The following guest essay first appeared in the York Dispatch on January 22, 2026--
Promises made, promises kept — it’s a credo which many of us live by including Latinos, who rely on fé y familia — faith and family – to get them through.
But one year into his second term, it is clear that President Donald Trump does not live by those words.
In few places in Pennsylvania is the expectation of duty and honor — and your word as your bond — greater than in York City, where the Latino/Hispanic population is around 36% and growing, solidifying its place as the largest minority demographic in the city.
Similarly, the Latino communities in nearby Harrisburg and Lancaster continue to see rapid growth.
York has been strengthened by residents of Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage, a bilingual community led by hardworking residents who believe a bright future should be theirs.
Many believed Donald Trump when he said he’d cut their energy prices in half within 12 months.
One year in, that’s just one of the many broken promises by this president and one that is costing central Pennsylvania residents the most: Electric bills in the U.S. increased 13% in 2025.
Latino households spend 20% more on energy costs than the average U.S. household.
Higher energy burdens are correlated with greater risk for respiratory diseases, increased stress, economic hardship, and difficulty getting out of poverty.
According to a Pew survey released in late November, two-thirds of those surveyed say the economic situation of U.S. Hispanics is worse today than it was a year ago, nearly double the amount who said so in Trump’s first term.
Energy and utility bills were cited as the biggest struggle for Hispanics (36%), more than grocery bills, health care, or housing costs.
In a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, only 36% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the economy despite the president giving himself an “A+++++” grade.
Adding to the pain, low-income households spend three times more on energy costs as a percentage of their income than non-low-income households.
Rather than throw Latino households a lifeline, the Republican-led Big Ugly Bill signed by Trump on July 4 sunk the fortunes of far too many families forced to pay more for dirtier, costlier and less reliable fossil-fueled energy, including coal and gas, as the law took a sledgehammer to clean energy incentives.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Cleaner and cheaper energy from renewables including solar and wind can meaningfully reduce electric bills.
In 2024, 93% of new energy capacity added to the electric grid came from solar, wind and battery storage.
Utility companies can drive down electric bills right now with a smart energy mix that doesn’t over-emphasize one energy resource over another.
And yet, the Republican tax bill gutted incentives for renewables, making it harder to add cheaper, reliable energy to the mix.
These incentives were helping to lower costs, add jobs, and clean our air.
This lack of common sense by the MAGA regime in Washington will only mean more harm to our health and our wallets as evidenced by the healthcare cuts, and reduced access to care, championed and then voted into law by Rep. Scott Perry, among others, in their Big Ugly Bill.
When presented with a choice, too many members of Congress chose not to fight for their constituents.
Actions have consequences. In our country, we get to decide who will represent us in Congress.
As we enter this year’s election season, it’s time to assess our representation and decide who is truly listening to us and working toward shared values.
That includes honoring la promesa — the promise — to take care of our families and create communities where everyone can afford to thrive.
Katherine Pichardo is president and CEO of Latino Victory and David Kieve is president of Environmental Defense Fund Action.
Related Articles This Week:
-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference -- Our Work, Our Health: Building A Future Beyond Sacrifice To Be Held Feb. 19 In Pittsburgh, Online [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnect Issues Cold Weather Alert For Western Region Jan. 23 Expanding To Entire PJM Area Jan. 24-27; Regional Grid Could Exceed Winter Demand Record on Jan. 27 & 30 [PaEN]
-- Aboveground Water Pipelines Feeding Shale Gas Drilling Operations Beginning To Freeze Due To Cold Temperatures; Range Resources Incident Reported In Washington County; Notify DEP Of Pipeline Problems [PaEN]
-- House Energy Committee Meeting To Consider Bill Giving PUC More Authority To Regulate A.I. Data Centers Moved To Feb. 2 [PaEN]
-- Gov. Shapiro: Major Utilities, Power Producers, Tech Companies, Experts Endorse Federal/Northeast PJM Governors’ Plan To Meet Surging A.I. Data Center Energy Demands - Will PJM Listen? [PaEN]
-- York Dispatch Guest Essay: Republicans Add To The Pain Of Soaring Energy Costs - By Katherine Pichardo, Latino Victory and David Kieve, Environmental Defense Fund Action [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Bloomberg: Cold Blast Threatens To Cut US Natural Gas Output By Most Since 2021 Over Next 14 Days, Energy Aspects Says
-- Reuters: PJM Interconnection Expects All-Time Record Winter Electricity Demand Jan. 27
-- Tribune-Democrat: Electric Grid Concerns Aired By PA Lawmakers As Frigid Weather Settles In
-- WHYY: As Electricity Rates Soar, PECO Adds $2.5 Million In Aid For Low-Income Customers
-- Bloomberg: Natural Gas Prices Soar 75% In 3 Days As Arctic Cold Grips The US
-- Post-Gazette: PA House Members Hear Warnings On A.I. Data Centers, Rising Electric Costs At Hearing
-- Inside Climate News: Clean Energy Advocates Criticise ‘Glaring’ Omission In White House/Northeast Governor’s Plan To Fuel A.I. Data Centers In PJM Region
-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Beyond NIMBY vs. Progress: How Pennsylvania Can Secure A ‘Durable Yes’ For A.I. Data Centers [Honestly Address Issues Of Concern] - By Desmond Daley, Pittsburgh Resident
-- Reuters: US Refineries Brace For Disruptions As Arctic Blast Hits
-- Reuters: US Energy Secretary Calls For Doubling Global Oil Output In Davos
[Posted: January 23, 2026] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment