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Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
“Young people are telling me they feel hope for the first time in a long time.”
— Deja Foxx, Digital Strategist and Content Creator, on the reaction from young people to Kamala Harris’s presidential bid.
“It made a huge difference in our budgets. Those kinds of numbers, they’re the difference between us being here and not.”
— Scott Saffer, a teacher in Illinois, on the impact of a nearby wind farm, which added almost $1 million to his school’s annual operating funds through tax revenue.
“As we reduce our dependence on oil and gas, we reduce our foreign adversaries’ ability to bully and corrupt.”
— Chair Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), at the Senate Budget Committee hearing on how domestic EV manufacturing could counter China and foreign oil producers.
BOEM COMPLETES FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR MARYLAND OFFSHORE WIND PROJECT: The Bureau of Oceanic Energy Management completed its final environmental impact statement for a proposed offshore wind project in Maryland that has an expected capacity of 1.1 to 2.2 gigawatts, enough to power up to 770,000 homes.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Government Affairs Advocate David Shadburn said, “The Biden-Harris administration is committed to our clean energy future. Today’s announcement is a critical next step in bringing enough clean offshore wind energy to Maryland to power up to 770,000 homes while creating thousands of good-paying clean energy jobs. We applaud the administration for their commitment to building the clean energy communities we need and are excited to continue working towards their goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy nationwide by 2030.”
MDLCV TAKE: Maryland LCV Executive Director Kim Coble said, “This announcement is an important next-step for Maryland’s clean energy transition. Offshore wind is a critical component of our state’s strategy to combat climate change while fostering economic growth. Maryland is building opportunities across the offshore wind supply chain, with pathways to build generational wealth through clean energy development. We are encouraged by BOEM’s thorough environmental review process, which included an analysis of scientific information as well as input from stakeholders.”
ICYMI: ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS PRAISE COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Last week, EPA announced the first recipients of funding through the Climate Justice Community Change Grants program, a $2 billion environmental justice program created under the Inflation Reduction Act. LCV and other prominent environmental groups praised the grants, which will provide direct support to communities who are facing some of our country’s most dangerous environmental and health hazards for projects that reduce pollution and increase climate resiliency. EPA is accepting proposals to fund more projects- find out more with our factsheet on the program.
OUR TAKE: LCV Government Affairs Representative for Healthy Communities Lizzy Duncan said, “We applaud the Biden-Harris administration for starting the Community Change Grants Program, which is the single largest investment in climate and environmental justice in history. These projects will help historically disadvantaged communities across the country suffering from the worst effects of the climate crisis, including extreme heat and increased natural disasters. There is a wide variety of projects that have been funded, including installing wastewater treatment systems in rural areas, performing much-needed weatherization upgrades to help low-income residents improve indoor air quality and reduce their energy bills, retrofitting buildings with energy-efficient HVAC systems, and creating much-needed green spaces in historically disadvantaged neighborhoods. We look forward to continuing to work with the Biden-Harris administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to support communities in building a clean energy future that is equitable for us all.”
EJNCP TAKE: The Equitable and Just National Climate Platform (EJNCP) said, “The $2 billion program, created through the Inflation Reduction Act, marks the largest federal investment in environmental justice communities in U.S. history. The program also is unique in that the grants provide direct support to community-based nonprofit organizations to implement solutions to the problems they are uniquely positioned to understand. We applaud the efforts and dedication of the members of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) who worked tirelessly to conceptualize and lead the creation of these grants to ensure no community is left behind.”
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR CHEMICAL REFORM POLICY TAKE: Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Reform Policy national co-coordinator Michele Roberts said, “Environmental justice communities experience inequitable living conditions tied to chronic disinvestment and structural racism, such as the continued harmful legacy of mortgage redlining practices and mid 20th century federal highway policy, which resulted in highly polluting freeways being intentionally built through communities of color. These grants will allow communities to implement projects that will help to restore the dream of the beloved community that includes improving walkability, bikeability and transit use and infrastructure for low or zero-emission transportation options.”
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION ENDORSES REFORM PROPOSALS FOR SUPREME COURT: The Biden-Harris administration announced support for proposed reforms to the Supreme Court to ensure that Justices are held to higher ethical standards and that no President is above the law.
OUR TAKE: Senior Director of Judiciary and Democracy Doug Lindner said, “The Biden-Harris administration is delivering on their promise to protect our democracy by supporting proposals to structurally reform the Supreme Court, hold the nation’s highest court to higher ethical standards, and ensure no one is above the law — not even a president. No president should have total immunity for committing a crime. Extreme MAGA Justices on the Supreme Court have repeatedly grabbed power to cater to Big Polluters and corporate interests in recent years, rolling back the people’s rights to have clean air and water, to have a free and fair democracy, to reproductive freedom including abortion access, and so much more. We’re thrilled the Biden-Harris administration is building on their historic progress on climate to protect our communities and our future generations by supporting bold action to protect our democracy.”
YOUTH LEADERS SPEAK ON MOMENTUM BUILDING FOR VP HARRIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN: On Thursday, a group of youth leaders and activists spoke on a call with press about how Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential candidacy has electrified excitement among young voters, including across battleground states and especially on key issues like reproductive freedom and climate justice.
OUR TAKE: LCV Youth Digital Campaigns Manager Casey Lowe said, “Young people know the stakes for climate, justice, and for our democracy. The urgency to act has never been greater. Young people are excited and ready to mobilize across the country to elect Vice President Kamala Harris and climate champions up and down the ballot.”
LCV ANNOUNCES LARGEST INVESTMENT EVER IN GREENROOTS MEMBER MOBILIZATION FIELD PROGRAM: LCV announced a $2.5 million investment in its member mobilization program, GreenRoots, which will mobilize LCV’s national membership in support of 25 LCV Action fund-endorsed candidates in battleground states. Thousands of LCV members across the country will knock doors, make calls, write letters, and turn out voters in support of climate champions, including Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Senate and U.S. House candidates.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Field Jennessa Agnew said, “LCV members are fired up to mobilize across the country and elect leaders who will continue the transformational progress of the Biden-Harris administration and pro-environment, pro-democracy champions in Congress. The stakes for people and the planet are higher than ever as communities continue to be impacted by record breaking extreme temperatures, which is why LCV is all-in with our largest investment ever to mobilize thousands of our members across the country to help elect climate and environmental justice champions. The contrast couldn’t be more clear between MAGA extremists and the pro-climate, pro-democracy champions who will continue to fight for people and the planet.”
GRIJALVA INTRODUCES GREAT BEND OF THE GILA NATIONAL MONUMENT ESTABLISHMENT ACT: Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07) introduced legislation to the House to protect the Great Bend of the Gila by establishing the protect the Great Bend of the Gila National Monument.
OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick said, “Representative Grijalva’s legislation introduced today is critical to protect the Great Bend of the Gila. This iconic river valley and desert has been home to Indigenous communities for thousands of years, and the climate crisis and development are threatening the ecosystem, wildlife, and the local communities who rely on this diverse landscape. Indigenous and local communities have long led the call to protect the Great Bend of the Gila, and now it’s time for Congress to protect this treasured land for future generations.”
CHISPA AZ TAKE: Chispa Arizona Executive Director Vianey Olivarría said, “Chispa Arizona celebrates today’s bill introduction by Rep. Raúl Grijalva. We are inspired by our Indigenous relatives who have called the Great Bend of the Gila home for millennia, have ongoing ties to the land, and have been calling for its designation as a national monument for decades. The legacy of cultural diversity here is written on the landscape in the form of tens of thousands of petroglyphs authored by Native Tribes. We thank Rep. Grijalva for listening to Tribes to protect this land for generations to come. As Arizonans, we’re lucky to have this site that has endured the test of time in our backyard. The Great Bend of the Gila is not just a physical place but critical to understanding the rich diversity and culture of our state’s stories and history and a connection to the experiences of Indigenous, Latinx, and other communities that make our country whole. We ask that Congress also hear the call of the original caretakers of this land and protect The Great Bend of the Gila in perpetuity.”
SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES DIRTY PERMITTING BILL: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the so-called Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, a permitting bill laden with handouts to polluters, introduced by Senators Joe Manchin (I-WV) and John Barrasso (R-WY). Though it contains some provisions to improve electricity transmission and grids, if passed as is, this bill would move our country in the wrong direction on climate and environmental justice.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy Matthew Davis said, “Improvements to our electricity grids and transmission systems are an important part of transitioning to a clean energy economy, but pairing that with massive handouts to fossil fuel executives that harm communities and lock in decades of climate pollution moves our country in the wrong direction and exacerbates environmental racism. This legislation not only supports Big Oil’s wish list, but gives away our public lands and waters by extending drilling permits, increasing required fossil fuel lease sales, giving mining companies’ wide latitude to treat our public lands as mine waste dumping sites, and codifying the rubber stamping of LNG export projects. We cannot continue to let Big Oil and Big Polluters jeopardize the health and safety of our families and communities by putting their dangerous agenda ahead of people and the environment. We must continue and build on the climate progress made by the Biden-Harris administration on clean energy and transmission deployment while protecting our communities and public lands.”
Earlier this week, LCV joined 360+ climate and environmental organizations in sending a letter urging Senators to reject the bill.
COALITION TAKE: From the letter, “This legislation guts bedrock environmental protections, endangers public health, opens up tens of millions of acres of public lands and hundreds of millions of acres of offshore waters to further oil and gas leasing, gives public lands to mining companies, and would defacto rubberstamp gas export projects that harm frontline communities and perpetuate the climate crisis.”
SENATE COMMITTEE MARKS UP FY25 ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS BILL: The Senate Appropriations Committee this week marked up the Energy and Water Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations bill with unanimous, bipartisan support.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Government Affairs Advocate David Shadburn said, “After last week’s fiasco in the House where extreme MAGA Republicans pulled the vote on the FY25 Energy and Water Appropriations bill because they didn’t have enough support from their own party, the Senate Appropriations Committee has shown that bipartisan agreement on appropriations is possible. Today’s bill is free from new poison pill policy riders proposed by extreme MAGA Republicans and advances a plan that prioritizes our communities and the environment, not the wishlist of Big Oil execs. While this bill represents a promising step forward, we believe more funding is necessary to meet the needs of our communities, our planet, and future generations. LCV thanks Chair Murray for her work to strengthen this bill, and will continue to fight to secure the funding necessary to achieve our climate and clean energy goals.”
LCV JOINS CIVIC NATION’S “SAVE ON CLEAN ENERGY CAMPAIGN”: LCV announced its participation in Civic Nation’s “Save on Clean Energy” campaign, together with a nonpartisan coalition of more than 50 businesses.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Director of Federal Climate and Clean Energy Solutions Lisa Hoyos said, “We are thrilled to be a part of the Save On Clean Energy campaign that will help consumers and communities lower their energy bills and save on clean energy upgrades. A key component of building a clean energy future is helping to raise awareness about the initiatives, programs, and tax credits that are available to families across the country to help save them money on their utilities and that is exactly what this campaign aims to do. We applaud the Biden-Harris administration for creating new federal incentives in the Clean Energy Plan that makes clean energy more affordable and accessible for families and look forward to continuing to work with the Biden-Harris administration to build a clean energy economy that lowers costs, creates family-sustaining jobs, and protects our environment.”
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS LAUNCH INDEPENDENT EFFORT TO ELECT O’MARA: LCV Victory Fund, NRDC Action Votes, EDF Action Votes, and other environmental groups launched a $500,000 independent expenditure campaign to elect Collin O’Mara in the Democratic primary for Governor of Delaware.
LCVVF TAKE: LCV Victory Fund Campaigns Director Eva Estrada said, “Collin O’Mara is a proven environmental champion who’s stood up for the people and places Delawareans care about most. O’Mara has the experience and commitment to take on the big polluters who’ve held Delaware back and continue to build more good paying clean energy jobs right here at home.”
QUEENS, NY RESIDENTS SHOW SUPPORT FOR PROPOSED CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT: Dozens of residents of Queens in New York City showed up to a public hearing to voice their support for the Queensboro Renewable Express, a proposed transmission project designed to deliver offshore wind energy to the Ravenswood Generating Station in Long Island City.
NYLCV TAKE: New York LCV President Julie Tighe said, “Tuesday’s public hearing demonstrated that when it comes to clean energy, New Yorkers understand that there can be no transition without transmission. Bringing offshore wind power efficiently from Long Island to the Ravenswood Generating Station will help the site’s decarbonization journey from a fossil fuel power plant to a clean energy hub that’ll advance environmental justice and serve as an example of the way forward for countless power plants across the state and country.”
VERMONT REQUESTS EXPERT INPUT FOR LANDMARK POLLUTER PAYS PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION: Vermont State Treasurer Mike Pieciak and Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore announced a request for information (RFI) for expert input on implementing the Climate Superfund Act, which was passed in May and made Vermont the first state to hold major fossil fuel companies financially responsible for damage caused by climate change. The RFI seeks advice on which companies to charge and how to determine their relative share of climate-related financial losses experienced in Vermont since 1995. The revenue generated will go into a new fund to finance disaster response and climate change adaptation projects.
VCV TAKE: Lauren Hierl, executive director of Vermont Conservation Voters said, “Without the Climate Superfund, the costs of climate change fall entirely on taxpayers – and that’s not fair. Now, there is a law in place to require the corporations that caused the damage to pay, too.”
APPEALS COURT REJECTS FERC PIPELINE APPROVAL: In a major win for New Jersey’s climate agenda, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of a natural gas pipeline in the state, citing the Commission’s failure to consider environmental consequences of the pipeline, as well as lack of demand for additional gas.
NEW JERSEY LCV TAKE: New Jersey LCV Executive Director Ed Potosnak said, “This victory will help limit the powers of fossil fuel behemoths like Transco, who have armies of lawyers and connected lobbyists, to bypass states like New Jersey that want to continue the hard work of moving away from dirty oil and gas and meeting clean energy goals to protect public health. This decision will also give added protections to working families and local businesses, which are forced to bear the cost of these unnecessary fossil fuel projects. Fossil fuel projects like REAE lock in higher emissions and dirty fuel infrastructure for decades at the precise moment when we must be moving full steam ahead with transitioning to clean, renewable energy. I applaud the court’s decision to stop this over-reach by FERC and a mammoth international fossil fuel company.”
ALLIANCE FOR ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES RECEIVES TRAILBLAZER AWARD FROM WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE: The Alliance for Electric School Buses received the Electric School Bus Trailblazer Award at the Roadmap to 100 Electric School Bus Summit in Baltimore on July 24th. Chispa’s Estefany Carrasco-González, along with representatives from Jobs to Move America, Moms Clean Air Force, Sierra Club, and Earthjustice were there to accept the award. This award is a recognition of the hard work of the Alliance and the impact the move to clean buses is having on communities throughout the country.
ON THE BLOG: July was certainly an eventful month, so catch up with LCV’s Top 5 stories of the month, including our endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, federal investments in infrastructure and climate resilience, advancements in rural clean energy and environmental justice, efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay, and Vermont’s 100% clean energy commitment.
ON OUR SOCIALS: Kamala Harris has been an environmental champion her entire career, while Donald Trump’s takes on the environment and our democracy are, well, weird. Learn how poll workers help protect our democracy from weird (and racist) politicians and all the reasons why you should sign up to become a poll worker today!
THIS MONTH: August Congressional Recess.
AUGUST 6: 59th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
AUGUST 16: 2nd anniversary of the passage of the historic climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act.
AUGUST 19-22: Democratic National Convention.
©2024 League of Conservation Voters