Happy Spring, everyone! What a difference a month makes, at least in New England. It was 72 and sunny as I walked the dogs in the park today, and the first blossoms of the year were blooming.

 

Another sign of Spring is Earth Day. This year, in addition to tabling at a number of events around the state (here is a link to those and other upcoming events), our Chapter will celebrate by hosting a special community gathering on Wednesday, April 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Atlantic Works Conference Center, 57 Charter Oak Ave, Suite A, in Hartford. We will have good food, friendly conversation, local art and performance, and we will stream Sierra Sessions, a concert from Los Angeles featuring the artists shown above, among others, performing music to inspire action for the planet. It should be a lot of fun, and I hope to see you there! RSVP to Sierra Club Earth Day 2026: Community, Music & Action.

 

Speaking of inspiring action, on March 28, 2026, over 8 million people turned out for more than 3,300 separate No Kings protests against the Trump administration’s assaults on democracy, civil rights, and the environment, the largest single day demonstration in U.S. history. Sierra Club volunteers and staff were involved in events across the country and throughout Connecticut, including at the State Capitol, where we advocated for Make Polluters Pay (the Climate Superfund Bill). It is always darkest before the dawn (as the saying goes). Well, based on the ever increasing numbers of those who are gathering together in solidarity out of care for our country, goodwill toward people, and concern for our planet, I am hopeful that a watershed moment is coming and that positive change is on the horizon.

 

Members of our Chapter also took part in several environmental conservation events in March. For example, see Sena Wazer’s article in this newsletter regarding the March 25 community forum in Middletown on the potential impacts of the methane gas pipeline Eversource is proposing to build under the Connecticut River. Another good read is Chris Feely’s article on Dr. Doug Tallamy’s presentation on his Homegrown National Park approach to conserving wildlife and habitats. And Susan Eastwood writes about her participation in Wilderness Week in Washington, D.C. Check that out too!

 

The beginning of Spring also means we have passed the midway point of the current Connecticut legislative session. Due in no small part to the hard work of Sierra Club staff and volunteers, the three bills I highlighted last month, the Climate Superfund Bill (H.B. 5156), the Leaf Blower Bill (S.B. 319) and the Environmental Rights Amendment (S.J. 37) were all passed out of committee (with some modifications). That is a great achievement, and I congratulate everyone involved. However, there is more work to be done to bring the bills to a vote on the House and Senate floors. So please write to your representatives and ask them to co-sponsor these and other Sierra Club priority bills. Visit our legislative tracker, which shows the status of all the bills and provides other useful information related to the Connecticut General Assembly and Sierra Club actions and events. And see Julianna Larue’s article in this newsletter for a more detailed rundown on the status of the key environmental bills and the actions we can take to support them. Remember, this short session ends on May 6, so there is no time to waste!

 

Looking ahead, clean, affordable, and secure energy will continue to be at the forefront of our concerns, with the astronomical increase in oil and gas prices and the pollution (in addition, of course, to the tragic loss of life) resulting from the war with Iran being another reminder of its importance (and of many other things I acknowledge but won’t get into here). One way our Chapter is trying to change the fossil fuel paradigm is by working with partner organizations such as TEN4CT and allies in the legislature to secure funding to study the feasibility of networked geothermal projects throughout the state. Last month, Sierra Club Campaign Organizer Alycia Jenkins and I were able to attend a geothermal conference in New York City organized by NYGEO. It was inspiring to see the variety, scope, and ingenuity of the geothermal energy projects that have been or are in the process of being completed in New York with the help of strategic state funding and the support and cooperation of state agencies, utility regulators, and the utilities themselves. I am excited at the prospect of that happening in Connecticut, too.

 

That’s it for this month. Get outside and enjoy the weather and, hopefully, see you on April 22!

 

With solidarity and care,

 

Mike Ungaro

Chapter Chair of Sierra Club Connecticut