Sector: Mobility and Transportation

Goal 1: A clean and green municipal fleet 

T.1 - Accelerate and/or begin adopting EV’s into the municipal fleet, including public school buses.

T.2 - Begin adopting alternate fuel sources such as hydrogen for medium to heavy-duty vehicles where EV transition is not possible.

T.3 - Reduce idling in the municipal fleet; work with civil engineers to adjust traffic signals and patterns to reduce idle time.

Goal 2: Create a transit first approach and reduce spatial misalignment

T.4 - Offer discounted transit fare for LIDACs

T.5 - Create a transit first approach:

1. Ensure that opportunity zones are completely accessible via public transit
2.  Advocate for transit plans that incentivize new development to be transit-oriented and walkable
3. Pilot pedestrianization, limited traffic (bus only lanes/streets) and active transportation in dense developments

T.6 - Create more park-and-ride options, and increase transit access and frequency in areas with high car ownership and high commute times to work to enable multi-modal trips.

T.7 - Reduce spatial misalignment:

1. conduct feasibility studies to re-zone areas to create economic zones
2. make permitting processes for dense housing development easier especially near existing economic zones. 

T.8 - Partner with micro-mobility companies to enable cross-town trips for smaller towns nearby

Goal 3: Reduce emissions from private vehicles

T.9 - Increase the over all Electric Vehicle adoption and create infrastructure to support this:

1. Educate low and middle-income communities about the benefits of CHEAPR and have limited-time offers of higher Rebate+ to encourage buying of EVs in the short-term  
2. Encourage car owners in rural communities to set up at home EV charging by taking advantage of Federal Tax credits.
3. In high-density development areas, implement requirements for new development to include EV charging stations.

T.10 - Incentivize EVs for shared-mobility companies (Uber/Lyft); this can even include free public parking for such vehicles. 

T.11 - Incentivize trip reduction programs in public offices and partner with private offices for the same: this basically requires an increase in work-from-home so that work-commute is reduced. 

T.12 - Improve broadband access (with at least 1GBPS) state-wide

T.13 - Pursue alternative fuel sources, such as hydrogen, where electrification is not possible (CT DEEP)

Sector: Electricity Consumption and Production

Goal 1: Reduce electricity consumption from fossil fuel sources in municipal buildings and services

E.1 - Utilize on site renewables (ie. rooftop solar) to power municipal operations

E.2 - If applicable, leverage powers of municipal utilities to procure renewable power, expand electricity production capabilities, and/or invest in storage capabilities within the municipality

E.3 - Increase procurement of renewable energy for municipal services

E.4 - Pursue microgrid projects that integrate onsite renewables and electricity from the grid to power municipal services 

E.5 - Increase efficiency of wastewater treatment facilities, utilize onsite solar, or biogas to lower emissions at these facilities

Goal 2: Increase renewable energy production and consumption at the local scale

E.6 - Communicate state and federal level financing programs such as CT Greenbanks Solar for All programs, that support on site renewable generation to consumers.

E.7 - Evaluate the potential of citing renewable energy projects on vacant, underutilized land such as brownfield sites and combine planning for the renewable energy transition with open space planning.

Supporting action - Partner with Community Based Organizations to build out community wide renewable energy projects on these sites.

E.8 - Consider adopting clean energy zoning ordinances that would require new and/or existing buildings to meet certain clean energy milestones through the use of onsite renewables or clean energy purchasing.

E.9 - Coordinate with housing authorities to build out distributed solar projects and microgrids for public housing complexes.

Goal 3: Prepare local economies for renewable energy transition

E.9 - Prepare economic development plans around offshore wind energy.

E.10 - Partner with local workforce development centers, technical schools, and trade unions to prepare workforce in key renewable energy sectors, such as offshore wind energy and 

Sector: Waste Management

Goal 1: Reduce organic waste (food, yard scraps, paper) reaching landfill by 80%

WM.1 - Unit-based pricing program: SCRCOG & VRCOG hire 10 coordinators to work with municipalities to implement unit-based pricing program, which includes municipal composting or digesters, providing consumer education, containers, bags, and curbside pickup where feasible, as well as waste stream segregation on city-owned properties. LIDAC focus: *Prioritize programs in LIDACs as first members of program. *Ensure LIDACs make up at least 40% of participating communities. *Provide free or reduced bags and containers to low-income residents. *Work with landlords and housing authorities to provide containers and waste pick-up aligned with the program.  

WM. 2 - Alternative to unit-based pricing program (otherwise same as above)

WM.3 - Participate in USDA grant program to reduce food waste https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/09/20/usda-expands-efforts-prevent-and-reduce-food-loss-and-waste

Goal 2: Transition from waste-to-energy incinerators to producing energy from biogas

WM.7 - Increase facilities for biogas generation from organic waste. LIDAC focus: Avoid sitting facilities near LIDACs.

Goal 1: Divert waste from landfills and incinerators  

W.1.1: Establish a county-wide unit-based pricing program with food scrap collection 

W.1.2: Establish a regional waste management authority in New Haven County. 

Additional Recommended Strategies 

W.1.3: Expand and continue community-based food waste reduction programs.   

W.1.4: Advocate for the expansion of Connecticut’s Commercial Organics Law. 

Goal 2: Reduce municipal solid waste through state law reducing packaging  

W.2.1: Advocate for a statewide extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging. 

Sector: Energy efficiency and buildings

Goal 1: Building energy benchmarking and disclosure for existing and new buildings

B.1 - Require building owners to annually benchmark and disclose their energy usage and efficiency ratings 

B.2 - Provide educational resources and support to building owners to help them understand and improve energy performance

B.3 - Ensure all municipal operations rely on 100% renewable energy sources

B.4 - Advocate for strict building codes and achieve net zero energy usage.

B.5 - Offer incentives and expedited permitting for projects that achieve green building certifications

Goal 2: Renewable energy access for low income homes

B.6 - Install solar heating on low income housing units o generate clean, renewable energy and reduce electricity costs

B.7 - Develop community solar heating programs that allow low-income residents to benefit from shared solar installations

B.8 - Install energy monitoring and management systems in low-income housing to track and control energy consumption. 

Goal 3: Energy efficient building materials and retrofits

B.9 - Support the adoption of sustainable building materials in low income housing construction and renovation

B.10 - Establish a city-wide retrofit program especially for low income and municipal buildings, providing grants and low-interest loans to property owners for energy-efficient upgrades 

B.11 - Monitor and report the energy and cost savings resulting from retrofitting and sustainable materials to demonstrate their impact and encourage further investment. 

Sector: Industrial

Goal 1: Improve Emissions Monitoring, Accounting and Reporting

I.1 - Require utility companies, gas suppliers, and health care facilities to report emissions data. 

Goal 2: Reduce emissions through low-carbon procurement

I.3 - Embed a purchasing criterion in public projects that states a preference for suppliers or service providers who have a transparent and standardized GHG inventory

Goal 3: Reduce emissions from the health care sector

I.4 - Collaborate with the healthcare sector to offer financial grants or subsidies to healthcare facilities that are committed to adopting low-emission practices in specific medical areas. Partner with major healthcare providers to establish a preferential purchasing system, prioritizing suppliers or service providers who disclose their carbon footprint and have clear decarbonization objectives.

Sector: Working Lands and Forestry

Goal 1: Preserve and support existing and potential forested lands

L.1 - Pursue afforestation and reforestation throughout New Haven County 

L.2 - Support current efforts and management strategies to maintain existing forests on both private and public property 

Goal 2: Increase urban tree canopy (UTC)

L.3 - Increase urban tree canopy in low-income and disadvantaged communities