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, we’re covering who’s responsibly (and irresponsibly) offering solutions to data center development, energy affordability, and air and water pollution.
Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and TikTok.
“In the past two years, I’ve watched and fought back with an angry fire in my heart as Trump’s reckless EPA leaders have advanced costly and harmful rollbacks to protections for our communities, our air, water, and land, all for the primary benefit of oil, gas, and coal CEOs.”
— Matthew Davis, LCV vice president of federal policy and former EPA scientist, during a press event where congressional Democrats introduced a bill to restore EPA’s mission of protecting the environment and public health.
“We need real solutions to rising costs of energy, like the Energy Bills Relief Act, rather than backroom deals that help to shield big polluters and data centers while doing very little to address the affordability crisis that people are facing.”
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) on the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bill that falls short of protecting ratepayers from skyrocketing energy costs and will have little practical impact on lowering bills.
“The Trump administration is spending nearly $4 billion in taxpayer funds to cancel 12 offshore wind leases at the same time when Americans’ utility bills are rising. Their priorities are completely out of whack.”
— Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01) at a press conference calling out Trump’s corrupt offshore wind buyouts.
SPANBERGER DATA CENTER PLAN: Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger announced her plan to enact new datacenter guardrails for the Commonwealth. Her data center accountability framework bans non-disclosure agreements for data centers, accelerates clean energy deployment and makes it easier for data centers to bring their own clean power, sets water usage and noise regulations, helps ensure data centers pay for their fair share of electric transmission and generation costs, and limits new gas energy generation.
VALCV TAKE: Virginia League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Michael Town spoke at the governor’s press conference today, saying, “You can’t go too many places in America today where people are not raising concerns about data centers. For us in Virginia, this is old news. Data Centers have been reshaping communities. Our electric bills keep going up. Neighborhoods have black clouds over them coming from diesel generators on the hottest days of the year. Local officials are cutting deals with companies and keeping the details secret from their voters. People are angry.”
“Virginians have been clamoring for action, and for the most part, their concerns have been falling on deaf ears. Virginia LCV represents voters from across the Commonwealth. We fight for a cleaner environment and for a healthier democracy. When the people are crying for help because their community is being polluted and no one is listening, both our environment and our democracy suffer. Until today, that has been our path with data centers. Today, that changes.“
“We and many of our partners are ready to work with Governor Spanberger as she leads Virginia into a new era of data center accountability. Together, we’ll cut pollution and we’ll protect communities. The path ahead will not be easy, and we will not always agree. Tomorrow the work begins. Today, we say thank you, Governor Spanberger, thank you for your commitment to tackle this issue and we stand ready to join you as we build a stronger, healthier and cleaner Virginia together.”
LCV TAKE: LCV President Pete Maysmith said, “People are fed up paying massive utility bills, watching Big Tech companies raise their rates to build new data centers that threaten more gas pollution in local communities’ clean air and water. This is why leadership matters. Governor Spanberger ran to address rising costs and today’s executive order and sweeping framework will help bring relief to Virginians and hold Big Tech accountable. We look forward to Gov. Spanberger working with Virginia LCV, other state partners, and the legislature to enact strong guardrails in the General Assembly. Across the country Republicans are attempting to kill clean energy and hand out massive giveaways to their Big Polluter billionaire donors. But the public is fighting back. We need more leaders like Abigail Spanberger who are ready to take on Big Tech and fight the source of rising energy costs.”
HAALAND DATA CENTER PLAN: Democratic candidate for New Mexico governor, Deb Haaland, announced her plan to establish a temporary moratorium on data centers on day one if elected. The pause would remain in effect until the state legislature enacts protections Haaland has called for, including clear standards for water use, clean energy, transparency and jobs associated with data centers.
CVNM ACTION FUND TAKE: On social media, Conservation Voters New Mexico Action Fund said, “Deb Haaland announced she will take executive action on day 1 as governor to put a moratorium on data centers until the state passes strong environmental and community guardrails and protections. She has made it clear that NM is ready to lead.”
LCVVF RELEASES NEW POLLING ON CLEAN ENERGY AFFORDABILITY: New testing conducted by Tavern Research from June to August of 2026 determined that LCV Victory Fund’s early house program ads that ran in VA-01, MI-04 and AZ-02 improved results for Democrats by leveraging clean energy affordability. The ads focused on how the Republican incumbent voted to cut clean energy driving up utility bills so the wealthy could get another cut. After the ads aired, the named ballot moved a net 4 points toward the Democrat in all three districts. Read more here.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND ADVOCATES CALL OUT TRUMP’S OFFSHORE WIND BUYOUTS: LCV joined labor, environmental advocates, and members of Congress to denounce the Trump administration’s attacks on offshore wind. As energy bills continue to skyrocket, the administration has used nearly $4 billion taxpayer dollars to buy out leases for offshore wind and force companies to invest that money into methane gas export projects, further increasing household costs and air and climate pollution.
OUR TAKE: LCV Legislative Director David Shadburn said, “As if energy costs were not high enough, the Trump administration has spent almost four billion taxpayer dollars to keep our energy costs high by blocking affordable clean offshore wind energy. Trump is instead directing our tax dollars to new LNG export projects, shipping gas overseas and actually driving prices back home even higher, all while enriching Trump’s fossil fuel donors. We stand with clean energy leaders in Congress who are fighting to hold this administration to account and lower costs for working families.”
HOUSE PASSES WINDOW DRESSING ON DATA CENTERS: The House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bill that, on its own, falls short of addressing concerns about data centers and skyrocketing energy costs. The bill encourages states to consider protecting ratepayers from data centers, but fails to establish or require states to establish meaningful standards to address high consumer costs and the environmental impacts of data center development.
OUR TAKE: Last week, ahead of the vote, LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo said, “No Representative should feel like a vote for this bill solves the concerns people back home have with data centers. The public is looking for their elected officials to take on utility corruption and guarantee that Big Tech will pay the full costs of infrastructure for their data centers and build the clean, reliable grid we all need. Lawmakers must also address the significant concerns communities have about data centers’ impact on water, air, climate, and noise pollution. They are fed up with corrupt backroom deals that cut out communities and don’t want data centers powered by dirtier and more expensive gas, diesel, or coal.
“The job won’t be done until there are real, enforceable guardrails to ensure environmental and public health protections, meaningful community input and benefits for communities hosting these facilities, and until Big Tech — not the public – pays the full cost of electricity and water and broader infrastructure upgrades.”
TRUMP’S EPA REPEALS POLLUTION STANDARDS FOR POWER PLANTS: Trump’s EPA issued a final rule repealing climate pollution limits for coal- and gas-fired power plants. Rolling back these emissions standards will increase climate and other pollution, drive up our energy bills, and have disastrous consequences on public health… all to benefit Trump’s Big Polluter allies. In addition, EPA launched a proposal that would abdicate the agency’s responsibility to regulate greenhouse gas emissions altogether, which will be open for public comment through November 2nd.
OUR TAKE: Ahead of the final rule, LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA scientist Matthew Davis said, “Instead of holding polluters accountable, Trump and EPA administrator Lee Zeldin are determined to give free passes to Big Polluters at the expense of the health, safety, and budgets of our communities. By erasing limits on climate pollution for coal and methane gas plants while Trump is continuing to rush through data centers powered by coal and gas, the EPA is putting all of us, our health and our economy at tremendous risk. In order to benefit their Big Oil and Coal CEO donors, our families will get sicker, our utility costs will continue to skyrocket, our air will be dirtier, and we will face more extreme weather. Instead of repealing standards that are designed to protect us and provide billions of dollars in benefits, Lee Zeldin and the EPA should be protecting our communities by strengthening standards to reduce climate pollution and drive down energy, health, and disaster costs.”
CONGRESS’ BIG OIL HANDOUT WEEK: This week, congressional Republicans pushed for even more handouts to fossil fuel companies, including the House narrowly passing two Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions, H.J. Res. 210 and H.J. Res. 213, both of which seek to remove maritime ship air pollution limits that lower fuel oil use and ensure Big Oil profits remain sky-high. Before skipping town, Senate Republican leadership may bring up S.J. Res 208 and S.J. Res 207, both of which would drive up families’ costs at the pump by blocking longstanding air pollution and efficiency standards for cars.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA scientist Matthew Davis said, “In the last week before they head out for an extended recess, House Republican leadership decided to use their limited time to push for more handouts to Big Polluters, instead of passing legislation that will make life better and less expensive for everyday people. Across the country, people on both sides of the aisle are fed up with high prices fueled by Trump’s war in Iran, and they understand that the corrupt oil and gas industry is taking advantage of this crisis to drive prices to record levels, at all of our expense. Over 70% of respondents in recent polling support a windfall profits tax to return money to families and crack down on Big Oil’s war profiteering.
“This week, congressional Republicans proved that, even with midterms on the line, they are willing to sacrifice the health and financial well-being of their constituents to benefit Big Polluters. Sadly, it appears the public has come to expect this: by a 30 point margin they think the Republican party cares more about oil and gas CEOs than working families, and separate polling showed Americans view Oil and Gas as the ‘most corrupt’ industry in the country. Instead of padding oil and gas CEOs’ pockets, Congress should focus on deploying immediate relief, clean energy, and grid improvements to make electricity more affordable for families, and hold billionaire utility, oil and gas, and tech companies accountable.”
ARIZONA YOUTH ARE TURNING CLIMATE EDUCATION INTO ACTION: Through Chispa Arizona’s Plantando Semillas program, young people are building their knowledge of climate and environmental justice while developing the skills to advocate for their communities. Their work toward the Seal of Climate Literacy offers a look at how the next generation of Arizona climate leaders is learning, organizing, and making their voices heard. See youth in action here.
LCVVF AND CFFE PAC LAUNCH $3.7 MILLION PAID FIELD PROGRAM: The Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy PAC (CFFE PAC) and LCV Victory Fund, along with state affiliates and partners, announced a combined $3.7 million investment in field organizing programs encompassing Senate, House, and gubernatorial races to knock over 300,000 doors in Michigan and Ohio. Read more about the program here.
LCVVF TAKE: LCV Victory Fund Senior Vice President of Campaigns Sara Schreiber said, “We need leaders who will prioritize people over polluters. We are thrilled to be partnering with the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy to go door to door to meet voters where they are. Across the country we are facing an affordability crisis and voters need to know that there are candidates who have platforms and plans to actually lower costs, especially utility costs. Voters deserve better. They deserve leaders who will stand up to Big Polluters, advocate for their communities, and look for our health and safety.”
LCVVF LAUNCHES $2.6 MILLION AD BLITZ: LCV Victory Fund announced a $1.6 million ad campaign calling out Iowa Senate candidate Ashley Hinson’s record of voting against clean water protections, and a $1 million campaign targeting Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Scott Perry (PA-10).
LCVVF TAKE: LCV Victory Fund Senior Vice President of Campaigns Sara Schreiber said, “The folks back home are fed up with what these Republican Representatives have been doing in Washington to raise costs and roll back basic environmental protections. They’re helping us tell these stories because voters deserve to know why their utility costs have risen over the past year and corporate interests are put ahead of keeping families healthy and safe.”
LCVVF WEEKLY ROUNDUP: We are so back! With just 46 days until Election Day, LCV Victory Fund’s weekly report is back. Each week we will be sharing exclusives, new ads and organizing programing, paid media trackers, and the latest happenings on energy affordability this election season. Check out this week’s roundup here.
LCV, NRDC ACTION FUND LAUNCH PAID FIELD PROGRAM: LCV and NRDC Action Fund each launched a paid field canvassing program to work alongside campaigns in battleground states across the country. The LCV program, called the Clean Energy Corps, will run in three high-priority Congressional Districts and knock over 150,000 doors to mobilize voters in support of pro-environment, pro-democracy candidates, including Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14) and candidates Rebecca Bennett (NJ-07), and Paige Cognetti (PA-08).
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Field Jennessa Agnew said, “Trump and his MAGA allies are doing all they can to take away voters’ right to free and fair elections while rolling back protections for our health and safety and making our lives more expensive. We’re utilizing every tool in our toolbox to mobilize voters, including those who have been historically excluded, by working alongside campaigns to reach more communities and talking about getting out the message that these candidates will fight for them, stand up to Big Polluters, and address the kitchen table issues impacting them every day.”
LCV, NRDC ACTION FUND LAUNCH AD URGING MEMBERS TO PROTECT THE CLEAN WATER ACT: LCV and NRDC Action Fund announced a six-figure ad buy to urge lawmakers to protect the Clean Water Act from further action by the Trump administration and Congress. This six-figure digital ad buy will run through October 2nd.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo said, “Trump and his allies have done everything in their power to gut critical protections for the water our communities rely on so that the fossil fuel industry, data centers, and corporate interests profit at our expense. We know the devastating costs to our health and safety when these protections fail and Big Polluters go unchecked. Families deserve clean water, no matter their income or zip code, and we’re urging members of Congress to reject polluters’ efforts to gut the Clean Water Act.”
CONGRESSIONAL DEMS INTRODUCE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESTORATION ACT: Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and Jeff Merkley (OR) and Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Environmental Health Restoration Act at a press event with Protect our Winters on Wednesday. The bill aims to restore EPA’s mission and reinstate protections for public health and the environment.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA scientist Matthew Davis said, “We appreciate Senator Whitehouse and Representative Casten for fighting to restore the EPA’s mission and safeguards to protect public health, the environment and our climate in the face of the Trump administration’s reckless and dangerous rollbacks. People want more protections for their families and our air, water, and land, not less. They want officials who will hold accountable those corrupt utilities, data center developers, and fossil fuel companies that are driving up costs and making us sicker. EPA’s leaders must fulfill the agency’s mission of protecting human health and the environment and reject President Trump’s corrupt giveaways to his tech, coal, oil, and gas cronies. LCV is proud to support the Environmental Health Restoration Act to right the ship and deliver for American families.”
SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE REPUBLICANS PASS HARMFUL FARM BILL: Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a partisan Farm Bill that would slash investments in critical programs that help farmers engage in more sustainable and regenerative farming practices while doing nothing to address the upcoming Republican-caused food security crisis.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo said, “Farmers nationwide are struggling with extreme weather and rapidly rising costs under the Trump administration. To ensure our farmers can continue putting food on tables across the country, Congress should be investing more in the programs and agencies that help farmers thrive while fighting and adapting to the climate crisis. Instead, Republicans on the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a bill that slashes investments in critical, already-oversubscribed conservation programs that help farmers engage in more sustainable and regenerative farming practices and fails to address the upcoming SNAP crisis that congressional Republicans created with the Republican Tax Law. We call on the Senate to reject this harmful proposal and pass a truly bipartisan Farm Bill that supports farmers, families, and our environment.”
LCVAF ENDORSED CANDIDATES WIN DELAWARE PRIMARIES: LCV Action Fund endorsed candidates Chris Coons (Senate) and Sarah McBride (DE-AL) won their respective primary elections in Delaware. All LCV Action Fund endorsed candidates for this cycle can be found here.
LCVAF TAKE: LCV Action Fund Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo said, “Chris Coons and Sarah McBride are fighting to protect free and fair elections, the health of our communities, and a cleaner, more affordable energy future. While people are paying higher costs for gas and their energy bills due to Trump and his Republican allies’ actions, Big Polluters rake in massive profits. Voters have made it clear — they want clean air and water and affordable energy solutions. We’re all in to support candidates who will protect people and our planet.”
ON THE BLOG: This week on the blog, we published our top five stories for fall 2026, including primary election victories, wins in the fight to rein in data centers, progress in the fight for clean energy, new laws to hold polluters accountable, and LCV Action Fund endorsements in the upcoming elections.
ON OUR SOCIALS: As energy prices soar, Secretary Wright is thankful for president Trump’s commonsense leadership. And Big Tech and Big Oil are definitely not deceiving us. Finally, it all makes sense.
SEPTEMBER 21: Comment period closes on USDA’s proposal to repeal the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
OCTOBER 5: Supreme Court oral arguments in Suncor v. Boulder.
OCTOBER 12: Indigenous People’s Day.
OCTOBER 24: National Vote Early Day.
NOVEMBER 2: Comment period closes on EPA’s proposal to not limit any climate pollution.
NOVEMBER 3: ELECTION DAY.
©2026 League of Conservation Voters