Third Act Connecticut joins Sierra Club Connecticut in urging Governor Ned Lamont to listen to the community and develop a healthy and renewable geothermal energy network for the Capitol Area System NOT more fossil fuels.
What is the Capitol Area System:
The Capitol Area System (CAS) is one of the OLDEST polluting energy facilities in Connecticut. It first came online in 1988 as a cogeneration power plant providing electricity to the grid and it used waste heat to heat and cool 18 state and private buildings through 3 miles of underground pipe. It no longer makes electricity for the grid, but still burns polluting methane gas at 490 Capitol Avenue.
Where is the Capitol Area System: The facility is located at 490 Capitol Avenue, and the 3 miles of pipe stretch from the Pope Park Towers to the State Appellate Court. Since 2022, it’s been owned by the State of Connecticut.
History of Pollution in Hartford: For 37 years, this facility has polluted the air in Hartford. When it provided power to the grid it was the 2nd largest stationary source of air pollution in the city.
Health of Hartford Residents: Hartford is one of the asthma Capitols of the U.S. because of air pollution from highways and facilities like the Capitol Area System. Short and or long term exposure to air pollution can cause increased respiratory symptoms, hospitalization for heart or lung diseases, and even premature death.
Capitol Area System Replacement: Due to its age, CAS needs upgrading. Governor Lamont’s Executive Order 21-3 requires a plan for a renewable upgrade for CAS:
By 2023, DEEP and DAS shall develop a plan to retrofit existing fossil fuel-based heating and cooling systems at state buildings to systems capable of being operated without carbon emitting fuels.
By 2023, DEEP and DAS shall develop a plan and a budget to achieve zero-GHG emissions for all new construction and major renovations funded by the state or in facilities owned/operated by the Executive Branch, targeting construction beginning in fiscal year 2024 and after
However, Governor Lamont has not followed through. Governor Lamont has selected more fossil fuels instead of renewable options.
Here’s what advocates have said about this decision:
“The decision made by Governor Lamont and his administration is very disrespectful to the people of not only Hartford, but of the state,” said Alycia Jenkins, Chapter Organizer with Sierra Club Connecticut. “I challenge Governor Lamont to reverse this decision and follow his EO 21-3. I, and many other Connecticut residents, demand that Governor Lamont commit to using renewable energy such as solar, heat pumps, and thermal energy networks to update the Capitol Area System. I also demand that Governor Lamont have a clear path forward with a workforce that hires and trains Hartford residents in renewable installations.”
“Governor Lamont pledged to convert to clean energy for heating and cooling of state buildings in his executive order,” said Dr. Mark Mitchell, Co-chair of the Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council. “He should keep that promise, as Hartford should not remain a sacrifice zone, where we, as Black and Brown residents, risk our health and lives for the privilege of hosting our state’s government.”
“It’s disappointing to see the Connecticut administration’s lack of commitment to greener solutions,” said Tenaya Taylor, Hartford resident and Founder at Nonprofit Accountability Group (NAG). “The use of fossil fuels not only harms our planet and environment, but also our bodies. The Capitol Area System is located near a high school and an elementary school, putting the lives of many children and families at risk by exposing them to dangerous pollutants. This is not the future children deserve. Hartford residents deserve healthy energy, allowing them to breathe clean air; ensuring a healthy and sustainable future.”
Windham-Willimantic NAACP President Leah Ralls said “Due to the destructive role of fossil fuels in the worldwide climate crisis, the damaging effects on human health, on communities targeted by racism and economic hardship, the Windham-Willimantic NAACP calls on state and local residents and officials to further the development and construction of clean, renewable energy sources as a top priority during the next decade. We urge Governor Lamont to adhere to the requirements of his own Executive Order #21-3.”
“Choosing the option for CAS that replaces old gas boilers with new ones is the wrong decision,” said Peter Millman, VP, People’s Action for Clean Energy. “It condemns the people of Hartford to continue breathing the emissions of burning gas to heat these 15 buildings for another 30 years. It’s also a missed opportunity to continue developing a thermal energy network industry in CT. The shame is that the study used to make this decision was flawed and inadequate, relying on faulty assumptions concerning cost. Governor Lamont should have required DAS to commission a second study using a consulting firm with specialized knowledge of thermal energy networks.”