Though a few environment bills passed, major legislation concerning greenhouse gas emissions and resiliency against climate change failed.
Energy & Environment
As climate change continues to impact Connecticut, keep up with the latest news on environmental legislation, energy, coastal resilience, pollution, and land use.
After Eversource threat, Lamont backs PURA chair for another term
Hours after Eversource’s president said it would cut funding for capital projects, the governor reappointed Marissa Gillett to a 4-year term.
Eversource escalates CT fight, saying it will cut investments
The remarks were interpreted as another nudge for Gov. Ned Lamont to fire Marissa Gillett, chair of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.
CT House Democrats vote to declare ‘climate crisis’
The debate over House Bill 5004 reflected the deep divide among Democrats and Republicans on the science, economics and politics of climate.
CT lawmakers OK legislation to ban bottle bill recycling scams
The law would ban people from returning empties if they already know that they have been redeemed or if they were purchased out of state.
CT greenhouse gas emissions up as climate change bills languish
Transportation accounted for 42% of CT emissions, followed by heating in residential and commercial buildings at 21% and 13% respectively.
Climate change legislation faces another uphill battle to approval
CT has four major climate bills awaiting legislative action this session. It’s anyone’s guess what will emerge to make it to a vote, or pass.
Is CT’s electric grid ready to handle more power?
Some say we aren’t ready to require electric power, because the grid can’t yet handle it. Others say policy signals drive development.
Plans for offshore wind power blow back into New England
The largest proposal received from a three-state solicitation came from Avangrid, which had pulled out of a CT project called Park City Wind.
Curtain raised on debate over electric vehicles in CT
CT lawmakers staged a dress rehearsal for debates over how aggressively Connecticut should push zero-emission vehicles.
Thousands of dams in CT pose risks and challenges
Thousands of aging dams in CT challenge the officials that oversee and regulate them — and almost every town with conflicting priorities.
Legislature seeks data center study; Concerns raised over delays
A proposal to study how data centers affect CT’s electric grid is drawing opposition from some who say it would delay critical development.
New bill outlines a longer path to zero-emission vehicle rules in CT
Gov. Ned Lamont said the measure, drafted as a compromise to a proposed phase-out of most gas-powered vehicles, was a “nothing-burger.”
In CT and D.C., Democrats flinch at rapid transition to EVs
CT Democrats are joining the Biden administration in a retreat from controversy over how hard to push a change from gas to electric vehicles.
CT legislators take another swing at a big climate bill
The bill has 17 multi-part initiatives designed to address climate change, but it is not a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction roadmap.