Legislative Session: The legislative session began on January 6 and ended on June 9. See a recap of the 2021 regular session here. In the special session that followed the legislative session, a new law was passed that mandates the CT Department of Insurance to push insurers to bring their investments and underwriting in line with science-based emissions reduction targets (listed as a Loss in the recap as SB 1047). Read more here.

Beyond Gas, Clean Energy, & Climate

• End Gas Expansion: 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:

  • 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 comments from 186 members and supporters to end fossil fuel subsidies, increase heat pump subsidies, and address health and safety barriers. Add your name here. Sierra Club CT submitted these comments on DEEP’s Equity in Energy Efficiency proceeding on June 18.

• Ending Connecticut’s Gas Expansion Plan: On May 18, Sierra Club and Save the Sound filed these comments on 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. Also in the same docket, 187 Sierra Club members and supporters urged an end to the gas expansion plan through our action alert.

• Brookfield/Milford Proposed Compressor Station Expansions: Public comments on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the TC/BH pipeline Expansion by Compression plan are due on August 9, see more on how to comment here. Sierra Club Connecticut opposes this proposal. See the draft EIS here.

• Eversource: In June, we joined more than 45 other organizations in Connecticut and Massachusetts challenging Eversource to align its business with our states’ climate policies. The letter followed news in May from The Boston Globe and E&E News that Eversource’s was co-leading a coalition meant to stymie building electrification—a crucial climate priority. Also in May, parents in Cambridge, MA were surprised to find Eversource-branded pro-fossil-fuel propaganda in their kids’ backpacks. In July, Sierra Club CT along with allies from CCAG and No More Dirty Power Killingly, rallied to oppose Eversource Greenwashing at Eversource HQ in Hartford.

• 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. In June the Windham-Willimantic NAACP passed a resolution opposing the proposed plant in Killingly and called on local and state officials to develop clean renewable energy.

• Air quality: A Sierra Club member near a fossil fuel power plant and compressor station in Oxford reached out with concerns about foul odors. She wondered if the odors were related to the gas infrastructure and if they were harmful. We don’t know, but we offered to help find out. Together we appealed to the local and state health departments and DEEP.  Our member now has an air monitor to collect PM2.5 data to help understand more. We hope to soon be monitoring in Bridgeport as well, an environmental justice community overburdened with air pollution.

• Waste Reduction: Sierra Club CT is working with allies led by CT Coalition for Environmental Justice to oppose trash incineration and to implement Zero Waste policies. On June 23, a community meeting was held to inform residents about Covanta’s plan to burn 20,900 tons of medical waste in Bristol. The meeting was facilitated by CCEJ and concerned Bristol residents, with Sierra Club in support. See article on the meeting. See the Facebook page for more information.

  • Allies also responded with concerns and recommendations to the Hartford Solid Waste Task Force’s Vision for Sustainable and Just Waste Management. 

  • Sierra Club Connecticut joined allies led by Citizens Campaign for the Environment in a letter to Walmart about its decision to circumvent the statewide plastic bag ban that went into effect on July 1 by providing its CT retail locations with slightly thicker plastic bags than the law covers. 

  • Sierra Club filed these public comments in opposition to Wheelabrator’s proposal to expand the Putnam Landfill.

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. On June 22, the West Hartford Town Council adopted the Clean Energy Plan, setting a goal of 100% clean and renewable energy (electricity, transportation, and buildings) for the entire community. 

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 June 11, Sierra Club Connecticut filed comments to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in support of NHTSA’s proposal to repeal the rule that says federal law preempts California and other states from setting tougher fuel efficiency and zero emission vehicle standards. On June 25, Sierra Club filed these comments in support of PURA’s EV charging proposal. On July 14, Sierra Club issued this press release on PURA’s final decision.

• On June 25, ConnDOT was awarded a $7.4M grant under FTA’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program for Battery Electric Bus (BEB) Deployment at the CTtransit Bus Depot in the Waterbury Service Area. In May, Sierra Club submitted this letter of support for the grant.

• The Sierra Club joined our partners Plug In America, Forth, and the Electrification Coalition to release Version 4.0 of the AchiEVe: Model Policies to Accelerate Electric Vehicle Adoption, the most comprehensive and current toolkit for transportation electrification in the nation. Share with your local elected officials, city/town staff, businesses and legislators.

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. Sierra Club attended a community meeting by the corporate owner (Corteva, formerly DuPont) on May 11; here’s what happened.  See Sierra Club video here. 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.  On June 21, Sierra Club participated in a rally outside the Travelers Championship golf tournament in Cromwell.

Wildlife​

• The Wildlife Committee helped secure passage of SB 925 An Act Prohibiting the Import, Sale and Possession of African Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Black Rhinoceros, White Rhinoceros and Giraffes. On June 17, the Wildlife Committee held a webinar on “Coexisting Peacefully With Native Wildlife.” Recording here.