Talk It Up! Make Your Support for the Community Green Fund Bill Heard

– contact David Bingham for more details

Could your town use some work on its:

• Energy conservation and efficiency?
• Storm sewers?
• Brownfield remediation and redevelopment?
• Air and water quality?
• Alternative Energy production?
• Historic preservation?
• Open space preservation?

If so, you should be interested in SB 834, An Act Concerning Municipal Open Space Priorities and Funding for the Purchase of Such Properties.  That’s a bill that would give cities and towns the authority, if they so choose, to enact a conveyance fee of 1% on real estate buyers.  The collected fees would be placed in the town’s dedicated fund for conservation purposes, such as OPEN SPACE AND FARMLAND PURCHASE.  The fees could also be used to fund projects FOR CONSERVATION OF AIR, WATER, ENERGY AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.

Funding for such local initiatives tends to get delayed indefinitely while the environment suffers. Funding such projects is essential for sustainable communities.  And it means green jobs.

Some well-financed interest groups, such as realtors and builders, that are expected to call their legislators and fight this bill, even though the evidence in other states is that "green communities" help sustain land and development values. 

To counteract opposition, it will be critical for constituents to let their legislators know about conservation projects in their districts that could use seed money from a Community Conservation Fund if enabled by SB 834.

SB 834 was raised for a hearing on 1/31/11 by the Environment Committee.  Now the committee needs to vote to move the bill forward.  The wording of the bill currently vague, but is expected to be tightened up before a vote in the Environment Committee.

Those interested in helping get local funding for such projects should let their legislative representatives and senator know with a brief email or call that they wish this bill to be passed. Members of the Environment Committee are listed below.  Their individual contact information is available here.

• Sen Meyer, Edward S-12
• Sen Maynard, Andrew S-18
• Sen Roraback, Andrew S-30
• Rep Roy, Richard 119
• Rep Davis, Paul 117
• Rep Chapin, Clark 067
• Rep Backer, Terry 121
• Rep Camillo, Fred 151
• Rep Greene, Leonard 105
• Rep Hennessey, John 127
• Rep Hurlburt, Bryan 053
• Rep Hwang, Tony 134
• Rep Luxenberg, Geoff 012
• Rep Megna, Robert 097
• Rep Miller, Lawrence 122
• Rep Miner, Craig 066
• Rep Moukawsher, Edward 040
• Rep Mushinski, Mary 085
• Rep Piscopo, John 076
• Rep Rose, Kim 118
• Rep Ryan, Kevin 139
• Rep Shaban, John 135
• Rep Urban, Diana 143
• Rep Willis, Roberta 064
• Rep Wood, Terri 141
• Rep Wright, Christopher 077
• Wright, Elissa 041

You may also submit comments to the Environment Committee care of jason.bowsza@cga.ct.gov.

For more information on the Community Green Fund bill, please contact CTLCV Co-Chair David Bingham at dbbingham@sbcglobal.net.