2014 Legislative Agenda

Despite nearly 8″ of snow in Hartford, the Connecticut legislative session does indeed kick off today. Work with us for the next three months to protect our land, air, and water, and to build healthier communities!

We work closely with legislators, state agencies, fellow environmental groups, and citizens like you all across Connecticut to protect existing laws and find new ways to make sure we all have clean water to drink and swim in, healthy air to breathe, and vibrant communities.

Our top priorities this year include:

• Stopping climate-polluting methane leaks from natural gas pipelines
• Protecting and managing the health and vitality of Long Island Sound
• Making transit more rider-friendly and planning for the long haul
• Keeping the laws that protect our land, air, and water strong

Keep reading for more specifics about our agenda for the upcoming 2014 legislative session.

Climate & Energy

• Cut down on leaky natural gas pipelines that spew methane into our atmosphere by encouraging programs to replace high-risk pipelines and setting timelines to repair lower-risk leaks. Make sure gas companies aren’t getting paid for gas that escapes through leaks.
• Keep our state’s commitment to our Global Warming Solutions Act goals by setting interim targets and creating policies that will start reducing greenhouse gas pollution now.
• Encourage building owners to invest in energy efficiency and help tenants save money by promoting energy use benchmarking and disclosure for commercial and residential buildings.
• Promote the use of electric vehicles by increasing the number of EVs in the state fleet, planning to adapt the electric grid to allow for charging stations, and spurring consumer demand to make Connecticut a leader in cleaner transportation.

Long Island Sound

• Work with legislators, DEEP, and allies to understand, map and protect Long Island Sound’s most   fragile habitats, while providing opportunities for Sound-compatible industries.
• Support efforts to protect our waters from hydrofracking waste shipped in from out of state.
• Ensure that Clean Water Fund authorizations for 2014 and 2015, as well as 2013’s remaining funds, are maintained and allocated to important projects that will reduce nitrogen, raw sewage, and phosphorus in our rivers, lakes, and Long Island Sound. Encourage innovative green infrastructure projects to manage stormwater runoff.

Transit & TOD

• Maintain existing bus services and invest in new transit services to get Connecticut workers and families where they need to go.
• Increase Connecticut’s long-term planning for rail, bus, and alternative forms of transit.
• Leverage federal investment for rail and bus service.
• Make transit more “user friendly” and improve access to transportation information.

Defense of Law & Policy

• Defend against bills seeking to weaken or roll back protections for Connecticut’s land, air, and water, and Long Island Sound.