LCV is fighting every day to create a brighter, safer, healthier future for people and the planet.
LCV is fighting every day to create a brighter, safer, healthier future for people and the planet.
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, commonsense climate protections and industry accountability are in the spotlight as LCV Victory Fund named the State Dirty Dozen, and we’re following the fight to hold Big Polluters accountable before the Supreme Court.
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“It’s going to bankrupt these various defendants and certainly other defendants out there.”
– Justice Brett Kavanaugh on Suncor v. Boulder, revealing he’s worried about the cost of climate lawsuits for Big Oil rather than the cost of climate pollution for our communities.
“I wish 10 years ago somebody had really told me what an investment in sustainable energy can mean and how it affects not just your budget but gives you a feeling that [you’re] contributing something to change a major part of the way our society operates. To me, the future looks bright.”
– Paul Reichardt, an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Fairbanks, Alaska, on the church’s investment in solar energy.
“It is more important than ever that Maine people elect leaders who will put the protection of our environment and clean energy future at the center of their agenda, while also looking to make our energy more affordable.”
– Maureen Drouin, Maine Conservation Voters executive director, on Maine’s gubernatorial race and the future of climate and energy policy.
“We are already an overburdened community… and we would definitely want to see a policy that would prevent any additional impact on people who are already disproportionately impacted.”
– Griselda Chavez of Warehouse Workers for Justice at the Illinois Environmental Council’s POWER Act Lobby Day.
US WIND PULLS OUT OF WIND TURBINE MANUFACTURING IN MARYLAND: US Wind announced it will no longer move forward with plans to manufacture offshore wind turbine components in Baltimore County, citing ongoing legal challenges and uncertainty created by the Trump administration. The planned facility would have created hundreds of clean energy manufacturing jobs. The decision comes as the Trump administration continues efforts to revoke federal approval for US Wind’s offshore wind project near Ocean City, further delaying clean energy development in Maryland.
MDLCV TAKE: Maryland LCV Director of Climate Policy and Justice Rebecca Rehr said, “Maryland faces rising energy demand and electricity bills. We have been consistently disappointed that the Trump administration doesn’t see the value across the supply chain for the clean energy industry, and continues to single out wind when wind is working.”
MARYLAND APPROVES NEW BATTERY PROJECTS TO IMPROVE GRID RELIABILITY: Maryland awarded contracts to two battery energy storage projects totalling 440 megawatts as part of the state’s first round solicitation under the 2025 Next Generation Energy Act, which set a goal to procure 1.6 gigawatts of energy storage capacity.
MDLCV TAKE: Maryland LCV Director of Climate Policy and Justice Rebecca Rehr said, “The proposals in this docket represent several years of state policymaking pertaining to grid reliability and a state storage program. 440 MW is a significant increase to our grid’s capacity. At a time when electricity affordability is a paramount concern for Marylanders, storage can reduce overall electricity system costs and can prevent rate increases by improving grid efficiency, maximizing low-cost renewable energy, and strengthening system reliability.”
NEW YORK GROUPS PUSH HOCHUL ON ENERGY AFFORDABILITY: More than 140 New York organizations, including New York LCV, signed on to the annual Building Electrification Equity Platform calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to lower energy bills by expanding heat pump adoption, investing in energy efficiency programs, ending costly gas mandates, and more. The push comes as New Yorkers brace for a nearly 9% increase in winter heating bills.
NYLCV TAKE: New York LCV Clean Buildings Campaign Manager Jon Furlong said, “The New York League of Conservation Voters is proud to stand with the many organizations that have signed on to this year’s Building Electrification Equity Platform Letter. We must do everything within our power to scale up clean energy investments that will make a real difference for ratepayers and consumers and while limiting the expansion of the gas system.”
NEW YORK SELECTS BIDS TO DEPLOY 1.7 GW OF CLEAN ENERGY RESOURCES: New York announced awards for eight bulk energy storage projects and 13 clean energy projects, totalling 1.7 gigawatts of new energy resources. Together, these projects are expected to create more than 1,000 jobs, power hundreds of thousands of homes, and generate over $3.7 billion in private investment. The newly awarded battery capacity will also more than double the utility-scale energy storage that the state has installed to date.
NYLCV TAKE: New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe said, “Kudos to Governor Hochul for advancing major new clean energy infrastructure while Washington action is driving up energy costs. It’s time to deliver on projects that will help us get off the fossil fuel roller coaster that’s choking our air and our wallets and that’s what today’s announcement will do. These gigawatts of new large-scale renewable energy projects are an important step toward more stable energy prices, better air quality, and good union jobs for New Yorkers. NYLCV congratulates the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on this important progress, for making sure projects will be cheaper by capturing dwindling federal tax incentives, and we thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to a clean energy future.”
CHISPA TEXAS BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR COASTAL BEND ENVIRONMENTAL EVENT: Chispa Texas brought community members together in Corpus Christi for the Coastal Bend State of our Environment event. The gathering featured important conversations about environmental issues, including a youth panel highlighting the voices of young leaders, and reinforced the importance of intergenerational organizing and building collective power for healthier communities. Chispa Texas is continuing to mobilize community members ahead of the October 12 SOAH hearing to advocate for clean water and against industrial pollution.
MASSACHUSETTS FUNDS BATTERY PROJECTS STATEWIDE: Massachusetts governor Maura Healey’s administration announced $40.3 million in grant funding for 36 projects across the state to expand battery energy storage, primarily focused on environmental justice communities. The grants are divided into three categories: community resilience, funding battery capacity to support critical infrastructure; safety and education, funding safety training efforts for first responders, electricians, and municipal governments; and long-duration energy storage, funding battery projects that can store energy for 10-20 hours to help meet peak demand.
LCV AND NRDC ACTION FUND LAUNCH $250K AD ON CLIMATE IMPACTS OF DIRTY DATA CENTERS: LCV and the NRDC Action Fund launched a new digital ad highlighting the climate impacts of data centers fueled by coal, oil, and gas, and emphasizing the toll on generations to come. The ad will air in the Washington, D.C. area on streaming platforms, YouTube, and social platforms for the next four weeks. These ads come as the rise of data centers is expanding costly dirty energy, despite cheaper, cleaner renewables like wind and solar being available to slow the climate crisis and lower costs.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo said, “The public needs to know that Big Oil and Big Tech are teaming up to put the health and safety of our families and communities at risk. Dirty data centers powered by expensive and polluting gas are a bad deal for communities, consumers and our climate. Communities are fed up with backroom deals, dirty air and water, corruption and powerful CEOs lining their own pockets. We need enforceable data center guardrails for environmental and public health protections, meaningful community input, benefits for communities hosting these facilities, and Big Tech to pay for the clean and reliable grid and water infrastructure upgrades that we all depend upon.”
EPA TO WEAKEN THE 2024 METHANE RULE: Trump’s EPA is preparing to weaken the 2024 Methane Rule, which aims to reduce methane pollution from the oil and gas industry. Weakening these standards would increase climate pollution, waste our natural resources, and put communities and public health at risk.
OUR TAKE: LCV Healthy Communities Program Director Madeleine Foote said, “By announcing EPA’s intent to roll back the 2024 Methane Rule, Administrator Zeldin and President Trump are making it crystal clear that they are willing to sell out the health and safety of our families and environment in order to reward their buddies in the oil and gas industry. Weakening these common-sense safeguards will expose our communities to even more unnecessary, dangerous air pollution, harming public health and exacerbating the climate crisis, all so that Big Polluters can rake in even more profits. This action puts on full display the corruption of Trump, his administration, and the oil and gas industry, as outlined in Senate Democrats’ corruption report. We urge EPA to not release this proposal and maintain strong methane pollution standards to protect public health and our environment for generations to come.”
LCVVF NAMES 2026 DIRTY DOZEN IN THE STATES: LCV Victory Fund’s state affiliates announced the 2026 Dirty Dozen in the States. Modeled after LCV Victory Fund’s federal Dirty Dozen, the Dirty Dozen in the States highlights 12 of the worst candidates in the nation at the state and local level. Members of the Dirty Dozen in the States have consistently voted to raise energy costs, kill clean energy jobs, and take funding from corporate polluters. Check out the full list of the Dirty Dozen in the States.
LCVVF TAKE: LCV Victory Fund Vice President of Campaigns Nate Fowler said, “From Governors all the way to utility commissions, these state and local positions will make critical choices for every day people’s lives. Across the country we have all seen our energy bills skyrocket. We’ve watched as massive data centers take over our communities. And we’ve seen too many Republicans make the problem even worse by attacking new affordable clean energy projects. These state and local offices are critical to lowering costs and getting communities back on track. But this list of candidates have proven time and again they won’t stand up to Big Tech and data center developers, monopoly utility companies, or the polluters raising costs. They are perfectly willing to prop up their billionaire donors and leave the rest of us holding the bill.”
COLORADO AMENDMENT 82 ADDED TO DIRTY DOZEN IN THE STATES: Conservation Colorado announced the addition of ballot initiative 82 to the 2026 Dirty Dozen in the States because it would lock a permanent “right” for corporate polluters into Colorado’s constitution. If passed, the measure could allow corporate polluters to sue state and local governments over rules such as protections on toxic water pollution and safe distances between gas operations and homes and schools.
NEVADA PAC LAUNCHES $1.1 MILLION AFFORDABILITY CAMPAIGN: Nevada Conservation Leadership PAC launched a $1.1 million campaign criticizing Gov. Joe Lombardo’s record on affordability and his support for data centers. The effort includes digital ads and paid canvassing across southern Nevada, highlighting over $200 million in state tax breaks to data center companies during Lombardo’s first term and concerns about rising electricity bills for Nevadans.
NCL PAC TAKE: Nevada Conservation League Pac Executive Director Kristee Watson said, “Whenever Joe Lombardo has been given the choice, he continues to pick his Big Tech donors over everyday Nevadans. Our electricity bills keep going up year after year and with more data centers on the way, things could get worse. We need leaders in Carson City who are willing to stand up and fight for working families struggling to make ends meet. In just a few short weeks Nevadans have a clear choice. Someone ready to fight the greedy corporations or someone willing to give away our tax dollars to the richest companies.”
LCVVF RELEASES “ENERGY MIDTERMS” MEMO: The cost of energy will be a deciding factor in the 2026 midterm elections, and LCV Victory Fund is THE major outside group focused on reaching voters with an energy affordability message. This week we are also taking a look at this year’s state Dirty Dozen list, stories from the field, and sharing ads that dropped on the airwaves this week. Read the full roundup here.
SCOTUS HEARS ORAL ARGUMENTS IN SUNCOR V. BOULDER: The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Suncor v. Boulder, a case that could determine whether communities can hold Big Oil companies accountable in state courts for the damages caused by the climate change harms they lied about for decades. Boulder, Colorado is seeking to hold fossil fuel companies financially responsible for climate-related damages, including the growing costs of extreme weather. As Big Polluters attempt to avoid accountability, the case could have major implications for similar lawsuits across the country and communities seeking justice for decades of climate pollution.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Director of Judiciary and Democracy Doug Lindner said, “Big Polluters have padded their profits by fueling the climate crisis and lying to the public for decades while our families get sicker and our communities bear the costs of more and worse climate disasters. Suncor v. Boulder is about whether they’ll get away with it. Communities across the country are working to hold them accountable in court, but the Big Polluters are asking their friends on the Supreme Court — as well as their friends in Congress and the Trump administration — to protect them from accountability.”
CAMPAIGN FOR A FAMILY FRIENDLY ECONOMY PAC, LCV VICTORY FUND EXPAND FIELD PROGRAM TO TEXAS: The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy (CFFE) PAC and LCV Victory Fund announced a $750,000 expansion of their field organizing campaigns to include Texas’ Senate race in support of James Talarico. This is CFFE PAC and LCV Victory Fund’s first time canvassing for a federal race in Texas. Canvassers will knock on over 80,000 doors and talk with voters about rising cost of living, healthcare, and skyrocketing utility bills in support of James Talarico, while collecting stories about affordability to inform digital ads. The Texas program is a partnership between CFFE PAC and the New American Jobs Fund, which is a joint project of LCV Victory Fund and United Steelworkers.
LCVVF TAKE: LCV Victory Fund Senior Vice President of Campaigns Sara Schreiber said, “We are leaving no stone unturned and expanding into new territory. James Talarico has shown that he has a plan to tackle rising costs, including energy costs. Texans deserve a leader who is looking out for their pockets and for their health and will help to increase clean energy resources and jobs that keep costs low. We are not shying away from Trump territory this cycle and are connecting with voters on the issues that matter to them most, affordability – especially energy affordability.”
CFFE PAC TAKE: Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy PAC Deputy Executive Director Phoebe Kilgour said, “James Talarico is the son of a single mom who was forced to return to work days after giving birth to him. When his younger sister arrived ten weeks premature, Talarico’s mother was fired over the phone while caring for her newborn in the NICU. James Talarico knows firsthand that families need policies like paid family and medical leave and quality, affordable child care and health care, and his support for these policies that will help solve the affordability crisis is why Texas voters are embracing him. We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with LCV Victory Fund to help get him elected.”
LCV VICTORY FUND LAUNCHES $1.6 MILLION IN MORE HOUSE FIELD PROGRAMS: LCV Victory Fund launched an additional $1.6 million investment in field organizing programs focused on key House races in Colorado, Florida, and Virginia. Canvassers will knock on over 160,000 doors in support of Manny Rutinel (CO-08), Jared Moskowitz (FL-25), Shannon Taylor (VA-01), and Elaine Luria (VA-02).
LCVVF TAKE: LCV Victory Fund Senior Vice President of Campaigns Sara Schreiber said, “With less than 30 days until the election, we are going door to door to talk with voters and make sure they know who will lower costs, especially energy costs, and who will side with billionaire CEOs. Voters deserve leaders who will stand up to corporate interests and fight for the health and safety of our communities, families and environment.”
LCV VICTORY FUND LAUNCHES $4 MILLION HOUSE AD BLITZ: LCV Victory Fund launched a $4 million ad campaign across seven competitive House races, highlighting Republican incumbents’ records on rising energy costs, pollution, and giveaways to Big Polluters and corporate interests. The ads will run across connected TV, YouTube, digital audio, and other digital platforms and are part of LCV Victory Fund’s broader effort to make energy affordability a central issue in the midterm elections.
LCVVF TAKE: LCV Victory Fund Senior Vice President of Campaigns Sara Schreiber said, “Voters across the country are fed up with skyrocketing utility bills while Big Polluters and Big Tech rake in massive profits. These Republican incumbents have repeatedly sided with corporate interests over the people they represent, and voters deserve to know the truth about their records.”
LEGISLATORS INTRODUCE BILL TO EXTEND CLEAN SCHOOL BUS PROGRAM FOR FIVE YEARS: A bipartisan group of legislators introduced a bill to reauthorize EPA’s Clean School Bus Program for another five years. The program has awarded $2.6 billion to more than 1,100 school districts to replace existing diesel buses with over 8,000 low- or zero-emission buses, improving air quality, reducing operating costs, and helping children breathe cleaner air.
AESB TAKE: The Alliance for Electric School Buses said, “Investing in clean school buses means investing in our nation’s children – in their ability to get to and from school without breathing in diesel fumes that trigger asthma attacks, harm brain development, lower test scores, and cause school absences. This is especially valuable for students from overburdened communities who suffer disproportionately from pollution burdens.
“We applaud Reps. Hayes, Carter, and Landsman for working across the aisle to continue this popular, successful program that’s already delivering results. We urge Congress to reauthorize the Clean School Bus Program and help more children breathe cleaner air.”
ON THE BLOG: Stay tuned for more new content coming soon to The Power Source! In the meantime, check out last week’s Suncor v. Boulder blog to learn how the Supreme Court might let Big Polluters off the hook.
ON OUR SOCIALS: Who should pay for climate disasters? (Hint: maybe the polluters who caused them…) This week, we checked in on Trump’s latest attacks on methane protections and public lands, and counted down to Election Day. If that’s all feeling a little bleak, don’t worry: Good Climate News is back to remind us there are still plenty of wins worth celebrating.
OCTOBER 12: Indigenous People’s Day.
OCTOBER 15: Last day of Latino Heritage Month.
OCTOBER 18: Clean Water Act 54th anniversary.
OCTOBER 24: National Vote Early Day.
NOVEMBER 2: Comment period closes on EPA’s proposal to weaken standards for climate pollution from power plants.
NOVEMBER 2: Comment period closes for the Census Bureau’s proposal for numerous changes to the Residence Rule in the 2030 Census that would undercount various communities.
NOVEMBER 3: ELECTION DAY.
©2026 League of Conservation Voters