Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

News Releases - 2025

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  • 7/29/2025 Governor Lamont, Attorney General Tong, Commissioner Dykes, and Commissioner Juthani Respond to the EPA’s Proposed Repeal of the Landmark Endangerment Finding

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes, and Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, released the following statements in response to today’s announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it is rescinding the “endangerment finding” – an Obama-era determination that allows the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

  • 7/24/2025 DEEP Announces New Incentive Levels For CHEAPR Program Effective August 1st

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that the standard incentive level for the popular Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Vehicle Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) program will be changing effective August 1, 2025. The CHEAPR program offers incentives to Connecticut residents who purchase or lease an eligible new or used battery electric (BEV) or, plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicle from a licensed Connecticut automobile dealership or original equipment manufacturer.

  • 2/13/2025 DEEP Announces Recipients of 2025 Grants for Aquatic Invasive Species Control on Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers

    (HARTFORD)-The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced the recipients of the fifth annual round of funding through the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Grant Program, with a total of $400,000 going to 12 projects that will reduce the impacts of aquatic invasive species on inland waters in Connecticut.

  • 6/22/2025 Connecticut Facing First Summer Heat Wave DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone for June 22 and 23, 2025

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is expecting temperatures to reach the mid to upper 90’s beginning Sunday, June 22 and last through Wednesday June 25, 2025. At points during this heat wave heat indices are expected to exceed 100oF. These very hot temperatures will contribute to elevated ozone levels for the southern portion of Connecticut on Sunday and Monday. These levels may approach or exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) levels for these parts of Connecticut.

  • 5/1/2025 DEEP Environmental Conservation Police Celebrate Graduation of the 2025 Ranger Academy

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) celebrated the graduation ceremony for the 2025 Environmental Conservation Police (EnCon) Ranger graduating class on Wednesday, April 30th. Thirty-three recruits successfully completed a 120-hour training academy to become EnCon Rangers. An additional 10 Rangers will return to the field from previous years.

  • 2/26/2025 DEEP Launches Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) to Identify Strategies to Affordably and Reliably Meet Connecticut’s Growing Electricity Needs

    (HARTFORD) - The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that it is launching the state’s next Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) to assess Connecticut’s growing electricity needs and identify pathways to meet these needs affordably and reliably for the state’s residents and businesses.

  • 4/24/2025 DEEP To Celebrate Arbor Day in Communities Across Connecticut

    (HARTFORD) — The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is celebrating Arbor Day April 25th with communities across Connecticut and invites you to join us at any one of the many events planned around the state. Many municipalities celebrate Arbor Day as part of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City Program. This national program recognizes cities across the United States for their dedication to growing, protecting, and maintaining urban and community forests. Connecticut boasts 24 Tree Cities, 4 Tree Campuses, and 4 Tree City Growth Awards this year. This list includes the Town of Fairfield and City of Stamford, which are tied for first place as the longest-standing Tree Cities in the state at 37 years.

  • 2/11/2025 DEEP Expands Scope of Energy Efficiency Procurement to Enable Businesses as Well as Residents to Benefit from Innovative Approaches to Lowering Energy Bills

    (HARTFORD)- As noted in Governor Lamont’s State of the State address in January, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is conducting a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) to invite bids from efficiency suppliers to expand access to electric efficiency for United Illuminating (UI) and Eversource customers. This week, as part of the RFP process, DEEP released an updated schedule and expanded scope for its electric efficiency and affordability procurement. The initial draft request for proposals (RFP) was focused on energy efficiency measures delivered to residential customers. In response to bidder requests, DEEP is now expanding the RFP scope by clarifying that interested bidders could include energy efficiency measures for commercial and industrial customers, as well as residential customers. In addition, interested bidders would be permitted to use the customer’s electric bill to collect payments from the participating customers to pay for the installed measures over a period of time if those payments are less than the expected savings from the efficiency measures.

  • 5/7/2025 DEEP Celebrates National Air Quality Awareness Week May 5-9

    (HARTFORD)—To mark National Air Quality Awareness week, which runs May 5-9, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) encourages the public to stay aware of the air quality around you, learn how to protect yourself on poor air quality days, and consider actions you can take to improve your local air quality.

  • 6/13/2025 DEEP Announces Grant Recipients and New Funding Opportunity for Urban and Community Forestry

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today recipients of 2025 Urban and Community Forestry Planning and Urban Forested Natural Areas and Riparian Corridor Restoration grants. Over $184,000 will be granted to support 11 urban and community forestry projects in Bloomfield, Ellington, Mansfield, New London, North Stonington, Old Saybrook, Ridgefield, Stamford, and Stratford.

  • 4/2/2025 DEEP to Conduct Prescribed Burns at Six Locations This Spring

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) plans to conduct prescribed (controlled) burns at six locations this spring, weather and conditions permitting. The areas include Quinebaug River Wildlife Management Area in Plainfield, Suffield Wildlife Management Area in Suffield, Belding Wildlife Management Area in Vernon, Goodwin State Forest in Hampton, Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown, and Mansfield Hollow State Park in Mansfield.

  • 4/22/2025 Governor Lamont Applauds Legislative Approval of Release-Based Cleanup Regulations

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes, and Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe are applauding the vote today by the Connecticut General Assembly’s Legislative Regulation Review Committee to approve the adoption of Release-Based Cleanup Regulations.

  • 3/21/2025 DEEP Announces its 2025 Sky’s the Limit Hiking and Walking Challenge: “Cross Your Trees and Dot Your Skies”

    (HARTFORD) — Does hiking, walking, and immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and fresh air of the spring season sound like something you would like to do with friends, family, four-legged friend(s), and co-workers? If so, it's time to take on the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) 2025 Sky’s the Limit Hiking and Walking Challenge!

  • 1/24/2025 2025 Connecticut Duck Stamp Reproductions Now Available

    (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce that the 2025 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation (Duck) Stamp, which features Connecticut artist Alice Han’s depiction of a Northern Shoveler, is now available in limited quantity as a Conservation Edition Print.

  • 1/23/2025 DEEP to Host 19th Annual No Child Left Inside® Winter Festival February 1st

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Winter is a great time to celebrate the outdoors with your friends, family, co-workers, or anyone who loves the crisp New England weather! The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) invites the public to join DEEP’s No Child Left Inside® 19th annual Winter Festival at Burr Pond State Park, 384 Burr Mountain Road, Torrington on Saturday, February 1, 2025, 10 am to 3 pm.