HARTFORD, Conn. – Today, a coalition of Connecticut’s climate and energy justice organizations gathered at Eversource Headquarters in Hartford. Fifty participants rallied outside the Connectuct’s largest electricity provider to hear remarks, march together, and drop a banner and carry signs calling on Eversource to put people over profits. Coalition priorities include: ensuring Eversource declines participation in Enbridge’s expansion efforts, stopping gas expansion, and lowering energy burden for Connecticut’s low-income residents.
Bianca Sanchez, bianca.sanchez@sierraclub.org
HARTFORD, Conn. – Today, a coalition of Connecticut’s climate and energy justice organizations gathered at Eversource Headquarters in Hartford. Fifty participants rallied outside the Connectuct’s largest electricity provider to hear remarks, march together, and drop a banner and carry signs calling on Eversource to put people over profits. Coalition priorities include: ensuring Eversource declines participation in Enbridge’s expansion efforts, stopping gas expansion, and lowering energy burden for Connecticut’s low-income residents.
Read More on the Dangers of Fracked Gas Use in Connecticut Here.
In 2024, fossil fuels comprised 63 percent of Eversource Connecticut’s energy mix. Reliance on fossil fuels for electricity and home heating raises energy costs, increases emissions, and threatens public health and safety. Since 2014, Eversource’s electricity rates have nearly doubled . Higher rates profoundly impact low-income residents and families, for whom energy costs make up a larger share of their monthly income.
Despite rising costs and proven climate and health consequences of methane gas , Eversource continues to push gas expansion in Connecticut and neighboring states. In 2024, Eversource confirmed their participation in an “open season” for Enbridge’s Project Maple pipeline expansion project.
After today’s rally, participating groups released the following statements.
“Environmental justice is racial justice,” said Tenaya Taylor of the Nonprofit Accountability Group . “Regulating fossil fuel companies and making the switch to renewable and sustainable energy will help to ensure equity in historically marginalized communities that are often Black communities. There are egregious barriers in healthcare, housing, and food, with environmental racism being a compounding factor in the quality of life that Black people have access to. Living in Hartford should not feel like a death sentence for me; we all deserve clean air, water, and safe housing for a better future for everyone.”
“Eversource must stop passing the high health and economic burden of polluting gas onto Connecticut families and residents,” said Sena Wazer, Stop Project Maple . “We need a change; our communities should not shoulder this burden. Thankfully, there’s a clear path forward. It’s time for our state and local utilities to invest in clean, renewable energy that boosts our grid and stabilizes energy costs.”
“Ida B. Wells-Barnett once said, ‘Somebody must show that the Afro-American race is more sinned against than sinning, and it seems to have fallen upon me to do so,’” said Alycia Jenkins, Sierra Club Connecticut Campaign Organizer. "Following the example of Ida B. Wells-Barnett, I must say that the long legacy of environmental racism inflicted on Black Americans has harmed, and will continue to harm, all people. The high energy burdens faced by low income Black families and the pollution inflicted on our neighborhoods by fossil fuel facilities will spread beyond our community. It's the system that promotes polluting energy sources and profits over people that are to blame, and that ultimately, must be changed."
"Our leaders continue to disregard the future of young people in the pursuit of business profit,” said Sydney Collins, Sunrise New Haven . “This past year we have seen our southern communities get flooded and our neighborhoods in LA burn to the ground as fossil fuel companies continue to line their pockets with dirty money. Our elected officials in Connecticut have to step up if they care about young people and stop expanding fossil fuel infrastructure. It's our time to be investing in clean energy and energy efficiency to not only support more affordable utilities in Connecticut, but also creating a more livable and healthy planet for our young people"
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org .
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