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Here’s a list of today’s topics:
- Extreme Hot Weather Protocol Activated. Click here.
- Federal Agricultural Disaster Declaration due to severe flooding. Click here.
- Connecticut will adopt clean air car and truck emissions standards to reduce air pollution. Click here.
- Cleaner vehicles are needed to address Connecticut’s air quality. Click here.
- Public hearings and comments on proposed regulations. Click here.
- Significant benefits for Connecticut. Click here.
- Governor Lamont commissions independent review of falsified reporting of traffic records by the state police. Click here.
- Personal financial management and financial literary will now be required to graduate from high school. Click here.
- Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity needs your input. Click here.
- Funding available for senior centers. Click here.
- Be Aware of Unemployment Fraud. Click here.
- Road milling project on Route 41 in Sharon. Click here.
- Road milling project on Route 112 in Salisbury. Click here.
- Kent Sidewalk Sale Days. Click here.
- Sharon Parks and Recreation Concerts. Click here.
Extreme Hot Weather Protocol Activated
Governor Lamont has activated Connecticut's extreme hot weather protocol beginning at 8:00am Wednesday, July 26, 2023 through 8:00am on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
The current forecast indicates that the heat index during this period will range at times between 95 to 105 degrees and have lingering impacts during the overnight hours, particularly in urban areas throughout Connecticut.
The purpose of this protocol is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the hot conditions. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies, municipalities, and other partners to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 to make sure that information regarding cooling centers is available statewide, providing a location to get some relief.
Governor Lamont is advising Connecticut residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable, to take precautions ahead of the high temperatures. Cooling centers are opening statewide. Anyone in need of a place to get out of the heat can locate their nearest cooling center by calling 2-1-1 or viewing the list online at 211ct.org.
Federal Agricultural Disaster Declaration due to severe flooding
Monday, the Governor announced that he has submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture seeking a federal agriculture disaster declaration for all eight counties in Connecticut due to the significant damage that occurred to farms and crops statewide from the recent heavy rainfall that caused significant flooding, particularly along the Connecticut River and other waterways.
The request comes after the Connecticut Department of Agriculture conducted an assessment of flood damage to farms, which found that 27 farms in the state are estimating losses totaling more than 1,500 acres and nearly $21 million in lost sales revenue. This flooding is in addition to two previous frost events in February and May that resulted in 1,077 acres impacted with estimated losses totaling $8.4 million.
I am still working with municipal leaders and the state to see if we will also qualify for FEMA dollars as well. I will share more updates on that as we progress in that process.
In the meantime, I also wanted to share this helpful information from Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, on how to report farm damage in our tristate region, and other potential forms of assistance:
If your farm has experienced flooding damage, we urge you to document and report it (see buttons below), if you haven't done so already. Reporting is the first step to help assess the damage and allocate resources.
State-specific relief and reporting information can be found here:
For farmers in Berkshire, Columbia, Dutchess, and Litchfield counties, if your farm needs additional relief during this time:
- Berkshire Agricultural Ventures can provide help through our Resilience Fund
- We can help with zero-interest or low-cost bridge loans while waiting for state and federal assistance to be funded.
To begin a conversation about financial assistance from BAV, please reach out by phone or through our inquiry form.
Additionally, BAV’s Climate Smart Agricultural Program offers tools, services, and guidance on how to bolster your farm’s resilience against the impacts of climate change.
Connecticut will adopt clean air car and truck emissions standards to reduce air pollution, protect public health and promote development
The State of Connecticut is proposing regulations to make cars and trucks up to 90% cleaner and to require vehicle manufacturers to deliver more zero-emission vehicles to Connecticut drivers while also increasing consumer protections. The public comment period remains open until August 23, 2023.
The light-duty vehicle standards being released implement legislation adopted in 2003, requiring the state to adopt and remain consistent with California’s standards for light duty vehicles (passenger cars). These standards will require 90% cleaner emissions from internal combustion engines and will require vehicle manufacturers to deliver 100% electric vehicles by 2035. They also introduce assurance measures that strengthen battery life and warranty requirements for consumers.
The medium and heavy-duty (MHD) vehicle standards authorized by the Connecticut Clean Air Act (Public Act 22-25), which became law last year, require increasing percentages of MHD electric vehicle (EV) sales until 2032 (depending on vehicle class) and will reduce emissions from internal combustion engine MHD vehicles by up to 90%. This legislation enables Connecticut to follow California’s program. Both light-duty and MHD standards provide manufacturers with significant flexibility in meeting the requirements, including credit and pooling banking provisions. In addition, Connecticut has and will continue to support and develop incentive programs to help Connecticut residents and businesses purchase new electric and advanced technology vehicles and will continue to work with manufacturers to determine how to best deploy those incentive programs.
Significantly reducing pollution from cars and trucks provides benefits to those living closest to transportation corridors, which include many distressed municipalities and other environmental justice communities.
With this action, Connecticut joins Rhode Island, Maryland, New Jersey, and New Mexico in announcing intention to adopt new standards. Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont finalized adoption of rules this year or late 2022.
Cleaner vehicles are needed to address Connecticut’s air quality
Connecticut suffers from some of the worst air quality in the country, especially along heavily traveled transportation corridors where air pollution is most densely concentrated. Mobile sources are the single largest contributor to statewide greenhouse gas emissions, contributing 40% of emissions, and 70% of emissions of nitrogen oxides, a precursor to ground level ozone (smog). Exposure to poor air quality exacerbates acute and chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other lung diseases. Increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles will decrease our largest source of in-state emissions and help Connecticut meet its air quality and climate change goals.
More and more, Connecticut residents are choosing to transition to EVs. As of July 1, 2023, EV registrations are up 20% since January 1, 2023, and up 42% since July 1, 2022, according to data from the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.
Public hearings and comments on proposed regulations
DEEP will hold public hearings, if requested, on the proposed regulations on August 22, 2023, and will accept comments on the proposed regulations until August 23, 2023. For specific notices for the regulations and the ability to comment please use the following links:
- Proposed section 22a-174-37, Low NOx and ACT Regulation (PR2023-020)
- Proposed section 22a-174-36d, Advanced Clean Cars II (PR2023-023)
Significant benefits for Connecticut
There are significant emissions, climate, and economic benefits expected due to the adoption of these regulations. The effect they will have on the state meeting statutory mandates in the Global Warming Solutions Act is clear. Light duty vehicle emissions are projected to be 9.81 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MMTCO₂e) a year in 2025. By 2030, the ACCII program will reduce this to about 6.86 MMTCO₂e/year – a 30% reduction. Additionally, owners can expect total cost of ownership (TCO) to be reduced due to lower fuel costs and maintenance which could amount to $7,900 in savings over the first ten years of ownership.
Similarly, the benefits from adoption of the MHD rules will have similar benefits as noted by DEEP’s report, An Assessment of Connecticut’s Need to Adopt California’s Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emission Standards, released in 2022. According to that report, emissions from trucks would be around 2.3 MMTCO₂e per year in 2045 without these regulations but will be reduced to 1.9 MMTCO₂ a year, an 18% reduction. Truck TCO would be expected to be about 18% lower under the regulations, and Connecticut could save $1.4 billion in avoided health costs.
Governor Lamont commissions independent review of falsified reporting of traffic records by the state police
Governor Lamont announced Monday, July 26 that, based on a recent audit that revealed a troubling number of erroneous records in the Connecticut State Police records management system and the State of Connecticut’s traffic stop racial profiling database, he is commissioning an independent review to determine how and why this misconduct occurred, why it went undetected for so many years, and what reforms should be implemented to ensure that such misconduct does not reoccur. The review will also determine whether changes to the IT platforms or training materials could prevent mistaken entries.
The Office of Governor Lamont has engaged former United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Deirdre M. Daly, an attorney at Finn Dixon and Herling LLP, to conduct the investigation. Ms. Daly and her team will interview troopers, constables, and others who may have relevant information. Anyone wishing to contact Ms. Daly may do so confidentially by filling out the form online at fdh.com/confidentialform or calling 800-711-6348. At the conclusion of the investigation, the results will be shared with the public.
Personal financial management and financial literary will now be required to graduate from high school
Legislation approved by the Connecticut General Assembly during the recently adjourned session that requires students to complete a half-credit course in personal financial management and financial literacy in order to graduate from Connecticut public high schools has now been signed into law. It also adds personal financial management and financial literacy to the state’s required program of instruction for public schools.
The requirement begins with the class of 2027, who start high school this fall. It can count as either a humanities credit or as an elective credit and will not add to students’ existing required credits.
The Connecticut State Board of Education will provide curriculum and resources to help local school boards develop the courses, which must include instruction on banking, investing, savings, the handling of personal finance matters, and the impact of using credit cards and debit cards.
Connecticut joins 21 other states that have enacted laws requiring students to take a personal finance course to graduate from high school.
The legislation is Public Act 23-21. It was approved in the Senate by a vote of 35 to 1 and in the House of Representatives by a vote of 138 to 12
Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity needs your input on housing in the region
The Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity is gathering residents’ perspectives on what matters to them. To do so, they’ve created a survey asking residents about their thoughts on housing in the region.
The more residents participate in the survey, the better! Please take a few minutes to complete the survey today!
Funding available for senior centers
Funding remains available for senior centers through the CT Department of Aging & Disability Services (ADS). Specifically, $10 million in American Rescue Plan funds is available to support senior centers in Connecticut, with $9 million of this funding available for municipalities to support their local senior centers in a variety of ways, including facility improvements and programming.
To apply, please visit the ADS Senior Center Funding Webpage Information, which provides information about these funds, and a link to one of the pre-recorded training sessions.
For further questions or assistance, contact the ADS Application Contact at stateunitonaging@ct.gov
Be Aware of Unemployment Fraud
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