Hi Friend,

During Earth Month in April, activists like you from across the country showed up to advocate on behalf of our communities and the environment, from local grassroots to federal efforts. We’re celebrating our planet, and all the people like you who are fighting to protect it, with an Earth Month roundup of good climate news.

Clean energy continues to grow across the U.S.

Even in the face of an unfriendly administration, clean energy continues to make strides across the country. In March 2025, renewable energy provided more electricity to the U.S. grid than fossil fuels for the first time ever. During that month, clean energy provided 51% of U.S. electricity, compared to fossil fuels’ 49%. This is a major milestone for clean energy in the U.S. which continues to prove its strength despite the constant barrage of attacks from the administration.

In fact, a recent analysis from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and BloombergNEF shows that even if Trump succeeds in implementing his deregulatory agenda, renewable energy generation in the U.S. will continue to increase. The durability of the clean energy transition is great news for the future of our planet and the health of our communities.

In another milestone, the city of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin became the first city in the state to run all city operations on 100% renewable energy. All of Sun Prairie’s street lights, well pumps, city facilities and more are now operating on zero-emissions energy, which is lowering energy costs for city residents and reducing harmful emissions.

Judicial victories for environmental programs

In a long awaited decision, Judge Tanya Chutkan of the District Court for the District of Columbia ruled EPA illegally froze $20 billion in congressionally appropriated climate grants obligated to eight nonprofit organizations. EPA alleged there was fraud within the program, but could produce no evidence to support their claim. Due to this lack of evidence, Chutkan ordered the immediate release of the frozen funds to the organizations. While EPA has appealed the ruling, it sets an important precedent for holding agencies accountable for carrying out congressionally mandated duties.

Later the same week, Judge Mary McElroy, a Trump appointee, ruled that several agencies, including EPA, the Department of Energy, and the Department of the Interior, must immediately resume disbursing funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and bipartisan infrastructure law (IIJA). The funding had been indefinitely and illegally frozen since January. McElroy’s order will apply to all IRA and IIJA grants, not just the ones involved in the lawsuit, making this a huge win for climate progress.

A federal judge in New York dismissed a lawsuit that aimed to roll back air emissions rules in New York City. The lawsuit was brought against a 2021 NYC law that sets strict air emissions limits for new construction, effectively banning the use of natural gas in new buildings. This dismissal could inspire other cities to pursue ambitious action on natural gas.

Want more good climate news?

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To get involved in bringing about even more good climate news, join us at lcv.org/get-involved/.

One more thing, Friend.

In this fraught political moment, it is more important than ever to make your voice heard to protect people and the planet. One of the most effective ways to get involved in making positive change is by calling your members of Congress. If you’ve never called before, or you just need a refresher, check out this blog on how to call your members of Congress.

Thank you for being with us in this fight.

LCV Membership Team
Annie, Shae, Chris, Alex, and Kelly