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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6397 (as amended by House "A")*
AN ACT CONCERNING ZERO -CARBON EMISSIONS.
SUMMARY
This bill states that Connecticut declares a climate crisis to (1) show
the urgency for enacting meaningful climate legislation and (2) support
increased efforts to secure federal funds to respond to the crisis.
The bill requires the Department of Energy and Environmental
Protection (DEEP) commissioner, by January 1, 2025, and within
available appropriations, to produce a comprehensive Connecticut
Decarbonization Roadmap identifying the regulations, policies, and
programs needed to meet the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
reduction targets (see BACKGROUND). The commissioner must
convene stakeholder meetings when developing the roadmap.
Under the bill, after the decarbonization roadmap is completed, the
commissioner must submit it to the Environment Committee. The
roadmap is implemented if both chambers approve it. However, the bill
specifies that a decision not to approve it does not affect any state
agency’s ability to implement an action that is otherwise within its
authority.
*House Amendment “A” replaces the underlying bill, which
declared a climate emergency and imposed requirements on various
state agencies to address it, including one for DEEP to produce a
decarbonization roadmap.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
CLIMATE CRISIS DECLARATION
The bill states that Connecticut recognizes the need and urgency to
mitigate climate impacts and prepare for and manage disaster risk from 2023HB-06397-R01-BA.DOCX
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climate change. It states that the climate crisis threatens (1) the resilience
of communities in the state, regardless of zip code; (2) multiple aspects
of the state’s natural resources and infrastructure assets; (3) the state’s
economy; and (4) the quality of life for the state’s younger generations.
The bill states that it is thusly urgent to (1) significantly and rapidly
decrease GHG emissions and (2) increase community coping capacities
to handle climate change impacts. It also specifies that this declaration
does not authorize the governor to operate the state through executive
order.
DECARBONIZATION ROAD MAP
Content
Under the bill, the decarbonization roadmap must at least identify
the following:
1. interim and sector-specific targets to help in the planning
process, which the DEEP commissioner must (a) review at least
every five years and (b) update as needed to meet the GHG
emissions reduction targets;
2. available federal funds to help local businesses, schools, and
municipalities reduce carbon emissions;
3. estimated carbon emissions reductions of proposed policies,
including the proportion of necessary reductions that each
recommended policy achieves;
4. a timeline for implementing the recommended actions;
5. each entity responsible for implementing the policy; and
6. the estimated net value of the benefits of implementing the
proposed policies, including the energy cost savings and
economic benefits.
The bill requires the roadmap to (1) ensure the state meets the Global
Warming Solutions Act’s relevant timelines and deadlines and (2)
include tangible actions to meet the GHG emissions reduction targets 2023HB-06397-R01-BA.DOCX
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(see BACKGROUND). It allows the roadmap to include any information
and recommendations from existing planning materials relevant to
achieving the reduction targets such as the following: the Governor’s
Council on Climate Change reports and the state’s Comprehensive
Energy Strategy, GHG Emissions Inventory Report, and Integrated
Resources Plan.
Stakeholder Meetings
The bill requires the DEEP commissioner to convene stakeholder
meetings involving potentially impacted parties when developing the
decarbonization roadmap. The meetings must at least include
representatives from the following entities:
1. utilities and municipal utilities;
2. residential, commercial, and industrial heating and cooling
companies, as well as industrial and manufacturing and natural
gas distribution and service companies;
3. air transportation providers, bus transportation services and
companies, transportation and home-heating fuels services, and
trucking and rail service companies;
4. solid waste and recycling providers;
5. realtors and commercial and residential builders;
6. waste-to-energy and nuclear generating facilities;
7. statewide business organizations;
8. municipalities;
9. schools and places of higher education;
10. environmental groups and natural and working lands
organizations; and
11. Connecticut residents. 2023HB-06397-R01-BA.DOCX
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BACKGROUND
GHG Emissions Reduction Targets
By law, the Global Warming Solutions Act requires the state to reduce
GHG emissions from all sources to a level at least (1) 10% below 1990
emission levels by January 1, 2020; (2) 45% below 2001 emission levels
by January 1, 2030; and (3) 80% below 2001 emission levels by January
1, 2050. It also requires the state to reduce GHG emissions from
electricity supplied to electric customers in the state to 0% by January 1,
2040. Every three years, the DEEP commissioner must report to the
Environment, Energy and Technology, and Transportation committees
on the quantifiable reductions achieved to meet the GHG emission
reduction targets (CGS § 22a-200a).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Environment Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 26 Nay 7 (03/10/2023)
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 12 Nay 6 (04/19/2023)