The next session of the Connecticut General Assembly begins on January 3, 2018.
Look back at this page in the fall to see what legislature we are supporting or opposing and how you can get involved. In our current situation, your involvement is more important than ever! The old saying has been around because it’s true; democracy is not a spectator sport! If you’d like to get involved with our legislative team, please contact our chapter at: connecticut.chapter@sierraclub.org
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Legislative update about budget cuts to vital programs! Please click on the picture for a two page PDF.
Trying to push for a cleaner energy future....the RPS is a major tool!
What is the RPS?? Click on the picture to the left for a full PDF printable version.
The Connecticut Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a state policy designed to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lower air emissions, promote clean energy jobs, and drive economic development. The RPS requires electric providers to purchase a percentage of their power from clean energy sources, such as solar and wind, by a certain date. Connecticut’s RPS has required electric providers to gradually increase the amount of renewable energy they deliver, but these targets end in 2020.
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Legislative update:
Support
HB 6329 AN ACT CONCERNING HYDRAULIC FRACTURING WASTE IN CONNECTICUT. To permanently prohibit the storage, disposal, handling and use of hydraulic fracturing waste in Connecticut.
SJ 39 RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT REAL PROPERTY HELD OR CONTROLLED BY THE STATE. The general assembly shall not enact any legislation requiring a state agency to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any real property or interest in real property that is in the custody or control of such agency to any person or entity other than another state agency unless 1. the general assembly has held a public hearing regarding such property or interest, and 2. the sale, transfer or disposition is required by an act of the general assembly that is limited in subject matter to provisions concerning such sale, transfer or disposition and passed by a yea vote of at least two-thirds of the membership of each house.
HB 6998 AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF RECYCLED TIRE RUBBER AT MUNICIPAL AND PUBLIC SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS. To prohibit the installation of ground cover that contains shredded or ground rubber recycled from motor vehicle tires in municipal and public school playgrounds.
Oppose (as written)
SB 106 AN ACT CONCERNING THE DIVERSITY OF BASELOAD ENERGY SUPPLIES IN THE STATE AND ACHIEVING CONNECTICUT'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS MANDATED LEVELS. To provide a mechanism for baseload energy resources to sell power to electric utilities, increase the renewable portfolio standard, require electric distribution companies to solicit long-term contracts for zero emission renewable energy credits and low-emission renewable energy credits for an additional year and allow electric distribution companies to acquire new fuel cell electricity generation.
Oppose:
SB 996 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A BOTTLE RECYCLING FEE IN LIEU OF A REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT. To replace the redemption fee on bottles with a recycling fee, similar to the state of Delaware, and have such bottles recycled through curb-side recycling rather than redemption centers and use the funds from such recycling fee to, in part, fund the reuse of such bottles in the state.
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Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Connecticut Sierra Club and other environmental organizations opposing SB 106 as written…..far too little too late while aiding nuclear which doesn’t need the help at the expense of expanding true clean renewables! (Click on the picture to the left for a printable PDF download)
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Thank Senators Murphy and Blumenthal for standing up to Trump's anti-environmental agenda!
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal
706 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
U.S. Senator Christopher Murphy
136 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Re: Please protect our wilderness monuments and parks from drilling and pollution
Dear Senators:
On April 26, Trump signed an order that paves the way for stripping protections from any of America’s national monuments designated since 1996. That same week, Trump signed an order to reverse restrictions on drilling in sensitive waters in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.
Meanwhile, Congress is working to reverse more pollution protections, while the Senate has launched efforts to open one of America’s wildest places, the pristine Arctic Refuge, to dirty oil development. I am deeply concerned about efforts by President Trump and Congress to strip protections from our public lands and waters and undo critical pollution protections. I am grateful for your leadership and for standing strong against President Trump's anti-environmental agenda, and I want to thank you for that. Please do not support any legislation that would make it easier to undo or downsize our national monuments.
- Please vote NO on any measure that opens our wildlife refuges (namely the Arctic Refuge) to oil and gas drilling.
- Please vote NO on any measure to weaken pollution and climate change protections.
Please do all you can to see that the White House and Congress respect America’s love for public wild lands by not supporting legislation that sells out our national monuments or wildlife refuges to oil and gas interests.
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Contact Information For Senators and Members of Congress:
Senator Richard Blumenthal
706 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2823
www.blumenthal.senate.gov/contact
90 State House Square, 10th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 258-6940
915 Lafayette Blvd., Room 230
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(203) 330-0598
Senator Chris Murphy
136 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4041
www.murphy.senate.gov/contact
120 Huyshope Ave., Suite 401
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 549-8463
Congressman Joe Courtney
2348 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-2076
55 Main Street, Suite 250
Norwich, CT 06360
(860) 886-0139
77 Hazard Ave., Unit J
Enfield, CT 06082
(860) 7416011
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
2413 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-3661
www.delauro.house.gov
59 Elm Street
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 562-3718
(203) 378-9005
Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty
221 Cannon House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-4476
www.esty.house.gov
1 Grove Street, Suite 600
New Britain, CT 06053
(860) 223-8412
Congressman Jim Himes
1227 Longworth House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-5541
211 State Street, Second Floor
Bridgeport, CT 06604
(860) 453-0028
888 Washington Blvd., 10th Floor
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 353-9400
Congressman John Larson
1501 Longworth House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-2265
www.larson.house.gov
221 Main Street, Second Floor
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 278-8888
State Senators and State Representatives: Link here to find your state senator and representative and for their contact information. (https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/cgafindleg.asp.)