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to a large decrease in power plant emissions under what’s known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Connecticut is one of nine states in the plan under which plants buy emission allowances through auctions for the right to emit a certain level of pollutants. Money then goes to the states, which is to be used for energy efficiency programs and similar measures. Since 2017, the system sent $2.4 billion back to the states while reductions in power plant emissions exceed those in rest of U.S. by 90 percent. It ought to serve as proof that doing the right thing for the environment doesn’t have to bring economic pain.

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to a lack of information to date on a rapidly growing global health crisis. Nearly all infections and deaths from a newly reported viral infection have been in China, but last week brought word that several others, including in this country, had been infected with the coronavirus. While there are many more pressing health concerns, people are understandably worried about an outbreak that has led Chinese authorities to restrict travel and even close off major cities. To this point, though, health officials in the U.S. haven’t been as forthcoming with information about people who may be carriers. They need to do more to put people’s minds at ease.

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to officials in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine uniting to put pressure on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to enforce a mandate requiring ISONew England to follow a competitive bidding process in the development of transmission lines. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and peers in neighboring states say that by not doing so, the grid operator is causing higher electric rates. It’s the type of issue where collaboration between states could pay dividends for residents.

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to another pending battle over a religious exemption to laws mandating vaccines for children. With the rise once again of eradicable diseases once thought to be from another era, the issue of mandatory vaccinations has special relevance. And while freedom of religion is one of the nation’s core tenets, that freedom does not include the right to put others at risk, which a failure to vaccinate can do. The state of Connecticut needs to eliminate the religious exemption and ensure that everyone who can be vaccinated is.

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to a rebranding by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, the nonprofit corporation that seeks to advance business formation, retention, recruitment and growth in the state, as AdvanceCT. The new name is part of a continuing mission to collaborate more closely with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development in an effort to drive business recruitment and retention. With business growth key to Gov. Ned Lamont’s second-year agenda, the rebranding of CERC could be an important steps in those renewed efforts.

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to Richard Colangelo’s promotion to chief state’s attorney after more than four years as state’s attorney for the Stamford and Norwalk Judicial District. Colangelo is completing the term of Kevin Kane, who retired in November. “I think we do a bad job of letting people know what we do,” Colangelo said. We’re always encouraged by officials willing to acknowledge shortcomings.

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to the Kansas City Chiefs and their longsuffering fans for winning this year’s Super Bowl in thrilling, come-from-behind fashion. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his teammates are a special group. But maybe it’s time to ditch the Tomahawk Chop?