Today, the Environment Committee voted to pass the Transportation and Climate Initiative, sending it to the House and Senate for further consideration. State Senator Will Haskell (D-Westport) supported the bill, knowing that Connecticut has an opportunity to invest in clean energy and fight environmental pollution. The legislation would cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reducing pollution from the transportation sector by 26 percent between 2022 to 2032. The initiative would raise tens of millions of dollars annually for state reinvestment in clean transportation options and infrastructure improvements.
“Due to the pandemic, carbon emissions are now at a historic low in Connecticut. Let’s not go back to the old normal and instead build back greener,” said Sen. Haskell. “Let’s stop pumping diesel exhaust into the lungs of young people as they ride the bus to and from school. Let’s recognize that our constituents won’t feel comfortable buying Electric Vehicles until we’ve got charging stations across the state. Let’s stop accepting that urban communities near busy highways will suffer from higher asthma rates. We can and will do better.”
Governor’s Bill 884, “An Act Reducing Transportation-Related Carbon Emissions,” would implement a program to cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation through setting a cap on emissions that would decline over a period of ten years. Revenue would be invested in green infrastructure including public transit improvements, new charging stations, electric school buses and other critical projects. A significant portion of this revenue would be dedicated to assisting the communities most impacted by pollution.
The proceeds and investments from the program would be published each year online and the public would be allowed to review and comment each year. Under the legislation, the proceeds raised would be subject to the Transportation lockbox and therefor dedicated to the Special Transportation Fund.