Hi everyone, and welcome to my inaugural Notes from the Chair. I am honored to have been elected Chapter Chair of Sierra Club Connecticut and very much look forward to working with all of you in this new role. I know we have no shortage of work to do and challenges to face, but from what I have witnessed from the people who make up the Connecticut Chapter, I have no doubt that we will continue to achieve great things together even in these difficult times.

 

On behalf of all of us in the Connecticut Chapter, I first want to thank and commend outgoing Chair Susan Eastwood for her six years of service on the Executive Committee and five years as Chapter Chair. I know we all appreciate how much her support and guidance have contributed to the success of the Chapter over her three terms. Susan is a significant reason why the Chapter is such a great place to be, and I am grateful that she is going to stay very much involved in a number of ways, including as Chair of the Communications Committee.  On a more personal note, I also want to thank Susan and State Director Samantha Dynowski for helping me get up to speed on the responsibilities of this position. They have been very generous with their time and I appreciate it!

 

For those of you with whom I haven’t been working with and don’t know my story yet, the short version is that I am a father of two (plus two dogs), an attorney, and a Hartford resident. I grew up camping and hiking and supported groups that protect people, wildlife, and the environment from pollution. I also viewed climate change as an existential crisis and felt increasingly compelled to get involved in the work to transition to zero emission clean energy as much and as quickly as possible.

 

So, while I’d been a member of Sierra Club but not very active, I started volunteering after I retired and had the time to do so. I jumped onto the Legislative and Environmental and Racial Justice Committees and the Capitol Area System campaign, among other things, and haven’t looked back. 

​

And that’s one of the things I love about the Connecticut Chapter of the Sierra Club. Sam and the great staff; Susan and the Executive Committee; and the leaders of the various groups, committees, and campaigns and the volunteers who devote their time to them have created a welcoming and friendly place where someone like me (and many others who are different from me) can get involved and contribute in the ways they are comfortable contributing. It’s the kind of organization and group of people with whom I want to work on these critical environmental and climate issues. As Chapter Chair, I hope to help maintain that positive and inclusive atmosphere, and I encourage anyone who is considering becoming a volunteer or volunteering more to take the plunge. You won’t regret it, and there’s plenty to do!

 

Speaking of which, our Chapter has been doing a lot over the past month to advance the causes of reducing pollution in our communities and addressing the impacts of climate change in Connecticut. For example, the Capitol Area System Campaign, led by Connecticut Chapter Campaign Organizer Alycia Jenkins, achieved a victory in its long running battle over the future of the Hartford heating and cooling facility when the state agreed to pause the current gas boiler reconstruction project. This is an important step for which we have advocated for a long time, and we plan on taking advantage by pushing to have networked geothermal fully explored as a zero-emission solution for the Capitol Area System. More to come on that, but in the meantime, read Alycia’s article describing this accomplishment and where things now stand at the facility.

 

In addition, a Rally to Make Polluters Pay was held at the State Capitol on January 28 (see picture).  This amazing event, organized by Connecticut Chapter Organizer Julianna Larue and Connecticut Chapter Secretary Sydney Collins, was aimed at convincing the state legislature to advance Climate Superfund legislation, which would require major fossil fuel companies to pay a proportional share toward Connecticut’s climate resilience and adaptation costs based on the amount of carbon pollution they are determined to have caused. Speakers included Julianna and Sydney, Connecticut Chapter Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator Sena Wazer, and State Representative Steven Winter from New Haven. We had a giant “Make Polluters Pay” balloon floating overhead, and Chapter Vice Chair Tenaya Taylor and Chapter Organizer Alycia Jenkins recited an original poem for the occasion. What a meaningful way to kick off the legislative session! The Hartford Courant describes the event in this article.

 

The legislative session did in fact begin this week. It is a short session of only 90 days, which makes it more difficult to get significant bills passed. But we have an ambitious agenda, nonetheless. In addition to the Climate Superfund, other priorities include bills relating to: (i) an Environmental Rights amendment to our state constitution; (ii) funding for the Thermal Energy Network Grant and Loan program; (iii) Lawn Equipment electrification; and (iv) Plug-in Solar. Read more detailed information on the Sierra Club Connecticut's legislative priorities.

 

Also, in connection with the Environmental Rights Amendment referenced above, Maya van Rossum, founder and leader of the national movement for Green Amendments to state constitutions across the United States and Delaware Riverkeeper, is speaking in a series of public town hall events across Connecticut, including the following:

 

February 10, 6:30 pm, 4th floor, Stamford Government Center, 888 Washington Boulevard, Stamford, CT (photo identification required)

 

February 11, 5:30 pm, DeKoven Center, 27 Washington St., Middletown, CT

 

These events are free and open to the public and key legislators are invited. Also, light food and refreshments will be provided.  Registration is requested.

 

Maya is a great speaker, and I recommend attending one of these events to hear Maya explain why we need a constitutionally protected right to clean and healthy air, water and soil, and a safe climate, and what we need to do to make that happen.

 

That’s it for this month. Once again, I am honored to be the new Chapter Chair and look forward to meeting and advocating with all of you over the coming year.

 

With solidarity and care,

 

Mike Ungaro

 

Mike Ungaro is Chapter Chair of Sierra Club Connecticut.