Several days ago, parts of Connecticut received three months of rain in a few hours. Two people died, and homes, farms, and businesses were devastated. In addition to severe storms, we’ve had record heat.
These events are a harbinger of things to come. Climate change is here and it is hurting us—heat waves, torrential rain, closed beaches, flooded homes, roads washed away, the millions it costs to repair damage, not to mention soaring electricity prices as we try to manage our own comfort during the heat waves. Homes are becoming increasingly uninsurable, and, worst of all, there are lost lives.
In my video I talk about some bills that we failed to pass that would have begun to take decisive action on climate change.
On the bright side, Connecticut has been the recipient of two grants to invest in renewable energy projects, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected the Power Up New England proposal submitted by Connecticut and its neighboring New England states to receive an award of up to $389 million through the second round of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s competitive Grid Innovation Program(GIP). This will fund investments in regional electric infrastructure, and deployment of a battery energy storage system to enhance grid resilience in Connecticut and neighboring states.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Connecticut and neighboring states a $450 million grant through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program to accelerate adoption of affordable electric heat pumps throughout the region.
These investments will provide Connecticut with greater access to offshore wind, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased reliability and energy savings, as well as health benefits. Most importantly, they are a step forward in alleviating the devastating effects the warming climate has had on our state. |