Connecticut
Connecticut is making progress on climate action and has also prioritized adaptation and resilience measures in the state.
Legislative Profile
Governor: Ned Lamont (D)
House: Democratic majority
Senate: Democratic majority
U.S. Climate Alliance Member
Key Resources
Connecticut State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
Connecticut Climate Change Portal – Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Emissions Reduction Targets
By 2030:
45%
By 2050:
80%
All targets relative to 2001 levels
2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)
- Commercial
- Electric
- Residential
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)
Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.
Climate Governance & Equity
Climate Governance
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
45% by 2030 | 80% by 2050 Relative to 2001 levels
Mandate Source
2030: Mandatory – Public Act No. 18-82 (2018)
2050: Mandatory – Public Act No. 08-98 (2008)
Climate Action Plan
Climate Bureaucracy
Interagency Commissions/Task Forces
Non-Governmental Advisory Bodies
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
1990-2021 GHG Emissions Inventory (April 2023)
Mandate Source
Public Act No. 08-98 (2008) / Public Act No. 18-82 (2018)
Green Bank
Lead by Example
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 1 point**
Public Fleet ZEV Requirements
SB 4 (2022) – For state-purchased and leased cars and light-duty trucks: 50% are EVs by 2026 | 75% are EVs by 2028 | 100% are EVs by 2030
For school buses: 30% of new buses purchased or leased by the state are zero-emission and 100% of buses in environmental justice communities are zero-emission by 2030 | 100% of school buses state-wide are zero-emission buses by 2040
Equity
Environmental Justice Community Designation
Mandate Source
CT Gen Stat § 22a-20a (2012)
Definition
“Environmental justice communities” are defined as either census block groups where 30% or more of the population has an income below 200% of the federal poverty level, or municipalities that are the most fiscally and economically distressed.
Include race? No | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? No
State EJ Mapping Tools
EJ Community Benefit Requirement
EJ Bureaucracy
EJ Advisory Bodies
Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council (CEEJAC)
Equity and Environmental Justice Working Group
EJ Government Staff
**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.
Adaptation & Resilience
Electricity
Renewables and Energy Storage
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Net Metering
SPOT Components – 7 out of 11*
Energy Storage Standard
SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*
Shared Renewables
SPOT Components – 4 out of 6*
Grid and Utility Reform
Clean Energy Plan
Grid Modernization Plan
The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.
50-state Ranking – 26th
Interconnection Standards
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Utility Green Power Option
SPOT Components – 1 out of 6*
New Utility Business Model Proceeding
SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Buildings & Efficiency
Building Energy Codes
Residential Codes
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2021 IECC
Commercial Codes
SPOT Components – 3 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2015 IECC
Stretch or Reach Codes
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Efficiency Programs and Incentives
Weatherization Programs
SPOT Components – 3 out of 4*
Energy Auditing Programs
Retrocommissioning Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
SPOT Components – 6 out of 10*
Energy Savings Performance Contracting
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Standards and Market Mechanisms
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Building Performance Standard (BPS)
Appliance Performance Standard (APS)
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings Data Disclosure
Transportation
Vehicle Standards and Incentives
Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
EV Targets and Sales Requirements
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards
SB 4 (2022) – Authorizes DEEP to adopt California’s medium- and heavy-duty vehicle standards
EV Sales Requirements
Electric Vehicle Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Charging Infrastructure Incentives
SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
State Planning and Investment
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Decarbonization Plan
EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans
EV Transit Bus Deployment
The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.
ACEEE Score – 6 out of 6 points
Bicycle Friendly State
The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.
50-state Ranking – 20th
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Agriculture
Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Governance
Mandate Source
HB6496 (2021)
Task Force Portal or Action Plan
Tasks the state Council on Soil and Water Conservation with advising the commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) on soil health matters and implementation of related programs.
Financial Incentives
Technical Assistance and Education Programs
Food Waste Bans and Targets
Food Waste Ban – Required for commercial waste generators that generate at least 26 tons of food waste per year and are within 20 miles of a permitted recycling facility
Mandate Source
Public Act 21-16 (2021)