Jennifer Leeper

• Pink Pledge Fundraising Campaign
• Pints & Policy Event
• Energy Storage Solutions Program
• Panel on Food and Nutrition Education
• Texting Scam Alert
• Your Guide to Peak Fall Foliage
• Experience Fairfield's October Calendar of Events
• Events this Weekend
• Halloween Season in Fairfield!

This week the Environment Committee held an informational forum, and we heard from members of the Connecticut Green Bank. I had a discussion with Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Green Bank, about a great program called Energy Storage Solutions, which incentivizes residential and commercial properties to install a battery storage system, typically in conjunction with solar.

By providing an upfront incentive of up to $16,000 and a twice-yearly payment for 10 years based on how your battery performs during peak summer and winter days, batteries for solar energy storage become much more affordable, your property will be prepared when storms hit, you are helping to make our entire grid more decentralized and resilient, and you are reducing emissions. 

You can check out my conversation with Bryan below, and read more about the program here.

You can check out the informational forum in full here.

The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS) is alerting everyone of a new scam where criminals impersonate the DRS with fraudulent text messages. They claim that you are owed a tax refund and must provide banking and other information to receive the money.

The DRS will NEVER send taxpayers a text message or seek to obtain information from taxpayers via text. If you have information on a tax-related scam, contact DRS by completing a referral form on the agency’s website.

Taxpayers with questions are encouraged to reach out to DRS at 860-297-5962, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. or by email at DRS@ct.gov.

Now that fall has arrived, Connecticut is about to glow with autumn color! Here’s what to expect and how to make the most of it:

• Litchfield Hills / Northwest CT: tends to peak earlier, so early October is ideal there
• Hartford & Central CT: mid‑October is often prime
• Connecticut River Valley: the color can linger a bit, making it great in mid‑to‑late October
• Coastal & Shoreline areas: later in October, sometimes up until Halloween

Click here for the full CT Fall Foliage Report so you know peak viewing times in each area of the state.

The CT Tourism Office has some great ideas on how to enjoy the season, click here for CT's Fall Foliage Road Trip Guide and links to hiking trails and click here for seven different CT Fall Foliage Drive Loops around the state and the peak times to take them.

Don’t miss your chance to soak in the season’s beauty!