Connecticut
Governor
Ned Lamont (Democrat)
House Party
Democratic Supermajority
Senate Party
Democratic Supermajority
41
26
Northeast
Progress by Policy Area
- Enacted Enacted policies have been passed or established in a state by a governing body via legislation, executive orders, rules, regulations, and/or other program creation, and remain in effect.
- In-progress In progress policies have been established in a state, but final regulations, rules, or plans are pending final approval. This also includes legislation and executive orders that require regulations to be put into effect.
- Partially Enacted Partially enacted policies have been enacted in the state, but are missing one or more policy components. Dashboard policies cannot be considered partially enacted unless policy components are available.
- Not Enacted Not enacted policies have not been passed or established in the state or are no longer in effect.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Connecticut
Climate Policies in Connecticut
Status | Policy | Policy Area | Policy Category | Year Enacted | |
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Enacted |
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45% by 2030 | 65% by 2040 | net-zero, with at least 80% reduction, by 2050 Relative to 2001 levels Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2025 | |
Enacted |
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Taking Action on Climate Change and Building a More Resilient Connecticut for All Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2021 | |
Enacted |
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The 1990-2021 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory was published in April 2024. 2025 law now requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to publish an annual GHG emissions inventory. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2025 | |
Enacted |
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Office of Climate Planning within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | ||
Enacted |
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Governor's Council on Climate Change A newly established Connecticut Clean Economy Council will advise on strategies and policies to strengthen the state’s climate mitigation, clean energy, resilience, and sustainability programs, particularly for vulnerable communities. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2025 | |
Enacted |
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"Environmental justice communities" are census block groups where at least 30% of the population is living below 200% of the federal poverty level, or municipalities that are the most fiscally and economically distressed, based on tax base, personal income, and residents' need for public services. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2012 | |
Enacted |
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Connecticut EJ Screening Tool Connecticut EJ Communities Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2023 | |
Enacted |
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DEEP – Environmental Justice Program Staff Establishing Policies
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Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | ||
Enacted |
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Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council Equity and Environmental Justice Working Group Establishing Policies
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Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | ||
Enacted |
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Allows the state to deny or impose specific conditions on permits for new construction and operation of proposed industrial facilities based on a determination that cumulative environmental or public health stressors on EJ communities near the proposed facility are higher than other communities in the state. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2023 | |
In-Progress |
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The Connecticut Clean Economy Council must develop a plan to facilitate the transition of workers from fossil-fuel-based employment to clean economy jobs by July 1, 2026. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | 2025 | |
Enacted |
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Connecticut Clean Economy Council Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Just Transition | 2025 | |
Enacted |
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Connecticut Green Bank Establishing Policies
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Cross-Sector
|
Climate Finance | 2011 | |
Enacted |
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The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) covers the electricity sector. Establishing Policies
|
Cross-Sector
|
Carbon Valuation | 2005 | |
Enacted |
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State agencies are authorized to use the social cost of greenhouse gases to evaluate costs and benefits when making policy decisions. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection must publish guidelines for such state agencies on the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions by January 1, 2026. Establishing Policies
|
Cross-Sector
|
Carbon Valuation | 2025 | |
Enacted |
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37% renewable energy by 2030 Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2025 | |
Enacted |
Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2022 | ||
Enacted |
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2021 Integrated Resources Plan: Pathways to Achieve 100% Zero-carbon Electric Sector by 2040 2018 Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) Establishing Policies
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Electricity
|
Energy Plans and Targets | 2020 | |
Enacted |
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Facilities larger than 1 MW fall under the jurisdiction of the Connecticut Siting Council. Municipal zoning commissions or inland wetland agencies may issue orders that regulate the proposed location of an electric generation facility. These orders may, however, be revoked by the Connecticut Siting Council. The Council is directed to “give such consideration to ... municipal regulations as it shall deem appropriate” and is authorized to affirm or revoke municipal orders concerning siting. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Permitting and Grid Integration | 1971 | |
Enacted |
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Connecticut received a C grade from Freeing the Grid. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Permitting and Grid Integration | 2023 | |
Enacted |
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In Siting Council proceedings for certain transmission projects, electric distribution companies (EDCs) and transmission owners must include project alternatives that use (1) an advanced conductor (unless the primary proposed project incorporates one) and (2) grid-enhancing technology (GETs) or nontransmission alternative technology. In any base rate or capital improvement proceedngs before the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), EDCs must report on the timelines and cost-effectiveness of deploying ATTs and GETs. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Permitting and Grid Integration | 2025 | |
Enacted |
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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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
5/5
|
Electricity
|
Incentivizing Clean Energy Resources | ||
Enacted |
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300 megawatts (MW) of energy storage by 2024, 650 MW by 2027, and 1,000 MW by December 31, 2030 Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Incentivizing Clean Energy Resources | 2021 | |
Enacted |
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In 2016, PSEG entered a Community Environmental Benefit Agreement with the City of Bridgeport and community groups, that committed the utility to retiring the state's last existing coal-fired power plant by July 1, 2021. On May 31, 2021, the last coal plant in Connecticut was retired. Establishing Policies
|
Electricity
|
Coal Retirement | 2021 | |
Enacted |
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The statewide energy code for residential construction is 2021 IECC with amendments. Establishing Policies
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Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Codes | 2022 | |
Enacted |
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The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is 2021 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2019. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Codes | 2022 | |
Enacted |
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The Small Product and Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards apply to 21 products. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Standards | 2011 | |
Enacted |
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Electric utilities are required to achieve annual energy savings of 233 gigawatt hours (GWh) for 2025-2027. Gas utilities are required to achieve annual energy savings of 1,349 million cubic feet (MMcf) for 2025-2027. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Efficiency | 2024 | |
Enacted |
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Connecticut has enacted commercial PACE-enabling legislation and has an active program. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Efficiency | 2012 | |
In-Progress |
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The DEEP Commissioner is required to establish a thermal energy network grant and loan program to support the development of thermal energy network projects on the customer’s side of an electric meter. Establishing Policies
|
Buildings and Efficiency
|
Building Electrification | 2025 | |
Enacted |
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Connecticut LEV Program Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | 2018 | |
Enacted |
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Model Year (MY) 2025: 22% of new passenger vehicle sales are ZEVs. Establishing Policies
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Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | 2018 | |
Enacted |
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The Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) Program offers rebates for new and used electric vehicles (EVs): up to $4,250 for new battery EVs, $2,250 for plug-in hybrid EVs, and $9,500 for fuel cell EVs. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Light-Duty Vehicles | 2020 | |
Enacted |
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50% of state-purchased cars and light-duty trucks are EVs by 2026 | 75% are EVs by 2028 | 100% are EVs by 2030 Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Lead by Example | 2022 | |
Enacted |
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30% of new school buses purchased by the state are zero-emission and 100% of school buses in EJ communities are zero-emission by 2030 | 100% of school buses are zero-emission by 2040 Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Lead by Example | 2022 | |
Enacted |
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Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure rebates offer rebates to make the purchase and/or installation costs of EV charging infrastructure more affordable. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
EV Charging Infrastructure | 2021 | |
Enacted |
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Electric Vehicle Roadmap for Connecticut Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Transportation Plans and Targets | 2020 | |
In-Progress |
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The state must establish transportation emissions reduction targets by 2030 and develop a plan to meet the targets, which includes recommendations for legislation needed to implement such targets. Establishing Policies
|
Transportation
|
Transportation Plans and Targets | 2023 | |
Enacted |
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Food waste ban – The state requires commercial waste generators to recycle organic materials at authorized composting facilities, provided they generate at least 26 tons of food waste per year and are within 20 miles of a permitted recycling facility. Establishing Policies
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Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
|
Waste Management | 2021 | |
Enacted |
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The Commissioner of Agriculture is authorized to pay or reimburse nonprofits, soil and water conservation districts, the University of Connecticut Extension Services, or any municipality to distribute grant funding to producers who are implementing climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices, which include soil health measures Establishing Policies
|
Natural and Working Lands
|
Agriculture | 2022 | |
Enacted |
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The Commissioner of Agriculture is authorized to pay or reimburse nonprofits, soil and water conservation districts, the University of Connecticut Extension Services, or any municipality to provide technical assistance to farmers who are implementing climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices, which include soil health measures Establishing Policies
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Natural and Working Lands
|
Agriculture | 2022 |