HARTFORD, Conn. — By joining the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge, Connecticut will collaborate with more than 50 organizations nationwide working toward a low-carbon future.
Gov. Ned Lamont announced the development in a press release on Tuesday. By joining the challenge, Connecticut will take steps to reduce portfolio-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% within 10 years and work with the U.S. Department of Energy to share successful solutions and decarbonization strategies, the release said.
As it works toward reaching its emissions goal, Connecticut will conduct a decarbonization study required by Lamont’s Executive Order No. 21-3 to “plan for the retrofit of existing heating and cooling equipment,” the release said.
Under the executive order, facilities can conduct business without carbon emitting fuels. Meanwhile, according to the release, the state is creating an electric vehicle fleet rollout to develop EV infrastructure on state properties for the transition of state fleet gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles. The state will also work to install solar on state properties.
In the release, Lamont said the state is well on its way to meeting the goals outlined by the Better Climate Challenge.
“Our efforts to decarbonize our state buildings and electrify our vehicle fleet are important steps toward a more sustainable future,” Lamont said in the release. “By joining the challenge, we are sending a strong signal that our administration will continue to do everything in our power to reduce our carbon footprint and save money for taxpayers.”
While Connecticut attempts to meet the challenge, the U.S. Department of Energy will offer support through technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning opportunities and a platform that will allow the state to demonstrate its commitment to being part of the solution to climate change, the release said.
“Better Climate Challenge partners like Connecticut are committing to decarbonize across their portfolio of buildings, plants and fleets and share effective strategies to transition our economy to clean energy,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in the release. “Their leadership and innovation are crucial in our collective fight against climate change while strengthening the U.S. economy.”
Katie Dykes, the commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said in the release that the partnership with the national Department of Energy is a primary example of the state “leading by example.”
“DEEP has worked with our GreenGov CT co-chairs to implement Gov. Lamont’s very first executive order, related to the sustainability of state facilities,” Dykes said in the release. “Every day, our interagency team of DEEP, DAS and OPM works to implement robust and cutting-edge projects like DEEP’s recently opened Western District Headquarters, the first net-zero state executive branch building. Reducing emissions from our building sector, which contributes 13% to the state’s total emissions, is critically important to achieving our greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals in our effort to mitigate the climate crisis.”
According to the release, in 2019, Lamont issued Executive Order No. 1 to strengthen Connecticut’s Lead By Example program by setting new goals for reducing the environmental footprint of state facilities.
The targets include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030, water consumption by 10% by 2030 and waste consumption by 25% by 2030 across all Executive Branch buildings, with higher education included.
The release said it also enables buildings operated by the Judicial Branch and the Legislative Branch to participate in the initiative.
Executive Order No. 21-3 was signed in 2021 to put in place interim targets to meet the 45% GHG emissions reduction goal.
One can click here for more information on the Better Climate Challenge.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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