©2024 League of Conservation Voters
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, BlueSky, and TikTok.
“Humanity’s torching the planet and paying the price.”
— United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the likely possibility that 2024 will surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record.
“I couldn’t be more humbled or proud for the National Park Service to be part of charting a new path forward together as we continue to share and recognize our full American history.”
— Chuck Sams, the first Tribally-enrolled director of the National Parks Service, on the establishment of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument.
“Today’s oral arguments show how extreme Supreme Court justices are once again threatening bedrock protections for our communities, our environment, and our future generations.”
– Doug Lindner, LCV Senior Director of Judiciary and Democracy, on the Supreme Court’s oral arguments in a case that threatens to weaken the National Environmental Policy Act.
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES CLEAN HEAVY DUTY VEHICLE AWARDS: The Biden-Harris administration announced the finalists for a combined $735 million from the Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Grant Program, which aims to cut pollution from the transportation sector.
OUR TAKE: LCV Government Affairs Advocate for Climate & Clean Energy Darien Davis said, “The Biden-Harris administration continues to work around the clock, today delivering $700 million of affordable clean energy plan investments to replace dirty diesel trucks and buses polluting our communities. These grants will help to tackle the climate crisis and reduce transportation pollution in communities across the country, especially in underserved communities who disproportionately experience air pollution and the impacts of fossil-fueled climate change. The Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Program will help to create good union jobs for workers who build them and install and maintain charging infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles and is just one of the many investments in the Inflation Reduction Act to help provide affordable, clean energy solutions to families and ensure the clean energy future is made by and for communities in the United States.”
CHISPA TAKE: Chispa Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-González said, “We are very excited for the communities that applied and were selected for a Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle grant today! This means more electric school buses and healthier air for our children and comunidades who are directly experiencing air pollution and the impacts of climate change now. We know zero-tailpipe emission school buses are better for our niños, our planet, and spur local economies by helping create good union jobs. These grants will help school districts meet the overwhelming demand for clean bus fleet funding and replace aging diesel buses while investing in our children’s futures.”
SECRETARY HAALAND INITIATES PROTECTIONS FOR PECOS RIVERS WATERSHED: Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland initiated a two-year protection for 165,000 acres in the Pecos River Watershed in Sante Fe, New Mexico from new mining claims.
OUR TAKE: LCV Conservation Program Director America Fitzpatrick said, “LCV applauds Secretary Haaland for initiating protections for 165,000 acres in Sante Fe’s Pecos Rivers Watershed. These protections will safeguard the region’s critical fish and wildlife habitats, recreational opportunities, as well as culturally important lands for local Indigenous communities from dangerous and polluting mining projects. We thank Senators Heinrich and Luján and Representatives Leger Fernández and Stansbury for their leadership in advocating for this withdrawal and urge Congress to permanently protect this ecologically and culturally important landscape.”
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $1.6 BILLION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: EPA has selected 105 applicants to receive a total of $1.6 billion through the Inflation Reduction Act’s Community Change Grants Program. The program aims to direct federal funds for projects to cut pollution, train workers, and improve climate resilience to communities that have been historically excluded from accessing federal funding.
REGAN TAKE: EPA Administrator Michael Regan said, “On day one of his Administration, President Biden promised to target investments to communities that for too long have been shut out of federal funding. Today, thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, EPA is delivering on that promise. These selections will create jobs, improve public health, and uplift community efforts in all corners of this country, regardless of geography or background.”
OVER 96% OF U.S. POPULATION NOW COVERED BY A PRIORITY CLIMATE ACTION PLAN: Thanks to the grants under the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program of the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, over 96% of the U.S. population lives in an area that has a plan to reduce climate pollution, known as a Priority Climate Action Plan. To date, the program has awarded $4.6 billion to 59 recipients, including state, local, and Tribal governments.
BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION DESIGNATES CARLISLE FEDERAL INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOL NATIONAL MONUMENT, HOLDS PUBLIC MEETING FOR PROPOSED SÁTTÍTLA NATIONAL MONUMENT: This week, the Biden-Harris administration made strides to support Tribal communities and honor Tribal heritage by designating the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and holding a public meeting for the proposed Sáttítla National Monument.
OUR TAKE: LCV President Gene Karpinski said, “Today’s designation of the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument highlights the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to engaging with Tribes and acknowledges the tragic history and legacy of the federal Indian boarding school program that operated in this country for more than 150 years. During that time, thousands of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children were separated from their families, Tribes, and homelands, and stripped of their languages, religions, and cultures. We applaud President Biden and Secretary Haaland for ensuring our national monuments help tell a more complete story of our nation’s history.
Additionally, Saturday’s community meeting on the proposed Sáttítla National Monument, which would protect lands and waters with immense cultural significance for the Pit River Tribe, further underscores the administration’s commitment to safeguarding sacred landscapes, and protecting public lands for generations to come. We applaud the Biden-Harris administration’s continued commitment to honoring our nation’s Tribes and we urge President Biden to build on his unprecedented conservation legacy and establish Sáttítla National Monument.”
SCOTUS HOLDS ORAL ARGUMENTS IN NEPA CASE: The Supreme Court held oral arguments in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, CO, a case that could weaken the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and limit communities’ abilities to be aware of and provide input on the environmental impact of proposed projects.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Director of Judiciary and Democracy Doug Lindner said, “Today’s oral arguments show how extreme Supreme Court Justices are once again threatening bedrock protections for our communities, our environment, and our future generations. Following a series of recent cases rolling back environmental protections and limiting the EPA’s ability to do its job, today’s case could dangerously strip critical rights for communities to know and provide input on environmental impacts of proposed projects by weakening the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It could force federal agencies to ignore major environmental impacts of proposed projects–even obvious ones.
A rail line built exclusively to transport oil and subsequent new oil wells and processing would be detrimental for communities in its path, the region, and the country, especially for communities of color and communities with low wealth who are already experiencing the worst impacts of the climate crisis and fossil fuel pollution. It would increase risk of rail accidents, wildfires, and water contamination. And by weakening NEPA to approve this project, the Justices would imperil protections from harm and pollution from countless future projects. While Justice Gorsuch finally recused himself from this case due to his ties to a Big Oil billionaire who stands to profit, Justices Thomas and Alito continue to hear cases that could drastically increase profits for Big Polluters, despite their own conflicts of interest. The Supreme Court must do the right thing by protecting the people, not just Big Polluters.”
EPA BANS TWO CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICALS: EPA announced rules eliminating the use of trichloroethylene (TCE) and most uses of perchloroethylene (PCE), which are used in consumer and industrial products such as dry cleaning and furniture care products, brake cleaners, paints and coatings, and adhesives. The now-banned chemicals are known to cause cancer and other negative health impacts.
OUR TAKE: LCV Healthy Communities Program Director Madeleine Foote said, “The Biden-Harris administration continues to demonstrate their strong commitment to protecting the health of our communities and workers with this momentous ban on the use of trichloroethylene (TCE) as well as all consumer and most other uses of perchloroethylene (PCE), and by requiring new worker protections for all remaining uses. For too long, these widely-used toxic chemicals have put our families at risk of various types of cancer and damage to the central nervous system, immune system, liver, and reproductive organs. LCV commends the Biden-Harris administration for finalizing this critical rule and delivering on their promise to safeguard public health and safety over the profits of the chemical industry.”
SENATORS ANDY KIM, ADAM SCHIFF SWORN IN: Senators Andy Kim and Adam Schiff were sworn in as the next senators from New Jersey and California, respectively, on Monday.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said, “Congratulations to Senators Andy Kim and Adam Schiff on being sworn in as the next Senators from New Jersey and California. We are thrilled to see these two incredible House champions bring their tireless leadership to the Senate. As evidenced by Senator Kim’s 99% and Senator Schiff’s 98% lifetime scores on LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard, we’re confident they will continue to prioritize investing in climate and clean energy, protecting our public lands and waters, advancing environmental justice, and safeguarding our democracy.”
HOUSE PASSES SO-CALLED LIBERTY IN LAUNDRY ACT: In a vote largely along party lines, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7673, the so-called Liberty in Laundry Act, which bars DOE from enforcing updated or setting new water or energy efficiency rules for washing machines. Ahead of the vote, LCV sent a letter to members of the House urging them to vote no on the bill.
OUR TAKE: From the letter, “In the face of worsening climate change-fueled droughts across the country, using water more efficiently takes on added importance. Now is not the time to roll back standards that safeguard our drinking water and reduce families’ energy bills, as H.R. 7673 would do.”
ICYMI GREEN 2.0 RELEASES ANNUAL DIVERSITY REPORT: Green 2.0, an organization that aims to promote diversity within environmental organizations, released its eighth annual Transparency Report this week. The 2024 report showed declining diversity within environmental non-profit organizations, underscoring the importance of an intentional and sustained effort to recruit and retain staff of color.
OREGON APPROVES LARGEST SOLAR AND STORAGE PROJECT IN THE U.S.: Oregon regulators approved Sunstone Solar, a massive facility that will include 1,200 megawatts of solar power generation and 1,200 megawatts of energy storage. The project will begin construction in 2026 and host 4 million solar panels and will provide enough clean electricity to power up to 300,000. It will be the largest solar facility in the country with nearly double the generation of the country’s current largest solar project.
CELEBRATING CHISPA NV’S 2024 WINS: Chispa Nevada wrapped up the year with their community leaders in a festive celebration honoring the community’s incredible work in 2024. From member appreciation certificates to awards for its top leaders, Chispa Nevada showed gratitude for the hard work and dedication driving climate justice in Nevada. The team was also proud to receive a certificate of recognition for its climate justice efforts from City of Las Vegas Ward 3 Councilwoman Olivia Diaz.
ON THE BLOG: We’re cooking up some exciting new content on The Power Source Blog, check back next week!
ON OUR SOCIALS: Honoring Tribal heritage, welcoming climate and democracy champions to Congress, an attempt from SCOTUS to weaken the National Environmental Protection Act, a new analysis of the positive impacts of electric heat pumps, and much more made appearances on our socials this week.
DECEMBER 16: 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
DECEMBER 20: Government funding expires.
DECEMBER 24: Christmas Eve / Noche Buena.
DECEMBER 25: Christmas Day.
DECEMBER 25: Hanukkah begins at sunset.
DECEMBER 26: Kwanzaa begins.
JANUARY 1: New Year’s Day.
JANUARY 3: 118th Congress ends and 119th Congress begins.
JANUARY 20: Inauguration Day 2025.
©2024 League of Conservation Voters