News Releases - 2024

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• 7/9/2024 Newly Announced Agreement on Electricity Transmission Moves Northeastern States Toward Enhanced Grid Reliability

  (HARTFORD) - Connecticut today joined a total of 10 Northeast states in signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a framework for coordinating their activities to improve interregional transmission planning and development, which will enhance grid reliability and accelerate the clean energy transition. Last year, a group of Northeast states led a request to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to convene and support a multi-state initiative, the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission, in a first-in-the-nation effort to explore mutually beneficial opportunities to increase the flow of electricity between three different planning regions in the Northeast and assess offshore wind infrastructure needs and solutions. The MOU was signed by Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

• 2/26/2024 CT Environmental Conservation Police Make Arrest In Alleged Sexual Assault Case

  The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced this morning that Environmental Conservation Police (EnCon) officers have arrested an Old Saybrook man on charges of sexual assault following an investigation.

• 5/15/2024 DEEP Pilots Parking Reservations System at Squantz Pond State Park as Part of Implementation of New State Law

  (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce that it is piloting a new online reservation system to improve the visitor experience and park management on summer weekends and holidays at Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield.

• 8/21/2024 DEEP Reports Case of EEE in White-tailed Deer in Connecticut

  (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that a white-tailed deer that exhibited neurologic symptoms and died on August 12, 2024, in Lisbon, Connecticut, was infected with the eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus.

• 2/21/2024 DEEP Reminds Residents of Best Wood-Burning Practices

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding residents how to safely limit exposure to smoke when burning wood to heat homes. Residents should protect their health and that of their family, friends, and neighbors by employing “best burn” practices. Properly burning the correct type of wood limits exposure to wood smoke, which is a hazardous air pollutant.

• 11/8/2024 Red Flag Conditions Pose High Fire Risk Across Connecticut This Veterans Day Weekend

  (Hartford, CT) - As Connecticut heads into the Veterans Day weekend, residents are urged to exercise extreme caution due to Red Flag Warning conditions forecasted today and extending through the weekend. The state faces critical fire weather with strong winds and extremely dry conditions, increasing the risk for wildfires. Until Connecticut receives a soaking rain of at least 2-3 inches, it will not be sufficient to lower the fire risk, and the public is urged to maintain a cautious approach to any activities involving fire or equipment that could spark a blaze.

• 10/25/2024 DEEP Applauds State Bond Commission Approval of $10M to Support Sustainable Waste Reduction Efforts By Municipalities

  (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) applauds the State Bond Commission’s approval earlier this week of $10 million in funds to support sustainable waste reduction efforts by municipalities.

• 12/23/2024 DEEP and Connecticut Green Bank Announce Funding and Low-Interest Financing Available for Electric School Buses

  (HARTFORD)- The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Connecticut Green Bank (Green Bank) have announced the availability of a $46 million pool of state and federal funding to support the deployment of electric school buses (ESBs) and the associated charging infrastructure. Municipalities, school districts, and school bus transportation companies are eligible and encouraged to apply by January 7, 2025.

• 10/18/2024 DEEP Requests Proposals for Grants for Aquatic Invasive Species Control on Lakes Ponds and Rivers

  (HARTFORD, CT) –The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is now accepting proposals for the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Grant Program for 2025. Applications will be accepted through December 6, 2024. Please visit the DEEP AIS Grant Program website for details on how to apply for 2025 grants.

• 7/26/2024 MEDIA ADVISORY: DEEP to Hold Public Meeting on Draft Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap

  (HARTFORD)--The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will hold a public meeting on Monday, July 29, to present and discuss the main findings of its Draft 2024 Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap.

• 9/27/2024 Gov Lamont Announces Protection of 1364 Acres of Watershed Lands in Winchester

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, along with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Housatonic Valley Association, today announced the successful protection of 1,364 acres of watershed lands in the Town of Winchester.

• 9/17/2024 DEEP Launches Second Round of Electric Bike Voucher Program

  (HARTFORD) — Today, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced that the second round of the State’s successful electric bicycle (eBike) voucher program will open for applications at 12 p.m. today, on September 17. This program offers residents an alternative clean transportation option, with increased incentives for low-to-moderate income individuals and those who live in environmental justice (EJ) communities. DEEP held an event in Bushnell Park in Hartford yesterday with local and state officials, and eBike advocates and retailers to celebrate the launch of the second round of the program.

• 11/14/2024 DEEP Announces Firearms Deer Hunting Season Begins November 20

  (HARTFORD, CT)- Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today issued a reminder that a variety of hunting seasons are currently underway or about to begin, most notably the opening of the fall firearms deer season on Wednesday, November 20. Specific deer hunting season information is available on the DEEP 2024 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide web page.

• 10/2/2024 Connecticut Greenways Council Presents the 6th CT Trails Symposium

  (Hartford)--The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the legislatively appointed Connecticut Greenways Council, in partnership with Manchester Community College are hosting the sixth annual Connecticut Trails Symposium for local, state, and regional officials, property owners, managers, and volunteers on October 4, 2024.

• 11/8/2024 DEEP Announces First Opportunity for Service Providers to Participate in the $144M Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has launched the prequalification process for eligible entities to participate in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program that will provide $144M to the State of Connecticut for broadband infrastructure expansion projects in 2025. Participation in the Prequalification Phase is essential to ensure potential applicants meet compliance requirements ahead of the application phase of the program. Unless providers and other entities interested in bidding on projects prequalify, they are ineligible to proceed in the program.