Each month, LCV shares five stories about the impact of our work. This month, we’re focusing on the 2024 LCV National Environmental Scorecard, clean transportation in New York City, home electrification in North Carolina, the new Trump Climate and Clean Energy tracker, and the groundbreaking victories won by our movement in 2024.

This Month’s Stories

1. LCV’s 2024 National Environmental Scorecard Highlights Champs of Color

For more than 50 years, LCV has published the National Environmental Scorecard to track the voting records of all members of Congress on critical environmental, climate, environmental justice, and democracy legislation. By keeping score, we’re shining a light on leaders’ policy positions and empowering constituents to know whether or not lawmakers are voting to protect their communities and the planet.

The 2024 Scorecard was just released and, as in years past, includes a Champions of Color Leading the Way spotlight. It highlights the many conservation, environmental justice, and pro-democracy bills and initiatives that were led and supported by members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) — collectively referred to as the Tri-Caucus.

From veteran legislators to millennial leaders, the Climate Champions of Color section focuses on fierce advocates for protecting our planet, communities, and health, including:

• Sen. Tammy Duckworth (IL), who led efforts to preserve culturally significant lands and introduced the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Act, which led to the designation of that monument in Illinois.
• Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), who pioneered efforts to restore integrity and balance to the nation’s highest court by sponsoring the Judiciary Act and the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act.
• Sen. Alex Padilla (CA), who led the charge against attacks in the Senate that would overturn EPA regulations to protect our air from harmful transportation pollution.
• Rep. David Scott (GA-13), who consistently — and successfully — pushed for retaining climate-smart agriculture investments in the Farm Bill negotiations.
• Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14), who introduced legislation to support state, tribal, territorial, and local governments as they prepare for and mitigate the health impacts of climate change.
• Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43), who led efforts to hold large corporate polluters accountable for their climate impacts on their investors and the general public.

LCV’s Scorecard provides critical objective, factual scoring, is a key component of our strategy to hold elected leaders accountable for their actions, and uplifts those working to advance climate action and strengthen our democracy. Find out whether the officials who represent you are voting in support of healthy communities, a safe climate, and an inclusive democracy by entering your zipcode or downloading the full document here.

2. New York City’s Historic Move Toward Clean Transportation

Communities nationwide are turning to innovative solutions to clean their air and lower emissions from the transportation sector, which is responsible for nearly a third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. As an example, New York City is now utilizing a congestion pricing program which charges drivers a toll to enter busy parts of Manhattan during peak hours.

Why It Matters

The Manhattan Transportation Authority (MTA) estimates that the program will lead to 80,000 fewer vehicles entering Manhattan each day, resulting in lower pollution levels and improved air quality for NYC residents. The program will generate an estimated $500 million in annual revenue which will be used to invest in improving public transportation infrastructure and accessibility in the city.

Where It’s Used

Congestion pricing is a proven solution that has already worked in cities like London and Singapore, and New York City is the first city in the U.S. to implement this policy.

As the first cars pass through the toll zones, the city embarks on a new chapter. With reduced traffic congestion, improved public transit, and a cleaner environment, New York City is setting an example of how urban centers can take bold action to combat climate change and improve the lives of their residents — and cities across the country are watching closely.

How We Won

LCV’s state affiliate, New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV), mobilized members and partners to advocate for this monumental step toward cleaner, greener, and more efficient transportation and maintain constant visibility with decision makers. Their work included driving more than 2,000 public comments in support of congestion pricing and amplifying the issue in the media — especially after the program’s initial start date was delayed — to ensure the governor carried through its launch.

NYLCV celebrated this victory and outlined all the ways it will tackle the city’s gridlock, air pollution and underfunded public transit system.

Note: On February 19, the Trump administration revoked federal approval of the congestion pricing program. However, the program will remain in effect as the MTA and New York state officials appeal the federal edict in court. NYLCV is continuing to help defend this critical program.

3. North Carolina Launches Home Electrification Incentives

Across the country, communities are benefitting from home electrification incentives thanks to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Unfortunately, these programs are the same ones that the Trump administration has tried to block and aims to destroy to line their fossil fuel donors’ pockets, including for constituents in states that helped elect him.

North Carolina is a prime example. State officials there recently unveiled a first-ever statewide electrification program that provides rebates to help households access cost-saving weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades. These include switching out gas appliances such as stoves and heaters for high-efficiency electric options like heat pumps, and installing solar panels.

The Energy Saver North Carolina program was launched in January and will create jobs, put money back in consumers’ pockets, make homes more comfortable, and help move the state to a clean energy economy.

Who Benefits

The program, which makes use of the federal clean energy investments included in the IRA, is open to low- to moderate-income homeowners and will initially focus on single-family, owner-occupied housing, particularly those in high energy-burdened, economically disadvantaged regions and in areas with storm impacts.

What They’ll Get

Recipients benefit from lower energy bills and may receive a wide-range of incentives, which include:

• $8,000 for a whole-home heat pump for heating and cooling
• $4,000 for an upgraded electrical panel
• $2,500 for updated electrical wiring
• $1,750 for a heat pump water heater
• $1,600 for insulation, air sealing, and ventilation
• $840 for heat pump clothes dryer or electric stove, cooktop, range, or oven

How We Helped

LCV’s state affiliate, North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation (NCLCVF), leads a coalition that influences the state’s design and implementation of programs funded by the IRA. Their advocacy helps ensure that federal dollars are used to advance equitable climate solutions and prioritize investment in low-income and overburdened communities.

NCLCVF coordinated with more than 30 organizations to send a letter that outlined recommendations for the roll out of the home electrification and efficiency rebates. That letter launched negotiations with the state about how to incorporate the recommendations into program creation and outreach plans.

As a result, these programs include expanded eligibility pathways, create specific opportunities for rural contractors, and dedicate funding for businesses owned by people who bring broad skillsets and experiences to the industry.

In addition, NCLCVF spearheads efforts to promote access to IRA benefits, including offering direct assistance navigating and applying for grants, creating a comprehensive online toolkit explaining available funding and eligibility requirements, and giving presentations across the state which have educated more than 18,000 people.

4. Coalition Launches Trump Climate and Clean Energy Rollback Tracker

LCV’s 12 years-long involvement with the Climate Action Campaign (CAC) is a prime example of the power of our partnerships at work. CAC recently launched the Trump Climate and Clean Energy Rollback Tracker to document the administration’s climate chaos, providing easy access to overviews of actions to date, status updates on rollbacks, and links to deeper information, including these recent examples:

The tracker allows readers to filter the administration’s actions by federal agency and category to quickly find the information you need to stay up to date in this rapidly changing environment. Projects like this are a testament to the strength of our partnerships, which allow us to work with increased speed and at an even broader scale to respond to threats and maximize our successes.

CAC includes a dozen major national environmental, environmental justice, and public health groups focused on reducing climate pollution and accelerating the transition to clean energy and a sustainable society in ways that support justice, jobs, and improved health for all.

In addition to LCV, CAC member organizations include: Center for American Progress, Earthjustice, Environment America, Environmental Defense Fund, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, U.S. Climate Action Network, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice.

5. 2024 Impact Reports Demonstrate Our Collective Power

Last year, LCV and LCV Education Fund (LCVEF) made groundbreaking progress that protected people and the planet at the local, state, and national levels. Our recently released 2024 Impact Reports serve as vivid reminders of our collective power, and how tapping into that power will be increasingly important as we counter the current administration in 2025 and beyond.

The 2024 LCV Impact Report and 2024 LCVEF Impact Report each showcase stories about some of the outstanding individuals who power our movement, as well as details about climate action, environmental, and democracy progress across the country, including:

Though the Trump administration and their MAGA allies in Congress are doing everything they can to dismantle our nation’s protections for people and the planet in order to further enrich their billionaire buddies and fossil fueled polluters, LCV has always and will continue to fight back. Our annual Impact Reports are proof of what we can accomplish when we work together.