Greed vs. Governance: How Governors are Lowering Energy Bills by Fighting Back Against Trump’s Anti-Clean Energy Crusade

To: Interested Parties
From: Evergreen Action Vice President for States Justin Balik
Date: September 2, 2025
Re: Greed vs. Governance: How Governors are Lowering Energy Bills by Fighting Back Against Trump’s Anti-Clean Energy Crusade

Donald Trump and his fossil fuel allies are working overtime to stall America’s clean energy progress and jack up energy bills. Their so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is a corporate giveaway disguised as policy. It’s a fossil fuel wish list, written by and for the very companies hiking energy prices. The result? Higher energy costs, fewer jobs, and massive corporate giveaways—all paid for by working families.

But while Trump and his cronies in Washington try to tip the scales toward corporate polluters, Democratic governors are fighting back and delivering real results. They’re cutting energy costs, protecting clean energy jobs, and advancing policies that will hold corporations accountable and keep money in families’ pockets.

Here’s a look at how governors are delivering real relief and driving clean energy progress—fast:

Fast-Tracking Clean Energy Projects

Democratic governors are racing to bring clean energy projects online before federal incentives expire to shield families from skyrocketing utility bills.

Colorado (Gov. Polis): Fast-tracking energy projects to capture federal tax credits before they expire, helping households avoid increases of up to $500 a year.
California (Gov. Newsom): Issued an executive order directing agencies to expedite development of clean energy projects eligible for federal tax credits and to recommend actions to further boost deployment.
Maine (Gov. Mills): Launched a sprint procurement push of 1,600 gigawatt hours of renewables, ensuring families benefit from federal credits; analysis shows the state reaching its 100% clean target could save households up to $1,300 annually.
Hawai‘i (Gov. Green): Signed an executive order streamlining permitting and targeting 50,000 distributed renewable energy installations (such as rooftop solar and battery systems) to reduce costs and strengthen reliability.
North Carolina (Gov. Stein): Signed an executive order creating an Energy Policy Task Force to build out clean energy and keep household bills affordable amid surges in demand.

Protecting Cost-Saving Programs and Reforming Rules to Lower Bills

Governors are defending proven money-saving programs and rewriting outdated rules to ensure families and small businesses see lower bills for the long haul.

Minnesota (Gov. Walz): Protected net metering and community solar programs that lower bills for families and small businesses.
Wisconsin (Gov. Evers): Eliminated state sales tax on residential electricity, saving households $178 million over two years.
Massachusetts (Gov. Healey): Introduced an affordability package projected to save customers over $10 billion over 10 years through utility reform and bill reductions.
Pennsylvania (Gov. Shapiro): Took action to cap energy rate hikes and introduced an energy package to expand low-cost clean energy sources, create jobs, and shield families from rising prices.

Demanding Transparency and Accountability

Governors are standing up for consumers against corporate greed—holding utilities and regulators accountable for decisions that impact families’ wallets.

Delaware (Gov. Meyer): Signed eight bills to increase energy pricing transparency, expand renewable energy sources, and create consumer protections to lower costs and improve reliability.
Maryland (Gov. Moore): Required utilities to publicly disclose votes on regional energy decisions, boosting transparency to lower costs and speed clean energy deployment.
New Jersey (Gov. Murphy): Signed a law requiring utilities to disclose how their votes on regional grid decisions support affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for consumers.