Samantha Dynowski, 860-916-3639, samantha.dynowski@sierraclub.org
Adil Trehan, 202-630-7275, adil.trehan@sierraclub.org
Hartford, CT -- One day after Connecticut acknowledged it is failing to meet its climate pollution reduction targets, the Energy Efficiency Board (EEB) moved forward with a 3 year plan that will continue subsidizing fossil fuel equipment and appliances.
During public comment sessions in August, the EEB was urged by numerous groups to end subsidies for fossil fuel appliances, and building and water heating systems and instead shift incentives to climate-friendly all-electric alternatives. The 2022-2024 plan approved by the EEB today makes no changes to end subsidies for fossil fuel equipment and appliances.
Every three years, Connecticut’s energy efficiency program is redesigned in a process first drafted by the utilities, then reviewed and approved by the EEB. The Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has the final authority under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 16-245m(d)(1) to approve, modify, or reject the draft C & LM Plan. In a letter dated August 27, environmental, climate, and clean energy organizations urged Commissioner Katie Dykes to demonstrate her leadership in addressing the climate crisis by taking the critical step of ending all fossil fuel subsidies in the energy efficiency plan.
Every Connecticut ratepayer pays into the EnergizeCT energy efficiency program, and it is one of the best tools Connecticut has to reach the state’s climate goals particularly in the building sector.
“Connecticut is not on track to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets because decision-making bodies like the Energy Efficiency Board are failing to act with urgency on the use of climate-destroying fossil fuels,” said Samantha Dynowski, Sierra Club Connecticut. “In the context of the unfolding climate emergency, business as usual for another 3 years is simply not acceptable.”
“The Energy Efficiency Board’s approval of plans to use ratepayer money to subsidize using more gas will only fuel more pollution and make it even harder for Connecticut to meet its climate pollution targets,” said Chris Phelps, Environment Connecticut State Director. “Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Commissioner Dykes should reject any plan from the EEB that subsidizes dirty fossil fuels and tell them to try again and produce a plan that promotes energy efficiency savings while ending subsidies for climate-destroying fossil fuels.”
“Continuing to subsidize polluting fossil fuels defies logic,” said Shannon Laun of Conservation Law Foundation. “The impacts of the climate crisis continue to batter communities across the country and the world’s leading scientists agree we must ditch fossil fuels immediately.The state’s most recent data shows that Connecticut’s emissions increased due to higher use of fossil fuels for heating. If Connecticut continues subsidizing gas heating, the state will not meet its climate goals and our communities will suffer.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.