Connecticut routinely ranks poorly for air quality. The American Lung Association 2025 State of the Air report shows that no county in Connecticut earned higher than a D grade for short term particle pollution, and half of the reporting counties earned failing grades for ozone. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Hartford is ranked No. 7 in the United States of America for high asthma rates. 

 

 

Image by Cnordic CNordic from Pixabay

 

The same polluting sources responsible for climate harming pollution in Connecticut also contribute to health harming air pollution: transportation, buildings, and electricity generation. 

 

It may come as a surprise that pollution generated by buildings — largely from heating with fossil fuels — is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Connecticut and a significant source of health harming pollution. In fact, a Sierra Club study shows that burning gas, oil, and propane in furnaces and water heaters generates a staggering 23% of Connecticut’s nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution, more than eight times as much as the state’s power plants.

 

Sierra Club Connecticut is working toward zero-emission solutions to eliminate pollution. Below you will find more information about our efforts:

 

Capitol Area System:

Sierra Club Connecticut, alongside Hartford and statewide organizations, is aiming to ensure that the Capitol Area System (CAS) transitions away from fossil fuels to 100% clean and renewable technologies. CAS is located on Capitol Avenue in Hartford, and was built as a co-generation electrical power plant and heating and cooling system in 1988. For decades, it was one of the largest polluters in the city of Hartford, with a history of harming the health of residents both near the system and within Hartford. In 2021, the plant ceased producing electricity, but continued as a fossil fuel heating system for 15 to18 buildings on its heating and cooling loop. The state of Connecticut purchased the system in 2022 and now must make repairs and updates. The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) decided to temporarily update the CAS with methane gas boilers. Our organizing for a 100% clean and renewable CAS is ongoing. The CAS team has been advocating for a thermal energy network (TEN) solution for CAS, and has been hosting education and organizing sessions, and meeting with community groups, lawmakers, and key decision makers including the Governor and Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services. Email me to join the team and join our weekly Tuesday meetings from 12:30pm-1:30pm: alycia.jenkins@sierraclub.org. 

 

Thermal Energy Networks (TENs): TENs are a solution for CAS, as well as other locations. TENs can provide a community-wide solution to decarbonizing heating and cooling. People's Action for Clean Energy (PACE) has developed a coalition for education and advocacy for TENs called TEN4CT. TEN4CT hosts monthly meetings to educate the public about TENs and how it can be implemented throughout Connecticut. All are invited to join these monthly meetings!  

 

Community Education about Air Pollution:

• In-person sessions: In June, we hosted a Hartford Organizing Training with community members to provide information about air pollution generally, and about CAS specifically. . We will host two more training sessions on November 19 and 20 of this year. More details for these training sessions are coming soon!  Let's Breathe Clean Air! Hartford Organizing Training 101 November 19 and Let's Breathe Clean Air! Hartford Organizing Training 101November 20 

 

• Webinar: Understanding Air Pollution: How to get the facts you need. On November 13 from 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Sierra Club Connecticut invites you to learn more about air pollution with presenters for the Environmental Health Project. The Environmental Health Project (EHP) will share resources and tools that can help communities to better understand the impacts that oil and gas facilities, such as compressor stations and gas-fired power plants, have on local air quality and health. These tools include the Compounds of Concern database and AirView Public: a free tool that displays and analyzes data from community air monitoring projects. 

 

Alycia D. Jenkins is an organizer at Sierra Club Connecticut.