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 rising energy costs, state fights over clean energy affordability and data center growth, and a wave of new climate and environmental attacks from the Trump administration.
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“Oil—much like coal and gas—is a commodity. Its price will always fluctuate based on geopolitical whims. Solar, batteries, heat pumps, induction stoves are technologies. They can only get better and cheaper over time.”
— Gernot Wagner, an economist at Columbia Business School, on the cost of renewable energy being more stable than fossil fuels.
“It’s time for the Administration to admit that its efforts to derail the project and reinstitute its funding freeze are a waste of time, and focus on lowering costs for everyone instead of attacking our commuters and our workers.”
— New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport following a federal court decision to allow funding for the Gateway rail tunnel project to continue flowing after the Trump administration attempted to freeze it.
“It’s going to energize the climate movement across our country, especially young people, and it’s going to drive it into this election, and then incentivize Democrats next year on wind, on solar, to reinstitute the tax breaks, to put all those programs back on the books.”
— Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) on using Trump’s animosity toward climate action and renewable energy to energize Democrats and voters for the midterm election.
NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY INITIATIVE PROMOTES HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY: A coalition of nonprofit community leaders and clean energy advocates in North Carolina launched Electrify the Triad. The new program focuses on guiding homeowners through the process of home electrification by connecting them with vetted contractors and helping them access clean energy upgrade incentives to cut emissions and lower energy costs. The effort builds on the success of a previous campaign called Solarize the Triad, which helped homes and houses of worship install rooftop solar panels.
NCLCV TAKE: North Carolina League of Conservation Voters said, “NCLCV Foundation is again one of the co-sponsors of an important program to assist homeowners cut their energy use, this time in the multi-county Piedmont Triad region. Previously the program was ‘Solarize the Triad’ and assisted 3 community houses of worship and over 70 households install rooftop solar panels for energy generation. Now, it’s ‘Electrify the Triad’ which focuses on electrification: switching out gas heat, stoves, and hot water appliances for electric versions; installing EV chargers; and increasing efficiency — all steps to reduce fossil-fuel combustion, improve indoor quality, and lower household bills.”
NEW YORK LAWMAKERS PROPOSE BUDGETS THAT ADVANCE AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY: The New York Senate and Assembly released their one-house budget proposals this week, which include several initiatives aimed at advancing a clean energy future and lowering utility costs for New Yorkers. Both proposals allocated $1 billion in funding for the Sustainable Future Fund, $200 million for thermal energy networks, $500 million for the Environmental Protection Fund, and increased funding for clean water projects. The New York Senate budget also calls for implementation of a cap-and-invest program to reach the state’s emission reduction goals.
NYLCV TAKE: New York LCV said, “NYLCV applauds the State Senate and Assembly for including several measures in their One-House Budgets that will protect our environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and advance our affordable clean energy future. We are thrilled that both chambers proposed $1 billion for the Sustainable Future Fund, including $200 million to advance thermal energy networks, $500 million for the Environmental Protection Fund, and increased funding for the Clean Water Infrastructure Act. We are especially pleased to see both houses include measures to tackle energy affordability, including a sales tax exemption for utility-scale battery storage by the Assembly, and the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act by the Senate. Clean energy is the path to affordability for New Yorkers and we cannot afford to go backwards. Critically, the Senate’s budget also calls for implementation of a Cap-and-Invest program to help achieve the greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The stakes could not be higher – and transparency is critical. As negotiations continue, we urge Legislative Leaders to reject any back-room attempts to change the CLCPA.”
MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS THREATEN TO ROLL BACK CLEAN ENERGY PROGRESS: Michigan House Republicans unveiled a plan that would fully repeal clean energy laws including legislation requiring the state to transition to 100% clean, affordable energy by 2040. Michigan LCV is instead advocating for a law to establish a “ratepayer bill of rights,” which would strengthen consumer protections and hold utilities accountable by limiting energy price hikes, guaranteeing compensation for customers during power outages, expanding bill assistance programs, and banning political contributions to state lawmakers from utility companies.
MLCV TAKE: Michigan LCV Energy Accountability Manager Alex Kellogg said, “At a time when families across Michigan are struggling under the weight of never-ending rate hikes, this House Energy Plan does nothing to fix the problem and instead would give utility company CEOs a free pass to boost their profits by building expensive, polluting methane gas plants that saddle our kids with 30-plus years of debt. This ‘Project Lights Out’ package does nothing to hold accountable utility company CEOs for providing cheaper, more reliable energy. Demand is skyrocketing and yet they want to take off-the-table clean energy options – the cheapest energy sources available and the fastest energy to bring online. Instead of rolling back the Clean Energy & Jobs Act, lawmakers should be working to hold utility company CEOs accountable for making billions of dollars in profits while they saddle us with the highest energy costs in the Midwest for the longest amount of time out of power in the country. We need a Ratepayer Bill of Rights that protects consumers from rising prices, poor service, unfair outage compensation practices, and excessive utility CEO compensation and perks.”
UTAH LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL WINS: Stewardship Utah successfully advocated for four bills that were enacted this session – the most they’ve helped pass in a single session. The Utah legislature approved laws to require new data centers to report on their water usage, study the potential for geothermal energy at former coal plant sites, and strengthen the state vehicle emissions program by closing a loophole to compliance. They also enacted legislation allowing members of federally recognized tribes to request a Native American notation on their state driver’s license or ID. In addition, an attempt to undermine the Community Renewable Energy Program, which allows municipalities to collaborate with Rocky Mountain Power to achieve 100% clean energy by 2030, was defeated.
STEWARDSHIP UTAH TAKE: Stewardship Utah said, “Another Utah legislative session is officially in the books. Four bills we worked on passed into law this year, the most we’ve ever helped pass in a single legislative session! But for us, the Legislative session isn’t about a tally of bills passed or defeated: it’s about our progress on protecting Utah’s land, air, and water, along with the ability of Utahns to participate in those outcomes. Behind every vote is months—sometimes years—of work. This community plays a key part in enacting this plan by contacting legislators, attending hearings, and showing up.”
FEDERAL JUDGE STRIKES DOWN ENERGY EFFICIENCY POLICY: A federal judge has rejected a Biden-era policy that would have required stricter energy-efficiency standards for new homes built with federally backed mortgages. The rule would have mandated upgrades like better insulation and improved heating and cooling systems for homes with mortgages backed by federal programs and could have saved families nearly $1,000 a year on their energy bills. Without this policy, hundreds of thousands of families will lose out on the ability to have a home powered by affordable, clean energy.
TRUMP TO REPEAL LOGGING LIMITS IN NATIONAL FORESTS: The Trump administration is advancing a proposal to repeal the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which protects ecologically and culturally important forests by limiting logging activity on 44 million acres of national forests. The proposal is being reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES FIRST NEW OIL REFINERY IN 50 YEARS: Trump has announced plans to open a new oil refinery in Brownsville, Texas, backed by foreign investors. The proposed facility would be the first U.S. refinery built since 1977. Oil refineries release toxic chemicals that are harmful to public health and contribute to water, air, and soil pollution. Trump’s efforts to push the United States to become more reliant on fossil fuels undermines the transition to cleaner, cheaper sources of energy and technologies, like heat pumps and electric vehicles.
AIR POLLUTION LEVELS SURGE AS TRUMP PUSHES TO EXPAND COAL POWER: New EPA data shows air pollution from coal-powered plants spiked last year in one of the largest annual emissions increases in decades. In 2025, sulfur dioxide emissions, a major contributor to acid rain and respiratory problems, rose more than 18%. Nitrogen oxide emissions that contribute to smog and lung disease also climbed about 12%. The spike coincides with the Trump administration’s push to expand coal generation, including forcing outdated and obsolete plants to stay online past set retirement dates, granting exemptions to air pollution limits, and rolling back regulations aimed at curbing emissions.
FUNDING CUTS THREATEN U.S. PARTICIPATION IN GLOBAL CLIMATE MODELING INITIATIVE: The Trump administration’s climate funding cuts and staff reductions are threatening the United States’ leadership in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), the world’s largest climate modeling initiative. CMIP provides critical global simulations that scientists rely on to understand the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and to predict extreme weather events. Reduced U.S. participation could slow improvements to climate models and weaken global coordination on climate policy, as well as undermine the data that scientists use to predict and prepare for natural disasters, leaving communities less equipped to respond to heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and other extreme weather events made worse by climate change.
NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO DELIVER ON CLEAN ENERGY: The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved a historic 3,000 megawatt community solar expansion, which will provide clean energy savings for about 450,000 subscribers. In addition, the agency also approved three battery storage projects totaling 355 megawatts of capacity and three solar projects totaling over 24 megawatts of capacity. New Jersey LCV joined Governor Sherrill for a press conference and ribbon cutting for a new community solar project.
NJLCV TAKE: New Jersey LCV said, “Community solar means lower energy bills, cleaner power, and access for families who can’t install rooftop panels while also creating good jobs and revitalizing brownfield sites. This is proof that climate action, affordability, and economic opportunity can move forward together. Thank you to Governor Sherrill, labor partners, and the advocates helping make this vision a reality.”
PENNSYLVANIA ADVANCES TWO BILLS FOR DATA CENTER TRANSPARENCY: The Pennsylvania House Energy Committee advanced two bills aimed at giving communities more oversight on data center construction and development. If enacted, the legislation will help Pennsylvania community leaders to better manage the rapid growth of data centers and to understand the extent of their environmental impacts.
CVPA TAKE: Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania said, “When multi-billion-dollar tech corporations come to town to build a data center, local governments are often outmatched. That’s the reality. HB 2150 and HB 2151 help level the playing field — and they just passed out of committee! HB 2150 brings transparency to water and energy use by data centers. HB 2151 gives municipalities optional guidance to protect residents and set strong parameters for where and how data centers can get built. Shoutout to Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler and Rep. Paul Friel for supporting communities and responsible oversight.”
OREGON LEGISLATIVE SESSION BRINGS MIXED BAG ON ENVIRONMENT: Oregon’s 2026 legislative session ended with a mix of wins and losses for the environment. Thanks to the advocacy of LCV state affiliate Oregon LCV (OLCV), legislators passed the 1.25% for Wildlife Act to raise critical funds for conservation efforts including wildlife recovery and habitat restoration. Additionally, OLCV helped defeat bills that would have increased logging in public forests, threatened groundwater protections, altered water rights management on the Columbia River, undermined the state clean fuels program, and opened protected land to industrial development. However, the Climate Superfund bill, which would have required major fossil fuel companies to pay for the damages caused by climate change, failed to pass. Read more about Oregon’s 2026 legislative outcomes.
OLCV TAKE: Oregon LCV said, “In a difficult legislative environment, [the passage of HB 4134] was a significant, once in a decade victory. It happened because advocates across the state showed up! Meeting with legislators, sending messages, and making it clear that these investments matter. Your advocacy made the difference. That win came in the context of a deeply disappointing session. In the face of historic and egregious federal rollbacks attacking clean air, communities, and a healthy climate future, the Oregon Legislature too often dropped the ball and did not advance important legislation. One example of this was the Climate Resilience Superfund Bill (SB 1541), even though it generated strong public support across Oregon. Hundreds of Oregonians (from wildfire survivors and firefighters to faith leaders, youth, and local officials) spoke out for a fair solution that would require major fossil fuel companies to help pay for the growing costs of climate disasters. While the bill did not pass this session, the momentum behind the policy continues to grow. Our coalition is expanding, public support remains strong, and we are committed to holding large polluters accountable in the next legislative session.”
WISCONSIN BILL COULD STALL CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION: Wisconsin’s Senate Committee on Utilities, Technology and Tourism recently heard testimony on Senate Bill 3, which would limit the state’s ability to plan and implement large-scale renewable energy projects efficiently.
WCV TAKE: Wisconsin Conservation Voters Government Affairs Director Jennifer Giegerich said, “We do need to have a large-scale energy conversation in this state, but this bill limits our options and is not a good proposal. The reality is, in a state, there are going to be things that local communities don’t get the final say on. And there are plenty of (examples of) those: a lot of our transportation projects, all of our energy decisions. It’s not just large-scale wind and solar, it’s all fossil fuels, and it’s nuclear plants as well. Mining was brought up as another example. These are things that, communally, everybody in the state benefits from. I understand that people are feeling that they are being asked to sacrifice having large-scale wind and solar in their community, but we should be looking at all the ways that we could be developing clean energy in Wisconsin and we should be utilizing all sensible locations. This includes scaling up urban solar on rooftops and parking lots, and supporting residential and commercial applications, and doubling down, most importantly, on energy efficiencies, so lowering our total energy needs. We should prioritize net metering and third-party financing to deploy solar on local businesses and community buildings. Practical measures that decrease the overall demand for large-scale clean energy projects.”
COLORADO LAWMAKERS PASS RESOLUTION TO PROTECT PUBLIC LANDS: The Colorado Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 26-015 which reaffirms the state’s commitment to protecting public lands and opposes federal action that could lead to their sale or limit public input on land management decisions. The resolution declares that Colorado’s more than 22 million acres of public land are vital to the state’s economy, environment, and cultural identity. It also responds to recent federal efforts to accelerate oil and gas leasing and reduce opportunities for community participation in land-use decisions.
CONSERVATION COLORADO TAKE: Conservation Colorado Public Lands Campaign Manager Brien Webster said, “Our public lands are the heart of Colorado’s identity. Whether you work the land or recreate on it, public lands belong to all of us. The current agenda in Washington is attempting to reshape the future of our public lands behind closed doors, silencing local input to facilitate the sell-off and extraction of these lands. Coloradans overwhelmingly oppose public land sell-offs, and this resolution makes it clear that we will fight to protect our public lands heritage.”
SOUTH CAROLINA REPRESENTATIVE INTRODUCES LAND CONSERVATION BILL: South Carolina state Rep. Travis Moore has introduced the South Carolina Protected Lands and Conservation Coordination Act, a bill aimed at strengthening land and water preservation efforts across the state. It would establish conservation as a state priority and set a goal of protecting 7 million acres of land by 2050. It also calls for improved coordination of land protection projects and requires annual reporting from state resource agencies to monitor progress.
CVSC TAKE: Conservation Voters of South Carolina said, “We are thrilled to see Representative Moore furthering Governor Henry McMaster’s 10 Million Acres initiative by codifying a benchmark to track our progress towards this goal. As South Carolina continues to experience rapid population growth and the associated impacts of widespread development, it will become increasingly important to prioritize statewide land and water protection and to buffer our agricultural and timber lands from urban sprawl. Codifying benchmarks for land and water protection will ensure that funding for conservation remains a top priority at the statehouse and that our state agencies have the resources they need to execute land and water protection projects across South Carolina. South Carolina’s economy and way of life are inextricably linked to our natural resources. Prioritizing conservation now means guaranteeing a future for South Carolina where air and water are clean and plentiful, wildlife thrives, our economy is strong, and quality of life is unparalleled.”
ENERGY COSTS AND CLEAN WATER ARE TOP ISSUES FOR OHIO VOTERS: New polling data from Ohio Environmental Council shows that rising energy costs and water protections are top priorities for likely Ohio voters. Respondents are concerned about energy affordability and expressed bipartisan support for clean energy initiatives and requiring data centers to pay additional fees to offset their energy and water usage. Safe drinking water was also deemed extremely important, with many worried about river and lake pollution and lead contamination.
OEC TAKE: Ohio Environmental Council CEO Carol Kauffman said, “This polling confirms what we hear from everyday Ohioans: People are concerned about energy and water affordability, and they want access to safe water, clean air, and a reliable electric grid. As Ohioans feel the burden of rising energy costs due to skyrocketing demand from data centers and other developments, they are calling for solutions to make their communities healthier and more affordable. This includes having data centers pay their fair share and allowing farmers to make their own decisions about installing clean energy on their properties. These findings also show overwhelming support for our rivers, lakes, and waterways, alongside bipartisan support for deploying solar energy across the state.”
IRAN WAR CAUSES SPIKE IN ENERGY COSTS AND INSTABILITY FOR CONSUMERS: Rising oil and gas prices tied to the war with Iran are contributing to an affordability crisis for households nationwide. Crude oil prices rose to $95 a barrel, 40% higher than before the conflict began two weeks ago. Gasoline has jumped about 60 cents, up to an average of $3.60 a gallon from $2.94 just a month prior. The rapid growth in oil and gas prices won’t just affect drivers, as the higher cost of diesel fuel will cause an increase in the shipping price of goods and increased methane gas costs could raise home gas bills, making it more expensive to cook and heat your home.
U.S. SOLAR CAPACITY SET TO TRIPLE BY 2036: The U.S. solar industry is on track to triple its capacity from 279 gigawatts in 2025 to 769 gigawatts in 2036, according to research firm Wood Mackenzie and the Solar Energy Industries Association. This prediction comes despite the Trump administration’s attempts to cut funding for renewable energy projects like solar and to rollback tax credits for homeowners installing solar panels and battery storage. Solar is projected to account for nearly half of all new electricity capacity additions to the grid over the next 30 years, driven by rising electricity demand and renewables becoming a cheaper alternative to the escalating cost of fossil fuels.
ON THE BLOG: This week, we published our Spring Top 5 stories highlighting the publication of the 2025 LCV National Environmental Scorecard, how new elected leaders are delivering on clean energy and affordability, and LCV and state affiliates’ work to ensure fair, equitable, and robust policy implementation, as well as announcing the launch of the 2025 LCV Impact Report and a new round of midterm endorsements.
ON OUR SOCIALS: What’s in the box? 📦We did an unboxing of our LCV National Environmental Scorecard showing you this year’s highlights up-close-and-personal (we love that freshly printed paper smell!). In case you needed a reminder of why it’s so important to hold members of Congress accountable, congressional Republicans are currently trying to disenfranchise millions of eligible voters and sell off our public lands to polluters, while at the same time Trump’s EPA is rolling back environmental protections.
WEEKS OF 3/16 AND 3/23: Senate energy affordability weeks.
MARCH 17: Senate Democrats spotlight hearing on energy costs.
MARCH 17: St. Patrick’s Day.
MARCH 18: Energy Bills Relief Act visibility event at 4:00pm outside Longworth.
MARCH 20: First day of Spring.
©2026 League of Conservation Voters