2009 Legislative Session: What Happened to Energy and Water Protection?

When the Connecticut General Assembly ended its 2009 session at midnight on June 3rd, environmental leaders were dismayed by devastating losses in two areas-energy and water -but grateful for promises that the upcoming budget will have at least some funds for dairy farms, open space, and other environmental causes. There were also modest gains relating to toxins in consumer products, pesticides, recycling, land-use planning, and "smart growth" (policies designed to halt and roll back sprawling development).

Low Points: No Senate Vote on Solar; Water Quality Ignored
The General Assembly's failure to adopt comprehensive policies on energy marks one of the lowest points of the 2009 session. A major bill to develop a solar energy industry in Connecticut (HB6635) passed in the House by a vote of 145-0. The bill would have helped Connecticut businesses compete and thrive as the world begins the inevitable shift to an alternative energy economy. But the Senate did not bring the bill to a vote.

"The state desperately needs leadership and comprehensive reform of energy planning and administration," said Lori Brown, CTLCV Executive Director. "But inertia and the famously strained relations between the Senate Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee and the last two House Chairs have blocked progress."

Almost as disappointing, a bill to protect inland wetlands and water courses (SB569) died in the last hour of the House session after passing the Senate unanimously. A companion bill to save natural vegetation buffering the state's waters (HB5934) made it through three committees but died in the House without coming to a vote.

Attacks on Environmental Safeguards Foiled
At the start of the year, it seemed that the economic recession might be used successfully as a wedge to open the door to bills waiving, evading, and undermining basic environmental laws. Advocates had to defend the Clean Water Act against a bill exempting copper-laden wastewater washed off boat hulls from regulation; the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act from bills exempting an airport expansion and federally funded construction projects from normal environmental review; and from bills overriding the authority of the Department of Environmental Protection to regulate construction in a floodplain and new hydropower construction on state-owned dams.

"Environmentalists came together as a team to meet these challenges, and we were almost fully successful," said CTLCV Board Member Margaret Miner. "But this entire session highlighted the struggle to protect the state's remaining high-quality resources as good land and good water diminish."

Wins for the Environment: Recycling, Smart Growth, Complete Streets, Toxics Bans, Dairy Farms

Pro-environment bills passed in Connecticut's 2009 legislative session include measures to:

• Add water bottles in the recycling deposit program (PA 09-2)
• Ban Bisphenol-A from children's products sold in Connecticut (PA 09-103)
• Require environment-friendly cleaning products in schools (PA 09-81)
• Keep limits on the use of pesticides at day-care facilities and elementary schools (PA 09-20)
• Make streets and roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians (SB735)
• Expand the Community Investment Act to encompass dairy farms, open space and historic urban centers (SB 891)
• Advance smart growth principles (HB6467)

It's Not Over Until It's Over: The Budget
All of the laws and policies passed in the regular legislative session are entirely or partly dependent on how shrinking state funds are allocated in the state budget. Many of the bills passed reflect intentions for future action rather than firm commitments. Legislators are now poised to take on the all-important budget during a Special Session anticipated to begin later this month. Environmental advocates will be working to promote funding that helps the twin goals of a sustainable environment and a prosperous economy.

For more information on any of these bills or upcoming environmental budget priorities, please contact Lori Brown, Executive Director, at 860.236.5442 or lori.brown@ctlcv.org. For our complete 2009 watchlist, visit www.ctlcv.org/watchlist.