State Dems look to declare climate crisis
Agenda includes plans to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century
HARTFORD — After a fitful start to this year’s efforts to bring Connecticut up to speed with other states in the race toward decarbonization, Democratic lawmakers last week began making a new push for legislation with a softer, more incentive-laden approach.
Gone from their legislative agenda is a plan to set a hard deadline in 2035 for phasing out the sale of nearly all new gaspowered cars. That idea — which would have followed the lead of California and a dozen other states — was scrapped late last month after lawmakers balked at the feasibility of the timeline.
Nor will lawmakers attempt to revive legislation from last year that would have given Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration the reins to implement tougher rules on a wide range of carbons pewing industries, with penalties if they failed to meet lower emissions targets.
That idea, too, fell apart amid a backlash from Republicans over the potential cost to consumers.
Instead, the centerpiece of Democrats’ efforts this year is a bill to declare a statewide “climate crisis,” along with a commitment to reach net-zero emissions no later than 2050. To get to that point, the bill authorizes a host of new studies, reports and financial incentives for municipalities and businesses to cut down on emissions.
Unlike other government emergencies, however, it explicitly blocks Lamont or any of his successors from responding unilaterally through executive order.
“If this plan has any flaws, it’s all carrot and no stick,” said state Rep. Christine Palm, D
Chester, who is one of the key architects of the new legislation.
Earlier this week, legislative committees began wrapping up their work this year by advancing dozens of bills related to climate change, renewable energy, electric vehicles and environmental pollution. Now, the remainder of their work heads to the floor of the House and Senate, which are both scheduled to adjourn on May 8.
Speaking to CT Insider earlier this week, Gov. Ned Lamont laid out his own wish list for legislation addressing the state's environmental needs, which he said includes reducing waste and ramping up the installation of wind turbines and sources of clean energy.
At the same time, he acknowledged the difficulties his administration has faced getting lawmakers to commit to specific actions necessary to achieve the far-off climate goals already enshrined in state law.
“Goals are cheap, but you've got to put in place policies to implement those goals,” Lamont said. “We've had a start and stop record on that, I'd say over the last five years.”
Here's what's on their agenda:
Climate Emergency
Palm's legislation, House Bill 5004, would mandate a series of government, studies, plans and reports over the next several years that all aim to put the state on a path toward reaching net-zero emissions, which the bill defines as a “complete offset” of any greenhouse gas emissions by efforts to remove carbon from the atmosphere.
The United Nations Paris Climate Agreement calls for global attainment of net zero emissions no later than 2050 in order to stave off the worst effects of climate change.
While HB5004 envisions an array of strategies to such net-zero — such as a plan to deploy 310,000 heat pumps around the state — it largely leaves the details of carrying out those strategies to future administrations and legislatures, who will rely on the recommendations of reports ordered by the legislation.
While supporters of the bill describe it as a modest step toward reducing emissions, Republicans and other opponents contend that the legislation would set lofty goals without a plan for how to achieve them.
“We're looking to have a full electrification of the economy,” said state Rep. Pat Callahan, R-New Fairfield. “The bill does get into talking about switching over to complete electrification, but doesn't get into how we will create that power.”
The bill was advanced by the Environment Committee Wednesday on a party-line vote where Democrats have the majority.
Solar and Renewables
Another slate of bills that moved forward this week came from the Energy and Technology Committee, whose leaders have been working on several measures to beef up Connecticut's network of solar panels and other sources of carbon-free electricity.
The committee has advanced legislation to add more solar panels on top of school buildings, study the prospects of geothermal energy and grid enhancements, as well as allowing the state to enter into longer contracts with providers of hydroelectric power.
On Thursday, the committee's Democrats also pushed forward House Bill 5232, which calls for a dramatic, 500-megawattper-year expansion of solar power in Connecticut through new tax structures, expedited permitting in solar canopies and plans to install more community solar projects.
While largely supported by environmental advocates, the bill notably drew the skepticism of Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes over the proposed pace of solar development.
“A high deployment target for one resource like solar could preclude securing alternative zero carbon resources that may be available at a lower cost,” Dykes said in testimony submitted to the committee. “Additionally, absent being paired with storage, the grid will likely need significant upgrades to connect this amount of solar.”
The Senate chair of the Energy and Technology Committee, Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, described the bill Thursday as a work in progress that is likely to see several revisions as it works its way through the House and Senate.
EV Roadmap
After the defeat of California's
clean-air regulations requiring automakers to transition fully to electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles by the year 2035, Connecticut Democrats pivoted toward a new bill that focuses mostly on expanding existing rebates for EVs, and establishing a council to monitor the state's progress in phasing out gas-guzzling cars.
That legislation, House Bill 5485, notably failed to impress Gov. Lamont, who had pushed for a firmer timeline. In remarks to reporters, he called the proposal a “nothing burger.”
Still, Democrats on the Transportation Committee succeeded in advancing the bill this week on a party-line vote. Republicans, meanwhile, have not given up the fight.
During a press conference earlier this month, GOP leadership accused Democrats of plotting a ruse to adopt the California standards at a later date, once the council completes its report. “It's a roadmap to an EV mandate, that's all this is,” said Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, RBrookfield.
Without the California standards in place, Connecticut will likely revert to a less aggressive set of regulations set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. This week, that agency announced its own timeline to require that most new cars sold in the U.S. run on electric or hybrid engines by 2032.
PFAS Contamination
Another, less controversial proposal underway in the legislature deals with environmental pollution caused by socalled “forever chemicals,” which go by the scientific name per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
The legislation, Senate Bill 292, would ban the sale of a wide range of products intentionally laden with PFAS — from cookware to carpets — beginning in 2026.
The Senate chair of the Environment Committee, state Sen. Rick Lopes, DNew Britain, said the legislation was crafted on similar laws in Minnesota and Maine, which are among the national leaders in regulating PFAS.
The bill falls short of a complete ban on PFAS, and would allow the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection commissioner to permit the sale of products with PFAS if they determine the use of the chemicals is unavoidable. “That solved a lot of the problem with industries that don't have an alternative,” Lopes said.
PFAS chemicals take years to break down in the environment, and due to their durability they are often found in waterproof and non-stick coatings, as well as firefighting gear and foams.
The chemicals have also been linked to a variety of health issues and cancers, and have been identified in water systems throughout Connecticut.