©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.
“The president’s strategy is working, folks…We now have the most significant clean energy and climate strategy in the nation’s history, arguably in the world.”
— Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm on President Biden’s industrial strategy.
“Biden has called [Big Oil’s] bluff, and it’s beautiful to watch.”
— Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and Third Act, on President Biden’s decision to stand up to the oil industry by pausing new exports of liquefied methane gas.
“After many decades of advocacy, research, policymaking, and finally construction, America’s offshore wind industry has gone from a dream to reality.”
— Massachusetts Governor Martha Healey on the announcement that Vineyard Wind now has five turbines supplying energy to the grid.
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO INVEST $6 BILLION IN CLEAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE: At a stop on the administration’s Investing in America tour in Pittsburgh, Vice President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced that the administration will invest $5.8 billion in improving clean water infrastructure across the country.
OUR TAKE: LCV Deputy Legislative Director Madeleine Foote said, “Clean water is a fundamental human right, but for too long, communities across the country, especially environmental justice communities, have had to worry if the water coming from their taps was jeopardizing the health of their families. The Biden-Harris administration has led the largest investment ever in our country’s water infrastructure, and combined with new and updated regulatory safeguards, has demonstrated a tireless commitment to ensuring that everyone, no matter their race, zip code, or income, has access to the clean water they deserve.
“In stark contrast with the Biden-Harris administration’s leadership, House Republicans in Congress are attempting to undermine the Clean Water Act and consistently prioritizing the profits of oil companies and other Big Polluters over protections for our clean water.”
CVPA TAKE: Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Executive Director Molly Parzen said, “We applaud the commitment of the Biden-Harris administration to address long standing environmental justice issues through their transformative bipartisan infrastructure law and federal climate plan. The federal funds Vice President Harris highlighted today will go a long way toward protecting the health and safety of Pittsburgh’s most vulnerable children by accelerating plans to remove all lead pipes from the city by 2026. Other federal investments will also provide environmental justice communities with tools to address flooding through the use of green infrastructure like tree planting, as well as improve water quality.
“We look forward to working with our congressional delegation, Governor Shapiro and local officials to ensure that we fully leverage this historic opportunity to create union jobs while addressing environmental racism and improving the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians.”
LATEST OFFSHORE WIND PROJECT SECURES FEDERAL APPROVAL: Yesterday, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced its final approval for the nation’s sixth commercial-scale offshore wind project, Empire Wind, which is on track to begin construction later this year. The project will be built off the coast of Long Island, NY, and is estimated to produce enough energy to power 700,000 homes and businesses when completed. Read what NYLCV had to say on X (Twitter)!
SCOTUS HOLDS ORAL ARGUMENTS IN OHIO V. EPA: On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case Ohio v. EPA. The plaintiffs in this case are seeking to block the EPA’s Good Neighbor Rule, which is designed to protect people from the health consequences of pollution that originates in other states.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA scientist Matthew Davis said, “We are alarmed that extremist MAGA justices on the Supreme Court continue to threaten bare-minimum federal protections for clean air, the health of our communities, and the future of our planet. Our communities need the EPA to be able to protect us from pollution and environmental injustice, and we need judges to follow the law instead of twisting it to serve the Big Polluters and other far-right interests. Air pollution doesn’t stop at a neighborhood or a state line. Just in the last two years, the Supreme Court’s far-right majority has rolled back protections for our waterways and limited EPA’s tools to fight climate pollution. Our communities, our planet, and our democracy deserve better. The Supreme Court must get out of the way and allow the EPA’s Good Neighbor Rule to move forward.”
CHISPA TAKE: Chispa National Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-Gonzalez said, “We all deserve the right to breathe clean air, and the Clean Air Act has helped protect communities from the worst effects of air pollution. Still, our communities of color are 61% more likely to live in a county with unhealthy air, despite income level or neighborhood. Our comunidades continue to live with the effects of poor air quality, and continue to fight for our right to breathe clean air. What we need is our own government and courts to protect the people, not the profits of the industries that have for decades gotten away with polluting our air for their benefit.”
OFFSHORE WIND REACHES CONSTRUCTION MILESTONES: This week, the final turbine for South Fork Wind was shipped out for installation, marking the final phase of construction of what will be the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind project. Also this week, the developers of Vineyard Wind 1 announced that five of the project’s turbines are fully operational and generating enough clean energy to power 30,000 homes and businesses.
CVSC LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN AGAINST PROPOSED GAS PLANT: Conservation Voters of South Carolina launched the Palmetto Power Gamble campaign in opposition to a large proposed gas-fired power plant in Colleton County, South Carolina. In response to the proposal, a recent study commissioned by state regulators said the utility has “yet to comprehensively assess how best to address the looming [energy] capacity requirement economically and practically… [and] has jumped to the conclusion that [it must co-build a 1,020 [megawatt] gas unit without thoroughly assessing alternatives.’’
NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE SESSION CONCLUDES WITH IMPORTANT CLIMATE WINS: New Mexico’s legislature adjourned last week after a successful session for environmental priorities. Climate wins this year include securing the most significant environmental investments in state history, passing legislation to create a fund to match federal grant money – increasing New Mexico’s competitiveness in federal grant processes and unlocking millions of dollars for critical projects – and becoming the fourth state to establish a clean fuel standard that will reduce transportation pollution by 30% below 2018 levels by 2040. Read Conservation Voters New Mexico’s full explainer of the state’s 2024 legislative outcomes here.
CVNM TAKE: Conservation Voters New Mexico Chief Executive Officer Demis Foster said, “This year, we secured historic funding for conservation, infrastructure, and climate resiliency projects across the state. Bipartisan legislation, like the Conservation Legacy Fund and New Mexico Match Fund, will deliver sustainable resources for New Mexico communities and help to maximize millions of dollars in federal resources made available by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. These big wins for the environment and our communities result from years of tireless work by leaders across New Mexico, from community advocates to our state legislators. We applaud the Legislature for passing a visionary state budget that supports our wild and working lands, creates good-paying local jobs, and seeks to protect communities across the state from the ongoing impacts of the climate crisis.”
CA ENVIROVOTERS ANNOUNCE ENDORSEMENT OF RUSTY HICKS: California Environmental Voters have announced their endorsement of Rusty Hicks for California State Assembly.
ENVIROVOTERS TAKE: California Environmental Voters Senior Political and Organizing Director Mike Young said, “California Environmental Voters is proud to endorse Rusty Hicks for State Assembly. Rusty’s environmental leadership has been critical to helping California continue its natural legacy, and he has a deep commitment to protect and preserve the North Coast’s natural beauty and address the impacts of climate change. We look forward to continuing to work alongside him to build a clean energy future.”
WISCONSIN GOVERNOR VETOES GERRYMANDERED LEGISLATIVE MAP: After it passed the state legislature, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers vetoed a bill that would have allowed for continued gerrymandering of state legislative maps.
WCV TAKE: Wisconsin Conservation Voters Executive Director Kerry Schumann said, “Republicans in the state legislature attempted another power grab meant to permanently enshrine a GOP majority at the expense of their own constituents’ wishes. It’s time our representatives are held to account by those who matter most: the voters. Wisconsinites must be fairly represented and be able to freely exercise their right to vote in order for our communities to thrive.”
MAINE ANNOUNCES LOCATION OF CRITICAL OFFSHORE WIND PORT: After a two-plus year stakeholder engagement and site analysis process, Maine Governor Janet Mills announced the site chosen to build a new port that will be essential to launch offshore wind projects and will generate important local economic benefits. This decision follows 2023 state legislation that established a goal to develop three gigawatts of offshore wind by 2040, put in place strong protections for wildlife and fisheries, set important labor standards, and empowered host communities to receive benefits from offshore wind projects. Read Governor Mills’ press release on the announcement, and watch Maine Conservation Voters Director of Government Affairs Beth Ahearn speaking at the announcement here.
MCV TAKE: Maine Conservation Voters Director of Government Affairs Beth Ahearn said, “To meet and surpass our ambitious climate goals, we need to take advantage of the clean energy resources right here in Maine. Offshore wind will be essential to our transition away from expensive and dirty fossil fuels, and to realize this incredible opportunity, we need port infrastructure. Today’s announcement of Sears Island as the preferred port location builds on the undeniable momentum of this new industry and is based on responsible, thorough, and comprehensive research. Maine Conservation Voters has and will continue to be an active participant and will do our part to ensure the new port has the least impact to – and most benefits for – the environment and local communities.”
CTLCV SUPPORTS RANKED CHOICE VOTING: In a new op-ed for the CT Mirror, Connecticut LCV board member Laura Del Savio lays out the case for adopting Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in Connecticut.
CTLCV TAKE: From the op-ed, “RCV allows a broader range of points of view to be represented on ballots, expanding voter choice. Ranking candidates gives voters the freedom to ignore perceptions of viability and vote with integrity. In a representative democracy, real choice should not be a bonus — it should be the standard by which we should judge our elections.”
ICYMI: OHIO TOXIC TRAIN DERAILMENT, ONE YEAR LATER: In the year since a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, putting the health and safety of its residents at risk, LCV’s state affiliate Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) has been dedicated to cleaning up the area and keeping its residents safe. Learn more about their efforts on OEC’s blog.
ON THE BLOG: Check out this week’s edition of Good Climate News on The Power Source Blog!
ON OUR SOCIALS: We’re climate organizers, of course we’re going to post about the millions of dollars Trump has gotten from the oil industry, SCOTUS’s attempt to gut the Clean Air Act, Biden’s investment in clean water, and exciting news from Vineyard Wind!
We’re also going to uplift the voices of the many taxpayers, customers, and constituents who weren’t given the chance to speak before the Arizona Corporation Commission about rate increases.
FEBRUARY 28: LCV 2023 National Scorecard release.
MARCH 1: First government shutdown deadline.
MARCH 5: Super Tuesday
March 8: Second government shutdown deadline.
March 14: LCV’s Climate Smart Ag Expo. Stay tuned for more information!
March 20: LCV Capital Dinner, featuring Leader Jeffries.
©2024 League of Conservation Voters