These recommendations, which represent a pathway to better decisions and healthier communities in Connecticut, have been delivered to the legislature. Photo by Shutterstock
January 10, 2025 (New Haven, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has released its final report on reforming how the state decides where to build energy and telecommunications infrastructure. This report is a crucial first step toward creating equitable and sustainable infrastructure policies, and state leaders should take swift and decisive action to implement the included stakeholder recommendations.
“This report lays out a hopeful vision for smart, inclusive decision-making that can lead to healthier and more resilient communities, but it’s just the beginning,” said Rachel Briggs, Conservation Law Foundation Staff Attorney. “Now it’s up to legislators to seize this moment, build on these findings, and make real changes that prioritize equity, public health, and the environment our families rely on. Communities across Connecticut are counting on them to deliver.”
The report includes feedback from community members and non-profits that emphasize the importance of considering the impacts of multiple infrastructure projects, improving transparency, and guaranteeing meaningful public participation in the siting decisions shaping the towns and cities we call home. The report was developed in response to a state law that called for a closer look at how Connecticut decides where to locate energy and telecommunications projects. Throughout the process stakeholders like CLF emphasized the need to consider how multiple projects affect a community, make the decision-making process clearer and easier to follow, and ensure that residents – especially in overburdened neighborhoods – have a meaningful say in the process.
These recommendations, which represent a pathway to better decisions and healthier communities in Connecticut, have been delivered to the legislature. The Connecticut legislative session began on January 8.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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