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 everyday people’s skyrocketing costs and guidance for data centers aimed at stopping prices from climbing even higher.
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“Unless you can cut a check for his ballroom, Donald Trump clearly couldn’t care less about you.”
— Rep. Brendan Boyle (PA-02) on Trump demanding $1 billion to build a ballroom while families across the country struggle to pay their bills and put food on the table under his administration.
“I’m deeply worried. I’m angry that the democracy is on fire. I think the answer to fighting those who are trying to fight the democracy is more democracy.”
— Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock (GA) on the importance of D.C. statehood at the 2026 Center for American Progress Ideas Conference.
“I’ve heard directly from Pennsylvanians who are concerned about the impact data center development could have on their communities, the environment, and their utility bills. That’s why I am putting clear guardrails in place to hold developers accountable to protect consumers, strengthen communities, and put Pennsylvanians first.”
— Governor Josh Shapiro (PA) on his newly released plan to increase accountability for data centers, lower costs, and protect the environment.
CONSERVATION COLORADO RELEASES NEW TOOL TRACKING TRUMP PRICE INCREASES: In partnership with Centennial State Prosperity, Conservation Colorado launched a new tool to show how federal policy decisions by the Trump administration have increased costs for everyday Coloradans and reduced economic opportunities.
CONSERVATION COLORADO TAKE: Conservation Colorado Deputy Vice President of Programs & Politics Aly Ferrufino-Coqueugniot said, “The Trump administration is putting corporate polluters and a costly war over making life more affordable, safer and healthier for Coloradans. The result is higher energy costs for working families and less economic opportunity. Congress needs to stop opposing vital clean energy projects and clean energy incentives. We want clean energy and lower electricity bills. When Coloradans working full-time still struggle to afford their utility bills, it holds back our entire economy.”
CENTENNIAL STATE PROSPERITY TAKE: Centennial State Prosperity Executive Director Laura “Pinky” Reisch said, “Costs are going up because of policy decisions at the federal level and Coloradans want relief. We need Congress to pass a federal budget that is focused on giving hardworking Coloradans a real chance to succeed by investing in affordable healthcare, education, and housing.”
NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR SETS GUARDRAILS FOR DATA CENTERS: New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced a four-part plan requiring data centers to provide their own clean energy, invest in upgrades to the electrical grid needed to support the industry’s growth, report on their water and energy use, employ union labor and pay prevailing wages, and develop Community Benefits Agreements with local communities. The new guidelines aim to increase transparency and help protect New Jerseyans from rising costs resulting from data center development.
PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR RELEASES NEW DATA CENTER STANDARDS: Governor Josh Shapiro released the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) Standards this week, which establish specific criteria data centers must meet in order to receive state support and incentives. The guidelines focus on four areas: clean energy and energy affordability, transparency and community engagement, workforce and economic development, and environmental protection, and aim to evaluate proposed data centers’ impact and value to the local community.
CVPA TAKE: Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania Executive Director Molly Parzen said, “We applaud Governor Shapiro for releasing additional standards to bring long-overdue accountability to the rapidly expanding data center industry in Pennsylvania. This initiative from the Governor is a step in the right direction to protect Pennsylvanians by establishing clear metrics around energy affordability, environmental protection, community engagement, and workforce development. These standards recognize that we cannot allow Big Tech to threaten our environment or our financial stability.
“Yet while we appreciate the Governor’s attempt to incentivize data centers to behave responsibly, the legislature and administration must continue to act to mandate that every data center developer is held to a high standard that protects our communities.
“Pennsylvanians need Senate Republicans to work with the Governor and their colleagues in the House to hold data centers accountable and protect our clean air and water, safeguard impacted communities from unmitigated development and ensure working families are shielded from skyrocketing electricity prices. It is time for the Senate to take up these critical protections and put Pennsylvania ratepayers ahead of Big Tech profits.”
VERMONT GOVERNOR VETOES DATA CENTER REGULATIONS BILL, PUTTING CORPORATIONS OVER VERMONTERS: Vermont Governor Phil Scott vetoed legislation that would have set strong regulatory guardrails for the construction and operation of data centers. The legislation aimed to shield Vermonters from shouldering the costs of data center development and protect the environment. The bill passed with overwhelming tri-partisan support in the General Assembly and was one of the strongest data center regulation policies in the nation. Advocates are hopeful that legislators will take the bill up for an override vote due to its broad public and lawmaker support..
VNRC TAKE: Vermont Natural Resources Council Energy and Climate Program Director Johanna Miller said, “As data centers dramatically drive up energy bills in the places that host them, Vermont lawmakers, thankfully, took a proactive approach. Unfortunately, and deeply shortsightedly, Governor Scott’s veto shows he’s willing to put Vermonters at risk and exposed to the high costs and consequences from large scale data centers. H.727 lays out a pathway to ensure that if data centers come to Vermont, they will not jack up electric bills, undermine Vermont’s climate progress, or pollute precious water supplies.”
OHIO SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS SOLAR PERMIT: The Ohio Supreme Court reversed a permit for a 6,000 acre solar and battery project in the state. The court ruled that the Ohio Power Siting Board must “more thoroughly address” the project’s visual implications for nearby communities. If allowed to move forward, the project could generate enough clean, affordable energy to power 170,000 homes.
NEW DATA SHOWS SOARING ENERGY PRICES: New data released late last week from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that energy prices have risen 18% since Trump took office in January 2025. This is up from previous data compiled at the end of 2025 that showed prices had risen 13%.
DESPITE TRUMP’S ATTACKS, RENEWABLE ENERGY CONTINUES TO EXPAND: Despite the Trump administration’s attempts to shut down clean energy projects across the country, developers announced 54 new utility scale renewable energy projects in the first quarter of 2026. This is nearly double the number of projects announced in all of 2025. More renewable energy means lower energy costs and fewer planet-warming emissions.
TRUMP IS USING NATIONAL PARK REVENUE TO FUND D.C. VANITY PROJECTS: Trump is spending $67 million generated from National Park entrance fees to fund his vanity projects across D.C., such as restoring ornamental fountains and painting the Reflecting Pool. The National Park system currently has a backlog of $23 billion worth of deferred park maintenance projects, including fixing unsafe roads and water systems.
OUR TAKE: LCV said, “Instead of using the money to address the $23 billion backlog of deferred park maintenance projects, Trump is using national park entrance fees to fund his D.C. vanity projects. This administration is taking money away from our natural wonders and communities to feed one man’s ego.”
HOUSE REPUBLICANS PROPOSE ADDITIONAL FEES FOR OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS: House Republicans proposed an Interior spending bill that would impose additional per-turbine fees on offshore wind projects. The proposed fees (which would total nearly $100,000 per turbine) are yet another attack on offshore wind from the Trump administration as it tries to bolster fossil fuels and shut down clean energy projects that would lower people’s energy costs and help the environment.
NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR MAY DELAY IMPLEMENTATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE RULES: New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is allegedly planning to delay the implementation of a series of rules aimed at mitigating the effects of the climate crisis in New Jersey. Sherrill is said to be planning to move the compliance date from July 20 to the summer of 2027.
NEW JERSEY LCV TAKE: New Jersey LCV Interim Executive Director Allison McLeod said, “At a time when the federal government is doubling down on a dangerous fossil fuel agenda, more than ever we need New Jersey and Gov. Sherrill to lead efforts to protect the safety and well-being of New Jersey families who are being put in harm’s way by the climate crisis.”
SOUTH CAROLINA DEFEATS GERRYMANDERING PUSH: South Carolina Senators voted against advancing a new congressional gerrymander, dealing another blow to Trump’s efforts to rig congressional maps and consolidate power in the House. Like last year’s victory in Indiana, state Senators refused to bow to pressure from the Trump administration and were supported by calls from constituents across the state pushing for the legislature to address real issues like affordability. LCV state affiliate Conservation Voters of South Carolina (CVSC) facilitated constituent outreach among coalition efforts to oppose mid-decade gerrymandering.
NEW JERSEY ADVANCES VOTER PROTECTIONS AFTER CALLAIS: The New Jersey state Senate moved the New Jersey Voter Empowerment Act, which would enshrine state-level voter protections in New Jersey, another step closer becoming law. As MAGA Justices on the Supreme Court attempt to strip voters of federal protections guaranteed under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, state-level voter protections are more important than ever. New Jersey LCV continues to work with legislative leadership and bill sponsors to ensure this critical piece of legislation passes before the end of June.
NEW MEXICO TO PLANT 5 MILLION TREES: New Mexico has launched a massive reforestation effort to sow 5 million trees by 2030. The effort aims to restore habitat lost to wildfire in the last several years and help mitigate the impacts of climate change in the state.
ON THE BLOG: Stay tuned for exciting new content coming to The Power Source Blog! And, check out our new podcast series with the same name.
ON OUR SOCIALS: The Trump administration is doing everything they can to enrich Big Polluters while making life harder for the rest of us, waging an all-out assault on public lands, and making our communities sicker, and honestly? We’re scared.
JUNE 2: Primary elections in Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, California, and South Dakota.
JUNE 5: Oil and gas lease sale in the Arctic Refuge.
JUNE 9: Primary elections in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, and South Carolina.
JUNE 16: Primary elections in D.C. and Oklahoma.
JUNE 19: Juneteenth.
©2026 League of Conservation Voters