Category: Environment

West River Peace Garden Gets Ready to Bloom!

by Paula Panzarella, West River Peace Garden

Spring is here! And the West River Peace Garden will soon be blossoming with a wide assortment of colorful native flowers, thanks to the work of the crew and Urban Resources Initiative, who, starting April 18, will be there every Friday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. We encourage all to come help beautify this wonderful entrance-way into New Haven, bounded by Legion Avenue, Ella Grasso Boulevard, and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard/North Frontage Road.

One of the Peace Gardens’ most significant plantings is a ginkgo tree from Hiroshima, Japan. The tree is from a cutting from a ginkgo that survived the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima.

Volunteers are always appreciated and needed to help weed, plant, mulch and water. Starting April 18, feel free to come by Fridays at 9:30 a.m. and join us for an hour or two. There is a large curb cut at the corner of Ella Grasso Boulevard and Legion Avenue where you can drive to the garden.

For more information, please contact Aaron Goode at aaron.goode@gmail.com, or phone 203-507-8985.

Please visit the website at https://westriverpeacegarden.org.

Attention, Gardeners: We Have Garden Seeds for You!

Hamden Miller Memorial Library

Volunteers at the Hamden Miller Memorial Library will staff the Seed Library two afternoons each week:

* Thursdays from 1-4:30 p.m. through June 5

* Saturdays from 2-4:30 p.m. through June 7

A basic assortment of current-season seeds will be on display whenever the Seed Library is staffed.

Also, a wide selection of past-season seeds is available for self-service whenever Miller Memorial Library is open. These include vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals (annuals and perennials).

Can’t visit while we are staffed? We are working on a short list of common veggie seeds (and a few flowers and herbs) to be available to request, and we will fill limited requests weekly for pickup at any Hamden Library branch. Look for details at the Seed Library.

We are located at 2901 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden.

Remington Woods Soon to Be ‘Nature For All’

by Jhoni Ada, Sierra Club CT Chapter

Remington Woods, a 422-acre urban forest in Bridgeport, Connecticut, stands as Fairfield County’s last lung—a vital sanctuary in a city shaped by industrialization and urban sprawl. Over the last 5 years, we’ve seen remarkable progress toward securing its protection, each milestone bringing us closer to a future where this irreplaceable green space is preserved for generations.

In 2024 we attended a fully booked bus tour of Remington Woods, offering residents, students, and advocates a firsthand experience of its towering trees, serene Success Lake, and thriving wildlife. The awe and enthusiasm from attendees underscored why protecting this forest has been an essential part of the Sierra Club CT’s goals.

Perhaps last year’s biggest moment came when the agricultural company Corteva unveiled their Nature for All plan, proposing public access to Remington Woods with trails, a nature center, and a sustainable energy farm to fund its long-term stewardship. Collaborating on this bold vision has been a privilege, and we are determined to help make it a reality.

Our partnership with High Horizon middle-schoolers was another highlight, showcasing how this forest inspires future conservationists. From wildlife clubs to documentary participation, these students reminded us that protecting Remington Woods isn’t just about today—it’s about creating a better tomorrow.

This year also brought important milestones:
Hosting Black Birders Week: Celebrating diversity in conservation with nature enthusiasts from across the state.

Advocacy Wins: Contributing to the National Old Growth Forest Campaign, amplifying the call for stronger protections.

Building Partnerships: Engaging with US Fish and Wildlife Service, Aspetuck Land Trust, Save the Sound, and local leaders like Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Clanmother Shoran Piper of the Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe.

As we look ahead, our priorities include supporting Corteva’s conservation plan, strengthening partnerships, and advocating for USFWS involvement to ensure permanent protection.

Thanks to all the support, we’re closer than ever to preserving Fairfield County’s last lung. Together, we’re shaping a legacy of urban conservation and hope for our community.

Ask Your State Legislators to Support Your Environmental Rights

by Kimberly Stoner, Director of Advocacy, CT NOFA

Every person should have the fundamental human right to a clean and healthy environment: clean air, water, and soil, healthy ecosystems, and a safe and stable climate. This right is essential to our survival but is not mentioned in the CT state constitution or the US Constitution. An alliance of individuals and organizations, including CT NOFA, C3M, Sierra Club CT, CT League of Conservation Voters, and the CT League of Women Voters, among many others, have been working together to pass a resolution in the state General Assembly that would put environmental rights on the ballot.

This year, the resolution is HJ7, and we already know that it will get a public hearing in the Government Administration and Elections Committee. Last year’s resolution passed the GAE committee, but never got a vote in the state House or Senate.

Here’s what you can do now, at the start of this year’s legislative session:

  1. Find your state legislators. If you don’t know your legislators, you can go to cga.ct.gov, click on “Representation” and “Find Your Legislator,” and put in your address. Your legislator’s email is: Firstname.Lastname@ct.gov
  2. Send an email asking your legislator to co-sponsor HJ7. Here’s a simple script:
    1. I’m a resident of [city/town] and your constituent.
    2. I support the CT Environmental Rights Amendment because …..
    3. Tell them very briefly why – just one sentence is enough. Possible talking points:

A personal experience showing why a clean and healthy environment is important to you.

It recognizes environmental rights as being on par with other fundamental human rights, such as the right to free speech.

It protects the environment for the benefit of all residents.

Annual Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy of Social and Environmental Justice

by Peabody Museum

Every January, we gather at the Peabody Museum, 170 Whitney Ave., to honor Dr. King’s legacy and uplift Black leadership in the social and environmental justice movements. Our special celebration evolves annually as we co-create programming with our community partners from across New Haven and Connecticut.

Co-founded and co-presented with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, each year’s celebration includes:

  • Two days of music and dance performances on the World Stage;
  • A youth art contest and youth-led summit co-presented with Students for Educational Justice;
  • A poetry open mic and professional poetry slam;
  • Storytelling at the New Haven Museum at 114 Whitney Ave.;
  • Special access to Peabody experts and collections;
  • Activities designed and presented by environmental and social justice organizations from across the state.

This important event draws visitors from all over the region. We can’t wait for you to join us!

We are currently planning our 29th celebration, to take place the weekend of Jan. 19–20, 2025. Please visit https://peabody.yale.edu/events/calendar for updates on this year’s event. Hope to see you there!

Want to Get Involved in Climate Action Before the Legislative Session?

by Julianna Larue, Chapter Organizer with Sierra Club CT

There’s no time to wait—let your legislators know that climate action matters to you before the session begins!

Do you want to learn more about climate change in Connecticut? There are opportunities to get involved with the Sierra Club in the next couple of months before the legislative session starts on Jan. 8, 2025. If you’re ready to take action on climate change, we hope you’ll join us for events happening across the state in the coming weeks.

These educational events will give you a broad overview of how Connecticut is being impacted by climate change, including flooding, sea level rise, wildfires, and rising temperatures. We’ll also spend time with local legislators discussing our priorities ahead of the legislative session. And they want to hear from you about what concerns you the most.

At these events, you’ll have the opportunity to take action by signing a petition that demands bold climate action in the 2025 legislative session! Go to connecticut.sierraclub.org to sign the petition and receive our updates.

I want to thank everyone who participated and joined us for the Wilton, Fairfield, New Haven and West Hartford events.

Go to connecticut.sierraclub.org for information on our virtual webinar from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 6, 2025.

These events are a perfect opportunity to make your voice heard, learn more about climate change, and find out how you can get more involved. We hope to see you at upcoming events.

Grants for Environmental Justice Projects

Environmental Justice for New England

Environmental Justice for New England will distribute $48 million of grant funds to be fully expended by the spring of 2027. The initiative will distribute grants among the federally-recognized and state-recognized Tribal Nations of EPA Region 1 and the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The funds will be distributed through three tiers and the Seed Fund to support capacity-constrained organizations. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with quarterly reviews, till all the funding is awarded.

Seed Funds are available for up to $75,000 for activities and capacity-building efforts to support severely capacity-constrained community-based organizations. Capacity-constrained community-based organizations are defined as those having an equivalent of four or less paid full-time staff members at the time of application, amongst other criteria. A full eligibility definition can be found in the request for proposal (RFP). First deadline: Feb. 14, 2025.

For details, please go to the website https://environmentaljusticenewengland.org.

New from Greater New Haven Green Fund

by Lynne Bonnett, GNH Green Fund

Our 2025 grant application is going live. Check out our grant opportunities for community projects to improve our quality of life through environmental and sustainability initiatives. We serve residents in New Haven, Hamden, Woodbridge and East Haven. Visit our website: www.gnhgreenfund.org for details, and / or contact us at info@gnhgreenfund.org with any questions. Applications will be due Jan. 31, 2025. You can expect to hear from us in the spring in time to work on your project over the summer or next year. Grant awards are for amounts up to $10,000.

We also offer smaller microgrants and sponsorships throughout the year for up to $1,000. We look forward to supporting your projects. Let us hear from you what you would like to do

Yale School of Public Health Seeking Focus Group Participants

by The Yale School of Public Health

The Yale School of Public Health wants to hear from you about interest in electric heating and cooking systems, and awareness of and concerns about indoor air pollution and health.

Do you live in New Haven? We are most interested in residents of the following neighborhoods: Annex, Dixwell, Dwight, Edgewood, Fair Haven, Fair Haven Heights, The Hill, Newhallville. West River, West Rock / West Hills. Participants will be asked to take an online survey and then answer questions about the survey. Participants will receive $30 in cash for participating in an in-person focus group (approximately 60 minutes).

If you would like to participate in a focus group, please contact us by text or phone at (203) 936-9518 or email at newhavenelectrification@gmail.com.

Webinar on Environmental Justice Dec. 3

The Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, Health Resources in Action, and Alternatives for Community & Environment, Inc. invite you and your organization to an informational webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at 4 p.m.

This session will explore the exciting opportunities available through the EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program. This initiative aims to strengthen environmental justice efforts by providing funding and support to local communities. During the webinar, you’ll learn about:

– The goals of the EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program.
– How this program supports projects that address environmental injustices in communities.
– Available technical assistance to support organizations in their efforts.

RSVP at info@ctclimateandjobs.org.

This is a valuable opportunity to gain insight into this transformative program and connect with organizations committed to environmental and community justice.

Keep the Pressure Up to Stop Fracked Gas Expansion in Connecticut

by Samantha Dynowski, Director of Sierra Club CT

During the last week of September Sierra Club of Connecticut organized two powerful events in opposition to the proposed expansion of fracked gas pipelines in the state. On Sept. 23, the researchers who completed a study on the health impacts of the fracked gas compressor station in Brookfield, CT, presented their findings at an event at the Brookfield Library. The corporations that own the compressor station want to double the size of the facility. One of the biggest concerns is that the town’s middle school is just 1900 feet away from the compressor station.

About 30 people attended the event including Marty Foncello, the State Representative for Brookfield, two of the town’s Selectmen, and the principal of the middle school. The researchers broke down the different emissions that come from the compressor station and how they impact people’s health. The event wrapped up with a discussion about how the community can fight the proposed expansion.

Then on Sept. 24, Sierra Club Connecticut organized a rally at the State House in Hartford calling on Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to reject all permits for the Enbridge company’s Project Maple pipeline expansion, and for the proposed compressor station expansion in Brookfield.

Over 50 people attended the midday rally. After hearing from some speakers, we marched to the Governor’s office and then to DEEP’s office and delivered a letter signed by over 30 elected and appointed officials in Connecticut calling on the Governor and DEEP to publicly oppose Project Maple and the Brookfield compressor station expansion.

TAKE ACTION! It’s urgent that we build on this momentum and keep the pressure up on Governor Lamont and DEEP. This is especially important for Brookfield – as DEEP is reviewing the final permit for the proposed compressor station expansion right now. Please take a few minutes to send a message to Governor Lamont and DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes using this action page: https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/National?actionId=AR0469700&id=701Po00000LgR69IAF.

You can also go a step further and call Lamont’s office (860-566-4840) and Katie Dykes’ office (860-424-3001) and urge them to oppose Project Maple and the Brookfield compressor station expansion. Every phone call and email matters!

Request A Tree! It’s Free!

by Urban Resources Initiative

Urban Resources Initiative (URI) will plant a free tree in front of New Haven residences, businesses, and public schools. Both renters and owners can request a free tree for a New Haven property. Go to https://uri.yale.edu/request-tree-solicite-un-arbol or call 203-432-6189!

The trees are funded by the City of New Haven, Inflation Reduction Act and USDA Forest Service. This organization is an equal-opportunity employer.

The resident’s commitment entails watering the tree (or trees) planted and informing URI of any problems with the new tree. Each tree needs 25 gallons of water per week during the growing seasons (from bud-break to leaf-drop) for the first three years.

Want to Volunteer to Make a Rain Garden?

by Save the Sound

Rain gardens divert water from manmade surfaces into gardens planted with native shrubs, grasses, flowers, layered soil, and sand, which together work to filter out harmful stormwater pollutants. This year, we are installing residential rain gardens throughout New Haven and Hamden in October and are looking for volunteers to assist us in this important work. For more details and to volunteer, go to www.savethesound.org/rain-garden-installations.

Confronting the Plastic Pollution Crisis 

by Faye Park, President, ConnPIRG

Support bans on the worst form of single-use plastic! One in three Americans now live in a state with a ban on at least one form of single-use plastic — including here in Connecticut.

Hold plastic producers accountable for the waste their products become by supporting producer responsibility legislation at the national and state levels. PIRG helped lead the charge to win groundbreaking producer responsibility laws for packaging in Colorado, California and Oregon — and Connecticut could be next.

One of the most impactful things we can do to protect our planet and our health is stem the tide of plastic pollution.

As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon produces a ton of plastic trash in the form of packaging. The company has said it’s committed to reducing its plastic waste – but the amount of plastic packaging it uses in America is actually growing, not shrinking.

New research shows that Amazon produced 208 million pounds of plastic packaging trash in the U.S. in 2022, a 10% increase over the prior year.

We need Amazon to get its plastic production under control and turn to more sustainable packaging alternatives. To keep our work going strong, we need everyone who believes in a zero-waste future to come together.

Northeast Electric Vehicle Symposium (NEEVS)

On Sunday, Sept. 15, noon to 4 p.m., and Monday, Sept. 16, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Hotel Marcel, 500 Sargent Drive, get charged up at NEEVS, the ultimate gathering for EV enthusiasts, policymakers, and those seeking trusted guidance on driving electric. Sunday is dedicated to educating and informing consumers as they meet and talk with a variety of EV owners showcasing their cars and as they participate in a ride and drive event to experience EVs on a 1.5-mile route. The NEEVS symposium is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of electric vehicles and network with industry experts. Discover the latest incentives, policies and advances in zero-emission vehicles and pathways to decarbonizing the built environment. Register at https://tinyurl.com/4uvn7hva.

HazWaste Central Is Open at 90 Sargent Drive

HazWaste Central is co-sponsored by the Regional Water Authority and the South Central Regional Council of Governments. Visiting HazWaste Central is convenient and easy because visitors never have to leave their cars, and all hazwaste is off-loaded by professionals. HazWaste Central helps residents in member towns protect local waterways and natural environments by providing a location for the appropriate and safe disposal of household hazardous waste. HazWaste Central is provided at no cost to residents whose towns are active members of the HazWaste Central Municipal Planning Committee only.

Register

Please pre-register for the collection event you would like to attend. Attendance to multiple collection events throughout the Hazwaste season will require registration for each visit.

Registration Form:

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/a69c2c00e2674223a7438dbff47679c2.

What to Bring

Check here for a list of all acceptable items:

https://www.rwater.com/media/ip0pr1de/acceptable-list-2023-03-a.pdf

Future Collections at 90 Sargent Dr.: June 1, 8, 15, 22; July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 3, 10, 17, 24. Hours: 9 a.m.-noon.

CT Green Energy News May 17, 2024

News and events for advocates of clean energy, energy efficiency and climate action at the state and local levels, focusing on Connecticut. Brought to you by People’s Action for Clean Energy (PACE), www.pacecleanenergy.org.

Some Connecticut Towns Are Banning Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers. Will More Join In?
New Haven Register. “Connecticut has seen a handful of communities taking action against the noisy and often environmentally-unfriendly equipment. In January, Greenwich adopted a new ordinance to ban the use of internal-combustion leaf blowers during the summer months…Norwalk will require landscapers to shelve gas-powered leaf blowers eight months of the year…The California Air Resources Board estimates that running a gas-powered leaf blower for an hour produces pollution equal to a car that is driven from Los Angeles to Denver, which at just over 1,000 miles is the rough equivalent of the distance from Hartford to Jacksonville, Fla.”

OP-ED | Environmental Justice
CT News Junkie. “Power plants, highways, and other pollution sources in Connecticut disproportionately impact the health of Black and brown communities and low-income communities in our state. Here in Hart-ford, polluting energy facilities and two highways are key drivers of air pollution that make people sick. … This truth makes it all the more important that the State of Connecticut seize an unmissable opportunity to rectify the historic harm caused by one of our city’s highest polluting sources, the Capitol Area System. … For the Hartford community, exposure to pollution from the Capitol Area System and other fossil fuel combustion, has been a long-term environmental injustice that must be healed. … Hartford residents deserve a 100% clean and renewable Capitol Area System and job opportunities in the green economy, and we’re counting on Governor Lamont to ensure that it happens.”

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