In election years, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters surveys candidates for state office about their positions on pressing environmental issues. We consider candidate responses to our survey in our endorsement process. Our questionnaire and instructions were emailed to all candidates running for the Connecticut General Assembly.
100% CLEAN ENERGY BY 2050 - Connecticut is feeling the effects of climate change including record droughts, flooding, and increasingly intense hurricanes. Meanwhile, the clean energy market has grown rapidly. Solar now employs more people in electricity generation than oil, coal and gas combined. As of January 2018, 56 cities across the country have committed to transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050. Transitioning to clean energy will avert the worst impacts of climate change while creating good jobs, boosting the economy, saving consumers money, and protecting our health.
Do you support transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050 or sooner?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #2
STATE WATER PLAN - Public Act 14-163 directed the state Water Planning Council (WPC) to develop a comprehensive state water plan to address key problems in water policy and management. In a transparent multi-stakeholder process, the WPC developed a consensus plan and delivered it to the Connecticut General Assembly for approval. The plan was rejected (not brought to a vote) due to certain utility and corporate opposition to references that, under Connecticut law, water is a public trust resource (the state must manage water for the benefit of the public -- present and future generations). The State Water Plan will be resubmitted to the legislature in the next session.
Will you support the plan as submitted to the legislature and affirm that water is a public trust?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #3
MUNICIPAL FUNDING PILOT FOR OPEN SPACE - Municipalities need a sustainable source of revenue for local open space acquisition and stewardship efforts that will not impact the municipal mill rate or require additional funding. Legislation enabling an optional buyers’ conveyance fee program has helped to fund local land conservation efforts in our neighboring states, resulting in the protection of thousands of acres of farmland, forests, and other important natural resources.
Would you support legislation that would allow, but not require, certain municipalities to establish a dedicated fund to protect local open space, farmland and water resources through a limited conveyance fee on buyers of real estate?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #4
PLASTIC BAG POLLUTION - Plastic pollution is a growing problem affecting our wildlife and our environment. Communities across the nation have begun to address this issue by passing legislation to reduce single-use plastic bag utilization, citing their impacts to waterways, damage to marine life, and infrastructure concerns.
Would you support a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags (or a ban/fee hybrid) to significantly reduce plastic bag pollution in our state?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #5
GAS PIPELINE - Electric utility customers are being asked to subsidize the $6.6 billion construction cost of a new natural gas pipeline. Consistent with a number of recent analyses, Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. found that New England's electric sector has no need of additional gas pipeline infrastructure to fill demand, and pipeline expansion will not likely drive down the cost of electricity prices.
Will you support the repeal of the pipeline tax established in 2015?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #6
CARBON PRICING - The current pricing structure for fossil fuels such as oil, gasoline, and natural gas, does not account for the total cost of the product, including its negative impacts on our health, climate, and environment. Instead, those costs are borne by citizens and businesses while companies investing, producing, or selling these products recover profits that do not reflect the true cost of fossil fuel usage. Pricing carbon to reflect these costs and investing those revenues equitably in clean energy is one of the most effective ways to transition from dirty fossil fuels toward renewable energy.
