Beyond Gas, Clean Energy, & Climate

• To address climate change Sierra Club Connecticut opposes gas expansion and advocates for deployment of clean energy. Here are some of the areas we are taking action to reduce the use of fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to clean energy:

  • Connecticut Must Lead on Climate! Sierra Club Connecticut, alongside a dozen organizations, is calling on Governor Lamont to take bold and urgent administrative action to address the climate crisis. Climate-drive natural disasters, and the admission by DEEP that CT is failing to reach our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals (see our press release on this here), show that much more needs to be done! We plan to send 10,000 messages (postcards, emails, etc) to the Governor. Take action here. Contact Ann to help with this campaign.

  • Updating Connecticut’s Energy Efficiency program to end rebates for fossil fuel equipment and appliances. Connecticut’s Energy Efficiency Board (EEB) is developing its 2022-2024 plan for the next 3 years of the program.  Sierra Club submitted two sets of comments (here and here) calling for an end to fossil fuel subsidies, an increase in heat pump incentives and prioritizing equity in the energy efficiency plan. On August 27, we co-signed a letter calling on DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes to reject any plan that continues fossil fuel subsidies. On September 8, the EEB approved a plan with no substantial changes. Sierra Club coordinated a press release decrying the decision and calling on the DEEP Commissioner to intervene. Next EEB meeting is on October 13th. 

  • Press coverage of the two releases mentioned above include: EENews, Utility Dive, and Public News Service.​

  • Brookfield/Milford Proposed Compressor Station Expansions: On August 9, Sierra Club Connecticut filed public comments on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the TC/BH pipeline Expansion by Compression.

  • Eversource: In mid-2021, it was revealed that Eversource was co-leading a coalition meant to stymie building electrification—a crucial climate priority, and distributing pro-fossil-fuel propaganda to kids. On July 30, Martha Klein organized a protest outside Everource’s Hartford Office in coordination with protests in Massachusetts. On August 17, Samantha, along with groups from CT and MA, met with Eversource to discuss our concerns and urge Eversource to re-think beyond gas to more sustainable options.

  • ​Opposition to New Fossil Fuel Power Plants: Sierra Club Connecticut is actively opposing a brand new 650 megawatt fossil fuel power plant in Killingly and 375 megawatts in Middletown. Join allies in weekly Saturday protests in Killingly; see more here. Sierra Club joined Temple Bnai Isreal and many other groups as a co-sponsor for Sounding the Call: Stop the Plant, Save the Planet, a Rosh Hashanah themed climate event in Putnam. Over 100 of us gathered to sound the call to save the planet by blowing the shofar (ram's horn)! We honored the waters of the Quinebaug River and of the Earth. Then we called on the Governor to stop the NTE dirty fracked gas plant in Killingly!

  • ​End Environmental Racism: A Climate Emergency Town Hall. Sierra Club CT, with allies NAACP Windham Branch, Unidad Latina en Accion, Community Action Works, No More Dirty Power in Killingly, Quiet Corner Shouts, and C3M, organized an anti-racist, climate movement building event on Sep. 18 at Bushnell Park, Hartford. There was music, poetry and speeches, and the event was simultaneously interpreted into Spanish. The same group of organizers is hosting another event on October 30, End Environmental Racism: A Climate Emergency Rally. The purpose of these events is to call attention to the lack of action by the state on climate, which harms the most vulnerable populations worst and first. 

  • ​Air quality monitoring/citizen science: Sierra Club members are engaging in citizen air quality monitoring. See more about the emerging project here (in last paragraph of article). If you want to monitor your air, or have mad data crunching skills, we are looking for you! Contact Martha.

  • ​Comprehensive building retrofit program for low-income housing - Sierra Club Connecticut, working with allies, won passage of Public Act 21-48, a groundbreaking building retrofit program for low-income housing. On September 7, we filed these comments to DEEP regarding its draft proposal for the weatherization barrier removal component of the project. 

  • ​Ending Connecticut’s Gas Expansion Plan: Sierra Club continues to participate in PURA Docket 13-06-02RE05, Investigation of Connecticut’s Local Distribution Companies Proposed Expansion Plans to Comply with Connecticut’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy—Program Review. A final recommendation from PURA’s investigative staff to the Commissioners is expected in December 2021; Sierra Club is advocating for an end to the plan.

Zero Waste: 

• Sierra Club CT is working with allies led by CT Coalition for Environmental Justice to oppose trash incineration and to implement Zero Waste policies.  We are working with residents  in Bristol to fight the proposal to burn medical waste in their Covanta trash incinerator. They have formed Bristol Residents for Clean Air, held public meetings on the issue and testified at Covanta’s required hearing. In Putnam, we are supporting efforts to stop the expansion of the existing trash incinerator ash landfill. We have petitioned and won a public hearing on permits for wastewater discharge into the Quinebaug River to be held on October 13. Along with our allies in the CT Zero Waste Coalition and Save the Quiet Corner we are preparing testimony and  for a site visit.  We are also planning webinars for the Fall on plastic pollution and EPR in packaging.

Ready for 100​

• Local campaigns for 100% clean and renewable energy: Teams in five Connecticut towns (Hartford, Milford, Stamford, West Hartford and Windsor) are actively recruiting supporters to transition their communities to 100% clean and renewable energy. Visit the links for the latest information from the teams or to get involved.

Clean Transportation​

• Electric Vehicle  Policy: Sierra Club is working with allies to advocate for policies that promote EV charging, fleet transition, rebates and more. On August 26, Jeff Gross testified to the EPA on the Biden Administration's proposed clean cars rule to decrease the amount of GHG pollution coming from passenger cars and trucks.

Land & Water​

• Remington Woods: Sierra Club Connecticut’s Save Remington Woods campaign aims to protect Remington Woods from development and to be preserved in its entirety. Remington Woods is a 422 acre forest in Bridgeport and Stratford. This Connecticut Post article emphasizes Sierra Club’s position on Remington Woods. On August 9,  Sierra Club submitted these comments to the Bridgeport Planning office advocating for protection of Remington Woods. Sign the petition to Save Remington Woods here. Donate to the campaign here.​

Insure Our Future​

• 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.  The campaign sent a letter to Greenwich-based W.R. Berkley to urge the company to rule out underwriting the Trans Mountain Pipeline. On October 13, Samantha will participate in a panel on Climate Change and Social Justice hosted by the Connecticut Department of Insurance

Legislative Session​

• On September 15, the CT Renews Coalition for a more just, equitable and sustainable Connecticut, held a presentation by NJ advocates who won passage of a groundbreaking  Environmental Justice law that protects communities from the cumulative impact of pollution.​

Wildlife​

• The Wildlife Committee has circled a sign on letter  to animal rights groups in the state to help Minnie, an elephant at the Cumberford Zoo in Goshen, and send her to a qualified animal sanctuary.  In preparation for the upcoming legislative session, the Committee has decided on priorities that they will be advocating for, including banning leg traps, banning the use of wild animals in traveling circuses, and a robust bear education program instead of a hunting season. They are also part of a statewide group, along with other animal rights organizations, dedicated to protecting our black bears and educating the public.