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.
Candidates must submit our questionnaire via our online form. To request a link to the survey, please send an email to [email protected], specifying the name of the candidate and their district, and confirm the email the candidate will use to respond.
Question #1
100% ZERO CARBON: In 2019, Governor Lamont issued an Executive Order to secure a 100% zero-carbon electric grid by 2040. During the 2020 Legislative Session, SB 10 was proposed to codify this Executive Order into law.
Do you support codifying this legislation?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #2
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: In 2008, Connecticut passed a landmark environmental justice law to prevent polluting power plants, incinerators, and similar facilities from being disproportionately sited in low-income or communities of color. In 2020, the legislature considered House Bill 5103 to strengthen the law by giving a greater voice to at-risk communities, protect public health, increase transparency, and address a systemic pattern of racial inequity in siting decisions.
Do you support the provisions that were contained in the Environmental Justice legislation?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #3
MUNICIPAL FUNDING OPTION: Municipalities need a sustainable source of revenue for the acquisition and stewardship of local open space, farmland, and water resources as well as climate resilience, and other local environmental projects. Legislation enabling an optional buyer's conveyance fee program has funded local land conservation in our neighboring states, resulting in the protection of thousands of acres of farmland, forests, and important natural resources without impacting the municipal mill rate or requiring bonding.
Would you support legislation to allow, but not require, municipalities to establish a dedicated fund for local open space, farmland, water resources climate mitigation strategies through a limited conveyance fee on buyers of real estate?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #4
BOTTLE BILL: Refundable container deposits are a proven incentive for recycling and reducing litter from single-serve beverage containers. Unfortunately, Connecticut’s deposit law (aka “the Bottle Bill”) has not been updated to keep up with market trends and inflation. As a result, Connecticut has the lowest performing bottle bill program in the world, with a redemption rate around 50%. The legislature was considering House Bill 5340 to address the problem.
Do you support modernizing Connecticut’s bottle bill by 1) expanding the list of beverage containers accepted, 2) raising the deposit amount on covered containers, and 3) raising the handling fee paid to authorized dealers for each container they collect?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #5
CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION: Connecticut recently passed a law to encourage the inclusion of climate change education in the Next Gen science standards curriculum. In 2020, the legislature was considering House Bill 5215 to mandate climate change education and ensure ALL students receive this critical information so they are prepared to tackle this existential threat to their future and the planet.
Do you support a requirement to teach climate change education in public schools?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #6
TRANSFER ACT: Over the years, the legislature has consistently passed bills weakening Connecticut’s toxic site cleanup law (the Transfer Act), leaving the program inadequate and underfunded. DEEP and the environmental community support moving away from a cleanup program based on the transfer of land (CT is only one of two states that has a transfer based law) toward a law that prioritizes cleanup of toxic sites based on releases and threat to public health.
Do you support switching to a release-based cleanup program that would require sufficient DEEP oversight, mandated reporting of all cleanups and other safeguards to ensure a successful program that increases the number of sites cleaned?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #7
MDC WATER: The Metropolitan District Commission is one of the largest public water utilities in CT, but unlike private and municipal utilities, the MDC lacks state oversight. As more people conserve water, the MDC's revenues are decreasing. To encourage greater sales of our publicly owned water, the MDC passed ordinances in March to offer deep discounts for "super users" who exceed 600,000 gallons per day, while at the same time increasing rates for regular customers. As crafted, this discount applies only to one large water bottling company that needs no incentives. CT needs the authority to better manage financial decisions about our state's public drinking water.
Would you support legislation to require rates set by MDC to be approved by PURA (the state regulatory authority that sets rates for private water utilities)?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #8
PFAS: Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) refers to a suite of chemicals used in many household and industrial products, including firefighting foam, food packaging, and a range of water-resistant, stain-proof, and nonstick products. PFAS are called "forever" chemicals because they do not break down in the environment and are hard to clean up. They are a threat to human health and are being found in drinking water supplies in Connecticut and across the nation. The Governor's PFAS task force made recommendations including mandatory testing of public water supplies and banning PFAS in consumer products and firefighting foam (see House Bill 5288 and Senate Bill 297).
Do you support advancing legislation that would prohibit PFAS chemicals wherever possible?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #9
CHLORPYRIFOS: Chlorpyrifos, a toxic pesticide known to cause neurological problems in children, Parkinson’s Disease and cancer, was banned from indoor use in 2001. Because the federal government has abdicated its duty to adequately regulate this substance, California, Hawaii and New York have all taken steps to ban Chlorpyrifos in their states. Unfortunately, Chlorpyrifos is still being used on golf courses and farms throughout Connecticut. Chlorpyrifos harms wildlife and pollutes our water, and communities near these golf courses and farms are at risk of being exposed and sickened.
Will you support legislation to ban the sale and use of Chlorpyrifos in CT (as was the intent of House Bill 301 considered earlier this year)?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #10
NO NEW GAS INFRASTRUCTURE: By 2030, New England’s reliance on natural gas for electricity could decrease from 45% to only 10%. According to a new study from Acadia Center, existing gas-fired power plants would be underused, making an investment in new gas pipelines or plants unnecessary and costly. In recent years, the cost of generating wind power has dropped 70%, and utility-scale solar costs have dropped by 90%. Gas is no longer the least expensive option.
Will you oppose a tax on CT ratepayers to fund new gas pipelines?
Yes
No
Uncertain
Question #11
OPEN QUESTION:What environmental issues have you worked on? What will be your top environmental priority for the 2021 legislative session?