Climate & Clean Energy

 

Pipeline opposition: Methane is dangerous for climate and health (see our new informational booklet here), and Sierra Club is working to stop new and prolonged fracked gas use. Sierra Club is helping to organize opposition to Enbridge’s Project Maple, a proposal to expand Enbridge’s pipeline in Connecticut. Sierra Club is also working with local residents to stop the expansion of the Brookfield Compressor Station.  On March 20, we hosted a community education forum in Naugatuck on the health and climate impacts of methane. On March 26, we rallied against gas expansion outside the CT Mirror event where Governor Lamont was interviewed, and attended the event. On March 27, we hosted an online presentation about the impacts of methane infrastructure with guest speakers from Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania who shared FLIR camera footage of methane infrastructure in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Volunteers and staff were published in news outlets across the state opposing gas expansion, and responding to news that Governor Lamont was aligning Connecticut with Trump’s gas expansion agenda: March 11 in this CT Mirror article, letter to the editor in the Northeastern Connecticut Neighbors paper, letter to editor in the Worcester Telegram, March 28th in this Hartford Courant op-ed  and March 31st in this CT Mirror op-ed. On March 31, we hosted a press conference and rally alongside the Capitol Area System team (see next item for more info).

 

Capitol Area System: Sierra Club is working with community and statewide partners to replace Hartford's Capitol Area System with a 100% renewable alternative.  Learn more and add your name urging Gov. Lamont to commit to a 100% renewable replacement for the fossil gas energy plant and buildings it serves. Earlier this year, the Department of Administrative Services announced plans to install new fossil fuel equipment at Capitol Area System. Sierra Club and allies are pushing for a reversal of that decision and further study on renewable options. On March 3, David Englert published this op-ed in the Hartford Courant. On March 13, we hosted an online educational session about Thermal Energy Networks which are a renewable alternative for the Capitol Area System (see recording here). On March 31, we hosted a press conference and march to urge Governor Lamont to stop this decision and other gas expansion proposals.

 

Clean Energy: Our Chapter has a vision for energy efficiency and renewable energy to power our state, heat our buildings and provide our transportation. In alignment with our state goals and the science of climate change, this vision would replace fossil fuels with clean energy in electricity generation, buildings, and transportation resulting in a reduction of health- and climate- harming pollution. On March 13, Sierra Club joined CLF and PACE on these comments regarding the development of Project Sunbridge, Connecticut’s Solar for All program under the Inflation Reduction Act. On March 25, Sierra Club hosted an online meeting for advocates on the DEEP’s upcoming Integrated Resources Plan process, its importance to the future of energy in the state, and how to comment. Thank you to all our members and supporters who wrote comments to DEEP in support of clean energy.  On March 31, Sierra Club weighed in to DEEP with these comments on the Integrated Resources Plan. 

 

Zero Waste

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Sierra Club Connecticut is working with allies led by CT Coalition for Environmental Justice to oppose trash incineration and to implement Zero Waste policies. A new proposal for a recycling center and waste incinerator in North Haven has been dropped, but a new proposal is to be sited in Plainfield. Sierra Club CT continues to work with the CT Zero Waste Coalition which is submitting proposals for legislation on food waste, Save As You Throw (SAYT), and municipal solid waste incineration. CT DEEP has approved Reworld application to burn medical waste at the Bristol incinerator. During the 2025 legislative session Sierra Club has been watching bills pertaining to waste reduction efforts. The bills Sierra Club has been watching this session are S.B 80, S.B. 1154, H.B. 5017, H.B. 5019, and H.B. 6917. 

 

Land & Water

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Remington Woods: Sierra Club Connecticut’s Save Remington Woods campaign aims to protect Remington Woods from development and its preservation-- and we are one step closer. Remington Woods is a 400+ acre forest in Bridgeport and Stratford. After decades of advocacy, the property owner, Corteva, announced their conservation plan, Nature for All, in 2024. This plan “responsibly transfers this property to new owners, preserving 369 acres of natural habitat while allocating 50 acres for renewable energy generation...ensur[ing] that the site remains a vital green space for wildlife and community use and has the potential to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education initiatives, and plays a positive role in mitigating climate change.”  Now, the Sierra Club is working to secure a conservation model for the forest alongside community partners, residents, and property owners, that includes permanent protection and stewardship, ideally involving the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sign our petition today to help us reach this goal and follow news from the campaign on Facebook. The Remington Woods team is seeking members for our Conservation Committee, if you are interested in working with other Sierra Club members passionate about conserving land and open space, please contact remington.woods@sierraclub.org.

 

Toxics

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PFAS: Stories about PFAs chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are appearing regularly in the news. PFAs are being found in our water, food and more. PFAs have the grave potential to detrimentally impact human health. During the 2025 legislative session Sierra Club has been watching bills pertaining to PFAS, neonicotinoids, and rodenticides. The bills we are supporting are, S.B.9 and S.B. 1494. The bill Sierra Club  is opposing pertaining to toxics is S.B. 887. 

 

Wildlife

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Wildlife: The Wildlife Committee is working to protect wildlife in our state through education and policy change, including bear education, and raising awareness of the dangers of mowing hayfields on the local grassland bird population, including the Bobolink. During the 2025 legislative session Sierra Club has been watching various bills pertaining to bears, hunting, and shark finning. The bills Sierra Club are supporting pertaining to wildlife are  H.B. 5012 and H.B. 6915. The bills we are opposing pertaining to wildlife are H.B. 7231, and H.B. 1523.  On March 26, CT Mirror quoted Sierra Club’s Wildlife Committee chair in coverage about bear hunt legislation.

 

Fossil Free Finance

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Banks, Asset Managers, and Insurance companies are all implicated in financing the fossil fuel industry. Here in Connecticut, Sierra Club is partnering with CCAG and the Insure Our Future campaign to urge the Connecticut insurance industry to stop investing in and underwriting fossil fuels.  On February 28, Sierra Club Connecticut and 18 organizations sent this letter to State Treasurer Erick Russell urging 2025 action to address climate risk.

 

Legislative Session

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The 2025 legislative session began on January 8, 2025.  The Legislative Committee is meeting weekly on our policy priorities. In March, staff and volunteers testified at public hearings on numerous bills. On March 3, we hosted a lobby day focused on bills that address the climate crisis and that hold polluters accountable, we had over 80 people in attendance. Channel 8 covered the event. On March 6, Channel 61 covered Sierra Club’s perspectives on public hearings on energy issues. Interested in getting more involved in our legislative committee?  Contact Steve Lewis, Legislative Committee Chair, for more information.