Guest blog post by Martha Klein, Chair, Sierra Club Connecticut Chapter
Yesterday, the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) released its draft Comprehensive Energy Strategy. This draft plan, once finalized, will impact Connecticut energy use and development for the next few years.
Read more about the draft plan here.
While Connecticut has made progress in advancing renewable energy and protecting the environment, it is disappointing that the state continues on a path to support major investment in fossil fuels. Fossil fuels harm the environment by polluting our air and water and harm consumers who will continue to foot the bill for unneeded fossil fuel infrastructure. It is both shocking and troubling that while President Trump is doubling down on fossil fuels and new pipelines in DC - Connecticut has chosen to follow his lead.
Sadly, this CES draft simply does not hit the clear renewable energy goals to set forth by the Global Warming Solutions Act.
I encourage every Connecticut resident concerned about the environment to turn out to public hearings and tell our state leaders that it's time for Connecticut to be a leader in combating climate change and investing in clean, renewable energy!
Public meetings on the CES will be held as follows:
- August 14, 2017, 6:30 p.m., Webb Hall, Room 110, Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), Eastern Road, Willimantic, Connecticut.
- August 16, 2017, 6:30 p.m., Beacon Hall Events Center, Room 214, Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Boulevard, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
- August 21, 2017, 6:30 p.m., Fort Trumbull State Park Conference Center, 90 Walbach Street, New London, Connecticut.
- August 29, 2017, 6:30 p.m., Auditorium, Torrington City Hall, 2nd floor, 140 Main Street, Torrington, Connecticut.
- September 6, 2017, 4:00 p.m., Gina McCarthy Auditorium, 5th Floor, DEEP's Hartford Office, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut.
- September 7, 2017, 6:30 p.m., Jones Auditorium, Britton Building, 2nd Floor, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut.