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 polluter giveaways from the Trump administration and Congress as well as the release of LCV’s Clean Energy for All report.
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“Electricity is the new price of eggs.”
— Charles Hua, executive director of Powerlines, on how skyrocketing energy costs are influencing the way people vote.
“The Arctic Refuge is under threat from the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on public lands.”
— Sen. Martin Heinrich (NM) on Republicans’ proposal to allow drilling in the Arctic Refuge.
“Let’s call it what it is. Donald is handing his Big Oil donors exactly what they want: weaker protections for consumers and bigger profits for polluters.”
— Gov. Gavin Newsom (CA) on the Trump administration rolling back Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards that save drivers money and protect clean air.
TRUMP CALLS AFFORDABILITY THE “GREATEST CON JOB”: During a Cabinet meeting this week, Trump referred to affordability as “a con job by the Democrats.” Meanwhile, energy prices under his administration are up 13% and households across the country are so far behind on their utility bills that their debt is being reported to collections agencies. While Trump and his billionaire-filled Cabinet can dismiss affordability concerns, rising prices are the harsh reality for the rest of us.
TRUMP’S VOTERS ARE BLAMING HIM FOR THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS: According to a new poll from Politico, Trump’s own voters are blaming him for the skyrocketing costs they are seeing in every sector of their lives, from groceries to energy bills. Nearly half of those polled (46%) say the cost of living is worse than it has ever been, with the same percentage blaming the Trump administration for the high costs.
LCV RELEASES ANNUAL CLEAN ENERGY FOR ALL REPORT: LCV released its annual Clean Energy for All (CEFA) report, Clean Energy Successes in the States, detailing the critical and inspiring progress made by states across the country to advance clean energy, lower energy bills, protect communities, and tackle climate change, thanks to the work of LCV’s affiliates in the Conservation Voters Movement (CVM). Read the full report for more details.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of State Policy and Advocacy Bill Holland said, “State and local leaders continue to provide a common sense approach focused on deploying clean energy, reducing pollution, and saving consumers money. Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ attacks on clean energy have led to higher utility bills for Americans nationwide, but states focused on providing their residents with affordable energy are unwilling to go backwards. In 2025, state legislators, regulatory agencies, Governors, and local leaders sped up clean energy deployment and protect ratepayers from rising utility costs.”
ARIZONA COMMUNITY PUSHES BACK AGAINST APS RATE HIKE: Chispa Arizona joined partner organizations and families outside the Arizona Corporation Commission to raise community voices against Arizona Public Service’s proposed rate hike. They delivered more than 30 community letters and shared powerful testimonies on how higher energy costs deepen burdens for families already struggling to meet basic needs.
CHISPA AZ TAKE: Chispa Arizona Communications Director Nuvia Enriquez said (translated), “We are here as a coalition of organizations to demand that the Arizona Corporation Commission not allow the utility company APS to raise our rates. We are also here to hear the testimonies of our community about why this would make our lives more difficult, and also to deliver more than 30 testimonies that we obtained in October from members of our community who oppose this rate hike… It’s not fair that [APS] keeps raising our rates while they keep making profits, up to $600 million last year.”
EPA FINALIZES RULE DELAYING LIMITS ON METHANE EMISSIONS: Last week, EPA finalized its rule delaying the implementation of methane emissions limits for oil and gas operations, which will jeopardize public health and the environment.
OUR TAKE: LCV Healthy Communities Program Director Madeleine Foote said, “This delay of achievable and cost-effective reductions in methane emissions means people living on the frontlines of the oil and gas industry will continue to be unnecessarily exposed to dangerous air pollution, all for the benefit of Big Polluters’ profits. With this action, Administrator Zeldin is jeopardizing our health and contributing to issues like respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and cancer in impacted communities as well as taking away a key tool in the fight against climate change. Reducing methane pollution is not only commonsense, but also has broad public support. But once again, this administration is choosing what’s best for their billionaire buddies, over the needs and safety of our families and communities.”
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ROLLS BACK CAFE STANDARDS: The Trump administration has announced it is rolling back the Biden administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for cars, SUVs, heavy-duty pickups, and vans. These standards have helped improve vehicle fuel efficiency and save drivers money at the pump.
OUR TAKE: LCV Government Affairs Advocate on Climate Change and Clean Energy Darien Davis said, “The Trump administration is continuing their attacks on clean energy and families’ budgets by rolling back standards that save each family hundreds of dollars each year at the pump and make our environment healthier for our communities and future generations. Slashing fuel economy standards will increase costs for drivers and threaten the progress made in reducing dangerous air pollution and preventing adverse health outcomes for children, older adults, and communities who live near busy roads. Instead of decreasing energy and healthcare costs, Trump and his fossil-fuel backed administration are taking away consumers’ choice of cars and trucks that go further on a full tank or charge and giving millions of dollars and millions of acres of our public lands and waters away to their coal, oil, and gas executive donors while cutting fuel efficiency standards that benefit the budgets, health, and safety of our communities.”
CONGRESS VOTES TO ALLOW DRILLING IN THE ARCTIC REFUGE: The Senate passed, over bipartisan opposition, a Congressional Review Act resolution (CRA) to undo protections for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) against oil and gas drilling. Allowing drilling in the Arctic Refuge jeopardizes local wildlife and puts at risk land that is sacred to local Indigenous communities. No Democrats voted for the CRA.
RIGHT-WING SUPREME COURT JUSTICES REINSTATE RACIST TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL MAP: Right-wing Justices on the Supreme Court approved a Texas congressional map that was previously blocked by a lower court on the basis that it was racially gerrymandered. The approval of the Texas map by the right-wing Supreme Court majority is a victory for Trump’s redistricting war that aims to unfairly decrease representation for people of color and increase the number of safe Republican seats ahead of the 2026 elections.
LCVEF, NSAC HOST CONSERVATION AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE EXPO: LCV Education Fund and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) were joined by Senator Amy Klobuchar, former USDA Under Secretary for Farm Protection and Conservation Robert Bonnie, and farmers and ranchers from across the country for a Conservation and Regenerative Agriculture Expo on Capitol Hill. During the event, the farmers shared their stories with congressional staff and engaged in a roundtable discussion about how they use sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices and the importance of continued federal funding for the oversubscribed programs that have allowed them to do so.
ON THE BLOG: Despite countless attacks from the Trump administration on clean energy over the past year, states powered ahead and achieved some incredible clean energy wins. Read about the top wins from states across the country in the newest entry on The Power Source Blog!
ON OUR SOCIALS: Trump: Beholden to Big Polluters, driving up our energy bills, and out of touch with the needs of everyday people. LCV and our state affiliates in the Conservation Voters Movement: Doing incredible work to advance clean energy and lower bills. We’re sensing a pattern, are you?
DECEMBER 14: Hanukkah begins at sundown.
DECEMBER 21: First day of winter.
DECEMBER 25: Christmas.
DECEMBER 26: First day of Kwanzaa.
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