CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION AGENDA: 2017
Acadia Center • Center for Energy Security Solutions • Connecticut Citizen Action Group • Citizens
Campaign for the Environment • Clean Water Action • Connecticut Fund for the Environment • Connecticut
League of Conservation Voters • ConnPIRG • Connecticut Round Table on Climate and Jobs • Consumers
for Sensible Energy • Environment Connecticut • Northeast Clean Energy Council • Renew Northeast •
Save the Sound • Sierra Club • Solar Connecticut • Vote Solar

As scientists record ever growing impacts of climate change, it is clear: there is no time to waste when it comes
to taking action. In the critical years ahead of us, every legislative session must propel us toward a clean energy
future. In a new federal reality, states and municipalities not only have to stand their ground against widespread
environmental rollbacks, they may now be the sole leaders in the effort to combat climate change.
The good news is that Connecticut has a proven track record of leadership when it comes to climate action and
green-economy innovation; plus many of the solutions needed to combat climate change can help save money
and grow jobs. But the bad news is that the state is at a crossroads for progress. Instead of Connecticut’s
greenhouse gas emissions continuing a downward trend towards the state’s 2020 Global Warming Solutions Act
target, they have reversed course—with emissions rising for two straight years. Worse yet, the trends indicate
more of the same in the future. Now is the time to stop the backsliding.
There are four steps on the path to climate action that Connecticut can take in 2017 to help ensure we meet the
2020 and 2050 emission mandates.
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First, commit to timely targets that ensure accountability;
Second, invest in efficiency since the cheapest and cleanest energy, is the energy you don’t use;
Third, cut fossil fuels. This means reducing reliance on natural gas, not expanding it; and slashing
emissions from transportation by electrifying our cars and trucks; and
Fourth, ramp up renewables, and fast. There are several parts in this step, but two major components
include expanding the Renewable Portfolio Standard and removing barriers to the rapid deployment of
renewable energy.

1. Commit to Wise Climate Change Planning and Accountability
GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS ACT
PROBLEM: The Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) requires Connecticut to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by setting targets for 2020 and 2050 to combat climate change. Connecticut is currently at risk of
missing its 2020 commitment; greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) for the state reversed course, rising 7.5
percent from 2012 to 2015.
SOLUTION: Amendments to the GSWA will set new interim targets for 2030 and 2040 to
ensure Connecticut meets the required reduction in climate change pollution by 2050. Additionally, changes
would encourage state entities to take climate change impacts into consideration when making planning and
policy decisions.
PRIMARY CONTACTS:

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Claire Coleman, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, ccoleman@ctenvironment.org, 203-787-0646
Chris Phelps, Environment Connecticut, cphelps@environmentct.org, 860-231-8842
Leah Lopez Schmalz, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, lschmalz@ctenvironment.org, 203-7870646

PITTING MILLSTONE AGAINST RENEWABLES
PROBLEM: Millstone has stated its profits are slipping. Instead of continuing to compete in the wholesale
market, as it has for decades, Dominion has asked the state to bail it out.
SOLUTION: Before contemplating any bail out or adjustment to how Dominion competes in the market place, the
state should be given access to the company’s books to guide wise decision making regarding any state
involvement. In no circumstance should Millstone be allowed to compete against renewables. These new
technologies are in a dramatic expansion phase and pitting Millstone against them would chill growth in these
clean, job creating small industries while also setting Connecticut up to fail in its ultimate climate change
obligations.
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
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Chris Phelps, Environment Connecticut, cphelps@environmentct.org, 860-231-8842
Francis Pullaro, RENEW-NE, fpullaro@renew-ne.org
Tom Swan, Connecticut Citizens Action Group, tswan@igc.org
Claire Coleman, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, ccoleman@ctenvironment.org, 203-787-0646

SMART SITING OF SOLAR
PROBLEM: As interest in expanding medium to large scale clean energy dramatically expands in Connecticut,
siting becomes an ever increasing issue. Looking to reuse brownfields and maximize rooftops are great starting
points, but as water companies, forest owners, and agriculture industries hope to expand revenue, renewable
siting has become a concern.
SOLUTION: Environmentalists, renewable energy businesses, agricultural land owners and the state have begun a
dialog with municipalities, industry, and other stakeholders to develop the information state and local decision
making entities need to ensure wise siting of renewable infrastructure. Additionally building an inventory of
degraded and hard-to-use lands is underway; these are areas where clean energy development could be
encouraged with little or no ecological downside and include closed landfills, other brownfields, over-sized
parking lots, commercial rooftops, and highway rights-of-way. These ongoing processes should continue with
the goal of creating standards that drive clean energy development to lands without other good uses while
keeping the door open to owners of productive lands who want to integrate clean energy into their mix of
uses. Since the economic and environmental factors affecting these land use decisions are complex and not
uniform from place to place, there is real value in working carefully toward incentives for proper siting and
voluntary guidelines, and continuously improving the system to ensure than any legislative approaches do not
have unintended consequences.
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
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David Sutherland, The Nature Conservancy, dsutherland@TNC.org, 203-568-6297
Melissa Everett, Clean Water Action, meverett@cleanwater.org, 860-232-6232

 2. Invest Wisely to Support the Economy
EFFICIENCY, CLEAN ENERGY & RGGI FUNDS
PROBLEM: Efficiency and clean energy funds, which are generated by dedicated payments, reduce electricity
bills for businesses and citizens, while helping the state meet climate change goals. Additionally these funds
directly create tens of thousands of jobs in our state. They are responsible for providing the Comprehensive
Home Energy Solutions program to homeowners; energy audits, financing, and incentives programs for
businesses; guidance and incentives for purchasing efficient appliances; advice on incorporating efficiency into
new construction or retrofitting existing buildings; leases for solar; and incentives for installing a solar
photovoltaic system.
SOLUTION: Protect the Clean Energy and Efficiency (from surcharge on ratepayers), Regional Greenhouse
Gas Initiative (from the RGGI auction proceeds), and Green Bank funds. Every $1 of these funds invested in
efficiency programs provides $2.80 in ratepayer benefits; in fact energy efficiency investments in 2015 alone
provided an estimated $968 million in lifetime bill savings for residents and businesses. They also provide
economic growth by providing 33,948 energy efficiency related jobs in CT1 and leveraging limited investments.
For every $1 of electric efficiency investment, the Connecticut’s Gross State Product grows by $5.7 and every $1 in
Green Bank’s financing programs supports between $9 and $10 of private investment and $30 in economic
benefits. Lastly, these investments also reduce healthcare costs by limiting health issues associated with air and
water pollution.
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
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Claire Coleman, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, ccoleman@ctenvironment.org, 203-787-0646
Bill Dornbos, Acadia Center, wdornbos@acadiacenter.org, 860-246-7121 x202
David Sutherland, The Nature Conservancy, dsutherland@TNC.org, 203-568-6297
Chris Phelps, Environment Connecticut, cphelps@environmentct.org, 860-231-8842
Leticia Colon, lcolonees@gmail.com, Energy Efficiencies Solutions, 860-580-9076
Leah Lopez Schmalz, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, lschmalz@ctenvironment.org, 203-7870646
Kevin Doyle, Northeast Clean Energy Council, kevinldoyle@gmail.com, 617-877-5804

LEAD BY EXAMPLE
PROBLEM: CT state government facilities account for 15% of the energy consumed by the state’s commercial
and industrial sector, and costs the state between $150 million to $200 million annually. But a potential 40%
reduction in energy use could save $60 million to $80 million every year.
SOLUTION: An Act Concerning the Creation of Green Jobs in State Buildings Renovation would expand
and accelerate the existing Lead by Example program to foster in-state job creation and economic development
while reducing the state’s substantial energy costs, increasing budgetary savings for taxpayers, and improving
1

2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report, https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/01/f34/2017%20US%20Energy%20and%20Jobs%20Report_0.pdf

 the energy efficiency and weatherization of state facilities. Core legislative reforms include: extending and
updating the current target for reduced energy consumption in state facilities; strengthening a commitment to
creating jobs for Connecticut workers; ensuring that Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund incentives funds are
invested in energy efficiency measures; ensuring a predictable funding stream for LBE projects; and
strengthening the program’s planning and evaluation processes.
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
 Bill Dornbos, Acadia Center, wdornbos@acadiacenter.org, 860-246-7121 x202
 John Humphries, CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, john.humphries1664@gmail.com, 860-216-7972

3. Cut Fossil Fuels to Protect Our Climate
Natural Gas Infrastructure
PROBLEM: Under Connecticut law, passed in 2015, the costs of new natural gas pipeline construction are to be
paid through a pipeline tax added to monthly electric bills. This type of pipeline tax has been overruled by the
Massachusetts Supreme Court and rejected by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission. Based on these
events, CT DEEP recently canceled its natural gas request for proposals, referencing the excessive burden to
ratepayers that paying for infrastructure would cause.
SOLUTION: An Act Concerning Prohibiting Surcharges From Being Levied On Utility Customers To
Subsidize Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline Capacity (HB 6546) would fix this problem by protecting utility
customers from being forced to subsidize the cost of interstate natural gas pipeline construction.
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
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Joe Walkovich, Consumers for Sensible Energy, walkovich2000j@aol.com, 203-730-0520
Claire Coleman, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, ccoleman@ctenvironment.org, 203-787-0646
Lou Burch, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, lburch@citizenscampaign.org, 475-434-1606
Mark Kresowik, Sierra Club, mark.kresowik@sierraclub.org, 319-621-7393

Zero Emission Vehicles and Electric Vehicles
PROBLEM: New data shows that despite needing to slash climate change pollution, Connecticut has been
increasing our share of those greenhouse gas emissions; forty percent of which are from transportation.
According to the Governor’s Council, Connecticut cannot meet its greenhouse gas goals without widespread
adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). Additionally Connecticut has bad air
quality during those times of the year people are most likely to be outside and breathing it in, a problem zero
emission vehicles can alleviate. Unfortunately, current law stymies the widespread proliferation of these
vehicles.
SOLUTION: Moving to a passenger fleet of ZEVs will improve health of Connecticut’s residents and help the
state meet climate change obligations, but to do this the state must remove parts of an old law that prohibits the
direct sale of ZEVs/EVs. In addition to helping Connecticut meet greenhouse gas emission targets, An Act

 Concerning The Licensing of New and Used Car Dealerships could help improve Connecticut’s economy in
two important ways: 1) the public is currently shouldering the high costs gasoline engines. A recent report by
the American Lung Association shows that the 10 ZEV (zero emission vehicle) states (CT is one) can save
billions annually from reduced health and climate harm if we switch to clean cars by 2050. In our state alone the
combined health and climate benefits will be $1.3 billion; and 2) each ZEV/EV center can create 10-25 new
jobs and provide $2 million in new sales tax, $3 million in direct economic benefits, and $5 million in indirect
economic benefits.
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
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Claire Coleman, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, ccoleman@ctenvironment.org, 203-787-0646

4. Increase Renewables to Build a Sustainable Future with Green Jobs
RENEWABLE ENERGY PORTFOLIO STANDARD
PROBLEM: Connecticut’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) does not set standards beyond 2020, and the
Alternative Compliance Payment rate is too low, putting Connecticut at a disadvantage compared to
neighboring states when purchasing renewable energy credits.
SOLUTION: An Act Concerning Clean and Renewable Energy Opportunities and Use of Renewable
Energy Sources will extend the RPS to require electric suppliers to gradually increase the source of energy they
supply from Class I renewable energy sources as follows: at least 35% Class I renewable energy sources by
2025; at least 50% Class 1 Renewable Energy Sources by 2030; and at least 80% from Class 1 Renewable
Energy Sources by 2040. The Act will also increase the alternative compliance payment to six and seven-tenths
cents per kilowatt hour (or sixty-seven dollars per MWh) for 2017, and require an annual adjustment according
to the previous year’s Consumer Price Index. Finally, the Act will transfer alternative compliance payments to
the Clean Energy Fund for the development of Class I renewable energy sources.
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
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Claire Coleman, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, ccoleman@ctenvironment.org, 203-787-0646
Leah Lopez Schmalz, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, lschmalz@ctenvironment.org, 203-7870646
Bill Dornbos, Acadia Center, wdornbos@acadiacenter.org, 860-246-7121 x202
Chris Phelps, Environment Connecticut, cphelps@environmentct.org, 860-231-8842
Mark Kresowik, Sierra Club, mark.kresowik@sierraclub.org, 319-621-7393
Francis Pullaro, RENEW-NE, fpullaro@renew-ne.org
John Humphries, CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, john.humphries1664@gmail.com, 860-216-7972
Janet Besser, Northeast Clean Energy Council, jbesser@necec.org, 617-500-9994

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY-ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY (R-PACE)
PROBLEM: The financing mechanism, known as property-assessed clean energy (PACE) helps customers afford
energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements located on private properties. PACE programs help
finance the initial cost of improvements and are paid back over time by the property owners on their property
tax bills. The original enabling legislation for the C-PACE (for Commercial properties) program has been

 updated and it is now very successful, but the R-PACE statutes need to be revised—with some differences from
the C-PACE provisions—to provide private home owners in Connecticut access to such a program.
SOLUTION: Clarifications to the original R-PACE programs to improve it and reflect recent guidelines from the
Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Administration, and Federal
Housing Finance Agency need to be passed to ensure that R-PACE can succeed here. R-PACE can provide an
important tool to enable the state, without using state funds, to attract private financing to help more
homeowners upgrade their properties with energy efficiency or renewable energy projects.
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
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David Sutherland, The Nature Conservancy, dsutherland@TNC.org, 203-568-6297
Marty Mador, Sierra Club, mmadorm@gmail.com

ZERO EMISSIONS RENEWABLE ENERGY CREDIT
ISSUE: The Connecticut ZREC program requires utilities to procure Class I renewable energy credits
(RECs) under 15-year contracts with owners or developers of renewable energy projects. It is responsible for
ensuring the installation of commercial solar with far fewer incentives than other states. Unfortunately is in the
sixth and final year, though business community interest in solar remains high.
SOLUTION: An Act Concerning the Extension of Connecticut’s ZREC Program will extend the ZREC
program through 2022 and provide the following revisions to enhance its effectiveness: applying the
Competitive Solicitation across all three project sizes (not just for large and medium ZRECs as is currently the
case), creating a separate LREC and ZREC categories, and allowing solicitations to be held twice per calendar
year (currently one per year).
PRIMARY CONTACT:
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Mike Trahan, SolarConnecticut, mtrahan@solarconnecticut.org, 860-256-1698

VIRTUAL NET METERING
ISSUE: Virtual Net Metering allows renewable power produced at one location to be credited to the meters of
users at other locations within the same utility district, allowing eligible groups to avoid siting constraints in
making use of renewable energy such as solar power. Unfortunately this innovative solution is severely
restricted in Connecticut.
SOLUTION: An Act Expanding the Scope of Virtual Net Metering for Connecticut lifts the current cap of
$10 million to expand access, especially for governmental users, as a means of relieving budget burdens
through cost-effective adoption of renewable energy while advancing economic development, job creation and
energy security. Expanded renewable energy development under this measure could be targeted toward lands
with limited alternate use (or potential for multiple use) such as closed landfills and other brownfield, underutilized parking lots, and highway rights-of-way.
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
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Melissa Everett, Clean Water Action, meverett@cleanwater.org, 860-232-6232

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Joel Gordes, Center for Energy Security Solutions, gordesj@comcast.net, 860-561-0566

RATE 30
PROBLEM: Eversource’s 2015 Rate 30 shift from volumetric charges to fixed charges has unfairly cut the
projected energy savings to small businesses that installed PV prior to 2015 and reduced demand for new
systems.
SOLUTION: An Act Concerning Electric Rates would ensure that electric ratepayers of all classes of must have
the option to be on rates (tariffs) that are balanced between peak demand charges and volumetric (consumption)
charges.
PRIMARY CONTACT:
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Mike Trahan, SolarConnecticut, mtrahan@solarconnecticut.org, 860-256-1698

STANDARDS
PROBLEM: Connecticut’s standards for interconnecting distributed generation to the electric grid are grossly outdated and wrongly increase property owners’ cost to install clean energy generators.
SOLUTION: An Act Concerning Technical Standards Review Group would form a Connecticut
interconnection Technical Standards Review Group (TSRG) to review and improve standards for
interconnecting distributed generation systems to the grid.
PRIMARY CONTACT:
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Mike Trahan, SolarConnecticut, mtrahan@solarconnecticut.org, 860-256-1698

SHARED SOLAR
PROBLEM: Every Connecticut energy consumer, including those who rent, live and work in apartment buildings,
or have unsuitable roofs, should have the option to choose clean, homegrown power from local community
shared clean energy or virtually net metered projects and access utility bill savings. Past legislation has limited
community shared clean energy and virtual net metering development, and it’s time we correct course and put
Connecticut families, businesses and municipalities in charge of their own power.
SOLUTION: Legislation to expand solar access to a broader group of energy consumers—including low and
moderate-income families, businesses, and municipalities—through large and effective community shared clean
energy and virtual net metering programs is needed. This will allow customers to be fairly credited for the
clean electricity they send to the grid through local projects while helping the state meet its Renewable Portfolio
Standards goals and its required climate change pollution reductions.
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
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Sean Garren, VoteSolar, sean@votesolar.org 301-541-8675
Claire Coleman, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, ccoleman@ctenvironment.org, 203-787-0646