LCO \\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06397-R03-
HB.docx
1 of 3
General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6397
January Session, 2023
AN ACT CONCERNING ZERO -CARBON EMISSIONS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The state of Connecticut 1
hereby declares a climate emergency to increase access to federal funds 2
and demonstrate the urgency for enacting meaningful climate 3
legislation. Such emergency threatens the resilience and, in some cases, 4
the existence of communities in this state, including multiple aspects of 5
the state's environment, economy and the quality of life for younger 6
generations of state residents. Accordingly, the state declares climate 7
change as a public health and environmental justice emergency and 8
recognizes the urgency to significantly and rapidly increase community 9
coping capacities to handle the impacts of climate extremes and climate 10
refugees. The state recognizes the need and urgency to mitigate climate 11
impacts and prepare for and manage disaster risk from climate 12
extremes. Such declaration shall not authorize the Governor to utilize 13
the provisions of this subsection to operate the government of the state 14
through executive order. 15
(b) The state, acting through the Governor and other state-wide 16
elected officials, shall increase federal funding requests for climate-17
related actions related to such climate emergency. The state shall seek 18
federal funds to achieve state-wide affordable zero-carbon electricity 19 Substitute Bill No. 6397
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06397-
R03-HB.docx }
2 of 3
generation, including solar, wind, geothermal and battery storage 20
installation, community climate resilience and environmental justice 21
opportunities and training for clean energy sector jobs and fossil fuel-22
to-clean-energy business transitions. 23
(c) The declaration of a climate emergency by the state pursuant to 24
subsection (a) of this section shall serve to invoke the National 25
Emergencies Act for the declaration of a national climate emergency by 26
the President of the United States. 27
(d) Not later than July 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Energy and 28
Environmental Protection shall, within available appropriations, 29
produce a comprehensive Connecticut Decarbonization Roadmap to 30
achieve emissions reduction targets specified in section 22a-200a of the 31
general statutes. 32
(e) The Department of Economic and Community Development shall 33
collaborate with economic development agencies in municipalities in 34
the state to secure funding for local businesses to access renewable 35
energy supplies and consume decreased levels of fossil fuels. 36
(f) The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 37
engage in efforts to gain federal funds to develop programs for local 38
communities throughout the state, including, but not limited to, 39
underserved communities, that mitigate the impacts from climate 40
change, fossil fuel use, waste disposal incineration, landfills and other 41
municipal functions that historically impact underserved communities 42
in a disproportionate manner. 43
(g) The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the 44
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall develop strategies for energy 45
infrastructure development that are focused on renewable energy 46
systems, including, but not limited to, battery storage and working with 47
northeastern states and regional independent system operators to 48
implement such strategies. 49
(h) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 50 Substitute Bill No. 6397
LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06397-
R03-HB.docx }
3 of 3
establish the Citizens Oversight Working Group to: (1) Provide the 51
public with oversight of the state's adherence to the Global Warming 52
Solutions Act, (2) ensure relevant timelines and deadlines of such act are 53
met by the state and assist in developing tangible actions to meet the 54
requirement of a forty-five per cent reduction in greenhouse gas 55
emissions below 2001 levels by 2030, and eighty per cent below 2001 56
levels by 2050, (3) meet the goals of the Connecticut Integrated 57
Resources Plan of 2021 to commit to a fully zero-carbon electric sector 58
by 2040, and (4) ensure the state complies with all executive orders 59
concerning climate change. 60
(i) The Departments of Energy and Environmental Protection and 61
Administrative Services shall assist residents of the state and 62
municipalities to obtain federal funding to install renewable energy, 63
zero-carbon emissions clean all-electric energy systems in all newly 64
constructed commercial and residential buildings. Such efforts shall 65
include, but need not be limited to, behind-the-meter grid-adapted solar 66
and wind systems and battery storage systems. Such departments shall 67
work with energy supply companies to develop equitable cost-favorable 68
clean energy solutions for retail end users. 69
(j) The Department of Economic and Community Development and 70
the Office of Workforce Strategy shall work with all industries in the 71
state impacted by the transition away from the use of fossil fuels and 72
develop job retraining plans for such industries not later than October 73
1, 2023. 74
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage New section
ENV Joint Favorable Subst.
GAE Joint Favorable