Rochelle lauds legislation to protect environment

HARTFORD - State Rep. Kara Rochelle, D-Ansonia, Derby, has praised critical legislation passed this session that will help combat pollution and spur clean, affordable energy solutions.

Kara Rochelle

Rochelle supported bills that allow for the installation of hundreds of wind turbines off the coast of Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London to help decrease dependency on nuclear power while lowering energy cost; phases out the use of plastic bags, which contribute to the pollution of our water and land; bans fracking waste, which is toxic and poses health and environmental risks if brought in from other states; and a bill that creates a framework for growing green job industries in the state.

“Good environmental policy is about our health, protecting our water, soil, and air from pollution, lowering energy costs, job growth in rapidly growing industries, and remaining regionally competitive," Rochelle said. "These bills are a positive, sound step forward.” 

Here’s a closer look at the bills:

HB House Bill 7156, An Act Concerning The Procurement of Energy Derived From Offshore Wind: This bill provides for the installation of hundreds of wind turbines off the CT coat in areas like Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London to lower Connecticut’s energy costs while decreasing reliance on nuclear power and other forms of electricity.

Phasing out Plastic Bags: Aug. 1 was the first day a $.10 fee was collected for the use of plastic bags. 
Reusable bags are being encouraged now before plastic bags are banned altogether in the summer of 2021, as part of legislation passed this year and included in the budget.

SB Senate Bill 753, An Act Concerning the State-wide Ban on Fracking Waste: This bill bans collecting, storing, handling, applying, disposing of and using hydraulic fracturing waste in Connecticut. Fracking is the injection of high-pressured fracking liquid into subterranean rocks and boreholes to fracture the rocks in order to extract gas or oil. 
The process can cause toxic water, soil and air pollution while also increasing the potential for oil spills and earthquakes. 

Fracking itself isn’t practiced in Connecticut but according to a watch-dog group,   www.foodandwaterwatch.org, fracking waste brought in from other states is still a very real danger – one we eliminate with the passage of this bill.

HB5002, An Act Concerning A Green Economy And Environmental Protection will create a framework for growing our green energy industries and creates a study regarding energy efficiency initiatives for state-owned buildings. It is critical that we work to separate ourselves from pollutant energy sources, while also driving down energy costs and building our economy in growing green job fields.

This is a press release from Rochelle's office.