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Our View: Stealing From The Future To Pay For Today's Shortfall
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.”
New report reveals Mercury Thermostats Coming Off the Wall and Going Into the Trash
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.
Statement in Support of Funding the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
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 20510Dear 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
Go Solar Connecticut - Support new Connecticut Solar Legislation
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 .
Act Now to Stop Global Warming
The science is clear: we need to quickly reduce the pollution that leads to global warming in order to avoid severe impacts.
The future is clear: we can stop global warming by making a clean, efficient and renewable energy future for our nation.
A recently released study by the Union of Concerned Scientists and more than 50 independent scientific experts shows that if global warming goes unchecked by late this century, summers in large parts of Connecticut could resemble sweltering summers today in Georgia.
Without strong action on global warming Connecticut could face the following:
Reduce Diesel Pollution
Diesel pollution is a major global warming pollutant as diesel "black carbon" soot traps heat and warms the atmosphere. While the Federal government set strict standards for new diesel engines starting in 2007, these standards do not apply to existing diesel vehicles, which can remain on the road for decades. As a part of the CT Alliance Against Diesel Pollution, Clean Water Action is working to close this loophole by taking action at the state level.
Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Connecticut
Connecticut residents want to protect ourselves and those we love, preventing harm especially to babies and young children. Our homes and our bodies should be safe from unwanted and dangerous intrusion. But there's a toxic problem putting our health at risk.
Clean Energy 20% by 2010 Campaign
In 2003, Clean Water Action, Environment Northeast, the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network and Smart Power joined forces to convince New Haven to become the first town to commit to support clean energy, and New Haven committed to purchase clean energy in February 2004. Since that time over 85 other towns and the state government have taken the 20% by 2010 challenge, sending a strong message to make more clean energy.
Sooty Six - Power Plants
Through five grueling years of fighting false information and strong opposition, demand has grown "until it was impossible for decision-makers not to follow the lead of the people" to clean up Connecticut's Sooty Six Power Plants. Clean Water Action has been a leader in this largest environmental campaign on this scale in recent memory, winning a larger voice for environmental groups in Connecticut.
Connecticut Climate Coalition
Clean Water Action coordinates the Connecticut Climate Coalition, a coalition of more than 90 health, faith, business, and environmental organizations.