A diverse coalition of environmental and consumer advocates, faith-based organizations, businesses, and labor organizations express disappointment over legislative raids of Connecticut clean energy funds, putting the state’s emerging clean energy sector in jeopardy and diverting funds from electricity customers to plug budget gaps.

The budget proposal passed by both the House and the Senate includes plans to steal millions from state clean energy funds, including $30.4 million from the Clean Energy Financing and Investment Authority and $5 million from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative account.

Groups respond to the recent budget deal, saying it’s “nothing more than a backdoor tax on electric bills,” “bad for ratepayers,” “eviscerates clean energy programs,” “a long-term loss for clean energy jobs,” “diminishes efforts to meet the state’s RPS goals,” “balances the budget on the backs of those who can least afford it,” and puts us “farther behind our neighbors in the race to build a clean energy future.”

The following statements come from local leaders in response to the funding raids:

Roger Smith, Co-director of Clean Water Action Connecticut
“This massacre would cripple the first ‘green bank’ in the nation, and threatens to end all residential solar programs. And the raid comes on top of bills to weaken the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (SB 1138), and put ratepayers on the hook for massive natural gas pipeline expansions (HB 6360). This is the worst legislative session for clean energy I have seen in the past decade. They are balancing the state budget on the backs of electric ratepayers, and harming our local clean energy businesses in the process.

William Dornbos, Connecticut Director for Environment Northeast
“While we recognize that Connecticut faces budgetary challenges, the recent decision to divert funds from energy efficiency and clean energy investments remains a poor policymaking choice. These investments should actually be protected in tough economic times because they alleviate economic hardship by creating new jobs, growing our state’s economy, and making our businesses more competitive. We know, for instance, that each $1 diverted from the auction revenue we receive from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – the Northeast’s pioneering market designed to reduce carbon pollution – will result in a little over $4 in lost economic growth. So fund diversions just magnify economic losses. Connecticut’s policymakers should honor the important commitments made to the public when these smart investments were originally established and restore the full revenue streams immediately.”

Elise J. Willer, Legislative Organizer with Connecticut Working Families
“In terms of energy policy, this budget is incredibly short-sighted. By raiding funds designed to create in-state jobs, lower energy bills, and reduce Connecticut’s environmental impact, we have once again balanced the budget on the backs of those who can least afford it.”

Lori Brown, Executive Director of the CT League of Conservation Voters
“The legislature has raided energy efficiency and clean energy funds in the past to plug budget holes and the results were predictable – bad for our energy programs, bad for jobs, bad for ratepayers, bad for the environment. And yet, here we are again. It’s Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. We hope Legislators will rethink this action and stand strong in support of clean energy programs in Connecticut.”

Chris Phelps, Campaign Director for Environment Connecticut
“This move takes tens of millions of dollars from existing programs that help families cut their energy bills, create jobs building solar and other clean energy systems, and cut carbon pollution. These funds, paid by electric ratepayers for the express purpose of supporting clean energy and energy savings programs putting money back into the pockets of families and businesses across the state, are now being diverted to close the state budget gap as nothing more than a backdoor tax on electric bills.

“Unlike our neighboring states who are going big on commitments to clean energy, Connecticut is going backwards. The legislature has already taken steps to rollback the renewable electricity standard this year. Now they are poised to eviscerate programs that build new clean energy systems in our communities. This budget raid puts residential solar power programs, clean energy financing programs for small businesses, and more at risk. In return the state gets a one-time shot of revenue for the budget and a long-term loss of clean energy jobs and we fall farther and farther behind our neighbors in the race to build a clean energy future.”

Sue Coakley, Executive Director of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
“Clean energy has proven to be one of the most cost-effective investments states can make to help their residents and businesses thrive, particularly as we emerge from such a prolonged economic downturn. The actions of the legislature have harmed ratepayers and sent a clear signal to the clean energy industry that they should take their jobs and economic benefits elsewhere.”

Teresa Eickel, Executive Director, Interreligious Eco-Justice Network
“As a people of faith, we were very disappointed to hear about the effort to raid the clean energy fund this weekend. Every faith tradition speaks about caring for the earth and for those who are most vulnerable – the poor, the sick, and the elderly. In this light, the Governor’s and the Legislature’s refusal to protect clean, renewable energy sources is troubling on a moral, ethical, and spiritual level. We believe that our Creator provided these sources of energy so that we might live in just and loving concert with His planet, which He loves.”

“Raiding the clean energy fund is morally wrong and sends the message that we value corporate profits over protecting public health and the environment. Instead, we should be investing in clean energy technologies, utilizing the gifts God has given us to create a just and sustainable future for all.”

Seth Kaplan, Vice President for Policy and Climate Advocacy, Conservation Law Foundation
“Generations of smart New England farmers have known that in times of crisis, like famine and drought, the last thing (literally) you should do is eat your seeds. It is a desperate acknowledgement that you have completely given up on the future.”

“The proposal to raid the ‘Green Bank,’ which fosters energy efficiency and renewable energy in Connecticut, as well as the proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, allocated to lowering energy bills by making customers more efficient, can only be seen as our leaders taking that pathetic and horrible step. Trading away reduced energy bills and a cleaner healthier future to avoid harsh budget realities is an exercise in myopic self-destruction, which based on our decades of work across the region, we can say is unusual and thankfully rare.

“Avoiding a state budget deficit is essential. Robbing the funding streams that reduce energy use (and energy bills!) and helps build a new economy with jobs building solar and wind power is the wrong way to do it.”

Martin Mador, Sierra Club
“Energy advocates across the state fought long and hard to ensure legislation passed this year was as supportive as possible of renewable energy and efficiency programs. Those efforts have been severely undercut by two provisions in the budget bill. To stay under the budget cap, the budget raids funds from both RGGI and CEFIA, which support programs such as residential solar, C-PACE, and efficiency enhancements. These raids constitute a reduction of our commitment to clean energy, and diminish efforts to adhere to the state’s RPS. The raids make it harder to control the cost of energy for consumers. They send a signal to companies thinking of working on clean energy projects in the state that they should look elsewhere.”

Mark LeBel, Energy Fellow for Connecticut Fund for the Environment
“Connecticut’s clean energy authority and the programs funded by RGGI are recognized economic drivers for our state. Dollars invested in efficiency or clean energy are returned to the economy many times over as families save money and entrepreneurs take advantage of demand for energy services. And of course, they’re also successfully reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At a time when Connecticut is trying to meet its renewable energy goals and emissions reduction targets, it makes no sense to take funding away from the very programs that build our capacity in the clean energy sector. Connecticut has made itself a leader in recent years by establishing a ‘green bank’ and investing a large percentage of our RGGI proceeds in efficiency, and the benefits of those smart moves are starting to accrue. To realize their full potential, we have to stay the course; the drastic cuts in this budget threaten to set us back.”

Margaret Miner, Executive Director for Rivers Alliance of Connecticut
The administration and lawmakers are still looking for a magic solution to climate change. They want something faster and cheaper than proven low-emission technologies and conservation programs. This year the magic cure is natural gas and Canadian hydropower. Despite the well-publicized negatives associated with each, these sources are now promoted as the new hot investments, while solar, low-impact hydropower, wind, energy efficiency, are out of favor. Rivers Alliance believes the state should commit to supporting the best clean-energy technologies and programs available, similar to the long-term investment strategy of, say, Warren Buffet. Instead the state is acting like a day trader, chasing numbers on a screen instead of lasting value.”

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Connecticut Fund for the Environment opposes the raids on Connecticut’s clean energy funds contained in the two-year state budget passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday. The proposed budget, contained in House Bill 6704, would transfer $6.2 million from the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority to the General Fund in Fiscal Year 2014 and $24 million in FY 2015, as well as $5 million from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative proceeds in FY 2015.

“Connecticut’s clean energy authority and the programs funded by RGGI are recognized economic drivers for our state, and are reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mark LeBel, energy fellow for CFE. “Drastic cuts to CEFIA’s budget would set us back, right at a time when Connecticut is trying to meet its renewable energy and emissions reduction goals. It makes no sense to take funding away now from the very programs that build our capacity in the clean energy sector. The Senate must restore funding to CEFIA and RGGI when it passes the budget.”

CFE and its program Save the Sound also oppose several sections added to House Bill 6360, the act implementing Connecticut’s new Comprehensive Energy Strategy. Sections 61 and 62 open water company-owned lands to telecommunications towers. Section 48 makes economic development a consideration in formulating aquifer protection regulations, which is likely to lead to additional inappropriate development near aquifers that supply public drinking water.

“The sections weakening protections for drinking water lands are unrelated to the energy bill and are bad ideas for Connecticut’s environment,” said Lauren Savidge, legal fellow for CFE. “Water company lands not only protect public health by filtering our drinking water, but they have become essential components of our state’s open space network, providing wildlife habitat, beautiful vistas, and opportunities for recreation. Changes to laws protecting drinking water lands should be fully debated in public hearings, not tacked onto an unrelated bill in the final days of session.”

H.B. 6360 does contain a number of positive provisions that CFE strongly supports, including a significant funding increase for energy conservation programs.

The Senate is expected to vote on both bills soon. CFE urges the Senate to pass H.B. 6360 without the drinking water protection rollbacks, and to restore funding to CEFIA and RGGI when it passes the budget bill.

“Land conservation is an important investment in our future, and moves us closer to meeting our goal of protecting 21 percent of Connecticut’s land as open space in the next ten years,” Malloy said.  “These preservation projects are key to maintaining our high quality of life and making Connecticut a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Open space in Hamden. (photo:cjzurcher)

The program, administered by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) assists land purchase using state bonds and funding from the 2005 Community Investment Act.

Land purchases help Connecticut achieve the goal to protect 673,210 acres of land by 2023.  Connecticut has496,182acres designated as state or local open space lands, 73.7 percent of the goal. More than $109 million in state funding has been awarded to municipalities, nonprofit land conservation organizations, and water companies to assist in the purchase of 27,440 acres of land in 128cities and towns.

“The community gardens initiative was added to the open space grant program in 2007 to address land preservation needs in urban areas,” said Daniel C. Esty, DEEP Commissioner. “This portion of the grant program acknowledges that preserving places people care about is as important in our cities and inner suburbs as it is in more rural areas.”

The projects funded under this year’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program include:

Project Title               Chotkowski Property

Sponsor                      Town of Berlin

Town                           Grant Amount                                    Total Area

Berlin                          $500,000                                             71.1 acres

Description:   This former farm is located on the east side of Chamberlain Highway (Rt. 71).  This property is adjacent to other protected lands and will create a continuous open space corridor of 488 acres.  The Metacomet Loop Trail will be located on this property and link into the Metacomet Trail (NE Scenic Trail).

Project Title               Hawk Hill Farm

Sponsor                      Wintonbury Land Trust, Inc.

Town                           Grant Amount                                    Total Area

Bloomfield                  $247,500                                             44.9  acres

Description:   Located off Duncaster Road in Bloomfield, this parcel abuts the local LaSallette Park and opens the possibility of linking to and expand existing trails.  The property is physically divided by two wetlands running north-south and is characterized by open fields, wooded areas, rocky ridges, wetlands and a pond.  The property includes approximately 22 acres of prime farmland, which are still being farmed.

Project Title           Risley Apple Orchard

Sponsor                  Manchester Land Conservation Trust, Inc.

Town                      Grant Amount                                        Total Area

Bolton                     $80,000                                                    13.15 acres

Description:   Located on the east side of Lake Street in the Town of Bolton, this parcel is just below and abutting the dam and spillway of Risley Reservoir.  Acquiring this parcel will create an opportunity to connect existing trails to the Shenipsit Trail as well as protect Wilson Brook which flows to Lydall #2 Reservoir in Manchester.

Project Title           Kaczynski Property

Sponsor                  Town of Branford

Town                      Grant Amount                                        Total Area

Branford                 $137,500                                                  21.98 acres

Description:   Located in the lower Farm River estuary adjacent to Beacon Hill, this property contains tidal salt marsh, upland grass land and undeveloped shoreline forest.  The property also has about five acres of important farmland soil.  The property is also within the southern range of the Bolton Range Forested Corridor, which has been identified as a habitat to thousands of migrating raptors.

Project Title          Brewster Property

Sponsor                Canton Land Conservation Trust, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                                     Total Area

Canton                   $35,500                                                                   4.839 acres

Description:   The acquisition of this parcel connects two properties currently owned by Canton Land Conservation Trust, one of them being the “Arnold Property” acquired with a grant in 2005. It adds to the protection of the Onion Mountain ridgeline wildlife habitats, hardwood forest, and geologic features and allows the opportunity to expand recreation/educational trails from Roaring Brook Nature Center to Sexton’s Road.

Project Title          Puchalski Property

Sponsor                Town of Cheshire

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Cheshire                $200,000                                                   109 acres

Description:   Running along the ridgeline along the Prospect-Cheshire town line, this parcel abuts protected open space to the north, south, and west.  Ownership will protect the ridgeline and its diverse wildlife, forests, and wetlands.   The existing structure on this property will be razed to provide parking and a trail head to the existing trails.

Project Title          Dowd Parcel

Sponsor                Clinton Land Conservation Trust, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Clinton                   $58,500                                                     16.69 acres

Description:  This parcel will be incorporated into the 98.4-acre Jessie Buell Forest and managed as an undeveloped forested block.  Its location would provide additional road access and trail connectivity.  A portion of Bass Brook, a cold water tributary to Indian River, runs through this property and provides aquatic habitat.  There is also much wildlife habitat on the property as well as an existing multiuse trail system.

Project Title          Weiss and Loveday Properties

Sponsor                Town of Clinton

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Clinton                   $160,000                                                    38.49 acres

Description:   Located in the northwestern corner of Clinton, close to Killingworth line, these parcels are located in an important aquifer recharge area of Connecticut Water Company (Class I and II).  These properties contain a high quality wooded wetland and a mature hardwood forest which provide a healthy and diverse wildlife habitat.  Both properties abut Cockaponset State Forest next to the Clinton Conservation Trust property, creating a block of almost 64 protected acres.

Project Title               88 Brainard Road

Sponsor                      Norwich Public Utilities

Town                           Grant Amount                                    Total Area

Colchester & Salem    $157,000                                             52.9 acres

Description:   This acquisition will expand the Deep River public water supply watershed.  The parcel is bisected by Brainard Brook, which feeds directly into the reservoir.  This property, once purchased, will be classified as Class 1 watershed land.

Project Title          Cooley Farm

Sponsor                Cornwall Conservation Trust, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Cornwall                $450,000                                                     84.07 acres

Description:   Located off Cherry Hill Road in West Cornwall, this property is part of the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.  A portion of the property is currently used for haying, it also contains a wetland area and a tributary to the Housatonic River, and a trail network.  The purchase will help assemble a larger fragmented forested block in this area.

Project Title          Zeiller Associates Property

Sponsor                Town of East Haddam

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

East Haddam         $232,500                                                     98.22 acres

Description:   Purchase of this property is part of a larger effort to better protect the Roaring Brook watershed.  In this grant round there are three projects within this watershed—two in East Haddam and one in Lyme.  Combined, these properties will create a greenbelt of more than 750 acres.  The Zeiller property and others being slated for protection are upland forest blocks with intermittent streams, woodland wetlands and vernal pools.  The Zeiller property has 4,000 feet of frontage along Roaring Brook and contains healthy and diverse wildlife and vegetative habitats and existing trails.

Project Title          Pages Property

Sponsor                Town of East Haddam

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

East Haddam         $464,000                                                      238 acres

Description:   Purchase of this property is part of a larger effort to better protect the Roaring Brook watershed.  This property abuts the Dean Easement area, combined this is a greenbelt of over 750 acres.  These parcels are upland forest blocks (hardwood), having intermittent streams, woodland wetlands and vernal pools.  The property has 1,500 feet of frontage along Roaring Brook.  Because of the proximity to a wetland resource, it offers healthy and diverse wildlife and vegetative habitats.

Project Title               Gurley Brook Preserve

Sponsor                      Woodsmen Trust, Inc.

Town                           Grant Amount                                    Total Area

East Lyme                    $500,000                                             170 acres

Description:   This property is located just north of the Route 1, I-95 & I-395 intersection, and is within the 2,000 foot Route 11 Greenway.  The undeveloped hardwood forest on a gentle sloping topography hosts natural resource features such as Gurley Brook (headwaters of the Niantic River), ledge outcroppings, forest wetlands and the ridgeline associated with Sodom Hill.  There are currently existing trails that access the interior of this property.

Project Title          Scantic River Parcel

Sponsor                Town of Enfield

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Enfield                   $40,000                                                     32.06 acres

Description:   This parcel lies within a Level A Aquifer Protection area for two water companies (HWC & CWC).  The parcel abuts Scantic River State Park , protected open space owned by DEEP and land protected by the town.  The property is typical of a wooded meandering flood plain and has several thousand feet of Scantic River frontage.

Project Title          Candlewood Ridge

Sponsor                Groton Open Space Association, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Groton                   $256,750                                                   91.04 acres

Description:   Located in north central Groton, this 91 acre property is characterized by rugged ledge outcroppings surrounding several large wetlands along with several vernal pools, including a cranberry bog.  Three streams flow out of these wetlands to forested peat land, which creates important habitat for wildlife.  With forested and vegetative undergrowth along with extensive and varied wetland resources, it offers healthy and diverse wildlife and vegetative habitats.

Project Title          Westwoods Parcel

Sponsor                Guilford Land Conservation Trust, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Guilford                 $60,000                                                     17.1 acres

Description:   This property is an “in-holding” in an undeveloped forested area known as Westwoods.  This property directly abuts sections of Cockaponset State Forest and will serve as a linkage.  Due to its “in-holding” classification and location, the property provides high quality wildlife habitat within a hardwood forest characterized by numerous outcroppings, boulders, and ledges, in addition to wetlands.

Project Title          Rita Edwards Preserve

Sponsor                Town of Hampton

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Hampton               $101,500                                                   50.8 acres

Description:    This undeveloped forested lot is located on the north side of Cedar Swamp Road.  The property abuts protected open space land owned by Wyndham Land Trust and Goodwin State Forest.  The property is characterized by a slightly sloping terrain that sustains a mixed hardwood forest and wetlands.

Project Title          Cardillo Parcels

Sponsor                Town of Hebron

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Hebron                  $165,000                                                   48.7 acres

Description:   Located on the west side of Route 85/Church Street in the Amston section, this property is made up of two parcels that abut state-owned open space—Raymond Brook Marsh and the Air Line Trail. They are key components to the preservation of the Raymond Brook Greenbelt and protection of the associated aquifer.

Project Title          Camp Francis

Sponsor                Kent Land Trust, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Kent\Warren         $500,000                                                   253.1 acres

Description:   Located in the towns of Kent and Warren, this property directly abuts protected open space (Wyantenock State Forest and Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust).  Principally an undeveloped forest block, the property has multiple natural resources that are important to protect and preserve.  With an irregular topography, numerous bedrock outcroppings, a large wetland, several vernal pools and a dense hardwood second-growth forest, this parcel is a rich and diverse wildlife habitat.

Project Title          Lorman Property

Sponsor                South Central Regional Water Authority

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Killingworth           $335,000                                                   64.5 acres

Description:    Located on the north side of Burr Hill Road in Killingworth, this 64.5-acre parcel abuts Cockaponset State Forest to the north and RWA property to the east and west.  This undeveloped forested property contains watershed lands and features an unnamed watercourse tributary to Lake Hammonasset (public water supply reservoir) flowing through it.

Project Title                           Lord Property

Sponsor                                  Lyme Land Conservation Trust, Inc

Town                                       Grant Amount                        Total Area

Lyme & East Haddam             $327,000                                 100.25 acres

Description:   Located in northern Lyme along Route 82 and within Whalebone Cove Watershed, this parcel has over 3,900 feet of frontage along Roaring Brook.  It is part of the larger effort to better protect the Roaring Brook Watershed –there are there are two other projects in this grant round and were two in a previous grant round.   The parcel is characteristic of a flood plain forest, having wetlands, undeveloped upland forest, fields and rock outcropping with ledges.  There is an existing trail system on this property.

Project Title                                 Case Reservoir

Sponsor                                        Town of Manchester

Town                                             Grant Amount                             Total Area

Manchester                                  $205,000                                       34 acres

Description:   This project is the acquisition of three parcels off Spring Street, two directly abutting Case Pond/Reservoir and the third an additional buffer parcel with road frontage on Spring Street.  Acquisition of these parcels will link Case Pond to the remaining forested block of Case Mountain, protect the Birch Mountain Watershed, enhance existing recreation and provide almost unlimited access to the south shore of Case Pond.  Manchester has received five Open Space Grants to protect 163.52 acres at Case Mountain.

Project Title          Andrew Mountain Road OS

Sponsor                Borough of Naugatuck

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Naugatuck             $315,250                                                   100.34 acres

Description:   Off Andrew Mountain Road (Old Derby Turnpike) in southwestern Naugatuck, this 146-acre parcel directly abuts Naugatuck State Forest.  The grant will allow the purchase of just over 100 acres of the property for passive outdoor recreation, while the remaining portion will be used for more active recreation.  The property is characterized by a forested rolling topography, several open agricultural fields, a depression area that seasonally floods and several large wetland areas.  The property is bisected by Spruce Brook, a tributary to the Naugatuck River.

Project Title          Camp Iwakta

Sponsor                Norfolk Land Trust, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Norfolk                  $284,000                                                   311 acres

Description:   Acquisition of this parcel will contribute to nearly 2,000 acres of forest and the associated ecosystems.  This property is forested, as is the surrounding protected property.  With a section of the Mad River, part of a large pond, a headwater stream feeding the Mad River, the rugged topography, ridges, and vernal pools provide rich and varied habitats.  The property is accessed via the historic railroad bed, previously purchased with the support of an Open Space Grant.

Project Title               Babcock Ridge Preserve

Sponsor                      Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc.

Town                           Grant Amount                                    Total Area

North Stonington         $142,500                                             74.012 acres

Description:   Located in North Stonington on the north side of Babcock Road, this undeveloped parcel abuts Avalonia land to the north and links up to land across Babcock Road to the south.  The property is characterized by exposed ledges, steep slopes, wetlands, several vernal pools, and unnamed tributaries to Babcock Brook and the Shunock River. This proposal is a buy-out as Avalonia owns 25% interest in this property.

Project Title         31 New London Turnpike

Sponsor                City of Norwich

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Norwich                 $123,516                                                   3.8 acres

Description:   This commercially-zoned property with several structures is located on the west-side of New London Turnpike and the south bank of the Yantic River.  This property is located within the flood zone of the Yantic River.  After purchase, the property will be reclaimed, the buildings will be demolished and the area restored to a natural state allowing public access to more than 1,000 feet of the Yantic River.  The grant will assist and match FEMA Hazard Mitigation funding.

Project Title          Elyandco, Inc. Parcel

Sponsor                Old Lyme Land Trust, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Old Lyme               $143,500                                                   44.17 acres

Description:   A long range goal of the Old Lyme Land Trust is to link protected open space across the town and to make existing preserves accessible to the public.  Acquisition of the Elyandco parcel will be a keystone parcel to accomplish this goal.  This parcel directly abuts several protected properties including Hatchetts Hill Preserve, and Chestnut Hills and Peppermint Ridge—both privately owned and not open to the public at this time.  Armstrong Brook traverses through the large wetland that exists on this parcel along with the wetlands found at Hatchetts Hill Preserve, the headwaters for this brook.  The undeveloped forested lot with a rolling topography creates exceptional wildlife habitat.

Project Title          Tanager Hill

Sponsor                Simsbury Land Trust, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Simsbury               $500,000                                                   92.49 acres

Description:   This undeveloped 91-acre parcel is located on the western slope of the Metacomet Trap Rock Ridge in Simsbury.  The parcel extends from Penwood State Forest to Weatogue Street.  The parcel is rich with a variety of habitats, from a mix of hardwoods forest, traprock, open grass fields, wooded wetland, two vernal pools, pine and hemlock growth areas, and two small running streams.  There is an existing trail network within this property that links to Simsbury Land Trust lands and Penwood State Forest.

Project Title          Ethel Walker School Parcel -C

Sponsor                Town of Simsbury

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Simsbury               $500,000                                                   41.8 acres

Description:   This parcel represents the last acquisition from the Ethel Walker School grounds.  It is part of an almost 400-acre preserve that in combination to abutting protected land, other Town open space, Massaco State Forest, Stratton Brook State Park, Onion Mountain, Tootin’ Hills Association, and Simsbury Coon Club, encompasses about 1,100 acres. Approximately 80 percent of this parcel is an undeveloped forested lot with wetlands, vernal pools and streams all providing a rich wildlife habitat.  The remaining area is an open grass area developed for equestrian use.

Project Title          Camp Aya-Po YWCA

Sponsor                Town of Somers

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Somers                  $450,000                                                   173.45 acres

Description:    Located in the northeast section of Somers, this property is actually two separate parcels separated by Camp Road.  The natural resources found on the property include: Lake Hurd, an 18-acre pristine pond and headwater for Gillette Brook, a mixed timber stand of hardwoods and softwoods, old pastures, and a topography that ranges from rolling to steep.  This site has developed facilities for picnicking, fishing, and parking. Structural buildings not directly needed in the management of this site for passive recreation will be removed.  There is an existing trail network within this property that links to the Blue Trail System.

Project Title          365 Georges Hill Road

Sponsor                Town of Southbury

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Southbury              $96,500                                                     18.91 acres

Description:   This property is an addition to a 38-acre parcel of land the town purchased with a grant in 2007.  It is an undeveloped forested parcel with a steep rocky ridge running through the middle.  The town plans to utilize this parcel along with other town-owned land to provide parking and access to land purchased under this program.

Project Title          Stillmeadow Farm

Sponsor                Southbury Land Trust, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Southbury              $81,500                                                     12 acres

Description:   Stillmeadow Farm is a link to an emerging greenbelt with resources that include vernal pools, grass lands, wooded wetlands, ledge formations, and prime agriculture soils.  It is within Southbury’s Aquifer Protection District.  The property is approximately 2,000 feet from the Larkin State Bridal Trail.  Stillmeadow Farm is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Project Title          Coogan Farm

Sponsor                Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Stonington             $500,000                                                   24.38 acres

Description:   This property will connect to 300 acres managed by the Nature Center.  The property consists of old agricultural fields, grass lands, old orchards, upland forest, wet meadows, and scrub shrub wetlands. While not physically in contact with Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium and Denison Homestead, the property provides trails that directly connect all these education resources in addition, utilizing a natural ridgeline, these trails offer scenic views of Mystic River and Valley.

Project Title                                 Gunther Farm

Sponsor                                        Connecticut Farmland Trust, Inc.

Town                                             Grant Amount                             Total Area

Tolland/Vernon                             $350,000                                       21.3 acres

Description:   Located along the town-line between Tolland and Vernon this is an acquisition to protect farmland soils. Additional natural resources include: grassland habitat, flood plain of Gages Brook, and endangered wildlife habitat.  Connecticut Farm Land Trust will purchase this property, record the Conservation Easement, then sell the property to Tolland County Agricultural Center.  The Center will utilize the agricultural fields for their education/agricultural programs and develop and maintain the trails located at this facility.

Project Title          Manchester Property

Sponsor                The New Roxbury Land Trust, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Union                     $146,500                                                   84 acres

Description:   This is the acquisition of two separate parcels of land in close proximity to each other.  The southern parcel is a 53-acre densely forested lot with a 3-acre hay field all within the Nachaug River Watershed.  The northern parcel is a 31-acre dense forest block within the Quinebaug River Basin and is contiguous to Nipmuck State Forest.  This parcel contains wetlands and a stream that drains to Breakneck Pond.

Project Title          Shenda Property

Sponsor                Watertown Land Trust, Inc.

Town                     Grant Amount                                          Total Area

Watertown            $135,000                                                   75.00 acres

Description:    Located at 195 Hinman Road, this property is a former dairy farm with meadows that are hayed regularly.  There is a large beaver pond on the western border, which complements the hardwood forest that makes up about a third of the property habitat.  Special note:  Nonnewaug granite, a unique geological formation, is found on this parcel as well as Adder’s tongue, a unique vegetative species.  The property has an existing trail system, and is located in close to Nonnewaug Falls in Woodbury.

Community Garden Grant for Bridgeport

Project Title 73-127 Garden Street

Sponsor         Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport

Town                      Grant amount                     Total Area

Bridgeport              $171,500.00                         1.50 acres

Description:  Located at 77-127 Garden Street this 1.5 acre parcel will be transformed from a vacant barren lot into a passive neighborhood park with community gardens.  Once completed, this park will become part of a linkage of municipally owned and maintained open space parks and natural areas in the city.

 ALSO:

The state has awarded more than $9 million to preserve open space in 35 cities and towns, the governor’s office announced Friday.

The largest parcels are in Cheshire, East Haddam, East Lyme, Kent/Warren, Lyme, and Somers, all with properties encompassing at last 100 acres. In all, the money will preserve 2,732 acres throughout Connecticut.

The program is run by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The state has a goal of protecting 673,210 acres by 2023. So far, it has preserved 496,182 acres, or 73.7 percent of the goal.

For more on this story, visit: State Awards $9 Million To Save Open Space In 35 Cities, Towns – Courant.com.

EPA and the states have been working cooperatively for the last several months to discuss potential approaches to clean up the Rest of River portion of the Housatonic River contaminated with pollutants from General Electric’s former Pittsfield, Mass. facility. These discussions have focused, in part, on the need to address the risks from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to humans, fish, wildlife and other organisms while avoiding, mitigating or minimizing the impacts of the clean up on the unique ecological character of the Housatonic River.

Prior to the meetings, EPA and the states will release a document called the “Status Report of Preliminary Discussions of Potential Remediation Approaches to the GE-Housatonic River Site “Rest of River” PCB Contamination.” This summary document, which recognizes that no remedy decisions have yet been made, reflects the current status of EPA and the states’ efforts to discuss and identify potential remedial approaches for the Rest of River in light of their shared goals and interests. The summary report, which will be available on EPA’s web page on Friday, May18, will be the topic of the public meetings.

The Connecticut meeting will be on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, 246 Warren Turnpike Road, Falls Village, Conn.

Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office, will be joined at the May 23 Connecticut meeting by Macky McCleary, Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Kenneth Kimmell, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Commissioner, Mary Griffin will join Curt Spalding at the meeting in Lenox on May 24.

More information on EPA’s work to clean up contamination in the Housatonic River
(http://www.epa.gov/region1/ge/) – on Friday, 5/18 this site will also contain the document referenced above.

For more on this story, visit: 05/15/2012: EPA, Massachusetts and Connecticut Host Public Meetings on Housatonic River Status.

The Berkshire-Litchfield Environ­mental Council (BLEC) is sponsoring an educational forum April 16 at the Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village from 1 to 5 p.m., on commercial-scale wind generation. BLEC comes reluctantly to playing Cassandra this time because we like the idea of capturing something abundant, natural and free, then putting it to good use.

B. Blake Levitt, a Warren author, is communications director for The Berkshire-Litchfield Environmental Council.

Read more here: What is the Real Risk/Benefit of Big Wind? – Opinion – The Litchfield County Times.

Introduced by Sen. Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton), the resolution, 2011-S 0456, resulted from the work of the Rhode Island Senate Task Force on LNG that was established in January, 2010, to research the proposed Weaver’s Cove Energy Offshore Berth in Mount Hope Bay and its potential impact on the state’s safety, economy and environment.

Read more here: Senate OKs Resolution Opposing Weaver’s Cove LNG – Newport, RI Patch.

CT DEP Commissioner Amey Marrella poses with GreenCircle Award winner CT Environmental Headlines editor and publisher Christopher Zurcher of New Haven, and Headlines director of business development Nathan Bixby.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell commended 28 Connecticut civic organizations, individuals and businesses in recognition of their environmental efforts, which garnered the state’s annual GreenCircle Awards.

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) presented the GreenCircle Awards during a ceremony at The Siemon Company, Watertown. Award winners range from a group of Milford Cub Scouts for a beach cleanup to event host, The Siemon Company, which has installed hundreds of solar panels and significantly reduced its waste to landfills. (Complete list of recipients attached)

“The GreenCircle awards program celebrates volunteer efforts, both large and small, that make a difference in this great state of Connecticut,” Governor Rell said. “It is tremendously gratifying and educational to see how reach recipient has improved our environment. I applaud their efforts and their passion for their contributions toward a cleaner, greener Connecticut.”

Since the DEP launched the GreenCircle Award Program in 1998, more than 900 schools, institutions, civic organizations, businesses and individuals have been recognized for over 1,300 projects that help preserve natural resources and protect the quality of the state’s air, water and lands.

“Today’s award ceremony recognizes volunteer efforts of many groups: businesses, who are becoming ‘greener’ every day while promoting sustainable practices that are good for the environment and their bottom line; non-profits, who have worked with their constituents to become environmentally friendly; and individuals, whose unselfish acts make a positive environmental impact in their homes, schools, and communities,” DEP Commissioner Amey Marrella said.

Over the last 12 years, GreenCircle award winners have made tremendous improvements, including eliminating:

• Water use by more than 645,000,000 gallons each year (municipal, river and/or well water);
• Air emissions by 11,500,000 pounds each year;
• Hazardous waste generation by more than 1,000,000 pounds each year (including 750+ pounds of elemental mercury);
• Spent solvents by more than 920,000 gallons each year; and
• Solid waste by more than 9,000 tons each year.

 

An analysis of the GreenCircle Awards shows that businesses, municipalities, civic organizations and individuals are moving towards more environmentally friendly life decisions such as:

• Business compliance with ISO 1400l Certification requirements;
• Installation of “closed loop systems” to avoid the discharge of contaminants and hazardous materials into rivers and streams;
• Increased recycling of solvents, hazardous waste, solid waste and electronic equipment;
• Major reductions in electricity consumption;
• Purchasing of “Green-E” energy; and
• Construction of more environmentally friendly buildings such as LEED certified buildings.

 

GreenCircle recipients are presented a certificate of commendation and recognized publicly for their efforts. For a list of GreenCircle award recipients and a description of the program, visit the DEP website at: www.dep.state.ct.us

This year’s Business/Individual GreenCircle Award Recipients are:

BROOKFIELD

Efficient Lighting & Maintenance, Inc.: Efficient Lighting & Maintenance, Inc., has been helping their customers recycle spent mercury-added lamps, thermostats, batteries and ballasts containing PCBs. In 2009, they helped their customers obtain 5,712,805.404 kwh of energy savings through their energy-efficiency measures.

COLCHESTER

S&S Worldwide: S&S Worldwide held its first Annual “Clean to the Green” event in April 2009. Over 50 employees and other members of the community spent the morning walking and picking up trash in Colchester.

DANBURY

Branson Ultrasonics Corporation: Branson Ultrasonics Corporation contracted a third party energy auditor to identify energy conservation and electricity cost reduction opportunities in a manufacturing and office environment. Implementation of eleven audit action items resulted in an energy assessment action plan saving annually $61,300 and 418,700 kWh.

EAST HARTFORD

Pratt & Whitney: Pratt & Whitney’s team recognized the need to reduce the usage of liquid IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) at the East Hartford campus to meet established UTC corporate pollution prevention standards. They started this process on June 30, 2008 and by 2009 they observed a decrease of 51% in the use of liquid IPA.

FARMINGTON

J.F. Fredericks Tool Company: J. F. Fredericks Tool Company has implemented a unique recycling program for plastic inserts and tooling containers. These containers are sent to a large recycling plant that specializes in hard plastics.

Town of Farmington: In January 2009, the Town of Farmington established the Green Efforts Committee with the goals of ensuring a more environmentally friendly town, seeking cost savings, increasing public awareness and encouraging town-wide participation in “green efforts.

The Committee hired an energy consultant to assist Farmington with Performance Contracting in all town buildings. As an example, all of the lights at the Town Hall were retrofitted with more efficient lighting at no cost to the town through a specific CL&P incentive program.

GLASTONBURY

Perkins + Will: Perkins + Will as a firm is a Carbon Neutral, offsetting 100% of their carbon footprint with the Chicago Climate Exchange each year. Recently, in a firm-wide recycling challenge, their Connecticut office diverted 81% of their waste from landfills over the course of one week. They have significant strength as a national organization focused on sustainable design with 45 LEED Certified Projects and 178 LEED Registered projects firm-wide.HARTFORD

City of Hartford, Department of Public Works & Energy Management: In 2008 the City of Hartford implemented a year-long incentive-based single-stream recycling pilot with 4,500 households. An interim report completed during the Fall 2008, documented a 100% plus increase in recycling rate among pilot participants. Hartford is committed to city-wide expansion, including 18,000 1-6 family households, starting September 2009. Additionally, the City of Hartford implemented a program of retro-commissioning facilities to ensure a more efficient operation.

The Hartford Courant: The Hartford Courant has consistently used newsprint for the publication of their newspaper and its alternative publications having a recycled fiber content of greater than 55% for the last three years.

LISBON

Erik and Ellen Freidenfelds: Erik and Ellen Freidenfelds have installed a 10-kW solar array at their home in order to utilize solar power for energy generation, greatly reducing their dependancy on the grid. They will generate approximately 185% of their electricity needs throughout the year with this system, enabling them to send electricity back to the grid for use elsewhere.

MANSFIELD CENTER

Lynne Warren: Lynne Warren is a certified Master Gardener volunteer who has spent over 800 volunteer hours over 2.5 years designing, installing and maintaining the Richard Haley Native Plant Wildlife Gardens at DEP’s Goodwin Forest Conservation Education Center. She led the effort to create a program of collecting native plant seeds, propagating plants, and selling seeds and plants to raise funds for the Center.

MILFORD

Cub Scout Pack 709: Cub Scout Pack 709 teamed up with Girl Scout Troops 39326 and 30203 and the Calf Pen Meadow Elementary School PTA to plan and host an International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) at Gulf Beach in Milford in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Scouting in America. On September 19th, 143 volunteers participated in the ICC at Gulf Beach.

NEW BRITAIN

NEW HAVEN

Connecticut Fund for the Environment: Connecticut Fund for the Environment’s Save the Sound acted as Connecticut’s coordinator for the 24th International Coastal Cleanup.

Franklin Construction: Their new construction projects comply with LEED requirements, but are not registered. About 95 % of the construction debris is recycled and reused. All thermostats, light bulbs and batteries are recycled properly. Management purchases environmentally friendly cleaning supplies.

Christopher Zurcher: Christopher Zurcher is the editor and founder of CT Environmental Headlines which is a blog, website and e-mail service that provides links to the public to current environmental news stories in the state.

NORTH HAVEN

North Haven Health & Racquet: The electrical generation system at North Haven & Racquet is designed for over 190 kW of production. It achieves this rate by using 623 Sunpower photovoltaic panels, that feed into two commercial grade inverters.

OLD SAYBROOK

Saybrook Point Inn, Spa & Marina: Saybrook Point Inn, Spa & Marina has installed 144 PV panels on the roof of the Inn, with lobby monitoring, as part of an ongoing commitment towards environmental sustainability. This will provide an estimated 46,742 kWh of power.

PRESTON

Employee Volunteers of Covanta, Southern Connecticut: Volunteers from Covanta of Southeastern Connecticut (Covanta SECONN) partnered with the Connecticut Nature Conservancy to improve the habitat for local flora and fauna at the Poquetanuck Cove Preserve located in Ledyard, CT.

SALEM

Salem Land Trust: The Salem Land Trust has purchased 72 acres of important open space and watershed land at 180 Rattlesnake Ledge Road in Salem, CT.

STRATFORD

EMSAR – Stratford: In August 2009, EMSAR – Stratford partnered with A Greener Solution to recycle all secondary materials. Since August 2009, EMSAR’s trash generation has dropped 68% from an average of 20.98 tons/month to 6.7 tons/month. During this time EMSAR recycled an additional 41.57 tons of secondary materials.

TAFTVILLE

BSA Troop 80: In May 2009, the BSA Troop 80 of Taftville organized and followed through with a cleanup of the environmentally challenged area on the riverbanks of the Quinebaug River between the Greenville Dam fish ladder and the Eighth Street Bridge. The scouts cleared four paths for local recreational fishermen to use as new places to fish.TORRINGTON

EMSAR – Torrington: EMSAR recycled over 400,000 pounds of plastic scrap in 2009. An outside vendor is used to grind scrap components for reuse in EMSAR’s production operations. By partnering with a new vendor, K-resin, obsolete color concentrates and quality control resins are now recycled.

WALLINGFORD

Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Company: Key projects prepared for the Wildlife Habitat Council for 2010 recertification include development and upkeep of two nature trails, implementation of butterfly and pollinator gardens, conservation of endangered species bluebird monitoring program, pond management program, carbon footprint off-set and land care initiatives.

WATERTOWN

Philson Incorporated: Philson Incorporated hosted the 8th annual SteeleBrook River Clean-up on April 28, 2009.

The Siemon Company: The Siemon Company launched on September 14, 2009 a new waste management program that helped the company achieve a self certified zero-landfill status (99%). They also installed 700 solar panels on their 96,000 square foot Dynamic Building. This was brought online on December 31, 2008 and generated over 216,000 Kwh of clean energy in 2009.

WOODBRIDGE

Dave Steinmetz: Dave Steinmetz has been working on the No Butts About It Litter Campaign since 1996 with the goal to raise awareness and provide solutions for cigarette litter. In 2008, Dave worked with Keep America Beautiful on creating a statewide Cigarette Litter prevention program, which was launched in Connecticut on Earth Day in 2009. This program will raise awareness of the issue on a statewide basis.

WOODBURY

Caroline & Victoria Heavens: Caroline and Victoria Heavens set bluebird boxes to encourage nesting. They enhanced their backyard by planting native blueberry, elderberry and raspberry bushes. In addition, they planted milkweed and bee balm to attract and nourish butterflies and hummingbirds.

via DEP: Governor Rell Commends Environmental Award Winners.

(contributed photo)

Four next-generation fuel cell-powered hybrid-electric transit buses were introduced today in Hartford, United Technologies announced. The buses join an earlier generation bus that began service in 2007. The new buses will be operated by Connecticut Transit (CTTransit) and are equipped with UTC Power fuel cell systems from Connecticut-based  UTC Power, a United Technologies company.

“We’re delighted to have continued opportunities in our home state to demonstrate the benefits of fuel cell buses in real-world service,” said UTC Power Vice President and General Manager Joe Triompo. “Residents of Greater Hartford will now have more opportunities to catch a ride on a fuel cell bus and experience its benefits.”

The new buses, part of the Federal Transit Administration’s national Fuel Cell Bus Program, establish Hartford as a leader in adopting fuel cell technology to power transit buses. Only the Greater Oakland/San Francisco, Calif., area will have a larger fuel cell bus fleet in the United States, also equipped with UTC Power fuel cell systems.

The new model 40-foot Van Hool transit buses are lighter than the earlier generation fuel cell bus, which rolled out in 2007 and continues to operate on various routes in Greater Hartford, including the free downtown Star Shuttle route.   Advanced lithium-ion battery systems and a more durable fuel cell powerplant are key features of the new buses.  The buses also will be instrumental in capturing real-time information, which will be used in developing more commercially viable fuel cells in the future.

Fuel cell buses run on hydrogen and produce no harmful tailpipe emissions; they emit only water vapor.  Their clean operation can have an immediate positive impact on street-level emissions.

According to CTTransit’s Assistant General Manager-Maintenance Services, Steve Warren, “The fuel cell bus we’ve been operating since 2007 has demonstrated that the technology works and its fuel efficiency is about two times better than a standard diesel-powered bus.  With the reduced weight of the new model bus, our fuel economy should get even better.  And drivers and the riding public tell us they love the quiet, smooth ride and appreciate the environmental benefits.”

CTTransit is building a new garage to store up to six fuel cell buses, and the agency also plans to install a hydrogen fueling station on-site.  Some of the buses will continue to refuel at a hydrogen station at UTC Power’s headquarters in South Windsor, Conn.

“Connecticut is a world leader in the development and implementation of fuel cell technology, and today we begin another exciting chapter in its practical application,” said U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), who participated in today’s event along with Conn. Dept. of Transportation Bureau Chief of Public Transportation James Redeker, Director of Planning and Program Development for the Federal Transit Administration Peter Butler, Conn. Dept. of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Al Martin, and UTC Power Vice President and General Manager Joe Triompo. 

UTC Power has provided fuel cell powerplants for fleet transportation since 1998 and its made-in-Connecticut fuel cells have powered buses in the United States, Spain, Italy and Belgium.  The company’s PureMotion^® Model 120 fuel cell system for transit buses represents more than nine years of research and development in partnership with the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command and the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium.  Based in South Windsor, Conn., UTC Power is the world leader in developing and producing fuel cells that generate power for buildings and for transportation, space and defense applications. 

CTTransit is the state-owned bus transit system serving the Greater Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, New Britain, Meriden, Bristol and Wallingford areas. Van Hool of Belgium is one of the world’s largest bus and coach manufacturers.

United Technologies Corp. provides energy-efficient products and services to the aerospace and building industries.  UTC is a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index every year since it was launched in 1999.  For more information, please visit www.utcpower.com.

See also: 

The five newest fuel cell buses in the CT Transit fleet will be part of a larger research project to improve the commercial viability of these and other alternative-fuel bus fleets, officials say.

On Friday, CT Transit rolled out its last generation of fuel cell buses, which are powered by hydrogen and emit only water vapor. The four buses added to the fleet join the one that has been in service since 2007, given the central Connecticut transit system the largest fuel cell bus fleet outside of San Francisco.

via CT Transit bus fleet to lead industry | Hartford Business.

On May 14th, more than 300 guests are expected to honor former Congressman Christopher Shays at a formal gathering when he receives the 2009 Audubon Connecticut Lifetime Conservation Achievement Award. In Connecticut Christopher Shays’ commitment to the environment is well known and he achieved a great number of conservation successes while in office. He worked hard to preserve land for the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, an important system of protected areas named in memory of the much-admired Congressman he succeeded. He also secured the final installments of Land and Water Conservation Fund appropriations for the Great Meadows Salt Marsh in Stratford and Calves Island in Greenwich. Nationally, he cosponsored a number of bills to protect wilderness areas. More information is available at http://ct.audubon.org/Support_DWN-honoree.html.

In recognition of these efforts, as well as so many others Congressman Shays undertook on behalf of our environment; Audubon Connecticut will award him its 2009 Environmental Leadership Award.

Expected Guests: The Committee includes local luminaries such as Allison & Frederic A. Bourke, III, Eunice & Robert Burnett, Suzanne & Ramsey Frank, Anne & Peter Getz, Robert Getz, Allison & Warren Kanders, Joni & Kevin Kimberlin, Michael Kovner & Jean Doyen de Montaillou, Natalie & Malcolm Pray, Cristine & Kellian Robinson, Susan & Marko Sonnenberg, Lynne Wheat, Jessica & Basil Zirinis, Congressman Jim Himes, First Selectman Peter Tesei, Selectman Lin Lavery, National Audubon CEO John Flicker, National Audubon Board Chair Holt Thrasher, and many more.

Full Committee list can be found at http://ct.audubon.org/Support_DWN-committee.html.

Audubon wishes to raise more than $500,000 for the Long Island Sound policy, conservation, and education programs coordinated by the National Audubon Society. These projects are carried out locally by Audubon Connecticut and Audubon Greenwich. As of today the event has raised just over $470,000 and Co-Chairs Jeanine Getz and Anne Ogilvy
state “we are very optimistic that with the generosity of our community and the worthiness of the cause, we will reach our goal.” For more about the Dinner, past honorees, and Audubon’s Long Island Sound Campaign please visit http://ct.audubon.org/Support_DWN.html

About Audubon Connecticut: Audubon Connecticut, the state office of the National Audubon Society, envisions a state with a rich and diverse natural heritage, where there is ample habitat for birds and other wildlife, where a majority of its people appreciate and participate in their natural environment, and whose children are educated and motivated to become the conservation leaders of tomorrow. Its mission is: to further the protection of birds, other wildlife and their habitats through science, education, advocacy, and conservation, for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.

More about Mr. Shays: During his 21 years in Congress Rep. Shays was one of the most consistent voices for protecting the environment generally and the oceans in particular. Rep. Shays was an original cosponsor of the Ocean Conservation, Education and National Strategy Act for the 21st Century (“Oceans 21″), as well as H.R. 1907 (Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act).

Throughout his career, Congressman Shays demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting and preserving Connecticut’s, and the nation’s, environment. He co-chaired the House Oceans Caucus, House Coastal Caucus, and Long Island Sound Caucus. “I believe protecting and preserving our environment is one of the most important duties Congress has,” explained Shays. “We simply won’t have a world to live in if we continue our neglectful ways.”

Long Island Sound: Long Island Sound is a source of livelihood, nourishment, and recreation for many in our region. Pollution of the Sound is a major problem because approximately 10% of the American population lives within its watershed. It is one of the most populated, visited, and traveled areas of the country. The Sound contributes over $5 billion annually to the regional economy. For all these reasons, Christopher Shays believes it is critical that we treat it well.

Rep. Shays played a key leadership role in introducing and gaining passage of The Long Island Sound Study Act to advance the goals of the LIS Stewardship Initiative by authorizing $40 million for land conservation along the shores of the Sound . This legislation would authorize $40 million to protect and preserve areas along the Sound’s shorelines with significant ecological, recreational, or educational value. It will aid conservation groups from Connecticut and New York as they continue their work to preserve open space, increase access to the Sound, and identify and protect coastal areas along both shorelines of this precious estuary.

Locally, Chris Shays was instrumental in securing the inclusion of Calves Island, a 28.8 acre island located directly south of Byram Harbor in Greenwich, in the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge.

Shays fought for Connecticut’s health, introducing the Clean Water Protection Act, cosponsoring the Clean Smokestacks Act, and leading efforts to clean up and protect Long Island Sound.

Nationally, Shays worked on legislation to continue or expand protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Yellowstone National Park, and the Northern Rockies ecosystem. He sponsored creative legislation to reclaim large federal tracts through the Voluntary Grazing Permit Buyout Act. He is an original cosponsor of The Fresh Air Quality Act, the Climate Stewardship Act, and the Clean Cruise Ships Act. Chris was a co-chair of the Congressional Green Scissors Caucus, a group of Members of Congress working together to identify and eliminate wasteful, environmentally-harmful projects.

Congressman Shays reintroduced the Energy for Our Future Act with Congressman Maurice Hinchey. It would set high fuel efficiency standards to save consumers money at the pump, increase funding for renewable energy sources, and cut hand outs to oil companies. As an original sponsor of a bill to increase energy efficiency, Shays had worked to reduce energy costs for consumers. He was central to bipartisan efforts to minimize the effects of global warming.

More about the Audubon Connecticut Campaign to Restore Long Island Sound: Audubon Connecticut leads the Campaign to Restore the Sound. Originating in Canada, the Sound’s watershed covers 16,820 square miles in six states. It contributes an estimated $5.5 billion annually to the regional economy and is home to 10% of the U.S. population (28 million people), all located within 50 miles of its shores. Unfortunately, today the ecological health of the Sound is at a critical crossroads and that is why the Long Island Sound Campaign has become one of Audubon’s top national priorities.

Despite the best efforts of many, the Sound’s waters are still degraded by pollution and threatened by overdevelopment. Hypoxia robs the Sound of precious oxygen and continues to render a significant portion of the western Sound lifeless each summer. But, if we act now, we can reverse this trend and restore the Sound.

Help support CT Environmental Headlines and tell them you read about it here. Thanks.

Debates in Hartford, NY fan Broadwater flames | Branford Review: “Connecticut’s Long Island Sound LNG Task Force met Monday in Hartford to review the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s final Environmental Impact Statement on the facility.”

LOCAL

Chemist explores nanotechnology to address greenhouse gases at source | UConn Advance: “Much of the discussion about fighting global warming centers on new technologies and behaviors that could limit carbon dioxide emissions – the substance that causes climate change – such as using hybrid cars, nuclear power instead of coal, and biofuels instead of diesel. UConn chemistry professor Challa Kumar and ThoughtVentions Inc. (TvU), a Connecticut company, are developing a prototype device that will test another approach.”

Bill Horne is 2007 Citizen of the Year | Branford Review: “His efforts on behalf of the town in protecting its waterways and open space were highly praised by those who nominated him.”

Gwynn Packs a Punch as Greenwich Land Trust Head | The Connecticut Post Online: “Virginia ‘Ginny’ Gwynn, a hiker and skier from town, is enthusiastic about her new role as executive director of the Greenwich Land Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving land in its natural state.”

Dirty Beaches Anger, Frustrate Residents | The Connecticut Post Online: “One of the primary reasons for outsiders to come to Fairfield always has been the beautiful beaches by the Long Island Sound. But some residents who live at the shore say the sand on those beaches have become sullied with unsightly and unhealthy detritus that has the potential of ruining the town’s reputation.”

Warren’s land trust showing growth | The Litchfield Enquirer: “The Warren Land Trust wrapped up the year 2007 with four new conservation easements to add to its inventory, increasing its total holdings to more than 500 acres.”

Nader May Decide In ‘Next Few Days’ | TCExtra.com: “WINSTED – After announcing two weeks ago that he is forming an exploratory committee to examine the possibility of running for president this year, Winsted Native Ralph Nader is expected to ‘decide soon’ if he’ll launch a campaign, according to his Web site, naderexplore08.org.”

Train station committee meets | Stratford Bard: “At a recent public information update on Stratford’s coming commuter parking garage, two of Stratford’s state representatives announced they are forming a ‘citizen’s advisory panel’ to address problems and issues with the train station.”

Town asked to invest in power | Wallingford Voice: “WALLINGFORD – The Connecticut Municipal Electrical Energy Cooperative is looking to have the town invest as much as $49 million in three power plant projects, a move officials of the Norwich-based organization claim will serve as a hedge against dramatic electric rate increases over the next several decades.”

Residents want safety and open space as budget priorities | Windsor Journal: “space”

Landfill projected to close in early 2010 | Windsor Journal: “‘At the projected rates of filling, we estimate that the landfill will reach capacity in early calendar year 2010,’ Windsor Public Works Director Brian Funk stated in a report recently submitted to the Windsor Town Council.”

Hearings closed on tower plan | New Milford Times: “Now that the hearing is closed on the proposal to build a cellular communications tower in Gaylordsville, the public has until Feb. 22 to submit written comment and concerns about the plan.”

Termination could be costly for towns | Main Street News: “The action leading to the highest cost is the termination of ETD Executive Director Brad Beecher who was responsible for day-to-day operations of the transit district since November 2006.”

Reckless decision – The Connecticut Post Online: “It’s truly tragic when the staff of a federal agency accedes to the desecration of a fragile waterway such as Long Island Sound to benefit private energy interests. Yet, that’s what the staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission does by concluding that a $700 million liquefied natural gas terminal proposed for the Sound would have no major environmental impact on the region.”

Sound The Alarm — Courant.com: “Gov. M. Jodi Rell had justification for effectively declaring an all-out war Friday on plans to build the potentially hazardous Broadwater liquid natural gas facility in the middle of Long Island Sound, just 11 miles from Branford.”

LOCAL

Time To Take Politicians Out Of Energy Plans? – TheDay.com: “Too much valuable editorial space has been consumed by endless and pointless arguments on global warming. Attention should be addressed to the No. 1 issue: Development of clean renewable power plants and locomotive power generation.”

Companies Should Take Lead On Transit For Workers — Courant.com: “The Hartford’s proposal to alleviate its parking problems by tearing down another part of the city is of a piece with the city’s postwar pattern of demolition and parking development. But as other major companies across the country have come to realize, this is a backward solution, one that works against the development of walkable, mixed-use, interesting cities.”

Dredging Will Deepen Town’s Vital Artery – TheDay.com: “Cove’s shrinking depth has been particularly hard on maritime Old Saybrook”

Many upset with Flatto decision – The Connecticut Post Online: “FAIRFIELD — First Selectman Kenneth Flatto’s decision to boot the town’s Conservation Department off the biggest proposed development in town history still rankles some residents.”

State moves ahead on plan for rest areas – The Advocate: “The state is completing a list of recommendations for its controversial plan to upgrade and expand highway rest areas and truck parking.”

Justification for targeting swans is questionable – Greenwich Time: “My view of the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Wildlife Division, as negative as it already was, has just spiraled even further into an abyss (‘Officials may consider reducing swan numbers,’ Greenwich Time, Jan. 7).”

A Country View — Courant.com: “LONGTIME RESIDENT IRA SHAPIRO raises Cleveland Bay horses on his 140-acre farm in West Cornwall. Shapiro, who has been involved with land preservation for years, recently bought a 25-acre farm parcel in Washington, Conn.”

Panel to discuss demolition delay regulations – The Advocate: “The preservationists … say they want to preserve buildings two generations old … Norwalk Preservation Trust President Tod Bryant said significance is the issue in historical preservation, not age … Modeled on a similar policy in Danbury, the ordinance is designed to create jobs in Norwalk, but its implementation is not simple and there are questions about how enforceable it is, Brown said.”

Town, pollution panel start over – NHRegister.com: “CLINTON — Trying to set aside their differences and resume productive work on a state-mandated plan, selectmen and the Water Pollution Control Commission are working to find the land needed to resolve town wastewater treatment problems.”

Heat melts warmists – The Republican-American: “The recent respite from winter that saw Connecticut and the rest of the Northeast set temperature records is over. (The forecast, for what it’s worth, predicts a reality check: more seasonable temperatures this week, followed by Arctic cold next week.)” (Highs in the 20s Monday, Tuesday and Friday according to my Accuweather forecast).

There's Hope For The Slopes — Courant.com: “If Powder Ridge is to survive, Leavitt said, it must be a year-round operation; a lack of snowfall in past years kept it from operating successfully on a seasonal basis. He said his all-season resort plan could generate tax revenue and jobs while still providing the amount of open space residents would like to see preserved on the mountain.”

Deciding Krell Farm’s Fate — Courant.com: “FARMINGTON – The big question in Farmington over the weekend turned on the Krell Farm. Dozens of people converged there Sunday, touring its 98 acres of mostly hard, flat land by foot, or riding over it in an open wagon pulled by a pair of enormous draft horses. A referendum is scheduled for Thursday, when voters will decide whether the town should buy 90 of the farm’s 98 acres for $6.75 million, in order to preserve the land as open space.”

Krell Farm vote: Some don’t buy it – NewBritainHerald.com: “If residents approve the purchase, the farm will remain in use by Patty Krell, daughter of the late Peter and Mary Krell, and be treated as open space. At a meeting held Monday, residents learned more about the purchase — and some didn’t like what they learned.”

Path of resistance – NewsTimes.com: “DANBURY — When town leaders here and in New Fairfield announced plans to build a walking trail along Margerie Reservoir last year they spoke only of the positives — of an easy-to-walk, paved trail around a beautiful body of water that everyone could use. Steve Greenberg isn’t buying a word of it.”

Moving ahead and preserving history – MiddletownPress.com: “MIDDLETOWN — In the wee hours of the morning an historic Federal Colonial home was slowly and carefully moved to a new location where it will soon be transformed into four bright new condominiums. … The new condominiums will help change that by bringing more homeowners to the area and by fixing up some of the run down buildings. Saving the Liberty Street home also pleases preservationists.”

Gungywamp Adventures – TheDay.com: “solated Gungywamp in northwest Groton displays irregular ridges, scattered colonial sites, meandering stone walls and some mysterious stone remains. Interspersed with bog and swamp, the land has remained undeveloped for centuries … I’ve heard that much of the land may be acquired by the State of Connecticut for preservation. That would be a happy solution. By Carol Kimball.”

Toss Out Science And Watch The Fun Begin – A letter to the editor of The Day: “Science is a liberal plot. I just wish more people understood that. Hopefully our great country will finally get what it wants, and elect a real demigod who will outlaw crackpot ideas like evolution and global warming. Then we can go back to doing what we do best, being fruitful, multiplying and consuming all that has been put on this great Earth solely for our use.”
Did someone say ‘crackpot?’

GREEN BUILDING

Builder was green before it was cool – USATODAY.com: “Environmentally friendly homes will grow from 2% of all homes built in 2005 to about 10%, or $38 billion, of the new-home market by 2010, according to the National Association of Home Builders and McGraw-Hill Construction.”

'Green' Building Planned for Yorkshire – washingtonpost.com: “A developer wants to build a mixed-use ‘green’ building along Centreville Road (Route 28) that would be taller than Manassas Park’s water tower and one of the most innovative structures in Virginia.”

Inside the green designer home – New York Times: … Despite its transparent nature, the house feels private … a bicyclist riding by on the street, maybe 80 feet away, makes eye contact with me and pedals on … If this were my home, the bicyclist would have seen me standing in boxer shorts eating cereal out of the box.

NEW YORK

Nassau vote may spur showdown over sewer takeover — Newsday.com: “Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi says the county legislature has enough information to vote today on his proposal to take over three local sewer districts – Glen Cove, Cedarhurst and Lawrence – but he conceded that some of the data were provided only at the last minute.”

Soon, a public place — Newsday.com: “For Amanda Bellois-Roberts and her father, grandfather, uncles and cousins, the 26-acre property in Oyster Bay Cove known as the Littauer estate has always been home, work and a retreat all in one. Nestled just south of Route 25A, the acres of gardens, pastures and ponds are a haven from the incessant traffic along the road. … The parcel was acquired by the Town of Oyster Bay in July and eventually will be opened to the public, possibly later this year.”

NATIONAL

Maine commission to weigh 2 wind-power projects – The Boston Globe: “AUGUSTA, Maine – With Maine’s spot as New England’s largest generator of wind power already well-established, state regulators are expected today to consider two more projects that would produce enough clean power to keep the lights glowing and toasters cooking in more than 70,000 homes.”

AlterNet: Environment: Ski Resorts Are Reinventing Themselves in the Face of Global Warming: “You know things are bad when ski resorts have to reinvent themselves into ‘sun and fun’ parks with bumper boats and miniature golf.”

A Starting Point for Productive Climate Discourse – Dot Earth – Climate Change and Sustainability – New York Times Blog: “To try to rein in and focus the discussion just a bit, I’ve decided to put up this post as a work in progress, aimed at establishing a list of basic facets of the climate and energy challenge that are not in reasonable dispute (with more to come).”

Auto Industry Shows Off Fuel-Efficiency — Newsday.com: “DETROIT – Hybrids, advanced diesels and green alternatives are pushing aside the traditional displays of speed and chrome at this week’s Detroit auto show, a nod to a new fuel-efficient reality for car makers.”

Products: Honda offers Pilot prototype; pickups duel – USATODAY.com: “Honda Motor unveiled a prototype of the next-generation Pilot sport-utility vehicle, similar to the production model that will debut this spring.”

Running on Alternative Fuels – WSJ.com: “The auto industry is betting that more American drivers are ready to put good-old gasoline in their rear-view mirrors. … Yesterday, General Motors Corp. announced it is taking an undisclosed stake in a new cellulosic-ethanol company, Coskata Inc., based in Warrenville, Ill.”

Toyota Will Offer a Plug-In Hybrid by 2010 – New York Times: “DETROIT — The Toyota Motor Corporation, which leads the world’s automakers in sales of hybrid-electric vehicles, announced Sunday night that it would build its first plug-in hybrid by 2010.”

Gadgets dumped in land fills unleash toxins — Newsday.com: “Old computers, cell phones and TVs shoved aside by more glamorous gadgets that are incessantly updated … have unleashed a growing tide of unwanted electronics … and can poison groundwater or pollute the air when products are dumped in landfills or burned in incinerators.”

Escalating Ice Loss Found in Antarctica – washingtonpost.com: “Climatic changes appear to be destabilizing vast ice sheets of western Antarctica that had previously seemed relatively protected from global warming, researchers reported yesterday, raising the prospect of faster sea-level rise than current estimates.”

Eco-Patent Commons shares earth-friendly tech – New York Times: “IBM on Monday will announce the creation of an Eco-Patents Commons–shared innovations geared at environmental sustainability–with the participation of Sony, Nokia, and Pitney Bowes.”

Colorado Approves Funds to Feed Wildlife – New York Times: “GUNNISON, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado Wildlife Commission has authorized money to help feed wildlife in the Gunnison Basin because of extreme weather.”

Strong Action Urged To Cut Md. Energy Use – washingtonpost.com: “Maryland should force utilities to take aggressive steps to cut energy consumption, and the state should create a multimillion-dollar fund to give homeowners an array of incentives to use less power, Gov. Martin O’Malley’s top energy advisers will recommend today.”

Fairmont Hotels Measuring Its Carbon Footprint · Environmental Leader · Green Business and Corporate Sustainability News: “Fairmont Hotels and Resorts and WWF have announced a new partnership to measure Fairmont’s carbon footprint and set a CO2 reduction target by June 2008. The goal is to develop a Fairmont-wide emission reduction plan.With the new policies in place, Fairmont hopes to become a member of WWF’s global Climate Savers program.”

EXTRA!

Green Living – Environmental news, opinion and more on Boston.com