CAC’s MARGIE ALT ON THE 2026 STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
For Immediate Release: February 24, 2026
Contact: Gabrielle Levy, glevy@cacampaign.org, (562) 673-6974
CAC’s MARGIE ALT ON THE 2026 STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
WASHINGTON–Tonight, President Trump will reportedly stand before Congress and claim he’s fighting to lower costs for American families. But on energy and electricity, despite his promises, his administration has spent the last year making things worse. American families are paying 13% more on their energy bills than they were a year ago. Tonight’s speech won’t change that. Margie Alt, director of the Climate Action Campaign, released the following statement in response to the speech:
"The president claims to be protecting people from skyrocketing bills while in fact he is tearing apart the clean energy infrastructure that would actually help keep electricity affordable. This is the height of hypocrisy.
"Under President Trump, the EPA rolled back vehicle pollution standards, locking families into higher gas costs and more air pollution for years to come. His administration eliminated the Endangerment Finding — the scientific foundation for protecting Americans from pollution that makes us sick, increases climate change, and drives up healthcare costs. He has blocked wind and solar projects that would generate cheap, homegrown, clean energy, keeping us dependent on the volatile fossil fuel markets that have increased household energy costs by 13% in the last year. And he is forcing coal plants to stay open, reversing their plans to retire at the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars per day, increasing the threats of extreme weather and driving up asthma rates.
"These are economic decisions designed to increase profits for his cronies while working families pay the price in utility bills, hospital visits, and asthma attacks. When this administration eliminated climate pollution limits and clean air standards, it made a deliberate choice to treat the American people as expendable. Real affordability means investing in American wind and solar — already the cheapest sources of new electricity in most of the country. Real affordability means protecting the clean air standards that prevent billions in avoidable medical costs.
"Real leadership means caring about the people who are affected by your decisions. President Trump: Stop blocking clean energy. Stop rolling back pollution protections. Stop treating the health of American families as expendable."
About the Climate Action Campaign
Climate Action Campaign (CAC) is a vibrant coalition driving ambitious, durable, equitable federal action to tackle the climate crisis. By cutting carbon pollution and accelerating the transition to clean energy, we will improve public health and create a more resilient economy and a more sustainable future for all.
