Press Release

LCV and Chispa Applaud the Biden Administration’s Charging Action Plan

For Immediate Release March 13, 2024 Contact: Mika Hyer, mhyer@lcv.org, 940-783-2230 Washington, D.C. — In response to yesterday’s announcement of the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy released by the Biden-Harris administration, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa issued the following statements:  “We applaud the Biden-Harris administration’s launch of the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy to advance the adoption of electric trucks and buses,” said LCV Government Affairs Advocate for Climate & Clean Energy Darien Davis. “This whole-of-government approach will ensure that busy freight corridors across the country have the infrastructure needed to support zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Today’s announcement is a major step forward in the movement to tackle climate change and pollution from the transportation sector in every community. We look forward to further actions from the Biden administration that will help to accelerate the manufacture and adoption of zero-emission trucks and buses.” *** “We welcome the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy as a next step in moving our transportation system closer to zero-emission trucks and buses,” said Estefany Carrasco-González, Chispa National Senior Director. “As improved sustainable solutions for clean air for all are implemented, especially in Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities dealing with heavy contamination from dirty diesel in their neighborhoods, our frontline communities that deal with the worst air pollution must be engaged at every step of the process to ensure this corridor truly delivers.” ###

LCV and Chispa Applaud the Biden Administration’s Charging Action Plan Read More »

LCV and Chispa Statements on SCOTUS Oral Arguments in Ohio v. EPA

Washington, D.C.— In response to today’s Supreme Court oral arguments in Ohio v. EPA, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa released the following statements: “We are alarmed that extremist MAGA justices on the Supreme Court continue to threaten bare-minimum federal protections for clean air, the health of our communities, and the future of our planet,” said Vice President of Federal Policy and former EPA scientist Matthew Davis. “Our communities need the EPA to be able to protect us from pollution and environmental injustice, and we need judges to follow the law instead of twisting it to serve the Big Polluters and other far-right interests. Air pollution doesn’t stop at a neighborhood or a state line. Just in the last two years, the Supreme Court’s far-right majority has rolled back protections for our waterways and limited EPA’s tools to fight climate pollution. Our communities, our planet, and our democracy deserve better. The Supreme Court must get out of the way and allow the EPA’s Good Neighbor Rule to move forward.” *** “We all deserve the right to breathe clean air, and the Clean Air Act has helped protect communities from the worst effects of air pollution. Still, our communities of color are 61% more likely to live in a county with unhealthy air, despite income level or neighborhood,” said Chispa National Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-Gonzalez. “Our comunidades continue to live with the effects of poor air quality, and continue to fight for our right to breathe clean air. What we need is our own government and courts to protect the people, not the profits of the industries that have for decades gotten away with polluting our air for their benefit.” ###

LCV and Chispa Statements on SCOTUS Oral Arguments in Ohio v. EPA Read More »

LCV and Chispa Texas Statements on the House Passage of H.R. 7176, Shameless Giveaway to Polluters

Washington, D.C. – In response to today’s House vote to pass H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa TX released the following statements: “MAGA Republicans in the House have once again put the interests of their Big Polluter friends over protecting people and the planet,” said Vice President of Government Affairs Sara Chieffo. “This extreme bill takes away the government’s ability to even study what is in the ‘public’s interest.’ It represents a shameless handout to the fossil fuel industry and would lock frontline communities and communities across the country in for decades of continued extraction, climate disruption, unstable energy prices, and negative impacts on our health and safety.” *** “H.R. 7176 is terrible for many local communities already impacted by out-of-control LNG expansion all along our Texas Gulf coastline. Today’s House vote represents extremist Republicans acting quickly to protect a few big polluting industries while continuing to disregard the health, energy and environment needs of entire families and neighborhoods, often their own constituents” said Chispa Texas Program Director Elida Castillo. “The impact of LNG facilities on local communities should be taken seriously, and our federal government has a responsibility to examine the impacts of LNG expansion on our environment and communities. Instead, this bill makes it irresponsibly easy for LNG exporters to build, extract, pollute, and then export. The Biden Administration’s pause on new LNG facilities should continue.” ###

LCV and Chispa Texas Statements on the House Passage of H.R. 7176, Shameless Giveaway to Polluters Read More »

LCV and Chispa Texas Statement on Introduction of the Connect the Grid Act

Washington, D.C. — In response to today’s House introduction of the Connect the Grid Act, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa Texas released the following statements:  “We applaud the members of Congress who are leading the charge to help all communities have access to more reliable, clean affordable power, especially in historically excluded communities of color and communities with low wealth,” said LCV Vice President of Federal Policy Matthew Davis.  “Extreme heat and winters have wreaked havoc on Texas’ isolated electric grid, and after last year’s deadly hottest year on record, it’s more important than ever to have reliable, clean energy sources in every community. We urge Congress to pass the Connect the Grid Act, and will work to ensure that people in the most impacted communities are prioritized over polluters in its implementation and the implementation of any other transmission and reliability improvements.” *** “Chispa Texas welcomes the Connect the Grid Act. For too long our state’s electric grid reliability has not been taken seriously, and the communities left without power due to extreme weather, or even regular weather, are the same communities already dealing with disproportionate environmental impacts due to the fossil fuel industry,” said Chispa Texas Director Elida Castillo. “We are particularly encouraged by the Act’s inclusion of ‘meaningful community involvement,’ which will allow Latino and Black neighborhoods to help shape their energy needs, including putting our comunidades first over large industry consumers and Big Polluters. Congress must quickly and equitably pass the Connect the Grid Act.” ###

LCV and Chispa Texas Statement on Introduction of the Connect the Grid Act Read More »

LCV and Chispa Statements on Finalized EPA Soot Pollution Standard

For Immediate Release February 7th, 2024 Contact: Jessie Cohen, jcohen@lcv.org Washington, D.C. – In response to EPA finalizing a tightened annual standard for the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter (or PM2.5 NAAQS), the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa released the following statements: “We applaud the Biden-Harris administration’s new, tougher annual standard to cut deadly soot pollution and build a more clean and equitable energy future,” said LCV Vice President of Federal Policy Matthew Davis. “For the second time in just two weeks, President Biden and his administration is delivering big for environmental justice, public health, climate, and science. Communities of color and low wealth communities too often experience disproportionate health impacts and environmental injustices due to exposure to soot pollution from Big Polluters and heavy traffic. While we still need to strengthen the daily standard for soot, cutting the annual standard by a quarter is a significant step forward. The administration must swiftly work with states and local air districts to implement these much improved standards.” *** “Our communities depend on the strongest federal protections against toxic pollution for the health of our air and our communities,” said Chispa National Senior Director Estefany Carrasco-Gonzalez. “Our children and our families have the right to breathe clean air free from soot pollution and for Big Polluters to be held to higher standards. These finalized standards for soot must be implemented quickly by the Biden-Harris administration, and EPA must continue to strive for the strongest federal standards to address environmental injustice for all communities across the country.”   ###

LCV and Chispa Statements on Finalized EPA Soot Pollution Standard Read More »

LCV and Chispa Applaud Biden-Administration Decision to Delay LNG Expansion

January 26, 2024 Contact: Mika Hyer, mhyer@lcv.org, 940-783-2230   Washington, D.C. – In response to the Biden-Harris administration’s decision to reconsider the public interest determination process for LNG export projects, therefore delaying pending approvals, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa released the following statements: “This is huge. The Biden-Harris administration’s decision to take a deeper look at all the impacts of LNG exports is a major step forward towards protecting our families, our communities, and our climate,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “This decision sends a clear signal that the administration is taking the global commitment reached in December to transition away from fossil fuels seriously. No president has done more on climate, from day one executive orders to the historic investments in the Inflation Reduction Act to today’s announcement, President Biden is slashing climate pollution, increasing affordable, renewable energy, and transitioning away from fossil fuels. Exporting LNG is harmful to our environment, our economy, and our communities. Continuing to allow the massive expansion of this industry would mean even more toxic pollution and higher energy bills for communities across the country who are already overburdened by pollution and energy costs, and would make it nearly impossible for the world to reach its climate goals. Meanwhile Big Oil is willing to say and spend anything to pad their already record profits. Our future must be powered by clean energy, not the polluting, volatile, and unreliable fossil fuels of the past.” *** “We thank the Biden-Harris administration for listening to our communities experiencing the devastating impacts of massive oil and gas exports firsthand. This is a hopeful and critical step forward to prioritize people over polluters for our future generations and our communities along the Gulf coast,” said Chispa Texas Program Director Elida Castillo. “After record-breaking heat across the country last year, this major action is crucial to combat the climate crisis and environmental injustice, especially for our communities most harmed by toxic pollution from oil and gas extraction. For too long, Big Polluters have been allowed to export more fossil fuels year after year regardless of the cost to communities who are living with even more consequences from toxic pollution, consumers across the country already facing higher costs and unreliable energy sources, and more impacted communities by our reliance on fossil fuels. Despite what Big Oil wants us to believe, renewables are bringing down the energy costs for everyone. This is the path to a more sustainable and equitable clean energy future that stabilizes our economy and supports our domestic energy security.” ###

LCV and Chispa Applaud Biden-Administration Decision to Delay LNG Expansion Read More »

Environmental and Community Groups Call for Transparency and Clean Energy in NV Energy’s 2024 Integrated Resource Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2024 Media contact:  Yazmyn Pelaez, yazmyn@nevadaconservationleague.org, (702) 527-9638 LAS VEGAS, NV — Today, the Nevada Conservation League, Chispa Nevada, and CHR, Inc. (Caring, Helping and Restoring Lives) attended NV Energy’s Consumer Session along with other stakeholders and customers to give public input on the NV Energy’s 2024 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). This IRP will be critical for determining the state’s energy future, and customers continue to demand more clean, affordable, reliable electric service. This consumer session is required under Assembly Bill 524, which was passed by the Legislature in 2023 to increase transparency and strengthen this planning process. Unfortunately, NV Energy only provided the community with 6 days’ notice of this meeting, making it harder for meaningful participation. The utility’s presentation was also light on details, only providing a high level overview of the IRP components. Participants in the consumer session overwhelmingly expressed opposition to the construction of new fossil fuel generation, support for robust clean energy, and called for more notice and greater transparency moving forward. Despite NV Energy’s frequent proclamations of a commitment to reach 100 percent clean energy, their actions speak differently. The utility noted in their presentation that no resources are proposed to move the state closer to its 100 percent goal by 2050. NV Energy has also added nearly 800 MW of new and expanded gas power generation since 2018, with more proposed in the pending fifth amendment to their 2021 IRP. With more than half of the state’s energy coming from gas,Nevada is more exposed and dependent on a single, out-of-state fuel source, and vulnerable to wild swings in electric bills. As NV Energy touts cheaper clean energy for its large customers, Nevada families and small businesses are struggling and want to share in the benefits of low-cost, pollution-free electricity. So far, the utility has not demonstrated leadership in advancing transparency, collaboration, or forward-thinking resource planning, and as a result both customers and the climate are paying the price. The utility’s next Integrated Resource Plan is due later this year, and these advocates are emphasizing NV Energy’s responsibility to provide a transparent and comprehensive plan that aligns with state clean energy and climate objectives, promotes environmental justice, and leverages federal clean energy funding to provide the best electric service at the least cost for customers. This has been outlined further in a recent op-ed from NCL Executive Director Kristee Watson. “The next IRP is due this year and we cannot afford to miss this moment for clean energy because of poor planning and self-interest on the part of our electric utility,” said Kristee Watson, Executive Director of the Nevada Conservation League. “Better planning and more transparency will result in better decisions that benefit Nevada’s families, businesses, and environment. That’s why we’re calling on NV Energy to step up and deliver on its promises of stable, affordable, clean power for all Nevadans — our future depends on it.” “Like many NV Energy customers, we were surprised to receive an email last week of a consumer session today on the utility’s Integrated Resource Plan —  the most important utility plan for the future of energy in Nevada,” said Audrey Peral, Program Director for Chispa Nevada. “Not only is NV Energy failing to conduct adequate community engagement, they are also ignoring consumer demands for lower rates and more investments in clean energy. We urge the PUCN to hold NV Energy accountable to a more transparent and community-centered process for utility planning.” “I have borne witness to the hardships and inequity caused by soaring energy bills. Families and small businesses in Nevada are bearing the brunt of NV Energy’s resource planning decisions, and they deserve a voice in the process and a genuine commitment to affordable, clean energy solutions,” said Dr. Mary House, CEO of CHR, Inc. “NV Energy’s actions, including the inadequate notice and lack of information prior to this crucial meeting, starkly contrast with the needs of their customers. We demand that the utility responds to our repeated calls for a resource-planning process that includes the voices of all its customers, especially those most affected by their actions.”  Learn more about AB 524 here. ###

Environmental and Community Groups Call for Transparency and Clean Energy in NV Energy’s 2024 Integrated Resource Plan Read More »

Nevada to Receive $7.7MM Federal Grant for Electric School Buses

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this week that Nevada will receive $7.7 million from EPA’s 2023 Clean School Bus Grant Program to deploy 25 electric school buses across Nevada. The Clean School Bus Program is a competitive funding opportunity that is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This effort is a result of a partnership between the Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF), NV Energy, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), and the World Resources Institute (WRI)’s Electric School Bus Initiative. NCEF, who led the application and will be responsible for administering the funds, is a nonprofit organization that provides financial and technical resources to accelerate clean energy growth in Nevada. The award will replace 25 diesel buses with zero-emission electric school buses across Nevada over the next three years. The effort is expected to significantly lower fuel and maintenance costs while reducing harmful air pollution in the communities where the electric school buses are deployed. By stacking this award with other funds, such as NV Energy’s Electric School Bus Vehicle-to-Grid Trial Program, the Volkswagen Settlement Funds administered by NDEP, and federal tax credits, schools can get electric school buses at no upfront cost. NCEF, NV Energy, and WRI will also provide technical assistance to school districts on the procurement and installation of the buses and bus chargers. Lander County, Elko County, Lyon County, Douglas County, and Carson City School Districts are slated to receive funding for electric school buses from NCEF’s award. Other interested school districts should contact NCEF at info@nevadacef.org. “The Nevada Clean Energy Fund is proud to bring these federal funds into Nevada to provide tangible health and economic benefits to our schools, students, and communities,” said Kirsten Stasio, CEO of NCEF. “This collaborative, statewide effort, enables us to make the electric school bus opportunity accessible to every Nevada school district, whether rural or urban, big or small.” “We are excited about this opportunity to further reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and harmful air pollutants in Nevada’s communities,” said Jennifer Carr, Administrator at NDEP. “The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection is looking forward to collaborating with NCEF, NV Energy, and all the other partners, as well as continuing to invest VW Settlement Funds to benefit more schools. “NV Energy’s electric school bus vehicle-to-grid trial gives school districts a realistic pathway to deploy electric school buses while supporting local grid resilience,” said Marie Steele, Vice President of Electrification & Energy Services for NV Energy. “This award from the EPA, and the Statewide collaboration, is critical for the ability to continue NV Energy’s longstanding effort to work with and support Nevada’s school districts.” “As a small, rural school district, getting an electric school bus would not be possible without the partnership and support of the Nevada Clean Energy Fund and NV Energy,” said Russell Klein, Superintendent of Lander County School District. “Thanks to this award, our school district has the opportunity to achieve fuel cost savings and test out electric buses at zero out-of-pocket cost to the school district,” said Seth Canning, Director of Transportation at Elko County School District. “These learnings are essential for electric school buses to become a larger part of our future school bus fleet. “We are looking forward to integrating six electric school buses into our fleet using these funds,” said Harman Bains, Executive Director of Operations at the Lyon County School District. “Although the transition won’t be without its challenges, we firmly believe that the benefits will make the effort worthwhile.” “We’re thrilled to partner with school bus electrification champions Nevada Clean Energy Fund and NV Energy to help bring clean-running electric school buses to school districts and communities across Nevada,” said Sue Gander, Director of the WRI Electric School Bus Initiative. “When green banks, state governments, utilities, school districts, advocates and other stakeholders across the school transportation ecosystem work together, we can accelerate the equitable transition to electric school buses and deliver important health, environmental and economic benefits to those who need them the most.” “As the mother of an asthmatic child, I know how the black smoke of diesel pollution contaminates the air our children breathe and worsens conditions like asthma,” said Areli Sanchez, promotora with Chispa Nevada. “Our children deserve to breathe clean air, and I’m one of many parents who want to see electric school buses at every school in Nevada to reduce hospitalizations due to asthma. We congratulate the Nevada Clean Energy Fund on winning this grant award, and thank the EPA Clean School Bus Program for bringing additional funding to our state. Chispa Nevada will continue to work with school districts to ensure we provide a clean ride for kids and we look forward to seeing these buses circulating in our communities.” The grant proposal was supported by Nevada’s U.S. Senators, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Senator Jacky Rosen, who worked to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “I’m thrilled to see these federal dollars I secured for clean buses coming to Nevada to help our schools lower their energy costs and keep kids safe and healthy,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Nevada’s clean energy boom is creating jobs and helping students and families across the state, and I’ll always fight to provide Nevadans with the resources they need to succeed.” About the Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF): NCEF is a nonprofit organization that supports a thriving, affordable, and accessible clean energy economy by providing financial and technical resources to Nevadans. NCEF was established by state legislation in 2017 as the state’s green bank. About the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP): NDEP’s mission is to preserve and enhance the environment of the State in order to protect public health, sustain healthy ecosystems, and contribute to a vibrant economy. NDEP is a division of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. About NV Energy: NV Energy, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, is an energy holding company headquartered in Nevada whose principal subsidiaries are Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific. Today, its service area covers nearly 46,000 square miles, including the communities of Las Vegas, Reno-Sparks, Henderson, and Elko. NV Energy provides a wide range of energy services to

Nevada to Receive $7.7MM Federal Grant for Electric School Buses Read More »

LCV and Chispa Statements on EPA’s Clean School Bus Grant Program Announcement

For Immediate Release January 8, 2024 Contact: Mika Hyer, mhyer@lcv.org, 940-783-2230 Washington, D.C.— In response to today’s EPA announcement awarding $965 million to school districts from the Clean School Bus Grants program, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and Chispa released the following statements: “The Biden-Harris administration is continuing to deliver on historic investments towards a clean energy future with more clean buses that will help address environmental injustice in the communities of color and communities with low wealth, and increase good paying union jobs in our country,” said LCV Government Affairs Advocate for Climate & Clean Energy Darien Davis. “These investments will ensure that 7.5 million students across the country will have a clean ride to school. As the EPA continues to fund electric buses for our youth and communities to breathe cleaner air, we must ensure these benefits are prioritized to reach the communities of color and communities with low wealth that are most impacted by toxic air pollution.” *** “Communities of color and low-income communities across the country experience higher rates of respiratory and other illness due to exposure to dirty air,” said Chispa National Director Estefany Carrasco-Gonzalez. “This latest announcement from EPA is a great step toward ensuring cleaner, safer, healthier air for all communities, particularly for our children in historically excluded communities who are more than twice as likely to have respiratory diseases like asthma than children living in higher income areas, by helping these communities to replace toxic, diesel school buses with cleaner, electric models. Already, the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program has doubled the number of electric school buses in the country, and we are excited to continue to work with EPA to further an equitable and just transition to electric school buses.” ###

LCV and Chispa Statements on EPA’s Clean School Bus Grant Program Announcement Read More »

TODAY Latine Families Will Testify Against Yet Another Southwest Gas Increase

December 12, 2023 TODAY Latine Families Will Testify Against Yet Another Southwest Gas Increase Public Utilities Commission of Nevada will host Consumer Sessions on Southwest Gas rate application, which would increase the utility’s revenue by $70 million next year LAS VEGAS, Nev — As Southwest Gas proposes yet another rate hike, today utility customers and members of Chispa Nevada already struggling to pay their bills will ask the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) to protect Nevada consumers and reject any more rate increases.Southwest Gas has submitted a proposal to the PUCN that would raise rates by nearly $70 million next year, hiking utility bills by $55 to $100 per home per year. Southwest Gas says raising gas prices on Nevada customers — after at least four other such increases in the last year alone — is necessary to increase its revenue. The utility is already guaranteed profits of 7.27% for any expenses related to the infrastructure needed to provide service.The PUCN will host two Consumer Sessions today to hear public comments regarding this proposal, designated as Docket No. 23-09012. Nevada consumers will testify that they can’t keep up with the high costs of gas, which is not only bad for family budgets but also for public health and the environment, and deliver a petition signed by over 500 Nevadans calling for a halt to gas rate increases. WHO: Utility customers and members of Chispa Nevada WHEN: Today, December 14, 2023 at 1pm and 6pm WHAT: Public comment at PUCN Consumer Sessions over Southwest Gas proposed annual revenue increase WHERE: Public Utilities Commission of Nevada 9075 West Diablo Drive, Suite 250 Las Vegas, NV 89148 ###   About Chispa Nevada: Chispa Nevada is a program of the League of Conservation Voters that builds the power of Latine communities to fight for climate justice and our democracy.

TODAY Latine Families Will Testify Against Yet Another Southwest Gas Increase Read More »

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