©2024 League of Conservation Voters
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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.
“I have always believed – and I have worked on it – that the climate crisis is real, that it is an urgent matter to which we should apply metrics that include holding ourselves to deadlines around time. We did that with the Inflation Reduction Act. We have set goals for the United States of America and by extension, the globe, around when we should meet certain standards for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as an example. ”
— Vice President Kamala Harris in an interview with CNN.
“This election is about every drop of water that we consume and every breath we breathe.”
— Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) on the stakes of the November presidential election.
“All across the board in energy, we’re seeing a manufacturing renaissance that would be disrupted if House Republicans had their way.”
— Ali Zaidi, White House Climate Advisor, on the clean energy manufacturing jobs boom being seen across the country.
CLEAN ENERGY JOBS ARE BOOMING: A new report from the Department of Energy (DOE) has shown that jobs in the clean energy sector grew 4.2% in 2023, twice the rate of other U.S. employment. According to the report, the U.S. economy added 250,000 jobs in 2023, with 56% of those being in the clean energy sector. This incredible job growth is the result of historic investment from the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, and proves that a healthy economy and a healthy planet go hand in hand.
DOE TAKE: U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said, “Our policies are working. We are now starting to see the job impacts of investments made through the infrastructure and inflation reduction laws – first in construction and as America builds more of these factories, we’ll see hundreds of thousands more. The data clearly show that clean energy means jobs – good jobs, union jobs, and jobs retained – in communities across the country as we race to dominate the global clean energy economy.”
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION FINALIZES WESTERN SOLAR PLAN: The Biden-Harris administration has finalized the updated Western Solar Plan to expand solar energy production on public lands.
OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick said, “Public lands can and should be a part of the climate solution and this final Western Solar Plan will help to accelerate clean energy development. This plan is a great step forward as it guides responsible solar energy across 11 western states and is the first update of a plan for solar development on public lands since 2012. The Biden-Harris administration is demonstrating that the expansion of clean energy is a win-win-win for our environment, climate, and jobs; half of the 250,000 jobs added in 2023 were clean energy jobs, with double the job growth rate of other sectors. We applaud the Biden-Harris administration and Secretary Haaland for their endeavors to rapidly expand clean energy deployment on our public lands and balancing that with the need to protect important habitat, cultural resources, and areas with fewer resource conflicts.”
DOI FINALIZES PROTECTIONS FOR D-1 LANDS IN ALASKA: The Department of the Interior has issued a Record of Decision finalizing protections for 28 million acres of public lands in Alaska.
OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick said, “LCV celebrates the finalization of this Record of Decision, retaining protections for 28 million acres of public lands essential to traditional subsistence communities and wildlife, including caribou, moose, bears, migratory birds, and salmon. President Biden and Secretary Haaland are honoring the calls of Alaska Native communities, safeguarding these public lands from harmful industrial development and ensuring that some of the largest connected landscapes in the country remain intact and can continue providing for the communities that rely on them. We applaud President Biden’s ongoing commitment to conservation and urge the Biden-Harris administration to further its historic legacy by continuing to take critical conservation steps that put people, public lands, and climate first.”
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION DELIVERS FUNDING FOR 9,200 ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS: The Biden-Harris administration has awarded $521 million to state and local authorities in 29 states, eight Tribal nations, and Washington D.C. to install 9,2000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The construction of more EV chargers will help accelerate the adoption of EVs across the country.
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION INVESTS IN ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS: The Biden-Harris administration will award $240 million to 19 state and local governments to implement energy efficient building codes in residential and commercial buildings. The new building codes will lower energy costs and emissions, and increase the resilience of energy grids.
ICYMI: LCV AND STATE AFFILIATES AT THE DNC: Last week, the Conservation Voters Movement (CVM) — the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and our 30+ state affiliates — were in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to participate in various convention panels and events as climate action was featured at the DNC. Learn more in the press release.
ICYMI: LCVVF MEMO ON CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE DNC: LCV Victory Fund released a memo following the Democratic National Convention outlining the ways climate change was discussed at the convention, and pushing back on the narrative that the topic didn’t receive a lot of attention. Read the full memo for more.
ARIZONA LAUNCHES HOME ENERGY REBATE PROGRAM: Arizona has become the third state to launch Phase 1 of its Home Energy Rebate Program, Efficiency Arizona, following New York and Wisconsin.
CHISPA AZ TAKE: Chispa Arizona Deputy Director Masavi Perea spoke at a roundtable on the announcement. He said, “We have a historic opportunity to help our people in a tangible way, and we have to be mindful and intentional about making processes accessible. We have to offer information in multiple languages, work with trusted members of communities to spread the word so our people don’t fall prey to scams, and we must make sure we don’t bury people in bureaucracy. We have to work together to do this right.”
CHISPA AZ AND ALLIES RALLY AGAINST URANIUM MINE THREATENING GRAND CANYON: Members of the Havasupai Tribe, Lakota horseback riders, and Chispa Arizona gathered south of the Grand Canyon to oppose the Pinyon Plain Uranium Mine this week. The mine threatens the Havasupai’s sole water source, endangers nearby Indigenous communities, and poses significant environmental and cultural risks, prompting legal action from the Havasupai and environmental groups.
OHIO “GRASSROOTS” ANTI-SOLAR GROUP HAS FOSSIL FUELS CONNECTIONS: Ohio regulators discovered that a natural gas executive is among one of a local solar opposition group’s largest donors. The group had previously claimed to be a grassroots organization advocating for local farmers and residents.
OEC TAKE: Ohio Environmental Council Managing Director of Energy Policy Nolan Rutschilling said, “People trust their neighbors because they are often believed to not have any outside agenda other than the best interest of their community. Unfortunately, this allows misinformation to spread quickly, and communities have stopped renewable energy projects from moving forward.”
CHISPA NV AND PARTNERS RALLY AGAINST NV ENERGY’S PROPOSAL IN RENO: Yesterday, Chispa Nevada and local organizations, including Plan Nevada and Make the Road Nevada, gathered at the Public Utilities Commission office in Reno to oppose NV Energy’s proposal to raise the base service charge and tell officials that they are tired of choosing between paying their electricity bills and putting food on the table.
CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS TRANSITIONS TO 100% ELECTRIC BUSES: California’s Oakland Unified School District has become the first major school district in the country to transition to a 100% electric bus fleet. The clean bus fleet will be safer and healthier for students, and provide 2.1 gigawatt hours of energy back to the grid each year.
Also, check out this great story from CBS about electric school buses at another California school district!
ON THE BLOG: Recap August with us by checking out this month’s Top 5 stories on The Power Source Blog! This month’s headlines include Tim Walz’s impressive climate record, our previous success and plans for mobilizing LCV members to elect climate champions, and the many ways LCV and our state affiliates help everyday people benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) clean energy investments.
ON OUR SOCIALS: This week, the social team partnered with some new friends including @mrsfrazzled and @saiebeauty on Instagram, @heathergtv on X/Twitter. Stay tuned for more!
And, check out how your community can save money through President Biden’s Affordable Clean Energy Plan in a new video from Chispa that shows you how to replace old appliances with energy-efficient options, and take advantage of rebates and tax credits!
SEPTEMBER 2: Labor Day.
SEPTEMBER 9: Congress back in session.
SEPTEMBER 10: Presidential debate.
SEPTEMBER 14: Start of Latinx Conservation Week.
SEPTEMBER 15: Latinx Heritage Month begins.
SEPTEMBER 17: Voter Registration Day.
SEPTEMBER 22: First day of autumn.
SEPTEMBER 30: Current government funding expires.
©2024 League of Conservation Voters