Beyond Gas, Clean Energy & Climate

• To address climate change Sierra Club Connecticut opposes gas expansion and advocates for deployment of clean energy. Here are some of the areas we are taking action to reduce the use of fossil fuels and accelerate the transition to clean energy:​

  • Connecticut Must Lead on Climate! Sierra Club Connecticut, alongside a dozen organizations, collected and delivered thousands of messages to Governor Lamont to take bold and urgent administrative action to address the climate crisis. Where We Lived touched on the campaign and other climate priorities in the last part of this segment.​

  • Updating Connecticut’s Energy Efficiency program to end rebates for fossil fuel equipment and appliances. Sierra Club is calling for an end to fossil fuel subsidies, an increase in heat pump incentives and prioritizing equity in the energy efficiency plan. In late September, the EPA removed gas appliances from its 2022 ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation. CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will release a decision on the plan later this month.

  • 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. On November 4, some good news came in the form of a letter from ISO-New England to FERC requesting approval to terminate its contract with the Killingly Power Plant. Sierra Club joined others to issue this press statement. The news was covered in a number of outlets CTMirror, CTExaminer, Energy News Network.

  • Air quality monitoring/citizen science: Sierra Club members are engaging in citizen air quality monitoring. If you want to monitor your air, or have mad data crunching skills, we are looking for you! Contact Martha.

  • Ending Connecticut’s Gas Expansion Plan: Sierra Club continues to participate in 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.

Zero Waste​​

• Sierra Club CT is working with allies led by CT Coalition for Environmental Justice to oppose trash incineration and to implement Zero Waste policies.  We are working with residents  in Bristol to fight the proposal to burn medical waste in their Covanta trash incinerator. They have formed Bristol Residents for Clean Air. In Putnam, we are supporting efforts alongside Save the Quiet Corner and other allies to stop the expansion of the existing trash incinerator ash landfill.

Ready for 100​

• Local campaigns for 100% clean and renewable energy: Teams in four Connecticut towns (Hartford, Milford, West Hartford and Windsor) are actively working to transition their communities to 100% clean and renewable energy. The Ready for 100 Hartford  campaign is working with Trinity College Action Lab on Energy Burden; they are currently doing outreach to learn how energy burden impacts community members. The students will present their findings on December 16.​

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 November 15, Sierra Club Connecticut submitted this letter of support for DOT’s federal grant proposal to replace 22 existing diesel operated buses with zero-emission battery electric buses and chargers. DOT is in the process of developing the Statewide Freight Plan; Sierra Club will monitor and provide input into that process as well advocating for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the Statewide Freight plan.​

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. On November 16 and 17, Sierra Club Connecticut joined over 100 people to speak out at the Bridgeport Planning Department public hearings to urge Remington Woods be zoned as a Park! On November 13, a press conference held and organized by Bridgeport Councilwoman Maria Pereira yielded a letter of support for Remington Woods to be considered for the status of state park from Senator Blumenthal. Sign the petition to Save Remington Woods here.​

Insure Our Future​

• 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.  On November 15, we submitted this letter to the Federal Office of Insurance outlining our engagement with the insurance industry and recommending greater oversight of the insurance industry investments and underwriting.​

Legislative Session​

• The Chapter’s Legislative Committee has begun to meet in preparation for the 2022 session of the Connecticut General Assembly. We are in the process of identifying legislative opportunities consistent with our Chapter priorities that have the greatest opportunity for success given the short legislative session.   We are considering opportunities for renewable energy, limiting fossil fuels/climate, environmental justice, transportation, pollution and waste, and wildlife.  Contact Art for more information.​

Wildlife​

• Wildlife: The Wildlife Committee has prepared its priorities for the legislative session. It’s not too soon to reach out to your legislators to protect wildlife. See more here.​