Category: Environment

Eighth annual Connecticut Trails Symposium, Friday Oct. 2, New Haven

by Aaron Goode, CT Greenways Council

The Connecticut Trails Symposium is an annual state-wide gathering organized by the Connecticut Greenways Council (CGC) in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), and the UConn CT Trails Program.

Designed for trail advocates, urban planners, municipal leaders, conservationists, state officials, and outdoor enthusiasts, the symposium serves as a collaborative platform to advance multi-use trail networks, active transportation, and greenway stewardship across Connecticut. This year’s symposium will have keynote addresses by JT Horn of the Trust for Public Land and Dan Hodge of Cambridge Econometrics who will both address different aspects of this year’s theme, “Benefits of Greenways.”

There will be a variety of breakout sessions on trails and greenways advocacy, and active mobility infrastructure projects across the state of Connecticut, with a particular focus on work happening in New Haven.

A full day of concurrent sessions, speakers, and plentiful networking opportunities.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER:

https://cttrails.uconn.edu/symposium/

Nuclear Power: Clean Energy or Costly Gamble?

by Christopher Zurcher, local artist

Nuclear power’s effects on human rights and environmental justice were the focus of author Linda Pentz Gunter’s presentation at a meeting in Hamden on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026.
Pentz Gunter, who founded the international advocacy nonprofit Beyond Nuclear in 2007, warned about the construction of massive energy- and water-consuming data centers, particularly as governors consider nuclear reactors to power them.

Gov. Ned Lamont recently said the state would join its neighbors at a one-day regional policy summit that will explore the potential role of advanced nuclear technologies in the region. The 2026 New England Regional Nuclear Policy Summit on Sept. 30, 2026, will bring together “experts” to examine the potential for advanced nuclear technologies in the grid. He said the summit is “an opportunity … to learn more about the potential for new advanced nuclear technologies to contribute to our grid.”

But what about health risks from plants?

Pentz Gunter’s new book, No To Nuclear: Why Nuclear Power Destroys Lives, Derails Climate Progress And Provokes War (Pluto Press, April 2026), presents 10 reasons to reject nuclear power in favor of solar and wind, challenging claims that nuclear energy is safe, clean or green.

She argues that nuclear reactors take too long to build, cost too much, and leave behind the unresolved problem of radioactive waste, with disproportionate and unjust impacts on Indigenous peoples and communities of color.

“While nuclear power is technically feasible, it is highly complex, involving a long and polluting uranium fuel chain and with an unsolved waste problem,” Pentz Gunter said. She added that nuclear fuel is “more than a million times more radioactive when it comes out” of a reactor, contributing to the industry’s costs and hazards to human health.

Pentz Gunter also cited studies, including a recent one from Harvard, reporting higher incidences of cancers and leukemia among populations living near nuclear power plants.
“There is absolutely no justification for taking such a risk when safer, cheaper alternatives like renewables can rapidly deploy today,” she said.

“Our elected officials need to hear from us,” Pentz Gunter said, arguing that voters should hold officials accountable for supporting data-center and nuclear projects that threaten our health and the environment.

The nuclear debate is hardly new. More than a decade ago, the late Judi Friedman of People’s Action for Clean Energy wrote in these pages that nuclear power survives because of extensive public subsidies, while delays in expanding shared solar and other clean-energy investments leave consumers vulnerable.

For more, visit plutobooks.com/product/no-to-nuclear, beyondnuclear.org, pepeace.org/resources, pacecleanenergy.org.

What’s Wrong with Gov. Lamont’s Energy Policy?

by Melinda Tuhus, environmental activist and journalist

The first thing to know about Gov. Ned Lamont’s energy policy is that it’s an All of the Above strategy. He loves methane gas; he loves renewables; and especially recently, he loves nuclear. In the past few months, his Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (a contradiction in terms and misleading name) has hosted four two-hour workshops to learn all about “new” nuclear energy – basically, the small modular reactors (SMRs) that don’t exist yet and would have many of the same problems as the existing big stand-alone reactors, and, according to some experts, would be less efficient.

Recently all six New England governors agreed to pursue at least investigating building more nuclear, because energy demand is rising for the first time in at least 20 years, due to data centers, electric cars and other electric infrastructure.

Lamont’s DEEP has also been greenlighting or considering several methane projects across the state, and the fact that they haven’t moved forward faster is thanks to the tenacious opposition from local communities and climate and environmental activists in Connecticut. One example is the proposed expansion of the compressor station in Brookfield, near Danbury, on the so-called Iroquois pipeline. Compressor stations push the gas through the pipeline, so the bigger the compressor station, the more gas it can push through. Methane leaks at all stages, from production to the gas stove in your home, and is toxic, especially to those most at risk, like children and those with respiratory ailments.

Lamont was quoted in a New York Times article in April about the push to increase both methane (“natural”) gas and nuclear power: “I think, generally speaking, if it’s affordable, New England governors are now willing to consider it.”

Nuclear boosters say nukes provide the “baseload power” that solar and wind can’t, but with battery storage growing, renewables are faster to build, cleaner, safer and cheaper than nuclear power plants, and combined with energy efficiency (making electricity go further) and conservation (not using the energy in the first place), renewables could be the main energy source in Connecticut.

The big push by Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts for offshore wind stalled because of the pandemic and Trump’s extreme aversion to it. After winning legal challenges, at least some of the projects are now up and running or under construction.

For more info, contact Efficiency for All (www.efficiencyforall.org) or People’s Action for Clean Energy (pacecleanenergy.org).

Join the No Pipeline Expansion Northeast Coalition to Learn About a Proposed Pipeline Under the Connecticut River in Middletown

by Sena Wazer, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, Sierra Club CT

Eversource, the electric and gas utility for much of Connecticut, has proposed to build a new interconnection pipeline under the Connecticut River. This expansion would impact Middletown, East Hampton, and Higganum, in particular the Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park Trail, Hurd State Park, and Higganum Meadows Wildlife Management Area.

Eversource wants to complete this expansion using a practice called horizontal directional drilling. When this practice was used in 2024 for a pipeline in Rhode Island, the company spilled 50 gallons of drilling fluid into the Sakonnet River. Connecticut doesn’t need more methane gas, we don’t need more pipelines, and we certainly don’t need them drilled under the Connecticut River.

In addition to the potential harm that projects like this do to our ecosystems, they are also bad for our climate, health, and costs. Two recent publications have shown that methane gas reliance and pipeline expansions raise our bills.

A study in Maine, which is on the same regional electricity grid as Connecticut, found that methane gas is the primary driver of rising electricity prices in Maine, while clean energy would lower bills. A recently published primer from The Future of Heat Initiative found that Connecticut customers are paying more for gas pipes and their expansion, than for the actual gas we use.

Are you interested in learning more and taking action? Join Sierra Club Connecticut, the No Pipeline Expansion Northeast Coalition, and Sunrise Movement Wesleyan for an educational forum in Middletown titled “Pipelines Under Our River: Safety, Costs, and What Residents Should Know.” The forum will be hosted on Wednesday, March 25, at 6 p.m. at the Russell Library. Find more information and RSVP here: tinyurl.com/middletownforum. Email sena.wazer@sierraclub.org with questions.

Broad Public Opposition to Fossil Fuel Expansion!

by Sena Wazer, Sierra Club CT

After clear community opposition, DEEP must deny the Brookfield Compressor Station Expansion

On Jan 8, 2026, over 100 people gathered at a Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) public hearing about a methane gas compressor station expansion in Brookfield, Connecticut. This expansion would double the size of the existing compressor station, which emits dangerous air pollutants into the community.

Over 50 people gave public testimony and every single one of those people was opposed to the expansion.

Local residents and advocates expressed concern over the impact of this expansion on air quality and health, particularly for the middle school students located just 1900 feet away from the compressor station. They shared their worry for the impact that this would have on Connecticut’s contribution to climate change and progress towards the state’s greenhouse gas mitigation goals.

Testifiers raised questions about why DEEP is allowing this expansion to move forward when it has zero benefit to Connecticut; the added gas is for New York City, which multiple people also pointed out is unnecessary. They also called attention to the multiple ways in which DEEP has biased this process towards the methane gas company, including through denying the public a more meaningful adjudicatory hearing, which would have allowed for the community to directly ask the company questions and weigh in more significantly on the decision.

This hearing was the latest in a long stream of clear public opposition to this fossil fuel expansion. Yet DEEP and Governor Lamont have continued to allow this unnecessary and polluting expansion to move forward.

This moment is a litmus test for our state: will we allow harmful infrastructure to move forward at the behest of a methane gas company despite clear opposition from state residents, the people DEEP and Governor Lamont are purported to serve, or will they stand up for our communities, climate, and future?

We will be watching this decision closely and will continue to fight for our communities. Learn more about Sierra Club Connecticut’s work to oppose new and expanded fossil fuel projects and join us. Please visit https://bit.ly/4sSqgy5.

Spring Season Seed Library Opens Feb. 2

by Hamden Seed Library

The Hamden Library Seed Library offers a wide variety of veggies, herbs, and ornamental seeds, free for all. While the Seed Library will be open during all regular Miller Library hours, we will have staff on hand twice a week to offer guidance. Staffed hours will be Thursdays 1-4:30 p.m. and Saturdays 2-4:30 p.m., from Feb. 2 through June 6.

While many of the seeds donated to the Seed Library are from the previous growing year, all have a lot of life left! In addition, through the generosity of the Friends of the Library, we are able to purchase a limited amount of “high-value” seeds, such as tomatoes, which don’t often come to us via donations. And we are excited that more and more of our local gardeners are contributing seeds to share.

The Miller Library is at 2901 Dixwell Ave. in Hamden.

Time to Register Rock to Rock Earth Day Ride and Support 20 Local Environmental Projects

by Chris Schweitzer, New Haven/León Sister City Project 

Rock to Rock is moving ahead for this spring, working with over 20 partner organizations to take real action in response to the climate emergency, and raise critical support for local environmental organizations. 2026 rides include 5, 12, 20, 40, 60-mile, and two Family Rides in East Rock Park, plus hikes in East Rock Park and West Rock Park. Join the fun Saturday, April 25. All rides start and end at East Rock Park, with a Green Fair, live music and food trucks. Register at rocktorock.org.

Free Vegetable Gardening Classes

by Lucy Marinelli, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven

Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven returns with their organic vegetable gardening classes to help get you ready for gardening season.

Our classes are hybrid and offered as individual classes or in bulk. Thanks to the generous support of the Greater New Haven Green Fund this year, we are able to offer the classes cost-free to community gardeners and area residents. Your donation is always greatly appreciated!

This year, we’re offering the following classes on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.:

  • February 7: Soils and Composting
  • February 14: Cool Weather Crops
  • February 21: Warm Weather Crops
  • February 28: Garden Pests and Diseases
  • March 7: Seed Starting, When and Where to Plant
  • March 14: Preserving your Garden Harvest

More detailed class descriptions can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3Zsgm8H.

All classes are held 10 a.m. – noon on Saturday mornings at 333 Sherman Ave. (Building 3), New Haven, CT  06511. For more information and to register for the classes, please call (203) 562-0598 or email Kathy Fay at kfay@nhsofnewhaven.org.

Since 1979, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven has been strengthening neighborhoods by developing affordable housing and increasing homeownership opportunities; providing homebuyer education and financial coaching; making homes safe, beautiful and energy efficient; and working to improve the communities in which we are working by helping residents take charge of their neighborhoods.

We send out a quarterly newsletter so you can stay up to date on our real estate development project, community events, classes and more!  To see the latest newsletter and sign up:

December 2025 Newsletter: http://bit.ly/49lEVdq

Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/ggu0fz

Greater New Haven Green Fund Wants You to Apply for Funding

by Lynne Bonnett, GRNH Green Fund

It’s not too late to apply for a community grant that addresses environmental and sustainability issues in the  Greater New Haven area (New Haven, Woodbridge, Hamden and East Haven).  Applications are online, all the information that you need is available on: www.gnhgreenfund.org.  Any questions? Contact info@gnhgreenfund.org to schedule an appointment.

Grants are available for up to $10,000.  The fund has given out $750,000 since its inception in 2011.  You can view grant history on the Green Fund’s website.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity if you are interested – the offer closes Jan. 30, 2026 at 5 p.m.

Never had a grant before? The fund also offers small grants (up to $1000) for community projects – recommended for those that are new to the grant application process.  If you have an event planned that has wide public attendance and meets our goal of supporting environmental and sustainability initiatives, they offer sponsorships to help cover the costs of the event. All the application information is available at  www.gnhgreenfund.org.

Nine Arrested After CT Climate Activists Stage Sit-In at Governor’s Office

by Karla Ciaglo Nov. 18, 2025, CT News Junkie

HARTFORD, CT — A coalition of climate and community groups staged a sit-in outside Gov. Ned Lamont’s office Monday [Nov. 17], urging the administration to halt a series of natural gas projects they say contradict the state’s newly adopted climate mandates and place additional burdens on communities already grappling with high energy costs and environmental stress.

Calling themselves Don’t Destroy Our Future, the group included members of Sunrise Movement Connecticut, Third Act, the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network and other advocates who said the action reflected the linked challenges of climate, affordability, public health and community safety. [Read entire article at https://bit.ly/44kXmM8].

Sierra Club Demands No Pipeline Expansion!

by Sena Wazer, Sierra Club CT

The Trump Administration has stated their intention to drive methane gas pipeline expansion in the Northeast. These expansions harm our communities, drive climate change, and raise our electricity prices.

Yet instead of standing up, governors across the Northeast—including in Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts—are allowing for these expansions to move forward.

So we’re fighting back. But to be effective, we need to build people power across our states, and to do that, we need your help!

The No Pipeline Expansion (NOPE) Northeast Coalition is hosting an in-person and interactive workshop on Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Middletown. The workshop will include an opportunity to learn about gas pipeline expansions in Connecticut and the Northeast, build power, strategize next steps, and take action.

Whether you are a new or experienced activist, have engaged with the NOPE Northeast Coalition before or are brand new, we want you to join us. To find more information about the workshop and RSVP, please go to bit.ly/nopepipelineworkshop.

Please email sena.wazer@sierraclub.org with any questions and check out the coalition’s past work at nopenortheast.org.

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