raising costs for consumers.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo said, “This new guidance continues the Trump administration’s extreme assault on affordable clean energy in order to do the bidding of Big Polluters. At a time when energy demand is increasing, we should be looking to get the most affordable and easiest to deploy energy–clean energy– on the grid, not halting its development. Clean energy solutions are not only popular, but also help lower utility bills for hard-working families and communities across the country. Now more than ever, we need to prioritize energy solutions that keep costs low, protect the health and safety of our communities, and protect the environment.”
LCVAF ENDORSES OSSOFF FOR SENATE: LCV Action Fund (LCVAF) endorsed Senator Jon Ossoff (GA) for re-election for the U.S. Senate. Ossoff, who has a 97% lifetime score on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard, has fought to protect Georgia’s natural resources and clean energy while in Congress and is committed to continuing that fight.
LCVAF TAKE: LCV Action Fund Vice President of Political Affairs Craig Auster said, “Senator Jon Ossoff fought tirelessly to protect the health and safety of our communities, our environment, and our democracy during his first term, and LCV Action Fund is excited to support his campaign for re-election. While we continue to see the devastating impacts of the climate crisis across the country and relentless attacks against our fundamental freedoms, we need champions like Senator Ossoff to help ensure our communities have clean air and water, clean energy jobs, and a strong, free and fair democracy for future generations.”
GCV TAKE: Georgia Conservation Voters Executive Director Brionté McCorkle said, “Georgians are feeling the impacts of the climate crisis and continued attacks on our freedoms every day, which is why it’s more important than ever to have leaders like Senator Jon Ossoff who will defend our communities and our rights. Senator Ossoff has been a relentless advocate for clean air and water, a clean energy economy with good paying jobs and environmental justice, and a stronger democracy, and he’ll continue to fight for the health and safety of our communities when re-elected.”
SENATOR OSSOFF TAKE: Senator Jon Ossoff said, “I am committed to protecting Georgia’s natural resources, which is why I fought to protect the Okefenokee Swamp and create thousands of clean energy manufacturing jobs. But the work isn’t done, which is why I’m grateful for the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund’s support as we work to protect Georgia’s growing renewable energy industry, save our natural treasures, and build massive momentum to win this election.”
LCV AND PARTNERS CALL FOR REJECTION OF TRUMP JUDICIAL NOMINEES WITHOUT COMMITMENT TO CONSTITUTION: In the wake of Emil Bove’s confirmation by the Senate, LCV joined other pro-democracy groups in urging the Senate Judiciary Committee reject all of Trump’s future judicial nominees unless they can demonstrate their loyalty is to the Constitution, not just Donald Trump.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Director of Judiciary and Democracy Doug Lindner said, “Our rights to clean air and clean water, free and fair elections, free speech, a safe climate and equal justice for all, require a legal system that earns the people’s trust. Donald Trump’s threat to the rule of law is bigger than any mere ideological disagreement. Trump has made clear that he seeks judges who obey and enable him instead of serving the people, and with appointees like Emil Bove, he has proven it. The Senate must not allow a president who systematically imperils our freedoms, ignores our courts, and defies our Constitution to further stack the federal judiciary with loyalists who place him above the law.”
LCV AND PARTNERS URGE CONGRESS TO REJECT TRUMP’S DC TAKEOVER AND PASS DC STATEHOOD: LCV joined DC Vote and a coalition of 77 advocacy groups in signing a letter calling on Congress to oppose Trump’s takeover of D.C. and instead pass the DC statehood bill.
COALITION TAKE: From the letter, “[W]e urge you to cosponsor and pass the D.C. Admissions Act, S.51 and H.R. 51. The President’s actions make clear once again that Americans in D.C. are second class citizens in their own country. We must right this historic wrong by providing Washingtonians with full voting representation in both chambers of Congress. We look forward to working with you to fulfill the promise of American democracy by making D.C. the 51st state.”
ON THE BLOG: As the comment period kicks off around EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s proposal to rescind the Endangerment Finding, we’re bringing you everything you need to know about what the finding means for the health and safety of our communities, why the Trump administration wants it gone, and what you can do to stop it.
ON OUR SOCIALS: Protecting public lands meets Wes Anderson, wind and solar are sooo sigma, a Senate endorsement, and more super fun and cool stuff happening on our socials this week!
AUGUST 25: Protect Our Lands event with Rep. Maxine Dexter (OR-03).
AUGUST 28: Workers Over Billionaires Labor Day marches happening across the country.
SEPTEMBER 1: Labor Day.
SEPTEMBER 6: Chispa Texas Organizing Summit in Corpus Christi, Texas.
SEPTEMBER 21: Sun Day Solar Day of Action.
SEPTEMBER 30: Government Funding Deadline.
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