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 energy affordability, conservation attacks from the Trump administration, and states’ work to protect the environment and democracy.
Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BlueSky, and TikTok.
“The President is not a king. The law is not a suggestion. The Constitution is not optional.”
— Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) on Trump’s attacks on democracy during his over 22 hour speech on the Senate floor.
“Today’s furloughs will give Americans a taste of the toxic consequences of the deliberate campaign to dismantle EPA piece by piece: stripping away critical safeguards, silencing scientists and inspectors, and leaving pollution unchecked.”
— Senior Director at the Environmental Protection Network and former EPA official Peter Murchie on the Trump administration’s attacks on EPA and federal agencies.
“It’s going to be unacceptable for not just Democratic-run states, but for everybody. We don’t need to be moving in that direction. I can guarantee you there’ll be bipartisan pushback in New Jersey on that, as there was last time this came up a couple years ago.”
– Senator Andy Kim (NJ) on bipartisan opposition to the Trump administration’s anticipated plans to open up more of our coasts to dirty offshore oil and gas drilling.
ENERGY AFFORDABILITY IS ON THE BALLOT IN NEW JERSEY, VIRGINIA, AND GEORGIA ELECTIONS: In upcoming elections in Georgia, New Jersey, and Virginia, there has been a clear line drawn between the candidates responding to voters’ concerns on energy costs with real solutions and those toeing the MAGA party line by supporting the Trump administration’s ban on clean energy and multi-million dollar taxpayer bailout for expensive, dirtier energy sources like coal. LCV’s affiliates in these states are running multi-million dollar campaigns to drive the conversation around costs ensuring the public understands who is focused on the issues that matter and who is making the problem even worse. Read the full memo for more.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Campaigns Sara Schreiber said, “Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ work to undermine, stall, and flat out ban wind and solar projects have led to higher utility bills for Americans nationwide. The Republican budget is expected to add more than $100 a year to Americans’ bills, and his administration’s attempt to block and limit wind and solar energy could cost even more. Affordability should be seen as the path to winning back voters’ trust. Candidates that are fully focused on bringing down utility costs and building homegrown clean energy will show voters they are serious about the issue. MAGA Republicans who are beholden to Trump’s disastrous energy agenda, will face the consequences of ignoring voters’ most pressing concerns.”
NJLCV HOSTS SOLAR FOR ALL TOUR AND ROUNDTABLE: New Jersey LCV hosted an event with New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin to raise awareness of the cancellation of $7 billion in funding for the Solar for All program. New Jersey joined 19 other states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its cancellation of the program, which would provide $156 million for clean energy in the state.
NJLCV TAKE: New Jersey LCV said, “Yesterday, Attorney General Matt Platkin visited the Social Profit Center in Hamilton, NJ where he viewed a rooftop solar and garden to highlight the lawsuit he filed alongside 22 other plaintiffs against the EPA for ending funding for the Solar for All program. The community solar program would have provided clean energy to more than 22,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities right here in New Jersey.
“This visit provided an opportunity to discuss how New Jersey is fighting back against Trump’s extreme energy agenda, which is raising electricity costs for working families in New Jersey while enriching billionaire oil and gas CEOs.”
INDIANA CONSERVATION VOTERS DELIVER ADDITIONAL PETITION SIGNATURES AGAINST MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING: Indiana Conservation Voters (ICV), Common Cause Indiana, the League of Women Voters of Indiana, Citizens Action Coalition and Women for Change, delivered more than 10,000 new signatures opposing mid-decade redistricting to the Indiana Statehouse. This more than doubles the initial petition drop delivered in early September.
ICV TAKE: Indiana Conservation Voters Executive Director Megan Robertson said, “Hoosiers have spoken—again and again and again. For more than two months, communities across the state have made it clear that they don’t want lawmakers to reopen the maps.
“The question for Governor Braun is simple: What will it take for him to listen to Hoosiers instead of Washington outsiders? When he came back to Indiana to run for Governor, Braun said it was because D.C. is broken. If that’s the case, why allow Washington operatives to come into our state with their outrageous demands. Hoosiers deserve better, and the Governor has a chance to say ‘no’ right now.”
ARIZONA COMMUNITIES CALL TO REINSTATE SOLAR FOR ALL: This past week, Chispa Arizona joined Activate 48, Vote Solar, and partners at the State Capitol to call out the EPA’s decision to pull $156 million in Solar for All funding — a program meant to help, not harm, communities. Leaders from across the state emphasized that all Arizonans, regardless of their race, zip code, or income, deserve the clean energy jobs, cost savings, and health benefits that this program would bring.
NEVADA ADVOCATES PUSH TO RESTORE SOLAR FOR ALL FUNDING: At a news conference on Tuesday, community advocates and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford came together to discuss the importance of the Solar for All program for community members struggling with high energy costs.
NEVADA FAMILIES SAY NO TO MORE RATE HIKES: Chispa Nevada and Nevada Conservation League (NCL) joined community members and partners — including Make the Road Nevada, Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition, EcoMadres, and PLAN Nevada — at the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) General Consumer Session to demand that commissioners say no to more rate increases from NV Energy. Over 65 people attended and nearly 50 people gave public comments opposing the PUCN’s recent approval of another NV Energy rate hike. Chispa NV and NCL are supporting an effort to seek reconsideration of the rate increase.
CHISPA NV TAKE: Chispa Nevada member Ana Gonzalez said, “We’re here once again to raise our voices and make ourselves heard. The PUCN’s rate case decision is unjust and shows that they don’t understand what Nevada working families are going through. We are willing to pay a fair price. But these constant price increases, overcharges and abuses by monopoly utility companies are increasing poverty in our state, with no relief in sight. We can’t go on like this. We demand change.”
NCL TAKE: Nevada Conservation League Southern NV Communications Organizer Yesi Castro Lopez said, “We deserve real accountability. Decisions that deeply impact our lives — like raising rates, changing solar billing, and approving this new demand charge — should balance everyday Nevadans like me and our interests in a fair, impartial manner. I urge the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada to demand transparency and fairness from these utilities to be more prudent, efficient, economically responsible, and reliable. No more luxury charges. No more blocking clean, affordable solutions like rooftop solar or energy efficiency. No more confusing charges, like the daily demand charge that will make it harder to manage costs. No more excuses.”
MARYLAND IS PUSHING FOR CLEAN SCHOOL BUSES: Chispa Maryland joined partners and advocates at the Baltimore City Board of Education to urge board members to take bold action toward fully electrifying the school bus fleet. They called for a clear implementation plan with timelines, resources, and infrastructure to make zero-emission transportation a reality, protecting children’s health and setting an example for school districts across the state.
NEW STUDY SHOWS CIATTARELLI’S ENERGY PLAN WOULD RAISE ENERGY COSTS: A new study found that New Jersey Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli’s energy plan would raise energy prices by nearly $900 a year. Rather than lower prices for New Jersey families as promised, the Ciattarelli plan would decrease access to energy efficient appliances, electric vehicles, and cleaner renewable energy, raising costs for working families.
LCV RELEASES ENERGY AFFORDABILITY MESSAGING MEMO: LCV released a memo detailing how the Trump administration’s policies to ban clean energy are raising already sky-high energy prices at a time when everyday people are struggling to pay for basic necessities. The memo recommends messaging on energy in a way that acknowledges energy bills are too high, goes on offense to call out who is raising them, and promotes policy focused on lowering costs. Read the full memo for more.
OUR TAKE: LCV President Pete Maysmith said, “The climate threat remains real, present and costly. People are losing their homes in massive floods, parents are keeping their kids inside because of wildfire smoke, families are struggling with insurance premiums, energy bills, and groceries. Trump’s attacks on cleaner, cheaper and faster renewable energy not only worsen future impacts of a warming world–they have created a rising cost crisis for people right now. This provides us an opportunity, if we take it, to win this debate once and for all and make progress on clean energy that is both immediate and lasting.”
DOI ANNOUNCES PLANS TO OPEN ARCTIC REFUGE FOR OIL AND GAS DRILLING, BUILD ROADS IN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE: Yesterday, the Alaska congressional delegation, Governor Mike Dunleavy, and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum made a slew of announcements advancing oil and gas leasing in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge, greenlighting a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, and approving the right-of-ways for the Ambler Road Project to enable dirty mines in another Alaskan wilderness.
OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick said, “While the government remains shut down and everyday people across the country are struggling with increasing healthcare, grocery, and energy costs, the Trump administration is once again putting the interests of its Big Oil billionaire donors over the public good. Today’s decisions from the Department of the Interior to build roads through Alaska’s sacred and treasured lands and push forward with oil and gas leasing in the entire Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge ignore decades of science and engagement with Indigenous communities. These decisions are reckless, not economically viable, and will hurt Alaska Native communities, their ways of life, and Alaska’s wildlife. LCV will continue to fight at every step of the way to protect these lands that sustain Alaska Native communities.”
TRUMP PLANS TO OPEN COASTS TO OFFSHORE DRILLING: Leaked federal documents revealed the Trump administration’s plans to open large sections of both the east and west coasts for offshore drilling. The proposal has drawn opposition from both Democrats and Republicans from coastal states. President Trump attempted a similar move during his first term, but backed down after bipartisan pushback threatened his reelection campaign.
ICYMI: BLM MOVES TO EXPAND MINING IN UTAH: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved a copper mine expansion on more than 5,000 acres of public lands in Utah after cutting out community input. The mine is located just 40 miles from Bears Ears National Monument and threatens to pollute nearby waterways and endanger wildlife and cultural resources. LCV has been tracking the Trump administration’s efforts to open lands to corporate polluters at the expense of our communities and environment in our Attacks on Public Lands and Waters tracker.
7 MILLION PEOPLE JOIN NO KINGS PROTESTS NATIONWIDE: Over 7 million people joined thousands of No Kings rallies across the nation to protest President Trump’s power-hungry, corrupt administration. Communities came together in peaceful resistance, celebrating democracy and demanding change from the administration that has repeatedly defied the courts, cut vital programs, and given handouts to billionaires. LCV is proud to have served on the steering committee of this historic day of action.
OUR TAKE: LCV President Pete Maysmith said, “Today, millions of people across the country once again peacefully gathered to celebrate and defend our democracy, protect each other and our communities, and say enough to the Trump administration’s abuse of power. Just as Trump continues to threaten our fundamental democratic freedoms, he threatens the health, safety and prosperity of our communities as he and extreme Congressional Republicans make life dirtier and more expensive for everyone by banning cheaper, faster, and cleaner wind and solar power. We will continue the fight against authoritarian actions and stand with the people to say No Kings.”
TRUMP BEGINS DEMOLITION OF WHITE HOUSE’S EAST WING: In a striking visual representation of the Trump administration’s disdain for laws and his impact on this country, President Trump has begun demolition of the east wing of the White House to make way for his 90,000 square foot ballroom – paid for by cozy corporate donors – in the midst of a government shutdown.
ON THE BLOG: In the newest article on The Power Source Blog, learn how Trump and congressional Republicans’ policies are driving up your costs, and how they are using their government shutdown to push them even higher.
ON OUR SOCIALS: Record-breaking turnout at No Kings, Senator Merkley’s marathon floor speech, and other bright spots keeping us going as Trump demolishes a piece of American history, destroys national monuments, and drives up our bills.
OCTOBER 28: Vote Early Day
NOVEMBER 4: Election Day.
NOVEMBER 11: Veterans’ Day.
NOVEMBER 27: Thanksgiving.
©2025 League of Conservation Voters