Campaign Updates
October 2020
Beyond Gas, Clean Energy, & Climate
Killingly: Sierra Club Connecticut is actively opposing a brand new 650- megawatt fossil fuel power plant approved by the CT Siting Council in June 2019. Sierra Club filed these comments and an expert report to DEEP on June 9, 2020 outlining the violations of CT Water Quality Standards of the proposed Killingly pipeline. Take action here to ask Gov. Lamont and DEEP to reject certification of the pipeline. Sierra Club co-sponsored a “rally” of shoes on the Capitol lawn on August 29 and submitted these comments to PURA on its August 31 hearing for a special contract for Killingly. DEEP will hold hearings on another permit for wastewater discharge on October 1 at 3 pm and October 2 at 10 am. Email Martha if you want to get more involved.
End Gas Expansion/SupportBeneficial Electrification: Connecticut policies continue to expand the use of gas at a time when we must be making a transition from fossil fuels to zero-emission technologies. Sierra Club Connecticut is advocating to end ratepayer subsidies of gas pipelines, customer conversions, equipment and appliances at the Governor’s Council on Climate Change (GC3). A draft report from the GC3 will be available for public comment in September.
Net Zero Building: Heat pump technology and highly efficient electric appliances are widely available, so building with fossil fuels now is irresponsible, Sierra Club Connecticut and others are urging that Connecticut’s High Performance Building Standard (required for new schools using certain state funding) be updated to a net-zero, all-electric, zero embodied carbon requirement. In August we joined CT Green Building Council and others to urge the Governor to strengthen sustainability measures in Connecticut’s low-income housing finance program.
Clean Energy: In August, Sierra Club joined with CT Coalition for Environmental Justice and others to call for the closure of the MIRA trash incinerator in Hartford and to implement zero-waste policies.
Mega Dam Resistance: The Sierra Club and its Chapters in New England, including Connecticut, is joining with NAMRA and other organizations to urge New England Governors and Canadian Premiers to stop the construction of more mega dam hydropower in Canada. A press conference is planned for September 21 when the Governors and Premiers will meet virtually.
Ready for 100
Local campaigns for 100% clean and renewable energy: In August we welcomed Alycia Jenkins as RF100 Intern focusing on Hartford. 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. For more information contact Diane.
Clean Transportation
EV Policy: Sierra Club is working with allies to advocate for policies that promote EV charging, fleet transition, rebates and more. In August, Sierra Club submitted comments to the CHEAPR board in support of e-bikes, low-income rebates and rebate increases. Matt McCarthy, who interned with Sierra Club this spring, participated in electric school bus toolkit training and is advocating for an electric school bus pilot in Hartford.
Drive Electric Online Campaign: Sierra Club is working with volunteers to develop EV promotional posts with a Connecticut focus in lieu of in-person EV Demo events that had to be canceled.
Remington Woods
Urban Forest: 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. Read more about the campaign here in the Summer Q. Sign the petition to Save Remington Woods here.
Insure Our Future
Insure Our Future: Sierra Club is partnering with CCAG to urge the Connecticut insurance industry to stop investing in and underwriting fossil fuels. On August 27, we met with The Hartford to discuss our demands and urge action.
Wildlife
Wildlife: The Wildlife team is providing education about Connecticut wildlife on our Chapter Facebook page, and continues to build support for legislative priorities. See more here.
Democracy
Mail in Voting/Automatic Voter Registration: The Connecticut Chapter joined with allies to support mail-in voting in the 2020 primaries and general election. BY Executive Order, mail-in voting was allowed for the August primary and in July, legislators voted overwhelmingly in favor of expanding absentee voting to all eligible voters due to COVID-19 for the November 3rd general election.
Battleground 2020: Battleground 2020 is the largest electoral voter outreach program that the Sierra Club has ever built. Teams are writing letters, calling voters, and sending text messages to people to remind them to vote and to encourage them to take timely action on issues in their area. Volunteers can participate by signing up at sc.org/gotv.
Stand in Solidarity
Black Lives Matter: Sierra Club Connecticut is committed to being an actively anti-racist organization. Climate justice and racial justice are inextricably linked, which is why we stand in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives list of demands, and why we will continue to learn from and fight alongside racial justice organizations. There will be no climate justice without racial justice. See here for a list of anti-racism resources.