©2024 League of Conservation Voters
Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
“We reach certain inflection points in American history — in history, period, not just American history — where the decisions made over a short period or span of time determine the outcome of what the next five, six, seven decades are going to look like. We’re in one of those periods in history. Whether it’s global warming or societal changes or geographic changes and alliances around the world, things are changing.“
— President Joe Biden speaking at a campaign reception in Denver, Colorado.
“Taking climate action is good for people’s pockets, our communities, our economy, and our future.”
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer on the benefits of the climate legislation package signed into law in Michigan this week.
“The people in my village have experienced serious mental and physical health impacts from industrial development. We are experiencing dramatic changes to our land and waters, from development and from climate change.”
— Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, former mayor of Nuiqsut, the town closest to fossil fuel development in the NPRA, on the impact of these developments. U.S. Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove quoted Ahtuangaruak in a House Natural Resources Committee hearing on H.R. 6285, the “Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023.”
BIDEN TOUTS IRA IN COLORADO: President Biden made a stop in Representative Lauren Boebert’s Colorado district to tout the $600 million investment and 850 new jobs the district is seeing as a result of the IRA, which Boebert voted against.
Every Republican in Congress, including Boebert, voted against the IRA and have continued to attack the legislation despite its benefits to their districts. Check out LCV’s Clean Energy Hypocrisy report to learn which Republicans have publicly supported IRA funded projects, despite voting against the bill, and view the IRA repeal votes tracker to see how many times Republicans have voted to repeal the legislation that is creating investment and jobs in their home districts.
CONSERVATION COLORADO TAKE: In a thread on Twitter/X, Conservation Colorado said, “Lauren Boebert voted against green jobs, but the Inflation Reduction Act proved her wrong! This week, President Biden is visiting Rep. Boebert’s district to spotlight the IRA’s success in expanding operations at CS Wind, the world’s largest wind tower facility located in Pueblo.”
EPA PROPOSES RULE TO ELIMINATE LEAD PIPES: The EPA has proposed a historic rule on lead pipes that would require the removal of nearly all lead water pipes across the country over the next 10 years, along with other key provisions to reduce exposure to dangerous lead in the meantime.
OUR TAKE: LCV Deputy Legislative Director Madeleine Foote said, “The EPA’s proposed improvements to the Lead and Copper Rule are a critical step forward for families across the country who worry if the water coming from their taps is safe. There is no safe level of lead, and for too long, too many communities, especially low income communities and communities of color, have suffered the devastating public health and economic impacts of this dangerous pollutant. This proposed rule will have profound benefits for our public health by proposing to require all lead service lines to be replaced within 10 years and improve sampling, inventories, and education and notification requirements. We commend the Biden-Harris administration for delivering on their whole-of-government commitment to protect our communities from lead pollution, and urge them to finalize the strongest rule possible to ensure everyone, no matter their race, zip code, or income, has access to clean, safe water.”
KOCH FAMILY BACKS NIKKI HALEY: Americans For Prosperity (AFP) Action, a PAC founded by the Koch family, has announced their support of Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary.
OUR TAKE: LCV Victory Fund Senior Vice President of Communications David Willett said, “The Koch machine may want to move past Trump, but Big Oil is still desperate to have a president like Nikki Haley who would do their bidding. Polluters like the Koch network know that the Biden-Harris administration is making more progress on climate action and job-creating, cost-lowering clean energy than any administration in history. When it comes to energy policy Nikki Haley is no less extreme than Trump, and it should come as no surprise that a group with fossil fuel connections would support her.”
GIVE GREEN DONATIONS SURPASS $20 MILLION: Amid MAGA extremist attacks on clean energy, pro-environment political contributions are on the rise, with contributions to GiveGreen.org (an online platform run in collaboration between LCV Victory Fund and NRDC Action Votes) recently surpassing $20 million for the 2024 election cycle.
OUR TAKE: LCV Victory Fund President Gene Karpinski said, “Donors across the country have made it clear that we must elect and reelect pro-environment, pro-democracy leaders who will put people over Big Polluters and other special interests. Hitting this major milestone on the heels of the hottest summer on record and in the face of relentless MAGA Republican attacks on clean energy progress shows real momentum to elect and reelect more climate and democracy leaders up and down the ballot in 2024.”
NRDC TAKE: NRDC Action Votes Executive Director Kevin S. Curtis said, “The growing number of political donors using GiveGreen understand that being fully engaged in this election is the only way we’ll stop the fossil fuel lobby from taking full control of Washington. Big Oil is desperate to reverse the enormous progress our country is making on clean energy under President Biden and install leaders who will do their bidding. We can’t afford another administration that puts fossil fuel lobbyists in charge of the EPA and other agencies that are supposed to protect people, not reward polluters.”
TREASURY RELEASES PROPOSED RULE ON CLEAN VEHICLE MANUFACTURING: The Treasury Department has released a rule that defines “foreign entities of concern” and clarifies other criterion to ensure incentives for EV purchases are widely available and to bolster American EV manufacturing, ensuring the U.S. doesn’t cede the future of transportation to other countries.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy Matthew Davis said, “The Biden-Harris administration continues on their track to swiftly implement beneficial investments of the affordable clean energy plan that President Biden and congressional Democrats delivered last year. In contrast, extreme MAGA House Republicans continue their relentless attempts to take away benefits from people at the behest of Big Polluters, with the House taking at least 31 recorded votes this year to eliminate them. Treasury’s proposed definition of Foreign Entities of Concern will help ensure critical incentives for pollution-free electric vehicles are widely available in the U.S. These federal clean energy investments are increasing good paying, union manufacturing jobs in our country and steering us to pole position in the race to a clean energy future free from toxic tailpipe pollution impacting communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.”
COALITION OPPOSES ONGOING ASYLUM, PAROLE NEGOTIATIONS: A coalition of 188 advocacy groups including LCV have joined forces in a letter to members of Congress opposing the ongoing effort to dramatically change our immigration system to harm asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants as a condition of approving funding for Ukraine. The letter also appeared in Politico’s Playbook this morning.
COALITION TAKE: From the letter, “We are appalled by proposals that would eliminate or reduce access to asylum or parole at precisely the moment in which protections for people seeking refuge are most needed. These proposals include statutory changes to asylum law that would violate international law and decimate decades-old laws that were passed with almost unanimous support, undermining refugee protection globally. Most importantly, if these proposals are implemented, more people who have no choice but to flee for their lives will be sent back to once again face persecution and harm. Some will die. The harm will fall disproportionately on Black, Brown, Indigenous, women, and LGBTQI refugees who are already marginalized globally.”
LCV EXCEEDS GIVING TUESDAY DONATION GOALS: This Giving Tuesday, LCV set a goal of 1,000 donations and we are happy to report that we not only met but exceeded this goal.
If you missed Giving Tuesday, you can still donate on our website to help us stop MAGA Republicans’ attacks on the environment.
GOVERNOR WHITMER SIGNS MICHIGAN 100% CLEAN ENERGY BILL: Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the Michigan Clean Energy Future and Clean Energy and Jobs Act into law on Tuesday. The bill package will hold large companies accountable for their pollution, create good-paying clean energy jobs, lower energy bills, protect farmlands, support a workforce transition, strengthen environmental justice standards, and invest in communities while making Michigan a national leader in energy efficiency and clean energy. Michigan LCV was invited to attend the bill signing event due to their leadership in getting the bills introduced and passed.
MILCV TAKE: Michigan LCV Executive Director Lisa Wozniak said, “The Clean Energy & Jobs Act puts Michigan on a path for some of the fastest buildout in the nation of renewable energy, like wind and solar – accelerating the cleanup of our air and protecting our Great Lakes and drinking water. Michigan is now at the center of the nation’s transition to clean energy that will lower energy costs for families and small businesses, create good-paying, union jobs and tackle the climate crisis.”
NEW MEXICO PARTIALLY ADOPTS ADVANCED CLEAN CARS II, ADVANCED CLEAN TRUCKS: New Mexico adopted California’s Advanced Clean Cars II goal of 82% of new cars sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2032.
GOVERNOR SHAPIRO TO APPEAL PENNSYLVANIA RGGI DECISION: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has announced he will appeal the recent court ruling blocking the state from joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on the grounds that the decision imperils executive authority.
CVPA TAKE: Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Executive Director Molly Parzan said, “Our policymaking processes must put the health and welfare of Pennsylvania’s families above the profits of entrenched corporate polluters. In pursuing this appeal, the governor is acting in the spirit of our state Constitution’s Environmental Rights Amendment, which highlights Pennsylvanians’ rights to ‘clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment.’”
CHISPA NV DEVELOPS THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW: Members of Chispa Nevada recently underwent intensive public speaking training to improve their ability to communicate and champion the cause for environmental justice. The training, spearheaded by community leader @jesyelenv, taught participants impactful techniques and strategies to amplify their voices for the betterment of the environment and communities. Check it out here!
CHISPA AZ AND PARTNERS TAKE THE OUTDOORS: Chispa Arizona staff, members, and partners had an adventure-packed weekend that included a spirited morning kayak clean-up under the rhythmic rain and basking in the sun’s warmth during an unforgettable day in the desert. Their journey grounded and recharged them to continue the fight for environmental justice. Check out some snapshots!
ON THE BLOG: Rounding out this very busy month, LCV has published its monthly Top 5 stories for the month of November on The Power Source Blog. This month’s top 5 include a report on clean energy hypocrisy in Congress, state and local election results, Michigan’s 100% clean energy legislation, clean vehicle accountability ads, and offshore wind in Virginia. And, as always, check out this week’s edition of Good Climate News!
ON OUR SOCIALS: LCV’s Spotify Wrapped dropped… and it seems we spent way too long explaining the difference between weather and climate this year. Another thing we’ve been doing a lot lately: scratching our heads over some questionable comments made by House Speaker MAGA Mike Johnson.
We also uplifted and celebrated congressional champions fighting against H.R. 6285, the “Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023,” which would allow drilling on ecologically sensitive and unique land in Alaska, as well as champions fighting for clean truck standards.
Finally, we celebrated a huge win for clean energy in Michigan.
DECEMBER 7: Hanukkah begins at sundown
DECEMBER 12: COP28 ends
©2024 League of Conservation Voters