Sierra Club Connecticut

Campaign Updates 

June/July 2024

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. On June 1, Sierra Club helped organize a rally in Coventry center to oppose the proposed  regulator station on the pipeline. On June 17,  Sierra Club and local advocates gave a presentation to the Coventry Town Council. Sierra Club is also working with local residents to stop the expansion of the Brookfield Compressor Station. And, Sierra Club is currently intervening in the CNG/SCG gas rate case before PURA. On June 20, Sierra Club and CLF filed this brief. On June 24, NAG Executive Director and Sierra Club Executive Committee member Tenaya Taylor published this op-ed in the Hartford Courant opposing the rate increase.

 

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 July 15, 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. In June, DAS released a decarbonization study which includes a fossil fuel option. Sierra Club responded with this press release and a rally on June 25.

 

Solar and Clean Heat for All: Our Chapter has a vision to put solar power and clean heat into homes, businesses, schools and nonprofits in Connecticut to meet our state’s climate and clean energy goals. Right now, Connecticut lags behind on solar power per capita and needs to rapidly adopt heat pumps for space and water heating. On June 6,  CT Public ran this story about environmental orgs pushing for special session on climate on radio and on their site. 

 

The Inflation Reduction Act:  is the largest investment in our climate and clean energy in U.S. history. It includes more than 100 programs that will invest about $370 billion in climate action, clean energy jobs, and environmental justice. Sierra Club’s Steve Lewis is presenting to groups around the state about the benefits of efficient zero-emission technologies,  his personal experiences with energy efficiency, solar panels, heat pumps, electric vehicles, and  about the rebates and tax credits available through the Inflation Reduction Act. Interested in a presentation in your community? Contact us at connecticut.chapter@sierraclub.org. On July 22, CT Chapter was on hand for Governor Lamont's press conference announcing EPA IRA awards to Connecticut with focus on $450 million for heat pumps (with 4 other states) and $9.47 million for networked geothermal in New Haven.  The awards also included a multi-state $248.9 million for heavy duty vehicle charging on 1-95 corridor led by NJ. Governor Lamont's press release included a quote from Connecticut Chapter.

Zero Waste

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 brought community members and municipal officials out to question the plan. Sierra Club CT and the Zero Waste Coalition are following developments and attending public meetings. 

 

Clean Transportation

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 June 6, the Chapter hosted a webinar about how and why to plan an EV event as part of National Drive Electric Week event. View the webinar here, password: 2^&+#3?o  Or visit the National Drive Electric Week website. 

 

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. Follow news from the campaign  on Facebook.  In June, Sierra Club joined Aspetuck Land Trust’s Bridgeport Series "Wild Life Bridgeport.” On June 14, we tabled in Bridgeport with postcards to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Senator Blumenthal in support of preservation. Also in June, we are working with volunteers to write letters to the editor about the National Old Growth Plan. 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

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. 

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Wildlife

Wildlife: 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. In June, Wildlife Committee chair gave a presentation on grassland birds to the Brookfield Conservation Commission, which helped guide the Commission on mowing policy.

 

Insure Our Future

Insure Our Future: 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.  

 

Legislative Session

The 2024 legislative session concluded on May 9.  See our recap of the session here. Interested in getting more involved in our legislative committee?  Contact Steve Lewis, Legislative Committee Chair, for more information.