©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.
“Climate change can’t be stopped in the courts alone, but it is a battlefront that may be critical to our movement’s success.”
— Jane Fonda, actor and climate activist, on the lawsuit California has filed against the oil industry.
“This is a historic moment for the American offshore wind industry.”
— Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts on the announcement that Vineyard Wind, the nation’s largest offshore wind development, has supplied power to New England’s electrical grid for the first time.
“January 6th was a wake up call, but today, three years later, we need a true call to action.”
— Representative Glenn Ivey (MD-04) at a press conference hosted by Not Above the Law marking the third anniversary of the insurrection attempt on January 6, 2021.
LCV RELEASES CEFA REPORT: LCV has released its annual Clean Energy for All (CEFA) report detailing clean energy wins from our state affiliates over the past year, including holding over 4,000 meetings with decision makers and staff, sending more than 120,000 messages to decision makers, and helping pass 100% clean energy legislation in several states. See more on Instagram!
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President for State Policy and Advocacy Bill Holland said, “Since Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, states from Michigan and Minnesota to Maine and Maryland are racing to pass ambitious climate policies that secure clean energy jobs for their residents. We’re seeing enormous progress across the country from new states joining the calls for 100% clean electricity to innovative policies on buildings, transportation, and finance to tackle every aspect of the climate crisis. Looking to 2024, there are no signs of slowing down. We expect states to continue challenging each other and building on the success of the last 5 years.”
TREASURY RELEASES STANDARDS FOR HYDROGEN TAX CREDITS: At the end of 2023, the Department of Treasury released guidance outlining internationally aligned standards for receiving federal tax credits for hydrogen production under the IRA’s Clean Hydrogen Production Credit.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy Matthew Davis said, “Today’s announcement is another step in the Biden-Harris administration’s whole-of-government approach to tackle the climate crisis through investments in new clean technologies and projects while reasonably ensuring the buildout of green hydrogen production reduces emissions as Congress intended. It is critical that the deployment of clean, green hydrogen also substantially reduces or eliminates toxic pollution in historically excluded and already overburdened communities. These communities must be equitably included and consulted in the process, and we urge the Biden-Harris administration to deploy clean hydrogen in a way that maximizes community-identified benefits and minimizes risks for all communities. We also urge the administration to swiftly finalize these reasonable sideboards for green hydrogen without opening up new loopholes, and ensure that clean hydrogen investments support communities, good paying union jobs, and high-road labor standards.
“Hydrogen used to prolong fossil fuel use and infrastructure has no place in our clean energy future, and the proposal is not reassuring on limiting emissions from hydrogen created from methane gas. The administration’s model estimating upstream emissions from methane gas woefully underestimates the real climate and public health impacts and the administration should not encourage the fossil fuel industry’s efforts to greenwash methane gas. We look forward to continuing to engage with the administration as they finalize these rules.”
ACTIVISTS MARK THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF JANUARY 6TH INSURRECTION: Elected leaders and a coalition of advocates joined together for a press conference on Capitol Hill today to mark the third anniversary of a violent insurrection led by Donald Trump and his allies that left five people dead, over 100 officers injured, and our country divided. Speakers at the conference included Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Glenn Ivey (D-MD), and spokespeople from Public Citizen, Common Defense, Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington (CREW), as well as our own Justin Kwasa and others, who called for sweeping federal democracy reform and holding those who seek to undermine our democracy accountable.
OUR TAKE: LCV Democracy Program Director Justin Kwasa said, “January 6 was not a protest. January 6 was an insurrection. It was a violent attack on our democracy that silenced the will of the voters and the American people. We can’t let January 6 happen again. Our democracy can’t stand it, and our environment can’t afford it. We’re asking Congress, we’re asking the courts, [and] we’re asking the administration to do everything in their power in order to ensure that the horrors of 2021 aren’t repeated again.”
ARIZONA ADVOCACY GROUPS RELEASE 2024 ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES: Over 25 environmental, faith, and Indigenous groups, including Chispa Arizona, Sierra Club- Grand Canyon Chapter, Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders for Equity (AZ AANHPI for Equity), Arizona Interfaith Power and Light (AZIPL), and Vote Solar, among others, have released their 2024 Environmental Priorities for the Arizona Legislature and Governor. Priorities listed include clean energy, environmental justice, land protection, and democracy.
CHISPA AZ TAKE: Advocacy Deputy Director of Chispa Arizona Vania Guevara said, “This upcoming legislative session, Chispa Arizona will continue to work with our members to feel empowered to advocate for policy solutions that prioritize environmental justice in communities most directly impacted by extreme heat and poor air quality.”
ON THE BLOG: Check back soon for blogs on the upcoming Supreme Court cases Relentless and Loper Bright, a profile highlighting LCV Candidate Academy alum Nikson Mathews, and more!
ON OUR SOCIALS: In 2024, the Civilian Climate Corps, pro-democracy lawmakers, and voting rights are in; insurrection, private jets, and George Santos are out. Learn more on Instagram.
JANUARY 6: Third anniversary of the insurrection attempt on January 6, 2021
JANUARY 10: Advanced Clean Cars II waiver public comment hearing
JANUARY 15: Iowa Republican Presidential Caucus
JANUARY 16: Lead and Copper Rule public hearing
JANUARY 17: SCOTUS hears oral arguments for Relentless, Inc., et al. v. Dept. of Commerce
JANUARY 19: Federal government funding runs out for the Departments of Agriculture, House and Urban Development, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, unless a continuing resolution or appropriations bill is enacted.
FEBRUARY 2: All other federal agencies shut down unless a continuing resolution or appropriations bill is enacted.
©2024 League of Conservation Voters