Beyong Gas, Clean Energy, & Climate

• GC3: Sierra Club submitted these comments on January 6 highlighting the need to stop Killingly and other gas expansion to the Governor's Council on Climate Change (GC3) in response to its Phase 1 Draft report. Sierra Club issued this press release on the final report.

• 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. On December 22, DEEP tentatively approved Everource’s application to build the Killingly pipeline. See Sierra Club press release here. Sierra Club ran a full page ad in the Hartford Courant as well as digital ads across the state demanding Governor Lamont keep his word to “... be pretty tough when it comes to these negotiations —I will step in. I’d like to find a way that we don’t need a new powerplant in Killingly.” The Courant covered the story with this front page article. In January, Sam was interviewed on “The Struggle” about the opposition to the Killingly power plant. Events opposing KEC were held in Hartford and New Haven on Jan. 13 and 17 respectively by Sunrise Movement CT. Martha was interviewed on WECS radio on Tuesday, Jan. 19. On January 20, CT Mirror wrote this story. Also on January 20, DEEP approved the wastewater discharge permit for KEC.  

• UCONN: Sierra Club is working with students at UCONN in opposition to new fossil gas infrastructure on campus. In January, we submitted these comments to DEEP on UCONN”s permit applications. UConn activist, Brandon Hermoza-Ricci, was interviewed by WECS on Jan. 12.

• Middletown: In November 2020, DEEP tentatively approved 375MW fracked gas generation in Middletown. Sierra Club is working with local advocates including the Jonas Center in opposition to the proposal; see fact sheet here. CTExaminer interviewed Martha Klein and covered the news with this article on January 4. DEEP will hold a public hearing on NRG gas expansion in Middletown on March 3 at 3pm via Zoom; register here.

• End Gas Expansion: 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 and transition to clean, renewable alternatives. On February 9 and 23rd, Sierra Club is planning webinars on this issue and actions that can be taken.

• Waste Reduction: Sierra Club CT is working with allies led by CT Coalition for Environmental Justice to close the MIRA trash incinerator in Hartford and to implement Zero Waste policies. 

• TC/ Dominion Expansion: FERC docket number CP 20-48. The compression stations in Milford and Brookfield will be expanded to supply NY with more fracked gas. The pipeline will not be enlarged.

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.​

Clean Transportation​

• Electric Vehicle  Policy: Sierra Club is working with allies to advocate for policies that promote EV charging, fleet transition, rebates and more. Sierra Club volunteer Steve Lewis is working on implementing EV charging policies in South Windsor.​

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. See new video here! Sign the petition to Save Remington Woods here. Donate to the campaign 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. In January, Sierra Club and CCAG met with CT Insurance Commissioner Andrew Mais about insurance and climate. With Health Care Without Harm and CCAG, Sierra Club met with CVS Health (parent company of Aetna) about divestment.​

Wildlife​

• Wildlife: The Wildlife team hosted a virtual meeting on January 21 with legislators on issues before the 2021 legislative session. Sign up to support wildlife here.​