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 wind and the fight to protect our public lands.
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“This administration’s decision to ignore and disregard the facts pertaining to climate science in disasters shows a blatant disregard for the safety and security of our Nation’s people and all American communities regardless of their geographic, economic or ethnic diversity.”
— Current and former FEMA officials in a letter warning Congress of the damage the Trump administration’s policies have done to the United States’ ability to respond to disasters.
“It’s economics 101 straight from Trump University: More demand and less supply as wind and solar is killed, more costs for consumers and small businesses.”
— Senator Ed Markey (MA) in a press conference on the impacts of Trump’s attacks on clean energy on consumers’ bills.
“Secretary Rollins is steamrolling ahead with Trump’s plan to deliver America’s last wild forests to corporate polluters.”
— Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) on the Trump administration’s most recent move to roll back the Roadless Rule.
NEW JERSEY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE MIKIE SHERRILL UNVEILS PLAN TO ADDRESS HIGH ENERGY COSTS: New Jersey LCV-endorsed candidate for governor Mikie Sherrill committed to address the energy affordability crisis by declaring a state of emergency on utility costs if elected and outlined actions she would take to help lower energy bills for ratepayers.
NJLCV TAKE: New Jersey LCV Executive Director Ed Potosnak said, “Mikie Sherrill is showing once again that she’s willing to take on Donald Trump and corrupt oil and gas CEOs by promising strong action to reign in energy prices for New Jersey’s working families. Mikie’s plan to cap energy prices in the short term and speed approval of new solar energy projects, the cheapest energy in America, while safeguarding our open space and environmental protections, will create union jobs while providing cheap, clean energy that we need to lower costs for the long term.
“While Jack Ciattarelli’s policies would enrich corrupt fossil fuel companies and cause prices to skyrocket, Mikie Sherrill is working to protect New Jersey from Donald Trump’s extreme fossil fuel agenda. This bold plan will provide the relief working families need, and we look forward to working with her as our next governor to reign in out-of-control energy costs and to protect our air, our wallets, and New Jersey families and local businesses.”
MARYLAND LCV RELEASES ENVIRONMENTAL SCORECARD AND GOVERNOR’S ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT CARD: Maryland LCV released its 2025 Environmental Scorecard and Governor’s Environmental Report Card assessing how the states’ legislative chamber and Governor Wes Moore performed on environmental issues. Notably, this session saw some defensive victories against harmful rollbacks, but failed to advance proactive, priority environmental justice, clean energy, or water protection bills. The Governor’s Report Card found that Governor Wes Moore has made important progress, but given Maryland’s climate and environmental justice challenges, more action is needed.
MDLCV TAKE: Maryland LCV Executive Director Kim Coble said, “The 2025 legislative session was unlike any in recent memory, dominated by a $3 billion budget deficit that forced painful choices across all sectors. While we successfully stopped harmful fast-tracking of gas plants and preserved critical funding despite budget challenges, the failure to advance any of our priority environmental justice, clean energy, or water protection bills represents a lack of environmental progress. Maryland’s environmental future depends on treating environmental protection as essential investment, not discretionary spending.
“Communities most impacted by pollution continue to be left behind in Maryland’s policymaking process. When environmental justice bills such as the CHERISH Act don’t even get committee votes, it denies both communities and their representatives the opportunity to go on record about protecting public health in our most vulnerable neighborhoods. Through our Chispa program, we’ve seen firsthand how environmental policies can transform communities when they’re designed with equity at the center.”
LCV, OREGON LCV, AND REP. DEXTER HIKE TO PROTECT PUBLIC LANDS: LCV and Oregon League of Conservation Voters joined Representative Maxine Dexter (OR-03) for part of her four-day, 40-mile backpacking trip around Mt. Hood. LCV and OLCV hosted a press conference with Representative Dexter and former Representative Earl Blumenauer honoring Oregon’s public lands and unveiled an art installation created by Steph Littlebird, a registered member of Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes, and Melissa Salazar, an educator and artist based in Portland.
OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick said, “Since his first day in office, Trump and his extreme allies have launched countless attacks on our public lands and waters. The Trump administration has gutted our land management agencies, opened up millions of acres of our lands to Big Polluters for drilling and logging.”
OLCV TAKE: Oregon LCV Political and Organizing Director Britney VanCitters said, “Oregonians love their public lands. We hike, fish, hunt, explore, and just marvel at all the incredible places in our backyard. Our way of life is not for sale. OLCV stands with Congresswoman Dexter and all the Oregonians fighting to protect our public lands and the Oregon we all cherish.”
REP. DEXTER TAKE: Representative Dexter said, “Eight months into my term as a U.S. Representative, I very much understand a simple truth: you can’t legislate from behind a desk. To make informed, effective policy on wildfire preparedness, forest health, and public lands, you must walk the land, smell it, sometimes stumble over its roots, and hear directly from those doing the hard work on the ground. That’s why I’m throwing on a pack and hiking 40 miles, just as Representatives Blumenauer and Walden did 20 years ago. Much has changed since then: the climate crisis is more urgent, partisan divides are deeper, and Mt. Hood sees more visitors than ever. But one thing remains the same—this mountain is loved by all and demands our protection. I am committed to preserving this treasured place to be loved for eons to come.”
INDIANA CONSERVATION VOTERS RALLIES AGAINST GERRYMANDERING: Indiana Conservation Voters (ICV) is helping lead the charge opposing efforts by JD Vance and the Trump administration to conduct mid-decade redistricting to gerrymander the congressional districts in Indiana. On Tuesday, ICV and partners brought together over 500 people at a rally in front of the state capitol.
ICV TAKE: Indiana Conservation Voters Executive Director Megan Robertson said, “We want to thank the elected officials who are actually standing up to incredible pressure from D.C. to change these maps mid-decade. We’ve had about 10, 11 Republicans come out publicly, too, saying they don’t want it, so we need to thank them — and keep that backbone! Be strong! They’re doing what’s right, and we need them to know that we’ve got their backs.”
VIRGINIA LCV HOSTS PARKS OVER POLLUTERS EVENT: Virginia LCV hosted an event with Representative Eugene Vindman (VA-07) and Virginia State Senator Jeremy McPike to celebrate public lands and rally support for their protection. Held at Widewater State Park, the event featured nature hikes, kayak tours, and more, providing a space for the community to tell Congress: put parks over polluters.
CHISPA NEVADA HOSTS PRESS CONFERENCE TO HIGHLIGHT RISING UTILITY RATES: After a Public Utilities Commission of Nevada consumer session was canceled, Chispa Nevada hosted a press conference on the impacts of NV Energy’s proposed rate hike, which will raise bills for families. At the press conference, Chispa Nevada member Ana shared how her power was cut off for being just $1 short. Members are fighting for fairness, dignity, and an energy system that puts people before profit.
CONSERVATION COLORADO KICKS OFF NEW COHORT OF CLIMATE LEADERS ACADEMY: Last week, Conservation Colorado kicked off a new cohort of their Climate Leaders Academy with Climate Justice Collaborative. The academy strengthens the environmental leadership skills of participants who come together to learn, connect, and grow their collective power. Throughout seven sessions, participants are provided tools, skills, and a support network of like-minded people to advocate for climate and environmental justice in their communities.
LCV LAUNCHES NEW TRACKER ON TRUMP’S EXTREME ATTACKS ON PUBLIC LANDS AND WATERS: LCV launched a new tracker detailing the Trump administration’s attacks on public lands and waters. Since day one, Trump and Republicans in Congress have been working to sell off our public lands and waters to Big Polluters at the expense of our communities and the environment.
OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick said, “Trump and his allies in Congress have relentlessly attacked protections for our public lands and waters since day one of his administration. Our newly launched tracker chronicles their efforts to sell off our treasured public lands and waters to Big Polluters and billionaire executives at the expense of our communities, our cultural heritage, and our future generations.”
TRUMP PAUSES OFFSHORE WIND PROJECT: In Trump’s latest attack on clean energy, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a stop work order on the Revolution Wind offshore wind project. The project, which is 80 percent complete, would supply much-needed energy to over 350,000 homes, and has already created over 1,000 union jobs.
OUR TAKE: LCV Local Clean Energy Deployment Director Kathleen Meil said, “Donald Trump and his administration are doing everything they can to raise energy prices for hardworking families and kill clean energy jobs. Energy prices are already going up as communities across the country continue to experience climate-fueled extreme weather and energy demand is rising — it makes absolutely no sense to be taking affordable clean energy offline. The administration just tried this with another offshore wind project, and when they were called on it, they redacted an entire 27 page study rather than admit the truth: Donald Trump wants to kill affordable clean energy because he cares more about Big Polluters than families’ pocketbooks, what’s best for communities, and our kids’ future.”
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MOVES TO ROLL BACK ROADLESS RULE: The Trump administration initiated the official rulemaking process to roll back protections for 45 million acres of our national forests across 36 states and Puerto Rico. The rolling back of this rule, which has been in place for decades, would threaten crucial forests and ecosystems, opening up more of our public lands for Big Polluters.
OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick said, “In a direct attack on our environment and a clear giveaway to billionaire industry executives, the Trump administration is threatening to open up 45 million acres of our national forests to clear-cut logging and other environmental harms. These lands are currently protected by the 2001 Roadless Rule and are critical to tackling the climate crisis while providing clean air and water to millions of people. Over the last three decades, millions of people have weighed in to support this rule which helps to conserve wild areas for their ecological, recreational, and cultural values. This announcement from the administration comes at the same time as it is gutting federal land management agencies, firing forest rangers, and continuing to cut funding to protect public lands – all undermining our ability to care for our forests and communities. We will continue to stand up to and fight against the Trump administration’s harmful actions — including this latest attempt to destroy our national forests for the benefit of Big Polluters.”
ON THE BLOG: Congress may have been in recess this month, but we certainly weren’t. Check out what we’ve been up to in this month’s edition of Top 5 Stories Worth Reading, featuring our August recess accountability campaign (BONUS! Read about our accountability work and how you can get involved!), a win for clean water in Wisconsin, Chispa Texas’ work to halt heavy industrial rezoning, our work with state affiliates to protect public lands (DOUBLE BONUS! Learn about the Trump administration’s continued threats to public lands), and the latest from the LCV Candidate Academy.
ON OUR SOCIALS: Things we are literally so chill about this week: our favorite love story, some of our least favorite headlines, and EPA’s endangerment finding announcement…
TODAY: Solidarity Season: Rally + March at Dupont Circle in Washington DC.
SEPTEMBER 1: Labor Day Workers Over Billionaires Labor Day marches happening across the country.
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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