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The bipartisan voice for Connecticut's environment.

 

 

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2010 WatchList


As a legislative watchdog, CTLCV works with Connecticut's environmental advocacy groups to identify and highlight important bills that affect our air, water, wildlife, open space, and our health. 
CTLCV opposes all rollbacks and exemptions that weaken environmental protections in Connecticut.

MAY 5, 2010:  All bills listed are currently out of their committees. Both good and bad initiatives may reappear as parts of other bills. As of this date, these bills are on our current watch list.  As always, contact CTLCV at 860-236-5442 if you have questions or comments about this list.
 

 Category

Bill No.

Bill Title

Bill Description

Current Position

Committee of Origin

Enforcement

120

AA AUTHORIZING REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION'S GUIDANCE STATEMENTS AND POLICIES BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S REGULATION REVIEW COMMITTEE.
 

Addresses permitting, enforcement and water quality concerns raised in bills 174, 338, 453, and 5208

Support

GAE

Water/Wetlands

(was 123)

AAC PRESERVING NATURAL VEGETATION NEAR WETLANDS AND WATERCOURSES.

To protect natural vegetation in areas near wetlands and watercourses, and to strengthen the state's commitment to protection of upland wetlands and waters. Provisions of 123 may be appended to another bill.
 

Support

EN

Energy

493
(former 463)

AAC FINANCING OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Provides for New CT Energy and Technology Authority to have both a regulatory Division of Public Utility Control (akin to today's DPUC) and a new policy division, Division of Research, Energy and Technology.  The policy division will oversee the Clean Energy Fund and Energy Efficiency Fund, and CT Energy Advisory Board.

Also covers:

  • New energy saving appliance standards

  • Comprehensive Solar Power legislation- very similar to the solar bill from last year. 

  • Discounted rate for limited income customers (60% of median income or less) tied with information about home energy efficiency programs

  • Property Assessed Clean Energy language which enables municipalities to help property owners install renewable energy and energy efficiency at no upfront cost. 

  • Regulation of competitive electricity suppliers- require full disclosure of rates, bans deceptive marketing practices, requires disclosure for renewable energy, only allow green claims for renewable energy not already required by law, allows for fines, penalties and revocation of licenses for electric suppliers for failure to comply with the law.

  • Financing help for energy efficient boilers, furnaces and combined heat and power units. 

  • No cuts or impacts to the state Class I Renewable Portfolio Standard.

Support

Emergency Certification

Recycling

5120

AAC PRIVATE AND MUNICIPAL RECYCLING, ZONING ORDINANCES AND SOLID WASTE COLLECTION CONTRACTS.

To expand municipal reports concerning recycling, expand the list of designated recyclable items, prohibit zoning laws that prohibit the use of recycling receptacles, expand curbside recycling, require recycling at certain gathering venues and require solid waste collection contracts to provide for recycling.
 

Support

EN

Recycling

5122

AAC A PAINT-STEWARDSHIP PILOT PROGRAM.

To establish a paint stewardship pilot program to keep toxins out of the waste stream.
 

Support

EN

Toxics/Public Health

5126

AA ESTABLISHING A CHEMICAL INNOVATIONS INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT.

To establish a Chemical Innovations Institute at The University of Connecticut Health Center. To help monitor and remove toxins from the environment.
 

Support

EN

Permitting & Enforcement

5208

 

Addresses permitting, enforcement and water quality concerns raised in bills 174, 338, 453, and 5208

Support 

Open Space and Forestry

5417

AN ACT CONCERNING AN OPEN SPACE REGISTRY, THE IDENTIFICATION OF OPEN SPACE FOR ACQUISITION AND THE RECORDING OF CERTAIN OPEN SPACE RESTRICTIONS.  

This bill was completely changed in the Environment Committee to delete a much needed Community Green Fund initiative and delete controversial ATV provisions.  Currently centers on a "conservation land registration" provision.  The bill provides substantial improvements in the process and oversight for identifying and acquiring land to meet the State’s open space goals. It creates a state map of all known protected public and private land, analyzes the usefulness of these lands for protecting species of conservation concern, identifies and prioritizes lands that need to be acquired in order to protect habitats of greatest conservation need, establishes an independent review board to help develop acquisition priorities and to oversee activities and progress, and creates a funding plan.
 

SUPPORT

EN

Toxics/Public Health

5418

AAC INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR MUNICIPAL FACILITIES.

Original bill would require towns to adopt IPM plans, possibly rolling back pesticide bans applying to schools and discouraging extension of such bans to other public places. IPM aims for conservative use of pesticides and herbicide, but imposes few if any enforceable restrictions in the field. Bill significantly modified in Environment Committee.
 

Oppose

EN

Agriculture/Farms

5419

AAC FARMS, FOOD AND JOBS

To encourage job growth and expansion in the agriculture sector. Humane and healthy treatment of animals amendment was rejected in the Environment Committee.
 

Support

EN

Open Space and Forestry

5420

AAC THE TRANSITION FROM THE TEN MIL PROGRAM IN 2011

To enable the continued preservation via favorable tax treatment of certain forest land.

Support

EN

Green Jobs

5465

AAC THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN JOBS

To implement the Speakers recommendations of the Green Jobs Working Group.
 

Support

ET

Open Space

5520

AAC CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN PARCELS OF STATE LAND

This annual land conveyance bill appears to contain a widely opposed land transfer in Haddam (Goodspeed property).

Oppose

GAE

 


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