AGP Executive Report

Clean Energy Policy: Connecticut lawmakers approved extending home and community solar incentives through 2035, with battery storage poised to be the big winner as PV-plus-battery systems get exemptions from new caps. State Funding & Environment: The CT Bond Commission approved $652.7M for programs including early childhood, housing, public safety, infrastructure, and environmental protection, including childcare facility upgrades and a new One Entry Portal to streamline child care access. Wildlife & Public Health: Tick Free Martha’s Vineyard plans an island-wide aerial deer survey using thermal drones to map deer populations and guide tick-borne disease prevention. Outdoor Learning: STEM Alliance and Schooner SoundWaters brought marine life education to kids in Mamaroneck, using hands-on activities to connect human activity to marine ecosystems. Transportation Safety Debate: Connecticut’s automated speed camera controversy continues, with residents questioning privacy and vendor practices even as officials argue for school-area safety. Air Quality & Health: A new study links even relatively low air pollution exposure to poorer brain function, adding another reason to cut pollution.

Solar Policy Win: Connecticut lawmakers approved plug-in solar and kept home solar incentives alive through 2035, with batteries poised to be the big winners—especially for PV systems paired with storage. Heat & Health: UNF opened the Perry Weather Heat Lab to study how extreme heat affects the body and prevent heat-related deaths, building on the Korey Stringer Institute’s heat-risk work. Wildlife & Habitat: Tick Free Martha’s Vineyard plans an island-wide aerial deer survey using thermal drones to map deer populations and inform tick-borne disease planning. Conservation Education: DEEP-backed Fish Kids helped students raise trout, release them into the river, and learn how fish elevators help migration around dams. Trails & Stewardship: I-Park will host Connecticut Trails Day June 6 with hikes, pollinator-garden programming, and recycled-art activities. Local Transportation: CTDOT is planning Route 9/175 interchange changes in New Britain and Newington to reduce peak-hour congestion, with design slated for 2028 and construction after. Air Pollution & Brains: A new study links even relatively low air pollution to poorer brain function, adding urgency to clean-air efforts.

Solar Policy: Connecticut lawmakers passed a bill to keep home and community solar incentives running through 2035, with battery storage getting a major boost by exempting solar-plus-battery systems from future caps. PFAS Rules: Starting July 1, CT will restrict products with intentionally added PFAS, requiring manufacturer notification to DEEP and new labeling—DEEP is also posting a fillable reporting form in early June. Heat & Health: UNF opened the Perry Weather Heat Lab to study extreme heat and prevent heat-related deaths, building on the Korey Stringer Institute’s work. Air Pollution & Brains: A new study links everyday air pollution exposure to poorer brain function, raising dementia risk concerns over time. Wildlife & Habitat: A Bolton Hill landscape architect’s flower-filled garden highlights how local planting choices can support biodiversity, while a Granby Land Trust story shows how beavers and people can coexist to protect wetlands. Community Conservation: Students released trout in Connecticut waters and learned how fish elevators help migration around dams, tying hands-on learning to real ecosystem protection. Local Infrastructure: CTDOT is planning congestion relief at the Route 9/175 interchange, with pedestrian improvements included.

PFAS Crackdown in CT: Starting July 1, Connecticut will prohibit certain consumer products with intentionally added PFAS unless manufacturers notify DEEP and label them, with a fillable reporting form due in early June. Water Quality Monitoring Push: Darien is set to consider joining a regional pathogen monitoring network to expand harmful bacteria testing beyond its two beaches, with free lab services and grant funding. Wildlife Conservation Spotlight: A Mansfield student’s art was selected for the 2027 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation (Duck) Stamp, continuing a program funded by stamp sales for wetland and habitat protection. Local Nature Education: GMMS Fish Kids released trout they raised all year in Salmon Brook Ecology Center, learning about river ecosystems and fish passage around dams. Transportation & Environment: CTDOT plans lane changes and pedestrian improvements for a Route 9/175 interchange congestion project, while I-95 drivers face a four-year Gold Star Memorial Bridge rehabilitation traffic crossover.

Privacy & Data Brokers: Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed a law banning the sale of precise geolocation data (within a 1,750-foot radius), plus limits on “surveillance pricing” and facial recognition. Coastal Water Quality: Darien’s selectmen will consider joining a regional EPA-supported pathogen monitoring network, adding free lab testing and grant money to expand bacteria checks beyond its two beaches. Wetlands & Clean Water: Idaho and other states urged the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit the Sackett wetlands ruling in a case involving a Connecticut farmer accused of filling wetlands without a permit. Housing & Brownfields: Enfield may get a $9.36M state loan to help redevelop a long-vacant Thompsonville industrial site into riverfront housing, with brownfield cleanup support. Wildlife Conservation: A Mansfield student’s painting won Connecticut’s Junior Duck Stamp competition and will represent the state in the federal contest. Climate/Health Watch: Connecticut’s school counselor caseload averages 322 students—still above the recommended 250—highlighting ongoing mental health staffing pressure. EV Charging: A new report says federal NEVI-funded EV chargers are opening slowly, with Connecticut among states facing delays.

EV Charging Delays: A new Sierra Club report says federal NEVI-funded high-speed charger rollout is stuck—only 96 stations opened nationwide by end of 2025, with hundreds still waiting, and federal/state sluggishness blamed. Clean Energy Planning: Connecticut and other New England states are exploring new nuclear options, with DEEP hosting public sessions on how advanced reactors could fit alongside Millstone. Local Land & Water Pressure: Amazon’s proposed mega warehouse in Killingly would clear forest and raise concerns about blasting, private wells, a private waste system, truck traffic, and air pollution. Cross-Border Pollution Fight: Enfield is suing Massachusetts over a waste processing and transfer facility permit near the state line. Wildlife & Habitat Funding: A Mansfield student’s duck stamp artwork was selected for Connecticut’s 2027 Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp, continuing stamp-sale funding for wetlands and waterfowl habitat. Public Health Watch: A Raaw Energy recall expanded across multiple states, raising contamination concerns for people and pets. Water Safety Incident: Police and DEEP responded to a body found in the water at a Chester marina.

Climate & Resilience: A new Connecticut-linked study finds U.S. power outages are getting longer as extreme weather hits harder, with average outage time doubling over the past decade—meaning climate disasters are increasingly followed by grid failures. Emergency Preparedness: Even with a “below normal” hurricane season forecast, Connecticut emergency leaders are urging residents to make a plan, pack an emergency kit, and prepare for flooding inland and along the coast. Wildlife on the Move: Turtle road crossings are underway across Connecticut; experts urge drivers to help turtles cross safely when possible and not relocate them far away. Local Water & Infrastructure: Norwalk City Council unanimously advanced concept work for a Gregory Boulevard roundabout and Fifth Street shared-use path, while residents pushed back on parking loss and construction disruption. Connecticut Tech & Safety: Connecticut launched an investigation into Roblox over child exploitation concerns, seeking records on user ages, safety systems, and a game tied to the Sandy Hook shooting. Batteries & Public Safety: Watertown-based PACT says its paper-based TR Sleeve is designed to help prevent lithium-ion battery fires by limiting heat spread during thermal runaway. Energy Costs: AAA data shows Connecticut gas prices are among the higher states heading into summer travel, adding pressure to already strained household budgets.

Climate & Preparedness: Connecticut emergency leaders urged residents not to relax despite forecasts for a “below normal” hurricane season, pointing to past impacts like Superstorm Sandy and stressing evacuation plans, emergency kits, and even pet-ready preparations. Drought & Water Use: Amherst announced water use restrictions after a Level 2 Significant Drought declaration for the Connecticut River Valley, banning most outdoor watering while allowing health/safety needs and limited drip or handheld irrigation. Wildlife & Public Health: A national tick surveillance program found ticks carrying Powassan virus in Connecticut and Massachusetts, highlighting rising tick-borne dangers tied to changing land use and climate. Housing & Land Use: A new Connecticut coalition launched the Housing for All Network to push pro-housing policies through local grassroots efforts, aiming to expand and preserve town housing supplies. Energy Costs & Clean Power: A report on summer gas prices shows Connecticut among the higher-cost states at the start of travel season, while another story spotlights “balcony” plug-in solar as a way to cut electricity bills. Local Environment Governance: Lime Rock Park’s summer season begins under updated rules still preserving its Sunday racing ban, after neighbor-track tensions were addressed through revised operating limits.

Connecticut Housing Push: A new statewide Housing for All Network is forming to back pro-housing changes by empowering local groups in New Haven, Middlesex, and Hartford counties. VA Mental Health Trial in CT: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched an MDMA-assisted therapy study for veterans, with about 80 participants at Providence and West Haven. Online Child Safety: Connecticut AG William Tong opened an investigation into Roblox after reports of child exploitation, with the state seeking records on what the company knew and how it profited. Water & Climate Readiness: Connecticut officials say the hurricane season may be below average, but residents should still prepare for heavy rain and flooding. Drought Pressure: Amherst announced water use restrictions after a Level 2 drought declaration affecting the Connecticut River Valley. Wetlands Under Strain: A new satellite-based study finds U.S. tidal wetlands loss is continuing and accelerating, tied to extreme weather and rising seas. Local Environment & Industry: Lime Rock Park’s 2026 season begins under updated rules still preserving its Sunday racing ban while tightening noise and activity limits. Energy Costs & Solar: A “balcony solar” plug-and-play approach is gaining attention as a way to fight rising utility bills.

Drought Response: Amherst is rolling out Level 2 Significant Drought water restrictions after below-normal April rain—banning most outdoor watering, including sprinkler and automatic lawn irrigation, while allowing limited drip/hand watering for gardens and key health-and-safety uses. Online Child Safety: Connecticut AG William Tong has launched an investigation into Roblox, calling it an “online pedophile playground” and seeking records on what the company knew about child exploitation and how it profited. State Leadership & Budget: Lamont signed the FY 2027 budget into law, boosting education, health, childcare and municipal aid without raising taxes, and CSCU named Natalie Braswell interim chancellor as the system “turns the page.” Climate & Preparedness: NOAA expects a below-average hurricane season, but CT officials still urge residents to prepare for heavy rain and flooding. Environment Watch: A new study finds U.S. wetlands are vanishing faster than protections were designed for, with extreme weather and rising seas driving the loss.

Online Safety Crackdown: CT Attorney General William Tong announced an investigation into Roblox after reports of child exploitation, aiming to find what the company knew, how it profited, and what it did to protect kids. Utility Watch: New England governors urged federal regulators to reject a plan that would let regional transmission companies boost profits and delay refunds to ratepayers—after earlier FERC action ordered $1.5 billion in refunds. Energy Planning: Connecticut also signed a law requiring a workforce study for a potential advanced nuclear industry, mapping what engineers and trades workers would be needed. Tech & Learning: A new debate is heating up over AI in classrooms—less about whether kids will use it, more about whether they’ll lean on it before learning to think independently. Health Threats: A tick-surveillance program flagged rare viruses on and around U.S. military sites, including Powassan virus detected in Connecticut. Local Environment: Save the Sound’s latest beach grades show Norwalk’s Shady Beach and Calf Pasture Beach slipping to C+.

Mental Health & Spring Cleaning: Zen monks and Connecticut psychologists say chores like sweeping and decluttering can calm the nervous system and boost mood—“chop wood, carry water” as a daily reset. Local Economy: Rainy Memorial Day weekend still drew shoppers and diners in Mystic and across Hartford-area towns, with businesses reporting strong indoor traffic. Public Health Access: A new report spotlights Connecticut’s adult dental coverage gap in Medicaid, pushing preventable problems into painful, costly emergency room visits. Environment & Resilience: Scientists are injecting spores to save American elms from blight, with hopes they’ll also help New England manage heavier rains and flooding. Policy & Safety: Connecticut lawmakers and regulators continue gun- and safety-related work, while federal prison oversight at USP Canaan draws fresh scrutiny from the DOJ inspector general. What’s missing: No major Connecticut climate or energy breakthrough in the latest hours—most environment updates come from ongoing elm and resilience efforts.

CT Flood Recovery: FEMA approved more than $6M across New England, including $182,000 for Chester’s July 2023 flood recovery—small but meaningful help for rebuilding safer infrastructure. Gas Prices & Rebuild Pressure: Connecticut’s transportation plans could feel the squeeze as higher gas prices and petroleum costs threaten how far state dollars stretch. Rivers Science for Youth: Rural Rivers is taking applications for 18–26-year-olds to become Community Science Fellows on flooding and river recovery, with a stipend and hands-on training. Species Rescue in New England: US Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy are working to restore American elms by treating surviving trees with spores of the blight-causing fungus—aiming for a disease-resistant next generation that can also help manage floodplains. Drinking Water Upgrades: EPA is sending $37M to Connecticut—$27.5M for lead pipe replacements and $9.5M for PFAS reductions. Local Land-Use Watch: New Haven is moving to tighten zoning rules around “juice bars” after Rumaj Lounge announced it will close.

WNBA Spotlight: Seattle’s Storm rolled past the Connecticut Sun 97-85, with Natisha Hiedeman hitting 24 points and rookie Flau’jae Johnson adding 17 as the game turned into a free-throw parade. Connecticut Economy: Rainy Memorial Day weekend kept people indoors—and that helped local restaurants and shops in Hartford and West Hartford stay busy. Health Equity: A new look at Connecticut’s adult dental gap says many people end up in emergency rooms for problems that could have been prevented with routine care. Early Childhood Discipline: Teachers report more behavior trouble even among the youngest kids, pointing to a post-pandemic shift that’s showing up in classrooms. Water Safety Funding: The EPA is sending $37 million to Connecticut for drinking-water upgrades, including lead pipe work and PFAS cleanup. Pollinator Research: Connecticut is getting a grant to map at-risk bee species, including a bumble bee that hasn’t been detected in the state for years.

Hazmat Alert: A damaged chemical tank in Southern California is still considered a possible explosion risk, even as officials say a crack may have lowered the odds of a “catastrophic” blast; about 50,000 residents remain under evacuation orders with no return timeline, while crews keep the tank cooled and monitor for leaks. Connecticut Water: The EPA is sending $37 million to Connecticut for drinking-water upgrades—$27.5M for lead (lead service line work) and $9.5M for PFAS. Food Safety: Straus Family Creamery issued a voluntary ice cream recall in 17 states, including CT, over possible metal fragments. Local Safety: A Gateway Community College graduation in Bridgeport turned chaotic after a brawl involving two families; three people were arrested. Pollinator News: Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station received a grant to map at-risk bee species, aiming to guide conservation.

Drinking Water Push: EPA is sending $37 million to Connecticut to cut lead exposure ($27.5M) and tackle PFAS in drinking water ($9.5M), with money aimed at finding and replacing lead service lines and reducing harmful chemicals. Public Safety & Community: A CT community college graduation at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater turned chaotic after a brawl involving two families led to three arrests. Pollinator Hope: Rhode Island scientists say a bee long thought extinct since 1960 has been rediscovered, alongside 25 never-before-recorded species for the state—good news for conservation planning. Health Tech & Privacy: A Hartford HealthCare hack exposed information tied to 22,500 Medicaid patients via the HUSKY provider portal. Local Climate Adaptation: Old Lyme is moving to explore solar on a closed landfill, banking on shifting federal tax incentives.