Connecticut 2024 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05004 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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5	5		General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5004
6	6		February Session, 2024
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12	12		AN ACT CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN
13	13		CLIMATE CHANGE MEASURES.
14	14		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
15	15		Assembly convened:
16	16
17	17		Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The state hereby declares a 1
18	18		climate crisis to demonstrate the urgency for enacting meaningful 2
19	19		climate legislation and to support increased efforts to secure federal 3
20	20		funds to respond to such crisis. Such crisis threatens the resilience of 4
21	21		communities in the state, regardless of zip code, multiple aspects of the 5
22	22		state's natural resources and infrastructure assets, the state's economy 6
23	23		and the quality of life for younger generations of state residents. 7
24	24		Accordingly, the state recognizes the urgency to significantly and 8
25	25		rapidly decrease greenhouse gas emissions and increase community 9
26	26		coping capacities to handle the impacts of climate change. The state 10
27	27		recognizes the need and urgency to mitigate climate impacts and 11
28	28		prepare for and manage disaster risk from climate change. Such 12
29	29		declaration shall not authorize the Governor to utilize the provisions of 13
30	30		this section to operate the government of the state through executive 14
31	31		order. 15
32		-	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) ~~Not later than January 1,~~ ~~2025,~~ 16
33		-	the ~~Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall initiate~~ a ~~docket~~ 17
34		-	~~regarding the future of natural gas use in the state in relation to the~~ 18
35		-	~~provisions of section 22a-200a~~ ~~of the general statutes.~~ ~~Upon completion~~ 19 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	32	+	Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Each state agency shall have 16
	33	+	the following greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals: (1) A forty-five 17
	34	+	per cent reduction from 2001 levels by 2030; (2) a seventy per cent 18
	35	+	reduction from 2016 levels by 2040; and (3) achieving a level determined 19 Substitute Bill No. 5004
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40		-	of such docket, said authority shall submit a report, in accordance with 20
41		-	the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint 21
42		-	standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 22
43		-	matters relating to the environment and energy on any 23
44		-	recommendations for legislative changes necessary to implement the 24
45		-	findings of such docket. 25
46		-	Sec. 3. Subdivision (3) of subsection (c) of section 32-7t of the 2024 26
47		-	supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 27
48		-	substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 28
49		-	(3) The commissioner, upon consideration of an application and any 29
50		-	additional information, may approve an application in whole or in part 30
51		-	or may approve an application with amendments, provided the 31
52		-	commissioner shall give preference to applications that: (A) Make 32
53		-	significant investments in environmentally sustainable practices, 33
54		-	including, but not limited to, zero-carbon energy and energy efficiency, 34
55		-	(B) are in sectors of the economy such as renewable energy, energy 35
56		-	efficiency and zero-emission vehicles, or (C) are for farming operations 36
57		-	that are sustainable from a climate perspective. If the commissioner 37
58		-	disapproves an application, the commissioner shall identify the defects 38
59		-	in such application and explain the specific reasons for the disapproval. 39
60		-	The commissioner shall render a decision on an application not later 40
61		-	than ninety days after the date of its receipt by the commissioner. 41
62		-	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Revenue 42
63		-	Services, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Economic and 43
64		-	Community Development, shall identify business fees that are 44
65		-	appropriate for waiver for certified B corporations and farms that are 45
66		-	environmentally sustainable. Not later than January 1, 2025, the 46
67		-	Commissioner of Revenue Services shall submit a list of such fees to the 47
68		-	joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 48
69		-	matters relating to the environment. 49
70		-	Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than January 1, 2025, 50
71		-	and annually thereafter, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated shall 51 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	40	+	to be net-zero by 2050. For purposes of this subsection, "net-zero" has 20
	41	+	the same meaning as provided in section 22a-200 of the general statutes, 21
	42	+	as amended by this act. 22
	43	+	(b) Each state agency shall have the goal of only utilizing zero-carbon 23
	44	+	generating electricity by 2030. 24
	45	+	Sec. 3. Section 22a-200 of the general statutes is repealed and the 25
	46	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 26
	47	+	As used in sections 22a-200 to 22a-200b, inclusive, as amended by this 27
	48	+	act, 22a-200d and 4a-67h: 28
	49	+	(1) "Direct emissions" means emissions from sources that are owned 29
	50	+	or operated, in whole or in part, by an entity or facility, including, but 30
	51	+	not limited to, emissions from factory stacks, manufacturing processes 31
	52	+	and vents, and company owned or leased motor vehicles; 32
	53	+	(2) "Entity" means a person, as defined in section 22a-2, that owns or 33
	54	+	operates, in whole or in part, a source of greenhouse gas emissions from 34
	55	+	a generator of electricity or a commercial or industrial site, which source 35
	56	+	may include, but not be limited to, a transportation fleet; 36
	57	+	(3) "Facility" means a building, structure or installation located on any 37
	58	+	one or more contiguous or adjacent properties of an entity; 38
	59	+	(4) "Greenhouse gas" means any chemical or physical substance that 39
	60	+	is emitted into the air and that the Commissioner of Energy and 40
	61	+	Environmental Protection may reasonably anticipate will cause or 41
	62	+	contribute to climate change, including, but not limited to, carbon 42
	63	+	dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons 43
	64	+	and sulfur hexafluoride; 44
	65	+	(5) "Indirect emissions" means emissions associated with the 45
	66	+	consumption of purchased electricity, steam and heating or cooling by 46
	67	+	an entity or facility; 47
	68	+	(6) "Carbon sequestration" means the removal of greenhouse gases 48 Substitute Bill No. 5004
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76		-	submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 52
77		-	general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General 53
78		-	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and 54
79		-	energy on investments and assistance provided to companies engaged 55
80		-	in matters related to the mitigation of climate change. 56
81		-	Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2024) Not later than January 1, 2025, 57
82		-	the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in 58
83		-	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 59
84		-	shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General 60
85		-	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment on 61
86		-	recommendations for amendments to section 16a-48 of the general 62
87		-	statutes to provide for the sale and installation in the state of heating, 63
88		-	ventilation and air conditioning systems, hot water heating systems and 64
89		-	geothermal systems that do not emit greenhouse gases. Such 65
90		-	recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, suggested 66
91		-	implementation dates for any such requirement and proposed 67
92		-	consumer education efforts to inform the public about such systems. 68
93		-	Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2024) The Commissioner of Energy 69
94		-	and Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Connecticut 70
95		-	Green Bank, shall develop a plan for the installation, within available 71
96		-	resources, of not less than three hundred ten thousand heat pumps for 72
97		-	residential heating systems in the state, including, but not limited to, 73
98		-	through any program established pursuant to section 8-240a, 16a-40b, 74
99		-	16a-40l or 16a-46m of the general statutes. Not later than January 1, 2026, 75
100		-	the commissioner shall submit a report, in accordance with the 76
101		-	provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing 77
102		-	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 78
103		-	relating to the environment and energy on the status of such plan in 79
104		-	reaching such goal and any attendant recommendations for expanding 80
105		-	or revising such plan. 81
106		-	Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than October 1, 2024, 82
107		-	the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in consultation 83
108		-	with the Department of Administrative Services, shall develop a model 84 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	73	+	from the atmosphere through nature-based solutions such as soils, 49
	74	+	forests, wetlands or working or natural lands and through technological 50
	75	+	solutions that have the primary purpose of removing greenhouse gases 51
	76	+	from the atmosphere; 52
	77	+	(7) "Net-zero" means a level of greenhouse gas reduction marked by 53
	78	+	the complete offset of any greenhouse gases emitted by any greenhouse 54
	79	+	gas emission reduction and carbon sequestration. 55
	80	+	Sec. 4. Section 22a-200a of the general statutes is repealed and the 56
	81	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 57
	82	+	(a) The state shall reduce the level of emissions of greenhouse gas: 58
	83	+	(1) Not later than January 1, 2020, to a level at least ten per cent below 59
	84	+	the level emitted in 1990; 60
	85	+	(2) Not later than January 1, 2030, to a level at least forty-five per cent 61
	86	+	below the level emitted in 2001; 62
	87	+	(3) Not later than January 1, 2040, to a level at least sixty-five per cent 63
	88	+	below the level emitted in 2001, including to a level of zero per cent from 64
	89	+	electricity supplied to electric customers in the state; 65
	90	+	(4) Not later than January 1, 2050, to [a] an economy-wide net-zero 66
	91	+	level, taking into account carbon sequestration, provided direct and 67
	92	+	indirect emissions of greenhouse gases are at least eighty per cent below 68
	93	+	the level emitted in 2001; and 69
	94	+	(5) All of the levels referenced in this subsection shall be determined 70
	95	+	by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. 71
	96	+	(b) On or before January 1, 2010, and biannually thereafter, the state 72
	97	+	agencies that are members of the Governor's Steering Committee on 73
	98	+	Climate Change shall submit a report to the Secretary of the Office of 74
	99	+	Policy and Management and the Commissioner of Energy and 75
	100	+	Environmental Protection. The report shall identify existing and 76
	101	+	proposed activities and improvements to the facilities of such agencies 77 Substitute Bill No. 5004
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113		-	policy for environmentally sustainable purchasing that municipalities 85
114		-	may voluntarily utilize and implement. 86
115		-	Sec. 9. Subsection (e) of section 7-536 of the 2024 supplement to the 87
116		-	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 88
117		-	thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 89
118		-	(e) (1) Each municipality may apply to the secretary for project 90
119		-	authorization and expense reimbursement of local capital improvement 91
120		-	projects. 92
121		-	(2) Notwithstanding the deadlines imposed by this section, each 93
122		-	municipality that has expended funds in the fiscal year ending June 30, 94
123		-	2013, on projects listed in subparagraphs (T) to (X), inclusive, of 95
124		-	subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section may apply to the 96
125		-	secretary for reimbursement of such expenses. 97
126		-	(3) (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (2) of 98
127		-	subsection (f) of this section, the secretary, at the secretary's discretion, 99
128		-	may authorize expense reimbursement for a project listed in 100
129		-	subparagraphs (T) to (Y), inclusive, of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) 101
130		-	of this section prior to such project's inclusion on the local capital 102
131		-	improvement plan adopted by a municipality. The secretary may 103
132		-	require certification from the municipality that such municipality is 104
133		-	taking steps to amend its local capital improvement plan to include such 105
134		-	project. 106
135		-	(B) (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, 107
136		-	for the period commencing July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2025, the 108
137		-	secretary shall additionally authorize expense reimbursement for any 109
138		-	project listed in subparagraph (Y) of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of 110
139		-	this section from funds appropriated to the Office of Policy and 111
140		-	Management for such projects. 112
141		-	(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, 113
142		-	for the period commencing July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025, the 114
143		-	secretary shall additionally authorize expense reimbursement for any 115 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	106	+	that are designed to meet state agency energy savings goals established 78
	107	+	by the Governor. The report shall also identify policies and regulations 79
	108	+	that could be adopted in the near future by such agencies to reduce 80
	109	+	greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with subsection (a) of this 81
	110	+	section. 82
	111	+	(c) (1) Not later than January 1, 2012, and every three years thereafter, 83
	112	+	the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall, in 84
	113	+	consultation with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 85
	114	+	and the Governor's Steering Committee on Climate Change, report, in 86
	115	+	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing 87
	116	+	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 88
	117	+	relating to the environment, energy and transportation on the 89
	118	+	quantifiable emissions reductions achieved pursuant to subsection (a) 90
	119	+	of this section. The report shall include a schedule of proposed 91
	120	+	regulations, policies and strategies, including, but not limited to, carbon 92
	121	+	sequestration, designed to achieve the limits of greenhouse gas 93
	122	+	emissions imposed by said subsection, an assessment of the latest 94
	123	+	scientific information and relevant data regarding global climate change 95
	124	+	and the status of greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts in other 96
	125	+	states and countries. 97
	126	+	(2) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 98
	127	+	enter into an agreement with a consultant for the preparation of a report 99
	128	+	to be submitted not later than January 1, 2026, to the joint standing 100
	129	+	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 101
	130	+	relating to the environment and energy. Such report shall: (A) Contain 102
	131	+	strategies for achieving the greenhouse gas emissions reductions 103
	132	+	required in subsection (a) of this section, (B) indicate whether a strategy 104
	133	+	to achieve such limits should include sector specific emission reduction 105
	134	+	targets and, if so, in what manner and order of priority such sector 106
	135	+	specific targets should be implemented, and (C) evaluate the adequacy 107
	136	+	of the standards contained in section 16-245a. No recommendation 108
	137	+	contained in such report shall be implemented without the approval of 109
	138	+	each chamber of the General Assembly. 110 Substitute Bill No. 5004
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148		-	municipality that implements the Office of Policy and Management's 116
149		-	model policy for environmentally sustainable purchasing from funds 117
150		-	appropriated to the Office of Policy and Management for such purpose. 118
	143	+	(d) At least one year prior to the effective date of any federally 111
	144	+	mandated greenhouse cap and trade program including greenhouse gas 112
	145	+	emissions subject to any state cap and trade requirements adopted 113
	146	+	pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of Energy and 114
	147	+	Environmental Protection and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 115
	148	+	Management shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 116
	149	+	11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 117
	150	+	cognizance of matters relating to the environment, energy and 118
	151	+	technology and transportation. Such report shall explain the differences 119
	152	+	between such federal and state requirements and shall identify any 120
	153	+	further regulatory or legislative actions needed to achieve consistency 121
	154	+	with such federal program. 122
	155	+	Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 22a-200b of the general statutes is 123
	156	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 124
	157	+	passage): 125
	158	+	(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall, 126
	159	+	with the advice and assistance of a nonprofit association organized to 127
	160	+	provide scientific, technical, analytical and policy support to the air 128
	161	+	quality and climate programs of northeastern states: (1) Not later than 129
	162	+	December 1, 2009, publish an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions to 130
	163	+	establish a baseline for such emissions for the state and publish a 131
	164	+	summary of greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies on the 132
	165	+	Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Internet web 133
	166	+	site, (2) not later than July 1, 2010, publish results of various modeling 134
	167	+	scenarios concerning greenhouse gas emissions, including, but not 135
	168	+	limited to, an evaluation of the potential economic and environmental 136
	169	+	benefits and opportunities for economic growth based on such 137
	170	+	scenarios, (3) not later than July 1, 2011, analyze greenhouse gas 138
	171	+	emission reduction strategies and, after an opportunity for public 139
	172	+	comment, make recommendations on which such strategies will achieve 140
	173	+	the greenhouse gas emission levels specified in section 22a-200a, as 141
	174	+	amended by this act, and (4) not later than July 1, 2012, and every three 142
	175	+	years thereafter, develop, with an opportunity for public comment, a 143
	176	+	schedule of recommended regulatory actions by relevant agencies, 144 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	177	+
	178	+
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	180	+
	181	+	policies and other actions necessary to [show] make reasonable further 145
	182	+	progress towards achieving the greenhouse gas emission levels 146
	183	+	specified in section 22a-200a, as amended by this act, to attain the levels 147
	184	+	specified in said section by the relevant date provided. Such regulatory 148
	185	+	actions may include carbon sequestration. 149
	186	+	Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than January 1, 2025, 150
	187	+	the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall initiate a docket 151
	188	+	regarding the future of natural gas use in the state in relation to the 152
	189	+	provisions of section 22a-200a of the general statutes, as amended by 153
	190	+	this act. Upon completion of such docket, said authority shall submit a 154
	191	+	report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 155
	192	+	statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 156
	193	+	having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and energy on 157
	194	+	any recommendations for legislative changes necessary to implement 158
	195	+	the findings of such docket. 159
	196	+	Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding any provision 160
	197	+	of title 22a of the general statutes, whenever the Commissioner of 161
	198	+	Energy and Environmental Protection considers an application to grant 162
	199	+	or modify a permit for fossil-fueled electricity-generating units, the 163
	200	+	commissioner shall require an evaluation of the replacement of some or 164
	201	+	all of the fossil-fueled electricity-generating capacity with energy or 165
	202	+	energy storage that does not have emissions associated with it. Such 166
	203	+	evaluation shall be prepared by an independent contractor at such 167
	204	+	applicant's expense and shall include: (1) The technical feasibility of 168
	205	+	replacing or supplementing some or all of the fossil-fueled electricity-169
	206	+	generating capacity with renewable energy or energy storage of a type 170
	207	+	that is in commercial use; and (2) the total project cost of replacing or 171
	208	+	supplementing some or all of the fossil-fueled electricity-generating 172
	209	+	capacity with renewable energy and energy storage that is technically 173
	210	+	feasible. Whenever the commissioner determines that replacement of 174
	211	+	some or all of such fossil-fueled generators is technically and 175
	212	+	economically feasible, the commissioner may require the applicant to 176
	213	+	include such energy or energy storage that does not have emissions 177
	214	+	associated with it, as a condition of granting or modifying any permit 178 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	215	+
	216	+
	217	+	LCO 7 of 15
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	219	+	pursuant to section 22a-174 or 22a-183 of the general statutes. 179
	220	+	Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than October 1, 2025, 180
	221	+	the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall publish 181
	222	+	on its Internet web site consolidated information on the cost and sources 182
	223	+	of electricity in the state and electric vehicle power source, service and 183
	224	+	supply equipment information. Such consolidated information shall 184
	225	+	additionally include, but not be limited to, information concerning Class 185
	226	+	I renewable energy deployments in the state, other distributed energy 186
	227	+	resources in the state, energy storage deployment in the state, the state's 187
	228	+	electricity and natural gas consumption, heating fuel consumption for 188
	229	+	the state by type of fuel, information on energy efficiency program 189
	230	+	participation, federal weatherization program participation information 190
	231	+	and information on efficiency barrier remediation program 191
	232	+	participation. 192
	233	+	Sec. 9. Subdivision (3) of subsection (c) of section 32-7t of the 2024 193
	234	+	supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 194
	235	+	substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 195
	236	+	(3) The commissioner, upon consideration of an application and any 196
	237	+	additional information, may approve an application in whole or in part 197
	238	+	or may approve an application with amendments, provided the 198
	239	+	commissioner shall give preference to applications that: (A) Make 199
	240	+	significant investments in environmentally sustainable practices, 200
	241	+	including, but not limited to, zero-carbon energy and energy efficiency, 201
	242	+	(B) are in sectors of the economy such as renewable energy, energy 202
	243	+	efficiency and zero-emission vehicles, or (C) are for farming operations 203
	244	+	that are sustainable from a climate perspective. If the commissioner 204
	245	+	disapproves an application, the commissioner shall identify the defects 205
	246	+	in such application and explain the specific reasons for the disapproval. 206
	247	+	The commissioner shall render a decision on an application not later 207
	248	+	than ninety days after the date of its receipt by the commissioner. 208
	249	+	Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Revenue 209
	250	+	Services, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Economic and 210 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	251	+
	252	+
	253	+	LCO 8 of 15
	254	+
	255	+	Community Development, shall identify business fees that are 211
	256	+	appropriate for waiver for certified B corporations and farms that are 212
	257	+	environmentally sustainable. Not later than January 1, 2025, the 213
	258	+	Commissioner of Revenue Services shall submit a list of such fees to the 214
	259	+	joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 215
	260	+	matters relating to the environment. 216
	261	+	Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a 217
	262	+	Connecticut Clean Economy Council that shall advise on strategies and 218
	263	+	policies to strengthen the state's climate mitigation, clean energy, 219
	264	+	resilience and sustainability programs for the purpose of lowering 220
	265	+	emissions and advancing the state of economic and environmental 221
	266	+	justice for residents of the state. 222
	267	+	(b) Such council shall meet not less than quarterly, at dates, times and 223
	268	+	locations to be established by the cochairpersons of such council. The 224
	269	+	council shall: (1) Identify opportunities to leverage state and federal 225
	270	+	funding to scale economic opportunities associated with clean energy, 226
	271	+	climate and sustainability investments and maximize local economic 227
	272	+	development benefits from investments needed to meet the climate and 228
	273	+	sustainability goals of the state, (2) ensure the state's workforce is 229
	274	+	trained to deliver climate and sustainability solutions and support 230
	275	+	equitable and diverse participation in climate and sustainability 231
	276	+	economic development opportunities from both diverse employers and 232
	277	+	diverse job seekers, (3) work with the Office of Workforce Strategy to 233
	278	+	increase workforce training in the clean energy sector with a goal of 234
	279	+	creating opportunities for populations that are underrepresented in the 235
	280	+	workforce such as residents of environmental justice communities, as 236
	281	+	defined in section 22a-20a of the general statutes, women, minorities 237
	282	+	and formerly incarcerated persons, (4) develop a plan for transitioning 238
	283	+	workers from fossil-fuel-based employment to clean economy jobs. 239
	284	+	Such plan shall be submitted, not later than February 1, 2026, to the joint 240
	285	+	standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 241
	286	+	matters relating to the environment, energy and commerce, in 242
	287	+	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 243
	288	+	and (5) be consulted by the Governor and the Commissioner of 244 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	289	+
	290	+
	291	+	LCO 9 of 15
	292	+
	293	+	Economic and Community Development on any state-wide economic 245
	294	+	action plan. The council may form working groups to address workforce 246
	295	+	development in specific sectors within the fields of clean energy and 247
	296	+	sustainability. 248
	297	+	(c) Such council shall be composed of the following members: (1) The 249
	298	+	Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the 250
	299	+	commissioner's designee, who shall also serve as cochairperson of the 251
	300	+	council, (2) the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, 252
	301	+	or the commissioner's designee, who shall also serve as cochairperson 253
	302	+	of the council, (3) the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, 254
	303	+	or the secretary's designee, (4) the Commissioner of Transportation, or 255
	304	+	the commissioner's designee, (5) the Commissioner of the Office of 256
	305	+	Workforce Strategy, or the commissioner's designee, (6) a representative 257
	306	+	from the office of the Governor, (7) the chief executive officer of the 258
	307	+	Connecticut Green Bank, or the chief executive officer's designee, (8) the 259
	308	+	chief executive officer of Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, or the 260
	309	+	chief executive officer's designee, and (9) any other member so 261
	310	+	designated by the cochairpersons. Any member appointed pursuant to 262
	311	+	subdivision (9) of this subsection shall serve at the pleasure of the 263
	312	+	cochairpersons of the council. 264
	313	+	(d) A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a 265
	314	+	quorum. 266
	315	+	(e) Not later than February 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the 267
	316	+	council shall report on its work, findings and recommendations to the 268
	317	+	Governor, the Office of Policy and Management and the joint standing 269
	318	+	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 270
	319	+	relating to the environment, energy and commerce, in accordance with 271
	320	+	the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 272
	321	+	Sec. 12. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than January 1, 2025, 273
	322	+	and annually thereafter, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated shall 274
	323	+	submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 275
	324	+	general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General 276 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	325	+
	326	+
	327	+	LCO 10 of 15
	328	+
	329	+	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and 277
	330	+	energy on investments and assistance provided to companies engaged 278
	331	+	in matters related to the mitigation of climate change. 279
	332	+	Sec. 13. (Effective July 1, 2024) The Public Utilities Regulatory 280
	333	+	Authority shall expand the energy storage program established by the 281
	334	+	authority in Docket No. 17-12-03RE03. The authority shall: (1) Increase 282
	335	+	the cumulative storage deployment target for such program to one 283
	336	+	thousand megawatts; and (2) increase the size of incentives under the 284
	337	+	program if it concludes that such increase is reasonable, prudent and 285
	338	+	provides value to ratepayers. 286
	339	+	Sec. 14. Section 10-285a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 287
	340	+	is amended by adding subsection (l) as follows (Effective July 1, 2024): 288
	341	+	(NEW) (l) The percentage determined pursuant to this section for a 289
	342	+	school building project grant, including, but not limited to, any 290
	343	+	renovation, for the installation of a renewable energy or energy 291
	344	+	efficiency project, shall be increased by ten percentage points. 292
	345	+	Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2024) Not later than January 1, 293
	346	+	2025, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in 294
	347	+	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 295
	348	+	shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General 296
	349	+	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment on 297
	350	+	recommendations for amendments to section 16a-48 of the general 298
	351	+	statutes to provide for the sale and installation in the state of heating, 299
	352	+	ventilation and air conditioning systems, hot water heating systems and 300
	353	+	geothermal systems that do not emit greenhouse gases. Such 301
	354	+	recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, suggested 302
	355	+	implementation dates for any such requirement and proposed 303
	356	+	consumer education efforts to inform the public about such systems. 304
	357	+	Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2024) The Commissioner of Energy 305
	358	+	and Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Connecticut 306
	359	+	Green Bank, shall develop a plan for the installation, within available 307
	360	+	resources, of not less than three hundred ten thousand heat pumps for 308 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	361	+
	362	+
	363	+	LCO 11 of 15
	364	+
	365	+	residential heating systems in the state, including, but not limited to, 309
	366	+	through any program established pursuant to section 8-240a, 16a-40b, 310
	367	+	16a-40l or 16a-46m of the general statutes. Not later than January 1, 2026, 311
	368	+	the commissioner shall submit a report, in accordance with the 312
	369	+	provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing 313
	370	+	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 314
	371	+	relating to the environment and energy on the status of such plan in 315
	372	+	reaching such goal and any attendant recommendations for expanding 316
	373	+	or revising such plan. 317
	374	+	Sec. 17. Subsection (g) of section 8-23 of the general statutes is 318
	375	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 319
	376	+	passage): 320
	377	+	(g) (1) Any municipal plan of conservation and development 321
	378	+	scheduled for adoption on or after July 1, 2015, shall identify the general 322
	379	+	location and extent of any [(1)] (A) areas served by existing sewerage 323
	380	+	systems, [(2)] (B) areas where sewerage systems are planned, and [(3)] 324
	381	+	(C) areas where sewers are to be avoided. In identifying such areas, the 325
	382	+	commission shall consider the provisions of this section and the priority 326
	383	+	funding area provisions of chapter 297a. 327
	384	+	(2) Any municipal plan of conservation and development scheduled 328
	385	+	for adoption on or after January 1, 2025, shall evaluate environmental 329
	386	+	sustainability and climate resiliency for such municipality. 330
	387	+	Sec. 18. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than October 1, 2024, 331
	388	+	the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in consultation 332
	389	+	with the Department of Administrative Services, shall develop a model 333
	390	+	policy for environmentally sustainable purchasing that municipalities 334
	391	+	may voluntarily utilize and implement. 335
	392	+	Sec. 19. Subsection (e) of section 7-536 of the 2024 supplement to the 336
	393	+	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 337
	394	+	thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 338
	395	+	(e) (1) Each municipality may apply to the secretary for project 339 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	396	+
	397	+
	398	+	LCO 12 of 15
	399	+
	400	+	authorization and expense reimbursement of local capital improvement 340
	401	+	projects. 341
	402	+	(2) Notwithstanding the deadlines imposed by this section, each 342
	403	+	municipality that has expended funds in the fiscal year ending June 30, 343
	404	+	2013, on projects listed in subparagraphs (T) to (X), inclusive, of 344
	405	+	subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section may apply to the 345
	406	+	secretary for reimbursement of such expenses. 346
	407	+	(3) (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (2) of 347
	408	+	subsection (f) of this section, the secretary, at the secretary's discretion, 348
	409	+	may authorize expense reimbursement for a project listed in 349
	410	+	subparagraphs (T) to (Y), inclusive, of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) 350
	411	+	of this section prior to such project's inclusion on the local capital 351
	412	+	improvement plan adopted by a municipality. The secretary may 352
	413	+	require certification from the municipality that such municipality is 353
	414	+	taking steps to amend its local capital improvement plan to include such 354
	415	+	project. 355
	416	+	(B) (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, 356
	417	+	for the period commencing July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2025, the 357
	418	+	secretary shall additionally authorize expense reimbursement for any 358
	419	+	project listed in subparagraph (Y) of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of 359
	420	+	this section from funds appropriated to the Office of Policy and 360
	421	+	Management for such projects. 361
	422	+	(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, 362
	423	+	for the period commencing July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025, the 363
	424	+	secretary shall additionally authorize expense reimbursement for any 364
	425	+	municipality that implements the Office of Policy and Management's 365
	426	+	model policy for environmentally sustainable purchasing from funds 366
	427	+	appropriated to the Office of Policy and Management for such purpose. 367
	428	+	Sec. 20. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding any provision 368
	429	+	of title 4b of the general statutes, any new or existing state building shall 369
	430	+	either be constructed utilizing electrical systems that are not reliant 370
	431	+	upon fossil fuels or greenhouse gas emissions for operation or, upon 371 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	432	+
	433	+
	434	+	LCO 13 of 15
	435	+
	436	+	major renovation, retrofitted to utilize such electrical systems provided 372
	437	+	funding is available for such purpose. 373
	438	+	Sec. 21. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of 374
	439	+	Energy and Environmental Protection shall prepare a report that 375
	440	+	outlines a proposed plan and program for advancing nature-based 376
	441	+	solutions in the state that support climate mitigation and adaptation. 377
	442	+	Such report shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of the 378
	443	+	associated funding needs for such plan, an identification of potential 379
	444	+	federal, state, or other funding sources and a proposed timeline for 380
	445	+	implementation of such plan, provided such plan shall be implemented 381
	446	+	not later than July 1, 2026. Not later than December 31, 2025, the 382
	447	+	commissioner, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 383
	448	+	general statutes, shall submit such report to the joint standing 384
	449	+	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 385
	450	+	relating to the environment. 386
	451	+	(b) The nature-based solutions program described in subsection (a) 387
	452	+	of this section shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) 388
	453	+	Increasing carbon sequestration through increased forest extent, 389
	454	+	including reforestation, (2) controlling invasive species, (3) growing 390
	455	+	forests to greater maturity, (4) protecting carbon stocks through the 391
	456	+	avoided conversion of forests and wetlands to other purposes, (5) 392
	457	+	restoring coastal habitats, and (6) increasing climate-smart agriculture 393
	458	+	and soil conservation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while 394
	459	+	improving habitat and protecting biodiversity. 395
	460	+	(c) The nature-based solutions program described in subsection (a) of 396
	461	+	this section may include, but shall not be limited to, the following: (1) 397
	462	+	Acquisition of land and conservation easements to provide upslope 398
	463	+	advancement zones adjacent to tidal marshes, (2) a comprehensive 399
	464	+	modeling assessment of the extent of inland migration of tidal marshes 400
	465	+	needed to inform adaptation decisions, (3) the acquisition of land and 401
	466	+	conservation easements in riparian areas adjacent to cold water streams, 402
	467	+	(4) the adoption or amendment of regulations, in accordance with 403
	468	+	chapter 54 of the general statutes, that provide stream flow levels 404 Substitute Bill No. 5004
	469	+
	470	+
	471	+	LCO 14 of 15
	472	+
	473	+	necessary to ensure the resilience and ecological integrity of cold water 405
	474	+	streams, (5) increasing active management of upland forests to improve 406
	475	+	regeneration, diversity and resilience, (6) collaborating with other 407
	476	+	northeast states and federal agencies to develop a coordinated regional 408
	477	+	adaptation approach for the conservation of habitats and species at risk, 409
	478	+	and (7) advancing connectivity among habitats. 410
151	479		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
152	480		sections:
153	481
154	482		Section 1 from passage New section
155	483		Sec. 2 from passage New section
156		-	Sec. 3 ~~July 1,~~ ~~2024 32-7t(c)(3)~~
157		-	Sec. 4 from passage ~~New section~~
158		-	Sec. 5 from passage ~~New section~~
159		-	Sec. 6 ~~October 1, 2024~~ New section
160		-	Sec. 7 ~~October 1, 2024~~ New section
	484	+	Sec. 3 from passage 22a-200
	485	+	Sec. 4 from passage 22a-200a
	486	+	Sec. 5 from passage 22a-200b(a)
	487	+	Sec. 6 from passage New section
	488	+	Sec. 7 from passage New section
161	489		Sec. 8 from passage New section
162		-	Sec. 9 July 1, 2024 7-536(e)
	490	+	Sec. 9 July 1, 2024 32-7t(c)(3)
	491	+	Sec. 10 from passage New section
	492	+	Sec. 11 from passage New section
	493	+	Sec. 12 from passage New section
	494	+	Sec. 13 July 1, 2024 New section
	495	+	Sec. 14 July 1, 2024 10-285a(l)
	496	+	Sec. 15 October 1, 2024 New section
	497	+	Sec. 16 October 1, 2024 New section
	498	+	Sec. 17 from passage 8-23(g)
	499	+	Sec. 18 from passage New section
	500	+	Sec. 19 July 1, 2024 7-536(e)
	501	+	Sec. 20 from passage New section
	502	+	Sec. 21 from passage New section
163	503
164		-	APP Joint Favorable Subst.
	504	+	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
	505	+	In Section 6, ", as amended by this act" was added after "section 22a-200a
	506	+	of the general statutes" for consistency with standard drafting
	507	+	conventions; in Section 8, the first sentence was rewritten for clarity; in
	508	+	Section 11(e), Section 15 and Section 21(a), "the provisions of" was added
	509	+	before "section 11-4a" for consistency with standard drafting
	510	+	conventions; and in Section 20, "any provision of" was added before
	511	+	"title 4b" for consistency with standard drafting conventions. Substitute Bill No. 5004
	512	+
	513	+
	514	+	LCO 15 of 15
	515	+
	516	+
	517	+	ENV Joint Favorable Subst.
165	518