Legislative Session: The legislative session began on January 6 and will end on June 9. See more here including the bills we are tracking, testimony and more. Take action here.

Beyond Gas, Clean Energy, & Climate

• End Gas Expansion: To address climate change Sierra Club Connecticut opposes gas expansion and advocates for deployment of clean energy. Recent articles on the topic in general: 

  • In May, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health published a study that found health impacts from nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds—two of the pollutants associated with burning fuels in buildings led to an estimated 318 early deaths and $3.567 billion in health impact costs in Connecticut in 2017. Connecticut data here.

• Here are some of the areas we are taking action to reduce the use of fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to clean energy:

  • Updating Connecticut’s Energy Efficiency program to end rebates for fossil fuel equipment and appliances. Connecticut’s Energy Efficiency Board is developing its 2022-2024 plan for the next 3 years of the program.  Take action here.

• Ending Connecticut’s Gas Expansion Plan: On May 18, Sierra Club and Save the Sound filed these comments on PURA Docket 13-06-02RE05, Investigation of Connecticut’s Local Distribution Companies Proposed Expansion Plans to Comply with Connecticut’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy—Program Review. Also in the same docket, 187 Sierra Club members and supporters urged an end to the gas expansion plan through our action alert.

• Eversource: In May, The Boston Globe and E&E News brought to light Eversource’s leadership in a coalition meant to stymie building electrification—a crucial climate priority. Also in May, parents in Cambridge, MA were surprised to find Eversource-branded pro-fossil-fuel propaganda in their kids’ backpacks.

• Opposition to New Fossil Fuel Power Plants: Sierra Club Connecticut is actively opposing a brand new 650 megawatt fossil fuel power plant in Killingly and 375 megawatts in Middletown.

• 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.

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. Visit the links to see more about the campaigns.

Clean Transportation​

• Electric Vehicle  Policy: Sierra Club is working with allies to advocate for policies that promote EV charging, fleet transition, rebates and more. On May 25, Sierra Club Connecticut sent this letter in support of the CT Department of Transportation application for a federal grant to support electric transit buses and charging in Waterbury.

• The Sierra Club joined our partners Plug In America, Forth, and the Electrification Coalition to release Version 4.0 of the AchiEVe: Model Policies to Accelerate Electric Vehicle Adoption, the most comprehensive and current toolkit for transportation electrification in the nation. Share with your local elected officials, city/town staff, businesses and legislators.

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. Sierra Club attended a community meeting by the corporate owner (Corteva, formerly DuPont) on May 11; here’s what happened.  See Sierra Club video here. Sign the petition to Save Remington Woods here. Donate to the campaign here.​

Insure Our Future​

• 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.  In May, Sierra Club participated in a rally outside The Hartford and Travelers in advance of their shareholder meetings. Inside the meetings, the companies were asked about their investments and underwriting.

Wildlife​

• The Wildlife team is building support for SB 925 An Act Prohibiting the Import, Sale and Possession of African Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Black Rhinoceros, White Rhinoceros and Giraffes. Read more and show your support here.