Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

News Releases - 2024

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  • 9/25/2024 DEEP Seeks Input on Expanded DEEP Climate Resilience Funding and Loan Initiatives to Help Connecticut Communities Become More Climate Resilient

    (HARTFORD, CT) — Today, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced the strategic expansion of the successful DEEP Climate Resilience Fund (DCRF) program to better enable communities to access federal funding for climate resilience. This upcoming investment of state funds will help towns, Councils of Government, and other stakeholders pursue project planning, and in some cases construction, allowing them to tap into the billions of federal dollars available to improve local resilience. As Connecticut experiences mounting costs from severe weather events, securing federal funding for proactive climate resilience planning and investment is critical to getting more projects built and keeping communities safe. DEEP is seeking feedback on a new framework for the DEEP Climate Resilience Fund, including from municipalities, Councils of Government, tribes, electric distribution companies, academic partners, private entities, and non-profit organizations. DEEP made this new future grant round announcement as part of a tour of the Meriden Green resilience project, a 14-acre flood control project using nature-based solutions located in downtown Meriden. The announcement was part of the State’s Sustainability and Resiliency Week.

  • 1/12/2024 Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut Awarded $14.6 Million Federal Grant To Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Seven Communities

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection with a $14.6 million grant through its Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program to expand Connecticut’s network of electric vehicle charging stations. The program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

  • 7/16/2024 DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone for July 16 - 17

    (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s (˚F) beginning today, with high temperatures persisting into Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the entire State through Wednesday. These hot temperatures will contribute to elevated ozone levels for western Connecticut on Tuesday and continuing along the coast on Wednesday. These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for these parts of Connecticut.

  • 9/19/2024 DEEP Urges Residents to Take Steps to Avoid Conflicts With Bears This Fall

    (HARTFORD, CT) —The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is strongly urging residents to follow best practices to reduce the likelihood of a conflict with a black bear this fall. So far, 2024 has featured a record high of 68 documented home entries by bears, as well as a bear that bit a resident in Cheshire in July. Conflicts with bears have tripled in recent years in Connecticut and bears have been observed in all of the state’s 169 cities and towns. Given the already high rate of human-bear conflicts in 2024, DEEP is urging residents to practice vigilance as we enter a time of year when bears are particularly active as they increase feeding ahead of the winter denning season.

  • 7/12/2024 DEEP Announces Notice of Availability of FY 2024 Funding Opportunity for Boating Infrastructure Grants

    (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce the release of a request for proposal for the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program. This competitive federal funding opportunity is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the Department of the Interior (DOI). DEEP will review and select qualifying state projects from the pool of submissions to recommend for funding, which will then be submitted to the USFWS for final approval.

  • 10/29/2024 DEEP Launches Expanded Home Electric Efficiency and Affordability Procurement Draft Request for Proposals

    (HARTFORD, CT) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today the launch of an Expanded Home Electric Efficiency and Affordability draft request for proposals (RFP) to deliver expanded electricity bill savings to residential customers of Eversource and United Illuminating. This RFP process will build on Connecticut’s existing, highly successful utility-run energy efficiency programs, which deliver hundreds of dollars in energy bill savings each year to thousands of participating households. DEEP is soliciting competitive proposals from companies, including electric utilities and other private entities, for cost-saving household electric energy efficiency measures. Among the types of responses DEEP is soliciting are performance contracting approaches that reduce the upfront costs of installing energy efficiency and lower monthly energy bills, while also providing additional opportunities for Connecticut’s energy efficiency workforce.

  • 4/9/2024 DEEP and Audubon Society Urge Residents to Take Down Birdfeeders as Bear Activity Increases

    (HARTFORD) — As black bear activity in early spring increases following winter denning season, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds residents to do their part to protect both their communities and bears by not reinforcing behaviors that result in human-bear conflicts. Simple steps will reduce the likelihood of encounters, conflicts, and potential harm to people and bears.

  • 7/12/2024 Seaside State Park Planning Process Continues to Move Forward

    (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) seeks public input to help inform the design of the Passive Park concept as it continues to make progress in its planning process for Seaside State Park in Waterford.

  • 5/8/2024 DEEP Announces the No Child Left Inside® Families in the Parks Program 2024

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced that registration for its 2024 No Child Left Inside® (NCLI) Families in the Parks Program is now open at: Connecticut No Child Left Inside

  • 4/22/2024 Governor Lamont, Congressional Delegation Announce Connecticut Selected To Receive $62.5 Million for Solar Projects Benefitting Low-Income Residents

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) with a $62.5 million grant under its Solar for All initiative.

  • 11/22/2024 DEEP Releases Second 20BY26 Progress Report

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Today, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) released its second report describing the work its teams pursued in the summer of 2024 toward the agency’s ambitious 20BY26 Initiative. 20BY26 launched in February 2024 and released its first progress report in August 2024. This initiative builds on the foundation of DEEP’s highly successful 20BY20 Initiative by setting 20 new targets to meet by the end of 2026 to make DEEP’s processes even more predictable, transparent, and efficient. The goal of these ongoing improvements is to keep striving for better and more innovative ways to serve our state’s municipalities, businesses, other regulated entities, and residents. 

  • 7/2/2024 DEEP Adds Naugatuck State Forest to Existing Alcohol Ban for Recreation Areas

    (Hartford, CT) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has imposed a temporary alcohol ban for Naugatuck State Forest in addition to seven state recreation areas previously imposed this summer. The ban is in effect from Tuesday, July 2, 2024, through Monday, September 30, 2024, for the following area:

  • 9/26/2024 Celebrate Hunting and Fishing Day

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont has proclaimed Saturday, September 28, 2024, “Hunting and Fishing Day in the State of Connecticut” to coincide with National Hunting and Fishing Day; and to celebrate, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) invites you to celebrate at Black Rock State Park on Saturday, September 28, 2024, with a fun-filled, daylong event at Black Rock State Park, 2065 Thomaston Road, Watertown, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

  • 1/16/2024 DEEP Requests Grant Proposals for Aquatic Invasive Species Control on Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is now accepting proposals for the State’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Grant Program. The program makes $500,000 available to reduce impacts of aquatic invasive species on inland waters in Connecticut. Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2024.

  • 4/5/2024 DEEP Begins Cold Water Safety Campaign

    (HARTFORD) — With warmer weather in the forecast, and boaters heading to the water on weekends in greater numbers, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) urges boaters to be prepared for the difference between the warm air and the cold water.