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 clean energy and conservation wins in the states, public lands sell offs, and the fight against Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill.
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“This bill is particularly harmful to Tribal Nations, pulling the rug out from under projects that would strengthen their energy sovereignty and power local communities.”
— Senators Martin Heinrich (NM), Ron Wyden (OR) and Brian Schatz (HI) in a statement about Republicans’ cuts to the Tribal Energy Program and Clean Energy Tax Credits in the Big Ugly Bill.
“This is not just a workforce program. This is a public safety program. If I can take somebody off the corner and hand them a solar panel, I’ve changed their life.”
— A.J. Patton Sr., CEO and Managing Partner of 548 Enterprise on workforce hubs that provide job training for solar and clean energy jobs established by the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in Illinois.
“Who wouldn’t want to protect mothers and their unborn children from harmful chemicals that can get into our water?”
– Representative Hillary Scholten (MI-03), defending water protections while House Republicans marked up a dangerous bill that would weaken the Clean Water Act.
MAINE ACCELERATES 100% CLEAN ENERGY COMMITMENT: Maine enacted a law accelerating the timeline for the state to achieve 100% clean energy by 10 years from 2050 to 2040. Maine first committed to 100% clean energy by 2050 in 2019. The state estimates that achieving 100% clean energy could lower energy costs for households by $1,300 per year.
MCV TAKE: Maine Conservation Voters Director of Policy and Partnerships Nick Janzen said, “Mainers want cleaner air, lower costs, and healthier communities. By setting a path to 100% clean electricity by 2040, we’re not just tackling climate change – we’re building a homegrown energy industry that will create good-paying jobs, drive down energy costs, and keep more money in the pockets of Maine people.
“As the federal government retreats from acting on climate, it is now more important than ever that states lead. Once signed into law by Governor Mills, this will position Maine as a national leader in clean energy policy and ensure that our transition is built by and for Maine people and communities.”
MCV HOSTS PRESS CONFERENCE IN SUPPORT OF CLEAN ENERGY TAX CREDITS: Maine Conservation Voters hosted a press conference warning communities of proposed cuts to clean energy tax credits and projects under Congressional Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill.
MCV TAKE: Maine Conservation Voters Climate and Clean Energy Director Lucy Hochschartner said, “We have a clean energy workforce of about 15,000 people. If these tax credits are taken away, we’re already seeing that Maine families who are dependent on these jobs, workers are having to go to Indiana to get on solar projects because projects here in Maine are drying up. We’re seeing offshore wind workers going to Virginia because they’re not able to get jobs here. We’re going to see that energy prices could rise up to $400 dollars over the next five years for Maine families.”
SANTA FE COMMUNITY RALLIES TO PROTECT PUBLIC LANDS: Conservation Voters New Mexico co-hosted a protest of proposed public lands sales under Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill. The protest took place outside of the Western Governors’ Association meeting, where Interior Secretary Bergum was the keynote speaker. The demonstration was attended by over 2,000 community members, who voiced their concerns over public land sales for billionaires and potential harm to the environment.
CVNM TAKE: Conservation Voters of New Mexico said, “Nearly 2,000 people showed up in Santa Fe to protect public lands. The target of the protest – Interior Secretary Burgum – had a sudden change of plans and spoke earlier. Protests are having some impact: the privatization of our prized public lands has scaled back with the withdrawal of US Forest Service Lands and including only BLM lands within 5 miles of an (undefined) urban area.”
NEW JERSEY SENATE DEMS INTRODUCE BILL PACKAGE TO MODERNIZE GRID: New Jersey LCV joined state Senators Andrew Zwicker, Bob Smith, and John Burzichelli at the capitol as they introduced a legislative package that aims to modernize the state’s electricity grid and help stabilize electricity rates in the long term. The proposed legislation also addresses the impact of growing energy demand from data centers and cryptocurrency operations on electricity infrastructure and prices.
NEW JERSEY LCV TAKE: New Jersey LCV Deputy Director Allison McLeod said, “It’s essential we protect against skyrocketing electric bills from AI data centers and outdated infrastructure. We need bold, forward-thinking policies like these to modernize our electric grid and balance unchecked demand, not only to meet our clean energy goals, but to ensure our power system is ready for the clean energy future ahead. By increasing oversight, embracing advanced technologies, and holding high-energy users like data centers accountable, this plan puts fairness, resilience, and affordability at the heart of our energy future. We’re proud to support legislation that safeguards our communities, strengthens our economy, and keeps New Jersey on the path to a cleaner, more equitable future.”
NEW UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR PROJECT APPROVED IN OHIO: The Ohio Power Siting Board approved Frasier Solar, a 120 megawatt solar project to help address increasing energy demand and provide clean, affordable, and reliable energy to Ohio residents. The site will also be used for sheep grazing, diversifying the economic benefit of the facility while also providing vegetation management. The Ohio Environmental Council was an intervening party in the Frasier Solar case at the Ohio Power Siting Board where they provided expert testimony and signed the approved agreement with labor partners.
OEC TAKE: Ohio Environmental Council Clean Energy Attorney Karin Nordstrom said, “Today’s approval of the Frasier Solar project is a transformative moment for Knox County and for Ohio’s clean energy future. The Ohio Power Siting Board’s decision comes at a time of increasing demand on the grid and concerns from Ohio’s leaders about adequate energy generation in the state. This ruling recognizes the overwhelming benefits this project brings to local communities such as substantial investments in schools and public services—and continues responsible, community-focused renewable energy development in Ohio. With innovative agrivoltaic practices which allow solar energy generation and sheep grazing to thrive together, Frasier Solar stands as a model for how clean energy can support both our environment and our rural economy, while making our grid more reliable. Through projects like Frasier Solar, Ohio is taking a bold step toward reducing air pollution and combating climate change, ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.”
NEW YORK TAKES STEP FORWARD IN BUILDING DECARBONIZATION: The New York Assembly passed legislation repealing a rule that requires gas utilities to build new natural gas infrastructure with ratepayers footing the bill. Called a “100-foot rule”, this statute forces any building within 100 feet of an existing gas line to be automatically connected to gas for free, pushing the costs onto ratepayers, preventing building occupants from choosing healthier and cleaner alternatives such as electric heat pumps, and locking in fossil fuel dependence, hindering New York’s ability to meet its climate goals. Between 2017 and 2021, the 100-foot rule cost New York ratepayers roughly $200 million a year.
NYLCV TAKE: On social media, New York LCV said, “We applaud the legislature for passing several bills this session to protect public health and advance environmental progress. The repeal of the 100-foot rule is an important step in New York’s transition away from fossil fuels, and it’s especially good news for New York families who, until now, have been forced to subsidize new fossil fuel infrastructure to the tune of some $200 million each year.”
OKEFENOKEE SWAMP PROTECTED FROM MINING: Over 350,000 acres of national wilderness is now protected against irreparable harm from a proposed mine. Land near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, North America’s largest blackwater swamp, was under threat of titanium mining. After a years-long battle, the land has been sold to The Conservation Fund, which has vowed to protect it and its endangered inhabitants.
TRUMP HOSTS EVENT IN SUPPORT OF SENATE REPUBLICANS’ RECONCILIATION BILL: President Trump hosted an event at the White House with House Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as several firefighters, truck drivers, and tipped workers, among others, to show his support for Senate Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill and lobby for its passage.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy Matthew Davis said, “This afternoon President Trump is holding a ‘Big Beautiful Bill Event,’ where we expect him to distract from the many harms of the Big Ugly Bill, while conveniently leaving out the impacts on millions of people who will see prices go up or the people who actually stand to benefit the most: billionaire executives and Big Polluters. The reality is this bill is an anti-environmental billionaire tax scam. Families across the country are already concerned about rising costs and can’t afford a Republican Rate Hike that raises their utility bills. Solar energy installers can’t afford to lose their family-sustaining jobs, just to pad Big Oil’s lavish profits. And communities can’t afford to not have access to clean air and clean water. Let’s be clear, families and communities across the country who are already benefiting from clean energy initiatives, particularly those in red states and rural districts, stand to lose the most from this bill.”
LCV released a memo outlining Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill and how it will make energy prices soar and eliminate jobs across the country.
TAKE 2: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy Matthew Davis said, “Over the past few weeks, we’ve watched Senate Republicans hastily roll out each committee’s portion of their Big Ugly budget reconciliation bill. And what we’ve seen is as alarming as it is consistent. Across every relevant committee and every section, the Big Ugly Bill attacks working families’ clean energy jobs and cost savings, slashes critical public health and climate protections, and showers fossil fuel executives and corporate polluters with massive tax breaks and special favors.”
USDA ATTEMPTS TO RESCIND ROADLESS RULE: USDA moved to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, which protects 58.5 million of acres of national forests, including the Tongass National Forest, against harmful logging and development. The rolling back of this rule would put crucial forests and ecosystems at risk and open up more of our public lands for big polluters.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said, “In their latest giveaway to billionaire industry CEOs, the Trump administration announced today they are rescinding protections for tens of millions of acres of national forests that are home to invaluable ecological, recreational, and cultural resources and opened them up to environmentally disastrous practices such as clear-cut logging. Over the last three decades, millions of people have weighed in to support this rule, and rescinding it is a major abuse of power from this administration and risks destroying forests that are critical to tackling the climate crisis and providing clean water and air to millions of people. LCV stands with local and Indigenous communities who will be harmed by this decision and will continue to fight to protect our treasured lands and forests for our future generations.”
HOUSE COMMITTEE ADVANCES DANGEROUS ANTI-CLEAN WATER LEGISLATION: House Republicans advanced H.R. 3898, the PERMIT Act, an incredibly harmful package of anti-clean water legislation through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week. This devastating bill would give corporate polluters free passes to destroy and dump into our streams, wetlands, and critical waters and jeopardize the waters our families and communities depend on.
OUR TAKE: LCV Healthy Communities Program Director Madeleine Foote said, “This package of disastrous attacks on our clean water protections will harm the health of communities across the country while letting Big Polluters make our water dirtier for a profit. Eliminating these critical water safeguards while simultaneously pushing for the dangerous healthcare cuts in the Big Ugly Bill will have devastating consequences for our health and communities already overburdened by the impacts of pollution and the climate crisis. The public consistently wants stronger national protections for our water, yet extreme Republicans are pushing this dangerous legislation to benefit their polluter allies. The House must reject this extreme assault on our clean water safeguards and work instead to ensure everyone, no matter their race, zip code, or income, has access to clean water.”
Prior to the hearing, LCV joined over 60 organizations in sending a letter to members of the House urging them to oppose the legislation.
COALITION TAKE: From the letter, “This package of bills is a reckless attack on our clean water safeguards, and would jeopardize the waters that our families, communities, businesses, and wildlife depend on. Clean water should not be a tool for political stunts or favors to industry donors – people from the most rural communities to the most densely populated cities all rely on our bedrock clean water protections every day.”
TRUMP ADDRESSES BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP SUPREME COURT CASE: In remarks earlier today, Donald Trump made it clear that, in light of the recent Trump v CASA Supreme Court decision, he would continue abuse his executive powers to end birthright citizenship, a foundational principle of this country.
OUR TAKE: LCV Democracy Program Director Justin Kwasa said, “Today, Trump made it clear he would continue to unconstitutionally abuse his executive powers. Far-right justices on the Supreme Court have given up their responsibility to uphold the law and protect our Constitution by limiting the checks and balances fundamental for a free and fair democracy. As our democracy and our rights continue to be under attack by the Trump administration, it has never been more important for the courts to protect our constitutional freedoms from these chaotic and widespread abuses.”
CHISPA TAKE: Chispa Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-González said, “To be re-defining who is a citizen of the United States, regardless of this being enshrined in the 14th Amendment for over 150 years, is disheartening and discriminatory to many. There should not be a reason for us to be in this place as a country,” said. “Today’s decision upends the rule of law and imminently threatens birthright citizenship and our rights. We must do everything to protect our fundamental civil rights under the Constitution, including equal protection, due process, and the fact that all children born in the U.S. are American citizens, no matter the color of their skin or where their parents came from.”
TRUMP NOMINATES BOVE FOR THIRD CIRCUIT COURT: The Senate is considering the nomination of Emil Bove, former Deputy Attorney General, for a position in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Bove has proven to act in bad faith and abuse the power granted to him in previous positions. LCV sent a letter to the United States Senate urging Members to oppose Bove’s nomination to preserve the integrity of our judiciary.
OUR TAKE: LCV President Pete Maysmith said, “In his brief tenure at the Deputy Attorney General’s office over the past five months, Bove has allegedly engaged in multiple unprecedented abuses of power. He reportedly led an effort to identify and purge FBI agents and federal prosecutors involved in cases regarding the January 6th insurrection. Bove allegedly pushed a ‘bargain’ to extract public policy concessions from the Mayor of New York City in exchange for dropping a corruption prosecution that could be resumed later, leading to resignations in protest by senior DOJ attorneys in both New York and Washington. Just this week, a DOJ whistleblower wrote that Bove plotted to defy, circumvent, and lie to federal courts regarding illegal deportations.”
COALITION OPPOSES SECTION 203 OF THE BIG UGLY BILL: LCV joined a coalition of democracy and human rights organizations in a letter expressing opposition to section 203 of Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill, which would impose prohibitive fees that prevent everyday people from taking action against unlawful federal actions and limit access to the courts.
COALITION TAKE: From the letter, “The reconciliation provisions in Section 203 of the Senate Judiciary proposal, requiring costly bonds before a court can enjoin executive actions, are an affront to our constitutional rights to hold our government accountable to the people. Requiring costly bonds before illegal federal government actions can be enjoined makes our federal courts inaccessible for everyday people in America and shields abuses of power by the executive branch. We urge you to oppose this measure or any similar measures.”
ON THE BLOG: What is included in Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill? How would it affect your community and the environment? And most importantly, what can we do to stop it? The answers to all of these questions and more in the most recent article on The Power Source Blog! Plus, check out this month’s Good Climate News roundup for the best news in the fight against climate change from the last month.
ON OUR SOCIALS: All the cool kids are calling Congress, going to rallies, and fighting to protect clean water (here and here), and you should too!
JULY 4: Independence Day.
JULY 17: Good Trouble Lives On John Lewis Day of Action.
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