Tell your legislators it's time for Connecticut to go solar!

The recent opening of the 2010 legislative session gives us the opportunity to advance the use of solar power in Connecticut to create jobs, cut pollution and stabilize electricity costs. House Bill 5362, An Act Concerning Renewable Energy, would make it feasible to install enough solar to power the equivalent to 100,000 homes over the next decade.

This bill is being heard in the Energy and Technology committee on Thursday March 4th and the committee will need to vote on the bill within the next three weeks.

You can help by asking your state legislators to support a solar bill to create new green jobs through expanding the in-state solar power industry. Solar power benefits Connecticut's economy by lowering energy costs for families, businesses, and municipalities, and by decreasing our dependence on imported non-renewable fossil fuel sources and their volatile prices. Solar power also decreases Connecticut's harmful global warming pollution .

New Britain Herald
published Monday, February 8, 2010

The Rell administration, as a way of coping with the state’s budget woes, has proposed three possible sources of future revenue that the state could sell now to raise a $1.3 billion lump sum — in other words, sacrificing future budgets to meet today’s needs.

The governor’s budget office would “securitize” a portion of the charges on electric bills used to support clean energy and conservation initiatives, a move that Roger Smith, campaign director for Clean Water Action, told the Journal Inquirer, would “saddle Connecticut consumers with a future of higher electricity rates to reduce this year’s budget deficit. While the governor claims to be opposed to new taxes, this proposal turns utility bills into a tax collection vehicle for the state.”

President Obama was right to emphasize the job creation potential and economic stakes for America's leadership on global warming solutions in his State of the Union address this week.

Strategic use of federal stimulus monies is one of the best ways to jump-start the nation's transition to a clean energy economy. Planned investments in high speed rail, new energy efficiency technologies, clean energy start-ups and entrepreneurs can deliver the right combination of near term and longer range benefits.

By re-asserting the imperative for U.S. action and leadership on global warming, the President signaled the urgency and importance of Senate action to complete work on comprehensive energy and global warming legislation begun by the House.

Manufacturers’ Collection Falls Short

Hartford - Today Clean Water Action released a report, Turning Up The Heat documenting that thermostat makers have collected less than 5% of the thermostats coming out of service over the last 10 years. Therefore, Clean Water Action is calling on the Connecticut General Assembly to pass a state collection program that includes incentives to recycle and performance standards to ensure meaningful progress.

Act Now To Fund Jobs That Save Lives

Legislation to create jobs is moving forward in Congress, and environmental health advocates have a great opportunity to significantly increase the funding to reduce diesel emissions. The request for $1 billion would potentially save or generate 19,000 jobs and increase economic output by over $3 billion.

It is a great opportunity to protect public health, curb greenhouse gases and otherwise protect the environment while putting Americans to work and boosting the economy. Please contact your House representative and two Senators to urge them to support $1 billion in the jobs package to reduce diesel emissions today. 

January 11, 2010

The Honorable Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader
522 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Majority Leader Reid:

We are writing as a broad-based group of environmental, health and industry organizations to urge you to include $1 billion for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2005 ("DERA") in the anticipated jobs package.

Published On: 

01/11/2010 - 10:57

Roger Smith
Campaign Director

We have never had a better chance of fixing the Clean Water Act and delivering results on the Clean Water issues that matter the most. Help us seize the moment and change the course of our nation's clean water future.

By continuing your support with a generous year-end gift, you are helping to advance Clean Water Action's vision for water protection in the 21st Century that will be realized by:

New England Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update

Providence may be the second largest city in New England, but it can trade asthma and pollution stories with the best of the major cities. Rhode Island has the 5th highest child asthma rate in the country, and metropolitan Providence is ranked in the worst 6% of all U.S. counties for cancer risks posed by diesel pollution. Diesel is a menacing public health threat and a potential lynchpin in the fight against global warming. Black carbon soot is now considered the second largest source of global warming pollution after carbon dioxide. It is 2,000 more potent as a global warming agent than an equal volume of CO2.

Cue Providence: this summer will surely be remembered, not least by Clean Water Action members, for precedent-setting local government action and a highly practical approach to diesel pollution reduction measures in the capitol city.

New England Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update

BPA Banned In Connecticut

State Legislators, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, and other supporters rally outside the Legislative Office Building in support of the Bisphenol-A legislation.

Thanks to the commitment of our members, Connecticut Clean Water Action is celebrating a banner year marked by recent legislative victories that will reduce toxins in consumer products.