September 25, 2019 Dear Governor Lamont: The undersigned legislators write to congratulate you on Executive Order 3 which sets a goal of 100% zero carbon target for electricity by 2040 among other climate actions; we also write to express our concern about the Connecticut Siting Council’s recent approval of a gas-fired power plant to be located in Killingly, Connecticut that will run well into 2040. With the potential to emit more than 2.2 million tons per year of carbon dioxide (5 percent of Connecticut’s total economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions), and the significant upstream climate impacts of extracting and transporting the gas to fuel it, this plant is also inconsistent with the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act. In its final recommendations for Building a Low Carbon Future for Connecticut: Achieving a 45% GHG Reduction by 2030, the Governor’s Council on Climate Change concludes that Connecticut will need to continue to decarbonize the electric grid, achieving at least 66 percent zero-carbon energy generation by 2030 and 84 percent carbon-free electric generation by 2050. Based on recent developments, Connecticut is not on track to meet these critical objectives, and has made it difficult for the 2040 goal in Executive Order 3 to be attained. Between 2018 and 2019, Connecticut has added nearly 1,500 megawatts of new natural gas generation, representing approximately 15 percent of the state’s total installed generating capacity. The climate impacts of this generation are even larger than emissions data show because significant quantities of climate-forcing methane gas is leaked in the extraction and transmission of the gas before it ever reaches Connecticut power plants. Now, another gas-fired plant has been approved. Because of all these factors, we ask that you oppose the opening of the proposed plant and to require that all state agencies, offices, authorities, and divisions in considering and issuing permits, licenses, and other administrative approvals and decisions, to consider whether such decisions are inconsistent with or will interfere with the attainment of the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits established in the Global Warming Solutions Act and with the 2040 zero carbon goal of Executive Order 3. Finally, we ask that you expedite the appointment of individuals to fill the three empty seats on the Siting Council. As you know, the Council is responsible for balancing the need for adequate and reliable public utility services at the lowest reasonable cost to consumers with the need to protect the environment and ecology of the state. More than ever, the demands of ensuring this balance requires that the Siting Council be fully constituted and supported. As always, we stand ready to discuss these issues. Sincerely, Raghib Allie-Brennan, 2nd th Sen. Will Haskell, 26 Sen. Christine Cohen, 12th Rep. Matt Blumenthal, 147th Sen. Mae Flexer, 29th Rep. Pat Boyd, 50th Rep. Jane Garibay, 60th Rep. Phil Young, 120th Rep. Jill Barry, 31st Rep. John Hampton, 16th Rep. Lucy Dathan, 142nd Rep. Gregg Haddad, 54th Rep. Anne Hughes, 135th Rep. Hilda Santiago, 84th Rep. Joseph Gresko, 121st Rep. Ron Napoli Jr., 73rd th Rep. Maria Horn, 64 Rep. David Michel, 146th Rep. Kenneth Gucker, 138th Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, 136th Rep. Jason Doucette, 13th Rep. Robin Comey, 102nd Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, 133rd Rep. Kerry Wood, 29th Rep. Josh Elliot, 88th Rep. Michael Winkler, 56th