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 an equitable transition to clean energy:

 

Updating Connecticut’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is in the process of updating the Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES), a guide for future energy decisions. Sierra Club is urging DEEP to draft a CES that stops expanding the use of fracked gas and starts decreasing all polluting fossil fuels, electrifies everything, prioritizes equity, and does not recommend false solutions.  Sierra Club joined other organizations in these comments to DEEP about the use of hydrogen in Connecticut, submitted on April 15. 

 

Ending Connecticut’s Gas Expansion Plan: Sierra Club is advocating for an end to the ratepayer funded gas expansion plan to lay new gas pipelines and convert customers to fracked gas in PURA docket 21-08-24. On March 23, PURA issued a draft decision recommending an end to the gas expansion program.  Final decision  was issued April 27.

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Updating Connecticut’s Energy Efficiency program: Sierra Club is calling for an end rebates for fossil fuel equipment and appliances, an end to fossil fuel subsidies, an increase in heat pump incentives, and prioritizing equity in the energy efficiency plan. CT DEEP released a draft decision that transitions the state’s energy efficiency program to an all-electric (no gas) residential new construction program, phases out gas rebates, and places priority on low-income and hardship customers. On April 27, Sierra Club filed these comments on the draft decision.

 

Ending the Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR): Sierra Club is calling on ISO-NE to end the MOPR that is preventing Connecticut from meeting its mandated emission reduction targets by keeping clean and renewable energy from entering the market, and allowing the most polluting, dirty generation facilities to continue operating. On April 11, this opinion piece by Killingly activist Ian McDonald explains why the rule needs to be eliminated. On April 20, legislators from throughout New England sent this letter asking FERC to require ISO New England to eliminate the minimum offer price rule beginning with the next capacity auction to be held in February 2023. On April 21, Sierra Club joined with other organizations to urge FERC to reject ISO New England’s proposal; read more here. 

 

Air quality monitoring/citizen science: Sierra Club members are engaging in citizen air quality monitoring. Governor Lamont’s Executive Order creates air monitoring in environmental justice communities. If you want to monitor your air, or have mad data crunching skills, we are looking for you! Contact Martha.

 

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.  We are working with residents in Bristol to fight the proposal to burn medical waste in their Covanta trash incinerator. Bristol Residents for Clean Air are proposing a strong clean air ordinance for the City of Bristol.  In Putnam, we supported efforts alongside Save the Quiet Corner and other allies to stop the expansion of the existing trash incinerator ash landfill; despite objections, DEEP approved the expansion. In Hartford, we are monitoring a proposal by MIRA to replace the dying trash incinerator with a transfer station, and to continue incineration for one more year past the end date of July 2022. 

 

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. Following up on the Energy Burden report from Trinity College Action Lab, the Hartford campaign led by Alycia Jenkins is building support to make energy more affordable and renewable for low-income residents. Show your support here! We also created new education material on gas leaks in Hartford (learn more in our Hartford Gas Leaks - Health & Climate Solutions), and on April 27 we filed these comments with the Planning & Zoning Commission on a proposed easement for gas expansion. The West Hartford team is working to promote Heat Smart, West Hartford’s effort to increase energy efficiency and the adoption of heat pumps. Find out more about HeatSmart Connecticut. 

 

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. Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign released this Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Engagement Toolkit!  ​