Hi Friend,

Trump’s budget law is the biggest giveaway to billionaire polluters in history—packed not only with cuts to clean energy programs, food assistance, and health care, but also to impactful household efficiency incentives that help renters and homebuyers alike.

With millions of Americans already struggling to keep up with rising household costs, this budget adds insult to injury by robbing people of funding that could be used to make their homes more efficient and affordable. Instead, we should be implementing policies that lower transportation and home operation costs, which can save us money while also reducing toxic air pollution.

To address the housing and energy affordability crisis, Evergreen is ramping up our work on building electrification, lower electricity rates, and abundant, affordable housing.

Together with our priorities to get more affordable clean energy online and make transportation cleaner and more affordable, this is the third leg of our ambitious state-level policy agenda that will help lay the groundwork for future federal ambition.

By expanding available housing and implementing policies that decrease transportation and energy costs, we can improve affordability while also reducing pollution from buildings. In fact, it’s estimated that equitably electrifying homes could save U.S. households a total of $96 billion through reduced utility bills over the next 25 years. These upgraded homes can reduce climate pollution by up to 72 percent and reduce indoor air pollution by 50 percent.

To get there, we have a plan. It involves:

• Collaborating with partners in the affordable housing sector and the abundant housing movement to develop a shared vision and policy suite that meet the current political dynamics found in target states like Michigan and Pennsylvania.

• Shaping the narrative that energy and housing affordability go hand in hand, specifically by targeting sympathetic state lawmakers, governors, and media.

• Providing state leaders with actionable policy recommendations—like a Clean Heat Standard or Energy Efficient Resource Standard—which consistently fund whole home energy efficiency and electrification upgrades while setting standards to reduce pollution from buildings.

• Advocating for policies like a Zero Emissions Heating Equipment Standard that will drive an increase in the heat pump market share and lead to an eventual phase-out of pollution-emitting equipment.

We anticipate being up against forces like NIMBYism, fossil fuel companies, and gas utilities every step of the way, and we need to be prepared to fight back. We have a real and impactful opportunity to turn the tide on the affordability crisis, and it starts right now, with your support.

Our goal is to raise $15,000 by midnight on Thursday, which will fuel the strategies, resources, and organizing needed in this next chapter of our work. Please help us get there by making a contribution today.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to this cause.