Real Results For Connecticut's Environment
1. Reducing Global Warming Pollution
Power plants, the second-biggest source of global warming pollution in
Connecticut, will be cleaned up through a regional effort that
Environment Connecticut helped convince state officials to participate
in.
2. Cleaning Up The Sooty Six
In 2002, an Environment Connecticut-backed bill cutting power plant emissions was signed into law after a five-year campaign.
3. Cutting Pollution From Cars And Trucks
Environment Connecticut members, activists and advocates helped win a
major victory with the passage of the Clean Cars Bill in 2004. The new
law reduces toxic tailpipe emissions up to 33 percent and puts over
300,000 new hybrid and electric cars on Connecticut’s roads by 2012.
4. Banning Toxic Chemicals
After high levels of the toxic chemical MTBE were discovered in
Connecticut’s ground water, in 2003 Environment Connecticut staff and a
coalition of environmental groups defended a ban on the cancer-causing
gasoline additive.
5. Ocean Legacy Protected
In 2005, we held the line on coastal protection, maintaining the
moratorium on new oil and gas drilling off New England’s coasts, and
pushed Congress to address rising gas prices with cleaner cars and more
efficiency.
Despite the power and influence of the Bush administration and ExxonMobil, the support of Environment Connecticut’s members has helped prevent Congress from opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling every time it has been proposed.
7. Keeping Drinking Water Safe
Tough opposition from Environment Connecticut forced the Bush administration to back down on a proposal to increase arsenic limits in drinking water.
8. Reducing Mercury Pollution
Environment Connecticut and our coalition partners delivered a record number of public comments (more than 650,000) to the EPA, opposing the proposal to allow more mercury pollution from power plants.
9. Saving The Bottle Bill
In 2004, with the help of a strong coalition, Environment Connecticut fought to protect the Bottle Bill from industry lobbyists pushing for its repeal. The original bottle passed in 1979 after extensive advocacy and organizing by Environment Connecticut staff.
10. Fighting For Clean Air
In 2005, Environment Connecticut and our coalition partners won a key committee vote to stop the industry-backed “Clear Skies” Initiative, a cleverly-packaged attempt to weaken the Clean Air Act.
