News Releases - 2024

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• 4/9/2024 DEEP and Audubon Society Urge Residents to Take Down Birdfeeders as Bear Activity Increases

  (HARTFORD) — As black bear activity in early spring increases following winter denning season, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds residents to do their part to protect both their communities and bears by not reinforcing behaviors that result in human-bear conflicts. Simple steps will reduce the likelihood of encounters, conflicts, and potential harm to people and bears.

• 10/29/2024 DEEP Launches Expanded Home Electric Efficiency and Affordability Procurement Draft Request for Proposals

  (HARTFORD, CT) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today the launch of an Expanded Home Electric Efficiency and Affordability draft request for proposals (RFP) to deliver expanded electricity bill savings to residential customers of Eversource and United Illuminating. This RFP process will build on Connecticut’s existing, highly successful utility-run energy efficiency programs, which deliver hundreds of dollars in energy bill savings each year to thousands of participating households. DEEP is soliciting competitive proposals from companies, including electric utilities and other private entities, for cost-saving household electric energy efficiency measures. Among the types of responses DEEP is soliciting are performance contracting approaches that reduce the upfront costs of installing energy efficiency and lower monthly energy bills, while also providing additional opportunities for Connecticut’s energy efficiency workforce.

• 7/16/2024 DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone for July 16 - 17

  (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s (˚F) beginning today, with high temperatures persisting into Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the entire State through Wednesday. These hot temperatures will contribute to elevated ozone levels for western Connecticut on Tuesday and continuing along the coast on Wednesday. These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for these parts of Connecticut.

• 7/12/2024 Seaside State Park Planning Process Continues to Move Forward

  (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) seeks public input to help inform the design of the Passive Park concept as it continues to make progress in its planning process for Seaside State Park in Waterford.

• 5/8/2024 DEEP Announces the No Child Left Inside® Families in the Parks Program 2024

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced that registration for its 2024 No Child Left Inside® (NCLI) Families in the Parks Program is now open at: Connecticut No Child Left Inside

• 10/21/2024 DEEP Seeks Comment on Draft Proposal for DEEP Community Resource Hubs

  (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today released a draft Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and a notice of an opportunity for public comment on its proposal to partner, through multi-year contracts, with qualified organizations to serve as Community Resource Hubs in Environmental Justice (EJ) communities across the state, whether urban or rural. The draft RFQ outlines a new initiative aimed at enhancing DEEP’s outreach, facilitating community engagement in program design, and improving access to beneficial environmental and energy programs and services. This initiative is part of DEEP’s ongoing effort to ensure equitable access to environmental and energy programs, grants, and services, particularly in communities historically overburdened by environmental challenges.

• 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.

• 12/20/2024 Connecticut Announces Clean Energy Selections

  (HARTFORD, CT) - Today, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced that it has selected new clean energy projects totaling 518 megawatts (MW) of new solar generation and 200 MW of new electric storage capacity through competitive solicitations conducted in 2024.

• 7/24/2024 Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut’s Participation in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut has joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Climate Challenge, becoming one of more than 50 organizations across the United States that are stepping up to the challenge and driving real-world action toward a low-carbon future. In joining the challenge, the state is committing to reduce portfolio-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% within ten years and work with DOE to share successful solutions and decarbonization strategies.

• 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.

• 8/6/2024 Governor Lamont Hails $389 Million Federal Grant for Connecticut and New England States to Fund Transformational Transmission and Energy Storage Infrastructure

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont is applauding the announcement made today by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that it has selected the Power Up New England proposal submitted by Connecticut and its neighboring New England states to receive an award of up to $389 million through the second round of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s competitive Grid Innovation Program (GIP).

• 1/4/2024 DEEP to Allocate $2 Million to Address Tree Canopy Access in Connecticut

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced the Urban Forest Equity Grant Program. The new $2 million program is designed to address the lack of tree canopy in disadvantaged communities. The funding comes from the federal Inflation Reduction Act and is administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

• 1/11/2024 Governor Lamont Announces New Initiative To Promote Outdoor Recreation Economy

  (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced the establishment of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences, which seeks to grow Connecticut’s outdoor recreation economy by creating partnerships with the private sector. Coinciding with establishing this new office, DEEP is launching a request for information (RFI) as an initial step to expand services and amenities in state parks through partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and other private sector entities.

• 5/21/2024 Share the Shore with Nesting Birds

  (HARTFORD) — As the summer beach season approaches, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds beachgoers and others recreating on the shoreline to share the shore with nesting birds.

• 10/31/2024 DEEP Announces New Funding Opportunities for Urban and Community Forestry

  (HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce two new funding opportunities for urban and community forestry projects led by Connecticut governmental entities and non-profit organizations.