2025 Policy Priorities

Fires, floods, and heat waves are just some of the climate impacts Connecticut experienced in 2024. The reality is that this is just the beginning and Connecticut is not prepared. Protecting Connecticut’s environment and ensuring a healthy, safe and stable climate for all is at the heart of Sierra Club Connecticut’s legislative and administrative policy priorities.

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End Fossil Fuel Expansion & Subsidies that Cost Money and Harm the Climate

Fossil fuels are the cause of climate change, air pollution and high energy prices in Connecticut. It is critical that Connecticut stop building and expanding fossil fuel infrastructure, and end subsidies for fossil fuel projects.  

 

In 2025, the legislature must end corporate handouts for pipeline and methane gas by:

• repealing the pipeline tax that would charge ratepayers for giant energy corporations to build interstate pipelines

• eliminating ratepayer fees for leaking gas from intrastate pipelines, and 

• directing PURA to develop and implement a non-pipes alternative framework that would require gas utilities to consider non-pipe alternatives before replacing pipes 

 

The Lamont administration must reject permits to double the size of the Brookfield methane gas compressor station, and reject any attempts to expand the capacity or infrastructure of the Enbridge pipeline. The State Treasurer must commit to stop issuing new bonds for fossil fuel projects.

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Increase Energy Efficiency & Clean Energy to Save Money and the Climate

The solutions to our climate, pollution and high energy cost crises are right in front of us, but Connecticut is losing ground on real solutions that save money and reduce pollution in communities most impacted by energy generation. ​

The legislature must pass legislation to increase offshore wind, and increase the availability of energy efficiency,  renewable solar, battery storage, and zero-emission lawn equipment by:

• setting robust goals for these clean energy solutions

• expedite the use of IRA funds

• create, increase or support existing state investments,  tax credits, 0% financing, and on-bill financing  

The Lamont administration must bring cost-saving offshore wind to Connecticut, lift the artificial caps that keep businesses and communities from cost-saving solar power, and develop a robust community solar program. Governor Lamont must ensure that the Capitol Area System, a former co-generation power plant on Capitol Avenue in Hartford, makes a full transition to 100% clean and renewable energy. 
 

​​Environmental Justice 

 Everyone deserves to live in a healthy and safe environment, yet due to the state's history of redlining and discriminatory policies, low-income and communities of color are exposed to greater pollution, substandard housing, contaminated air, water and soil, and are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change like heat and flooding.​

In 2025, the legislature must:

• protect public benefits charges that ensure the most vulnerable Connecticut residents have electricity

• support the expansion of just cause eviction protections

• prioritize access to energy efficiency and renewable energy for Environmental Justice communities

• pass the Environmental Rights Amendment, a resolution to include environmental rights in the state Constitution 

• continually strengthen and fight any rollbacks of the Environmental Justice law​

 

Reduce Transportation Pollution

Transportation is responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, and pollution from transportation continues to grow. Vehicle pollution is concentrated in our urban communities.  

In 2025 the legislature must take steps to reduce climate and health-harming transportation pollution by:

• increasing support for zero-emission school and transit buses

• accelerating access to charging for electric vehicles, and implementing measures that will support more clean cars and trucks on our roads

• increase affordable transit options and improve walking and biking options

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​Heat Protection & Climate Resilience

Year after year, Connecticut is experiencing climate impacts including extreme heat and extreme weather events. It is critical that policies are in place to protect vulnerable populations, and that those responsible - polluters - pay. 

 Sierra Club Connecticut urges the legislature to:

• establish programs to provide cooling for vulnerable populations including nursing homes, senior housing, senior centers, child care, and prisons

• require a networked geothermal/thermal network program for zero-carbon community-based cooling and heating 

• establish a funding stream, paid for by climate polluters, to cover costs for climate mitigation, resilience, and adaptation efforts with priority funding for Environmental Justice communities

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Reduce Waste and End Incineration

Connecticut is the most incinerator dependent state in the nation; the negative impacts of trash incineration disproportionately burden Connecticut's low-income and communities of color where incinerators are located.  
In 2025, Sierra Club Connecticut urges the legislature to take action to reduce waste going to incinerators by:

• diverting all organic waste from the waste stream

• banning single use plastics

• establishing a statewide save as you throw program 

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Protect Wildlife

Wildlife is under stress from habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, toxic chemicals, pollution and other stresses. 

In 2025, we urge the legislature to:

• ban neonicotinoids

• ban second generation anticoagulant rodenticides

• add Japanese barberry and Winged Euonymus, aka Burning Bush, to the list of highly invasive plants that are banned

• require state agencies to use only native plants when planting

Contact: Julianna Larue, julianna.larue@sierraclub.org
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See activity on bills we are tracking here. (bills will begin to be introduced in January 2025):

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