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 February 11, the Stop Project Maple team organized a Rally for Climate Action and Affordable Energy at Eversource’s Office in Hartford. 50 people joined us and the rally was covered by the Hartford Courant, NBC Connecticut, CT Public News Service and Yale Daily News. An op-ed was also published as part of the Stop Project Maple campaign by Zanagee Artis in the Hartford Courant.

 

Energy efficiency: Sierra Club has led the effort to end rebates for fossil fuel equipment and appliances in the state’s energy efficiency program. On January 17, we submitted these comments on the 2025-2027 plan for the state’s energy efficiency program. 

 

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. On February 21, we issued this press release on Governor Lamont’s decision to use fossil fuels instead of renewable alternatives.

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Wind, Solar and Clean Heat: Our Chapter has a vision for offshore wind and solar to bring low-cost energy to our state and to heat  homes, businesses, schools and nonprofits in Connecticut with heat pumps instead of fossil fuels. In February, Sierra Club created a fact sheet providing data on the benefits of offshore wind to Connecticut. 

 

The Inflation Reduction Act:  is the largest investment in our climate and clean energy in US history. It includes more than 100 programs that will invest about $370 billion in climate action, clean energy jobs, and environmental justice.On January 29, the Connecticut Chapter, alongside other Chapters in the region, submitted these comments on the Heat Pump Accelerator Program grant won by our states. 

 

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 tentatively approved Reworld application to burn medical waste at the Bristol incinerator but we continue to fight for stronger regulations through legislative action..

Clean Transportation

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Sierra Club is working with allies to advocate for policies that promote car-free transportation, electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging, fleet transition, and more.  On January 30, we hosted a presentation and conversation with Tenaya Taylor (Executive Director of the NonProfit Accountability Group, Member of the EJEV Coalition, and Executive Committee member of Sierra Club Connecticut) about the environmental justice case for reducing pollution from cars and trucks.  

 

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 mathematic (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. We are fighting a bill that would rollback our strong 2024 PFAS law in the area of cookware.

 

Wildlife

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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. Other bills restrict the use of toxic neoniconoids and rodenticides.

 

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 December 4, alongside state coalition partners, we hosted a webinar about the State Treasurer and the power of public money. Over 50 people attended to learn about the topic and get plugged into advocacy for 2025.

 

Legislative Session

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The 2025 legislative session began on January 8, 2025.  In the lead up to the session, Sierra Club issued its Policy Priorities. We continued our “Climate, Clean Energy and Connecticut” presentations with one in New Haven on December 3, one online on January 6, and one in Mansfield on January 23. We hosted a gathering on the first day of the session, January 8. Staff and legislative committee volunteers are meeting with lawmakers and working to get bills on our issues introduced. Interested in getting more involved in our legislative committee?  Contact Steve Lewis, Legislative Committee Chair, for more information.