Third Act Connecticut Coordinating Committee welcomes Bill Silva who has stepped in to co-facilitate the Defending Democracy Team with Joe Sullivan.

A resident of West Hartford, Bill is a former teacher and school administrator, including serving as principal of Farmington High School. He is Director of Center for Leadership and Learning at the Connecticut Association of Schools.

A graduate of Amherst College and Yale University where he earned a Ph.D., Silva was a social studies teacher and department chair at Berlin High School for 20 years. In 2010, Silva was named the Milken Family Foundation national Educator of the Year.

Tom Mead has been named Co-Facilitator of Third Act Connecticut, the state’s chapter of the national Third Act advocacy organization of volunteers over age 60.
A resident of Hamden, Tom steps into a role previously held by the Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree who, with fellow Co-Facilitator George Stone, oversaw the successful launch of Third Act Connecticut in November 2023.
Mead and Stone will together co-facilitate the activities of the Third Act Connecticut Coordinating Committee, which is the primary organizing body for the state-wide group. A search is underway for a third co-facilitator for the all-volunteer movement.
Rev. Crabtree will serve as Co-Facilitator of the Volunteer Recruitment and Cultivation team, a role previously held by Tom Mead. She also will work with Lynn Stoddard helping to plan the group’s SunDay solar energy advocacy event in September.
Stone said: “Tom has been an extraordinarily visible and energetic presence on behalf of Third Act Connecticut — testifying in public hearings; participating in our rallies, press conferences and marches, and building relationships with Third Act groups in other states. He is the very model of a Third Act volunteer and we are fortunate that he’ll now be deploying his commitment across our entire organization.”
“I am gratified and excited to take on an even larger role with Third Act Connecticut, and I’m looking forward to helping our volunteers meet all the many challenges ahead of us – especially, the ongoing threats to the health of our democracy,” said Mead.
Stone said: “Davida Foy Crabtree has motivated and inspired us with her dedication and passion, and we could not have possibly advanced our organization so successfully without her involvement. We are enormously grateful that she will continue to be part of the Third Act community and at our side throughout the demanding days ahead.”
“I’ve been honored to help lead Third Act Connecticut and build community among our members who have been so responsive and ready to take action on both climate and democracy. A huge thanks to everyone and to the Coordinating Committee – a top team if there ever was one!” said Rev. Crabtree. “We are well positioned for continued leadership with our members so committed and with George and Tom galvanizing us for the challenges ahead!”
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. in Engineering and Foreign Affairs, Tom spent three years serving at sea. He holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Mead taught math and science in adult education programs and served 11 years as Assistant Principal at Andover High School in Massachusetts.Tom was principal of Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough, Mass., for eight years.
In Connecticut, Mead has been involved in volunteer work at Sleeping Giant State Park. At the Greater New Haven Partner of Experience Corps through the AARP Foundation, Tom led efforts to help first through third graders achieve grade-level literacy. He is part of Smart Local Solar Campaigns helping to incentivize residential solar installations. Tom’s business career included positions at Digital Equipment Corporation.

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.”

Here is the summary and requests for action from CT Citizen Action Group, but our other allies are saying the same:

SB 647, AAC Protections for Consumer Access to Affordable Energy. To paraphrase an old quote, ‘Don’t judge a bill by its Title, because Yes, this bill is that bad. Any help with the asks below are appreciated. Research and talking points follow.

SB 647, if it becomes law, eliminates funding for Energy Efficiency, Conservation & Load Management, the CT Green Bank, heat pumps, and EV chargers/infrastructure. System Benefits (Op Fuel, Hardships, LIDR) would move off electric bills and into the CGA’s competitive budget process. And it makes Millstone a Class 1 Renewable, so it can get money meant for true renewables. Not Good. Ask #1 Attend our Press Conference, March 6, 10 a.m., LOB 2nd floor Atrium.

I and others will make the case for the benefits and the programs they support. Having a big crowd with us sends that message. I’d suggest arriving early (9:30) for a spot in the LOB parking garage. There is a lower level if the ground floor fills up (I go there first), and Flower St nearby has some free two hour spots. Our event will wrap up around 10:30. The Energy & Technology Committee meets at 10:30 in room 1D.

Ask #2A Submit written testimony to the Energy & Technology Committee opposing SB 647. Select March 6 and when the bills pop up select SB 647, make sure to click oppose where it asks for your position. You can attach word of pdf docs, or type directly in the comment box. Suggestions are below on reasons to oppose the bill. Be sure to include why systems benefits and/or energy efficient and renewable programs need to remain in place.

Ask #2B Sign up to testify in person by Zoom to the Energy & Technology Committee. The link takes you to a screen that says Zoom, but at the end is an ‘In-Person’ check box if you’d like. Zoom testifying is especially useful if you can’t stick around.

Ask #4 Find & Contact your Legislator! Call, email or stop in their office and chat them up while you are waiting to testify. This is HUGE! This is especially important if they are on the E&T committee (click on the Committee Membership tab for a list).

SB 647 – What to Say about it. This bill destroys a lot, however your message/testimony doesn’t have to take on the whole thing. You can focus on a couple of items. so take your pick.

The System Benefits Charge will be removed from bills and put into the CGA budget. This puts the programs below at risk, because

1. Our budget has a cap, and there is always a huge battle over what to fund or not fund, and

2. Many SB 647 co-sponsors have publicly called for eliminating the Public Benefits.

These are the programs the SBC funds:

· Operation Fuel, which gets fuel to neighbors who are running low and can’t afford more.

· Shutoff Protection, which does not allow the utility to shut off electricity to a home from Nov 1 to May 1

· The Matching Payment Program (MPP) Eversource or UI, can lower the amount you owe on energy bills. For every dollar you pay and every dollar you receive from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), the utility will subtract a dollar from the amount you owe.

· The Low-Income Conservation Program (aka HES-IE), which offers a full range of energy conservation measures. Eligibility is based on 60 percent of the state median income.

· Low Income Discount Rate for electricity (Eversource, UI) which allows folks (based on income) to pay a lower rate. A big help for seniors, or anyone getting out from under hardship. It is capped for usage to prevent ‘gaming’ the system, and there is a mechanism to pay back arrearages, should they exist.

It is simply heartless to remove these supports from those who are struggling. We should be trying to eliminate the factors that are causing these hardships.

Suggestion: Ask your legislator if they have spoken to someone in their district who would be impacted by not having Operation Fuel or LIDR help?

The Conservation & Load Management Charge (annual report with impressive numbers!) funding would be eliminated. Gone would be:

· Home Energy Solutions (residential)

· Energy Opportunities (Businesses)

· Energy Efficient products

· Load Management (Load Shedding UI, & Load Shifting)

The businesses and their employees would pretty much go elsewhere, and one of the main ways homes and businesses to reduce electric bills would be cancelled.

Suggestion: Ask your legislator if they are OK with the loss of thousands of jobs, hundreds of businesses, and millions of dollars of economic boost?

The Renewable Energy Investment Charge which funds The CT Green Bank (annual report with impressive numbers!) would be eliminated. Gone would be the Municipal Assistance Program, Smart E Loans, many low income assistance programs, and the Green Bank’s impressive sevenfold private sector return on investment.

Suggestion: Ask your legislator who or what will replace the Green Bank with the same track record of success?

The bill also eliminates incentives for Heat Pumps (ground source & Ductless mini splits), EV charging & related infrastructure, EV School buses

Opinion: A poor environmental choice for Hartford and Connecticut

Now we are turning to you to take action.

At the end of this report is a message from Save the Sound, giving you the details of how to take action. The outrageous bullying of the legislature and of Chair Marissa Gillett was named for the show of weakness that it is at the presser. We made it clear that the utilities always have recourse to a court of law if they wish to challenge PURA’s regulatory decisions. The fact that they choose bullying instead of legal recourse demonstrates how weak their position is. Chair Gillett’s background is deep in regulatory work and her innovative leadership addressing energy challenges in this time of climate chaos is absolutely crucial. She stands out among all states’ regulatory leaders and must NOT be bullied out of her position.

If you are in Rep. Concepcion’s district in Hartford, Rep. Sanchez’ district in New Britain area, or Senator Fonfara’s in Hartford, please get on the phone to them immediately. If you know them in some other way, please call. They are the Dems who are waffling.

The rest of us need to “flood the zone” with testimony at the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee (see below). We can make them sit up and take notice, but we need a lot of us to testify. You don’t need to be an expert. See the talking points below!

This is absolutely crucial to CT’s energy future. The utilities don’t want to be regulated effectively. They don’t want innovation of grid-related projects and processes. They want to make this about Marissa Gillett in a classic misogynist move against a powerful woman. We need to stop them.

A message from our ally “Save the Sound”

Subject: Don’t Let Your Electric Bill Skyrocket – Speak Up Now!

Connecticut’s electric rates are already some of the highest in the country, and without strong oversight, they could get worse.

Your voice can help hold our utilities accountable.

Connecticut’s electric rates are already some of the highest in the country—and without strong oversight, they could get worse. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) plays a crucial role in keeping costs fair and holding big utility companies accountable.

But now, those same companies are trying to weaken PURA by blocking the reappointment of its experienced leader, Marissa Gillett. Read on to learn how you can fight back.

PURA keeps the utility system fair and affordable. Here’s how.

PURA, which sits within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, is the government agency responsible for overseeing our state’s utilities, including electric, natural gas, water, and telecommunications companies, to ensure they provide safe, clean, reliable, and affordable service and infrastructure. PURA sets your utility rates, ensures natural gas pipeline safety, keeps our water infrastructure running smoothly, and regulates the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure.

PURA’s Chair is up for re-appointment—why should you care?

Throughout her tenure, Chairman Gillett has:

Provided fair and expert leadership to the authority,
Held utilities accountable and defended against rate increases (including voting against the Millstone repayment scheme that increased your electricity bills last year),
Overseen a series of complex dockets to implement the legislature’s grid modernization priorities, including more closely aligning utility compensation with performance.
Now, utility companies are pushing hard to stop her re-appointment. They want less regulation and less accountability, which would be bad news for ratepayers. Without a strong independent regulator, there is nothing to prevent utilities from passing exorbitant and imprudent costs on to you.

Speak up for Marissa Gillett as a fair and experienced regulator.

You can show support for Gillett’s re-appointment in two ways:

Submitting testimony at the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee’s public hearing on Thursday, February 20 at 11:00 a.m. You don’t need to be an expert to testify—legislators want to hear from people like you who care about a fairly regulated utility system.
Additionally, you can join advocates, legislators, and concerned citizens at the Governor’s press conference supporting Gillett’s re-appointment nomination on Tuesday, February 18 at 10:00 a.m. at the Legislative Office Building, room 1D in Hartford.
How to submit comments

Visit the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee Testimony Page

Enter your name, and org/job title if relevant (please don’t list Save the Sound).
Select 2/20/25, 11:00 a.m. from the hearing list and select “Marissa Paslick Gillette of Simsbury as a Utility Commissioner of the Public Utilities Regulatory Committee” from the bill number list.
Select “Supports”
Type in or upload your testimony, check “I’m not a robot,” and hit Submit.
It’s that easy!

What to Say

The most effective comments are personal to your own life and reasons to support Chairman Gillet’s re-appointment. Here is a sample piece of testimony if you need a place to start but be sure to customize it. You don’t have to be an expert!

Honorable members of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee,

I am a resident of ____ and I am writing to express my support for the re-appointment of PURA chair Marissa Gillett.

Without a strong regulator there is nothing to prevent the utilities from passing on exorbitant and imprudent costs to ratepayers. Throughout her tenure as PURA chair, Gillett has proven herself to be a competent and skillful leader who is holding utilities accountable for their expenditures while ensuring that their compensation reflects well established constitutional ratemaking principles.

Chair Gillett has expertly balanced the goals of continued safety and reliability of the electric grid, protecting consumers, and allowing utilities to earn a fair return on their investments. Her leadership has been critical in keeping rates as fair as possible while advancing Connecticut’s energy future.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Name,

Address

How to Testify Live

You can also testify during the hearing! The hearing will be held on Thursday, February 20 at 11 a.m. and you can testify in-person at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, or over Zoom.

Register here to get on the testimony schedule and prepare up to 3 minutes of spoken testimony. Please note the order of speakers is randomized, and you will need to check the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee’s hearing schedule to find your place in line.

Thank you for raising your voice for fair regulation of our state’s utilities!

Members of Third Act are “elders over age 60 who devote life experiences, skills and resources to ensure a safe and stable planet for generations to come,” says Founder Bill McKibben. The environmental activist and author also started the worldwide youth advocacy organization 350.org.

Third Act Connecticut is part of a nationwide Third Act movement engaging more than 90,000 members. Volunteers work on enhancing and protecting Voting and Democracy; Fossil-Free Finance to encourage divestment in underwriting fossil fuel projects, and Democratizing Energy to involve the public in regulatory and legislative decisions about energy.

In Connecticut Third Actors have participated in Climate Change marches and rallies, shareholder meeting protests calling attention to fossil fuel investments and advocacy at the state Capitol. Third Act Connecticut has hosted public forums on environmental issues, training events and Zoom calls with national environmental activists. Its members participate with Third Act leaders around the nation in strategic development and organizing.

Third Act Connecticut is seeking internal and external volunteer candidates to guide its initiatives to ensure a just democracy and limit the world’s reliance on fossil fuels that cause climate change.

The position of Co-Facilitator requires leadership qualities and experiences including: team building, strategic understanding to influence climate change decisions and knowledge of the people who make and guide policy in Connecticut. The co-facilitators conduct the monthly Coordinating Committee meetings.

“Davida has been instrumental as a guiding force in the growth of Third Act Connecticut since we began recruiting members two years ago,” said co-facilitator George Stone. “She has become the ‘face of the organization’ and helped position Third Act Connecticut as a resource for action in partnering with other environmental organizations.”

For more information, to make a nomination, or to express interest contact George Stone, 203-984-7532 or by e-mail at thirdactct@gmail.com. A member of the Nominating Committee will follow up with you to schedule a conversation.