CCAG, in coalition with our state and national partners and Connecticut citizens, continues to take action on the planned issue agenda. Please join our email list and visit this page often for current actions and updates!
Take Action
2024 Cycle4CT 5th Annual Ride for Climate & Environmental Justice is Here!
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CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO RIDE!
The Cycle4CT Challenge raises funds to strengthen our organizing capacity in Connecticut to make progress towards a Zero Carbon Future.
Ironically, the recent heat waves have necessited extending the physical challenge to keep folks safe. Take the physical challenge from anywhere in the world July 12-14 or 19 - 21. On bicycles, tricycles, skateboards and more through city streets, quiet forests, along the coastal shore, or even a spin bike from the comfort of your own home. Be as creative as you like to support CCAG's unwavering advocacy for climate and environmental justice.
Join the Movement - Register to Ride or Support a Challenger Today!
How to get involved:
Contact Natasha Kuranko for questions regarding promotion and assistance donating or registering to ride.
TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE OUR PLANET ONE REVOLUTION AT A TIME!
Visit our climate and environment page to learn more about what your participation supports.
The Cycle4CT Challenge raises funds to strengthen our organizing capacity in Connecticut to make progress towards a Zero Carbon Future.
Ironically, the recent heat waves have necessited extending the physical challenge to keep folks safe. Take the physical challenge from anywhere in the world July 12-14 or 19 - 21. On bicycles, tricycles, skateboards and more through city streets, quiet forests, along the coastal shore, or even a spin bike from the comfort of your own home. Be as creative as you like to support CCAG's unwavering advocacy for climate and environmental justice.
Join the Movement - Register to Ride or Support a Challenger Today!
How to get involved:
- Ride: Take the physical challenge anytime from July 12 - 14 or 19 - 21 from anywhere in the world.
- Donate: Take the fiscal challenge starting right now. Contribute to the campaign or support a challenger. Every dollar helps us fight for a sustainable future. The fiscal challenge ends on July 31st. Find challengers on the main page or here: Tony Adamczyk and Team Our Only Planet! (OOP!) - Dupont-Diehl Farm Riders - Dan Livingston - Donald Rogers - Duste Dunn - Team Power Pedaling 4 Our Planet
- Promote: Use your social media super powers or word of mouth to help spread the word to fellow cyclists, climate activists, and business sponsors. Share our mission and encourage others to get involved. FB, Twitter, Instagram
Contact Natasha Kuranko for questions regarding promotion and assistance donating or registering to ride.
TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE OUR PLANET ONE REVOLUTION AT A TIME!
Visit our climate and environment page to learn more about what your participation supports.
CT Utilities Want to Invest in More Polluting Gas at Your Expense
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Right now, the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA), Connecticut’s utility regulator, is seeking public comments on the proposals from two of Connecticut's gas utility corporations.
These corporations seek to increase rates and prolong our state’s dependence on fossil gas by making big investments in gas pipelines and other gas infrastructure.
PURA needs to hear from you that this is the wrong direction for Connecticut’s ratepayers and our climate. Instead, they should require the gas companies to plan for a clean energy future that all Connecticut residents can participate in.
The customer charges should not be increased.
Each utility proposes to increase their residential heating monthly fixed customer charges. For CNG, they propose an increase from $18.00 to $21.25 per month; and for SCG from $15.64 to $21.25 per month. If approved, this would go into effect on November 1st, 2024.
We need to put gas in the past, and invest in clean energy instead of more gas pipelines. Our energy bills, our air, and our climate are all at risk when we increase our dependence on fossil fuels. Connecticut residents deserve affordable energy bills and a healthier climate.
Please send your comments to PURA today!
News Article: Connecticut Utilities Want to Invest in More Polluting Gas – at Your Expense
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 | SHANNON LAUN Vice President of Conservation Law Foundation, CT
These corporations seek to increase rates and prolong our state’s dependence on fossil gas by making big investments in gas pipelines and other gas infrastructure.
PURA needs to hear from you that this is the wrong direction for Connecticut’s ratepayers and our climate. Instead, they should require the gas companies to plan for a clean energy future that all Connecticut residents can participate in.
The customer charges should not be increased.
Each utility proposes to increase their residential heating monthly fixed customer charges. For CNG, they propose an increase from $18.00 to $21.25 per month; and for SCG from $15.64 to $21.25 per month. If approved, this would go into effect on November 1st, 2024.
We need to put gas in the past, and invest in clean energy instead of more gas pipelines. Our energy bills, our air, and our climate are all at risk when we increase our dependence on fossil fuels. Connecticut residents deserve affordable energy bills and a healthier climate.
Please send your comments to PURA today!
News Article: Connecticut Utilities Want to Invest in More Polluting Gas – at Your Expense
FEBRUARY 22, 2024 | SHANNON LAUN Vice President of Conservation Law Foundation, CT
Take Action to Oppose Greedy Health Insurance Rate Hike Requests!
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Health insurance companies are asking the Connecticut Insurance Department (CID) for its blessing to raise your rates - again.
These companies are spending billions of your premium dollars making the rich even richer, with executive pay, stock buybacks, and profits.
The CID will have a public hearing on these requests in August. Click here for more information and to tell CID to turn down these requests!
In the coming weeks, CCAG will reveal 2023 spending by just four health insurance companies on profits, CEO pay and stock buybacks. They are making billions by rejecting your claims and raising your rates.
Clearly, our government needs to act in a much stronger manner to rein in these corporate profiteers.
Stay tuned for updates!
These companies are spending billions of your premium dollars making the rich even richer, with executive pay, stock buybacks, and profits.
The CID will have a public hearing on these requests in August. Click here for more information and to tell CID to turn down these requests!
In the coming weeks, CCAG will reveal 2023 spending by just four health insurance companies on profits, CEO pay and stock buybacks. They are making billions by rejecting your claims and raising your rates.
Clearly, our government needs to act in a much stronger manner to rein in these corporate profiteers.
Stay tuned for updates!
Thank you to everyone who joined us to hold Travelers Insurance Company accountable on May 15th!
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On May 15th, CCAG and Third Act CT activists attended the Travelers Insurance Company stockholder meeting in Hartford.
Travelers is one of the top fossil fuel insurers in the world. From inside the meeting, we presented our list of demands including that they stop insuring fossil fuel projects.
Over the summer, we will continue to pressure these companies. If fossil fuel projects aren't insured or underwritten, they can't exist.
CCAG and Insure Our Future continue to work to hold insurance companies accountable for climate destruction. The Connecticut legislature failed to pass any regulatory policies for insurance companies in our state that invest in and underwrite fossil fuels this year.
Once again, we find we must take this issue into our own hands and directly to the insurance companies. Stay tuned for more actions coming soon. Be sure to join our email list for updates on this issue.
For questions or comments contact Helen Humphreys at: [email protected]
PRESS & MEDIA:
Climate activists in Hartford urge insurance giant Travelers to cut ties with fossil fuel companies
By Matt Dwyer, CT Public Radio, 5/15/24
What happened inside the meeting? Excerpt from Insure Our Future Twitter page.
Connecticut Climate Activists to Rally at Travelers Shareholder Meeting
Travelers Shareholder Press Advisory, 5/14/24
Student Climate Campaign Targets CT-Based Insurance Companies for Fossil Fuel Investments. Interview with Joanna Mallary, a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Hartford, conducted by Scott Harris-
Counter Point, 5/13/24
Travelers is one of the top fossil fuel insurers in the world. From inside the meeting, we presented our list of demands including that they stop insuring fossil fuel projects.
Over the summer, we will continue to pressure these companies. If fossil fuel projects aren't insured or underwritten, they can't exist.
CCAG and Insure Our Future continue to work to hold insurance companies accountable for climate destruction. The Connecticut legislature failed to pass any regulatory policies for insurance companies in our state that invest in and underwrite fossil fuels this year.
Once again, we find we must take this issue into our own hands and directly to the insurance companies. Stay tuned for more actions coming soon. Be sure to join our email list for updates on this issue.
For questions or comments contact Helen Humphreys at: [email protected]
PRESS & MEDIA:
Climate activists in Hartford urge insurance giant Travelers to cut ties with fossil fuel companies
By Matt Dwyer, CT Public Radio, 5/15/24
What happened inside the meeting? Excerpt from Insure Our Future Twitter page.
Connecticut Climate Activists to Rally at Travelers Shareholder Meeting
Travelers Shareholder Press Advisory, 5/14/24
Student Climate Campaign Targets CT-Based Insurance Companies for Fossil Fuel Investments. Interview with Joanna Mallary, a clinical psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Hartford, conducted by Scott Harris-
Counter Point, 5/13/24
Thank you to everyone who sent comments to PURA re: the most recent electric rate hike requests
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Eversource (Cl & P) and United Illuminating are back for more of your money with yet another rate hike request.
Utility rates are an essential pocketbook issue for Connecticut residents. Many of us are still struggling pay off the last increase and other household expenses like food and medicine. The economic effects of inflation and other pressures continue to impact Connecticut residents’ finances.
UPDATE: Electric bills for Eversource customers are slated to go up this summer, according to bill adjustments released by the utility this week.
In April, the state’s three-member Public Utilities Regulatory Authority voted 2-1 in favor of the 10-month rate increase in spite of the tremendous public outcry.
CCAG commends PURA Chairman Marissa Gillett who voted against the increase. She said that the increase should have been spread out over a longer time period to lessen the impact on customers. “Instead, customers will bear the brunt of this extraordinary volatility and anomalous conditions over the course of an unreasonably short period of time given the magnitude of costs at stake,”
The rate adjustments come as residents enter the summer months, when people typically consume more power, turning on air conditioners to cool their homes.
One small adjustment is that the hike will begin to show up in customers bills in July rather than May. United Illuminating customers will see an average of $359.36 and Eversource customers will see an increase of approximately $304.56 a year.
Utility rates are an essential pocketbook issue for Connecticut residents. Many of us are still struggling pay off the last increase and other household expenses like food and medicine. The economic effects of inflation and other pressures continue to impact Connecticut residents’ finances.
UPDATE: Electric bills for Eversource customers are slated to go up this summer, according to bill adjustments released by the utility this week.
In April, the state’s three-member Public Utilities Regulatory Authority voted 2-1 in favor of the 10-month rate increase in spite of the tremendous public outcry.
CCAG commends PURA Chairman Marissa Gillett who voted against the increase. She said that the increase should have been spread out over a longer time period to lessen the impact on customers. “Instead, customers will bear the brunt of this extraordinary volatility and anomalous conditions over the course of an unreasonably short period of time given the magnitude of costs at stake,”
The rate adjustments come as residents enter the summer months, when people typically consume more power, turning on air conditioners to cool their homes.
One small adjustment is that the hike will begin to show up in customers bills in July rather than May. United Illuminating customers will see an average of $359.36 and Eversource customers will see an increase of approximately $304.56 a year.
Thank Environment Committee Members for holding Insurers accountable!
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For the last 4 years, CCAG has been working hard to hold insurance companies accountable for propping up fossil fuel projects and fueling the climate crisis.
the Connecticut General Assembly’s Environment Committee just voted a groundbreaking policy out of committee.
The committee voted to approve the Governor's Climate Resiliency bill (SB11) with an amendment that advances a climate resiliency fund to support communities in Connecticut harmed by extreme weather disasters fueled by climate chaos.
This piece of legislation would take a crucial step in highlighting insurers' role in the climate crisis, and hold them accountable for the devastation their underwriting policies have caused.
You can send a thank you note to the Environment Committee Members who voted YES on S.B.11.
Thanks to them, the bill is headed to the Senate floor, and we have a real chance at holding insurers accountable. Here is the full vote tally list:
We have until May 8th to get this passed through both chambers, so stay tuned for more actions!
Climate and Environment Advocacy Day! 3/15/24
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Come to the State Capitol in Hartford to advocate for strong and meaningful legislation to protect our environment and keep Connecticut's climate promise!
At this event you will hear from speakers about bills before the legislature on topics including climate, clean energy, pollution reduction, toxics, and waste reduction. We'll have materials available for you to share with your legislators following the program. Once you have signed up, please reach out to your own legislators, invite them to the program, and ask to meet with them after the program ends at 10:30 am.
Cohosted by Sierra Club CT, CTLCV, Clean Water Action, CT Environmental Rights Amendment Alliance, CT NOFA, CCAG, Coalition for Pesticide Reform, Third Act CT, CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, CLF, Save the Sound, Connecticut Coalition for Environmental and Economic Justice
RSVP Here.
At this event you will hear from speakers about bills before the legislature on topics including climate, clean energy, pollution reduction, toxics, and waste reduction. We'll have materials available for you to share with your legislators following the program. Once you have signed up, please reach out to your own legislators, invite them to the program, and ask to meet with them after the program ends at 10:30 am.
Cohosted by Sierra Club CT, CTLCV, Clean Water Action, CT Environmental Rights Amendment Alliance, CT NOFA, CCAG, Coalition for Pesticide Reform, Third Act CT, CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, CLF, Save the Sound, Connecticut Coalition for Environmental and Economic Justice
RSVP Here.
Insure Our Future campaigns Global Week of Action- CT Action 2/26/24
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Next week is the Insure Our Future campaigns Global Week of Action. There will be actions all around the world calling out insurance companies' role in the climate crisis, and in the US we are setting our sights on the insurers of the toxic LNG terminals.
Join us Monday (2/26) from 11:30am-1pm outside The Hartford insurance company in downtown Hartford to stand with Louisiana frontline activists and hold underwriters accountable!
On Monday (2/26) two activists from the Louisiana Gulf will be traveling all the way to Hartford to confront The Hartford, as they are one of the underwriters listed on US LNG export terminals. We will hear from activists and Lake Charles community members, Roishetta Sibley Ozane and James Hiatt, who have been fighting tirelessly to protect their community.
Insurance is Connecticut's keystone industry, and The Hartford touts themselves as one of the "world's most ethical companies" .
As Connecticut citizens, we must hold them accountable and stand in solidarity with the communities that are suffering from their greed.
Please feel free to share this action to your lists/contacts and let me know if you have any questions or would like to get more involved!
See you Monday! Helen Humphreys, CCAG Communications Coordinator
Join us Monday (2/26) from 11:30am-1pm outside The Hartford insurance company in downtown Hartford to stand with Louisiana frontline activists and hold underwriters accountable!
On Monday (2/26) two activists from the Louisiana Gulf will be traveling all the way to Hartford to confront The Hartford, as they are one of the underwriters listed on US LNG export terminals. We will hear from activists and Lake Charles community members, Roishetta Sibley Ozane and James Hiatt, who have been fighting tirelessly to protect their community.
Insurance is Connecticut's keystone industry, and The Hartford touts themselves as one of the "world's most ethical companies" .
As Connecticut citizens, we must hold them accountable and stand in solidarity with the communities that are suffering from their greed.
Please feel free to share this action to your lists/contacts and let me know if you have any questions or would like to get more involved!
See you Monday! Helen Humphreys, CCAG Communications Coordinator
Public Hearing: Raise the Age for HUSKY4Immigrants! Wednesday February 21st, 2pm
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Over the last 3 years, as part of the HUSKY for Immigrants Coalition, CCAG helped to expand HUSKY Healthcare to kids under 15 and pregnant people We know health needs don’t stop at 15, so we’re ready to make noise again
The Appropriations Committee has called a Public Hearing on Wednesday February 21, at 2pm where individuals can speak out on what services our state should fund! We’re asking everyone to submit testimony asking the Appropriations Committee to fund HUSKY for immigrants up to age 18 in this year's budget
YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED. The deadline to submit testimony is February 21st by 10am!
Here is a "Testimony Writing Form", which allows you to easily and quickly draft your testimony!
The Appropriations Committee has called a Public Hearing on Wednesday February 21, at 2pm where individuals can speak out on what services our state should fund! We’re asking everyone to submit testimony asking the Appropriations Committee to fund HUSKY for immigrants up to age 18 in this year's budget
YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED. The deadline to submit testimony is February 21st by 10am!
Here is a "Testimony Writing Form", which allows you to easily and quickly draft your testimony!
Clean cars - clean air
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State Republicans and a Koch brothers front group are spreading extensive lies about what proposed new clean cars regs would do.
Click here to write to lawmakers and let them know you stand with Governor Lamont in standing up to the Koch brothers and making sure Connecticut remains a leader in adopting clean energy!
A vote in the regulatory committee was delayed - but Governor Lamont and Democrat lawmakers have vowed to continue to work on passing these good regulations and on building a charging infrastructure that is fair and equitable and meets our human and climate needs.
Not only if it is the right thing to do - it means Connecticut won’t lose out on millions of federal dollars allocated for clean cars.
As the Governor and others pointed out, people in our cities breathe air that is far more polluted by fossil fuel emissions from gas-powered cars than their suburban neighbors. This is an equity issue as well as a climate emergency.
Show Governor Lamont and others that we have their backs as they fight for the right thing!
Click here today. Thanks for all you do.
Click here to write to lawmakers and let them know you stand with Governor Lamont in standing up to the Koch brothers and making sure Connecticut remains a leader in adopting clean energy!
A vote in the regulatory committee was delayed - but Governor Lamont and Democrat lawmakers have vowed to continue to work on passing these good regulations and on building a charging infrastructure that is fair and equitable and meets our human and climate needs.
Not only if it is the right thing to do - it means Connecticut won’t lose out on millions of federal dollars allocated for clean cars.
As the Governor and others pointed out, people in our cities breathe air that is far more polluted by fossil fuel emissions from gas-powered cars than their suburban neighbors. This is an equity issue as well as a climate emergency.
Show Governor Lamont and others that we have their backs as they fight for the right thing!
Click here today. Thanks for all you do.
2023
Thank You to Everyone Who Took Action to Stop Health Insurance Greed On October 11th, 2023
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Health insurance companies are making trillions by denying people care.
Wall Street is happy - but people are suffering, as for-profit insurance companies reject care recommended by doctors to ensure their profits, executive pay and stock buybacks.
Join us to march on two main offenders in Hartford - Aetna and UnitedHealth. Their CEO salaries and stock buybacks will curl your hair. And they are taking public money for Medicare Advantage meant to provide healthcare for seniors, people with disabilities, and poor people -- and instead using it to pad executive salaries and profits by denying medically necessary care.
Thank you to everyone who gathered with us and marched outside of Mother Aetna on Farmington Ave., and continued to UnitedHealth on Asylum St.
Wall Street is happy - but people are suffering, as for-profit insurance companies reject care recommended by doctors to ensure their profits, executive pay and stock buybacks.
Join us to march on two main offenders in Hartford - Aetna and UnitedHealth. Their CEO salaries and stock buybacks will curl your hair. And they are taking public money for Medicare Advantage meant to provide healthcare for seniors, people with disabilities, and poor people -- and instead using it to pad executive salaries and profits by denying medically necessary care.
Thank you to everyone who gathered with us and marched outside of Mother Aetna on Farmington Ave., and continued to UnitedHealth on Asylum St.
#MarchtoEndFossilFuels September 17th 2023 in NYC
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for this critical action on climate! You can help mitigate damaging climate changes that are affecting our lives and earth as we know it, both locally and globally.
On September 17th, CT citizens joined over 75,000 people for the March to End Fossil Fuels in New York City.
The march took place ahead of the first of its kind, UN Climate Ambition Summit. We called on President Biden to stop fossil fuel expansion, leveraging as much national and international pressure as possible to call on him to change course.
Decisive action is needed now to prevent vast regions of earth from becoming practically or entirely uninhabitable. We need an emergency, unprecedented transition from fossil fuels to renewable power.
On September 17th, CT citizens joined over 75,000 people for the March to End Fossil Fuels in New York City.
The march took place ahead of the first of its kind, UN Climate Ambition Summit. We called on President Biden to stop fossil fuel expansion, leveraging as much national and international pressure as possible to call on him to change course.
Decisive action is needed now to prevent vast regions of earth from becoming practically or entirely uninhabitable. We need an emergency, unprecedented transition from fossil fuels to renewable power.
Thank you to all who Supported PURA's UI Rate Denial!
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UPDATE! August 25th. PURA makes final decision on UI's rate hike request. Thank you to everyone who participated!
In a press release, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority said PURA "rejects The United Illuminating Company's proposed distribution rate increase of $131 million over three years. Instead, the Final Decision authorizes an increase of $22.957 million."
PURA also rejected UI's rejected UI's request for an extension to make their case.
There is no doubt that everyone who took action helped this to happen. Thank you!
Background:
- UI requested an extra $36 million in revenue. PURA's decision was to agree to an increase of roughly $3 million. This is an increase in revenue - not a reduction - just not as large an increase as they requested.
- In the last rate case UI promised to clean up English Station, which they never did. Our state must hold them accountable. UI should not continue to enjoy increasing profits from CT residents especially in environmental justice communities when they refuse to meet their previous legal and financial obligations.
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CCAG has brought you news that just four greedy health insurance companies reported taking $400 BILLION away from your care - to pay for CEO compensation, gross profits, and stock buybacks.
Now they want to raise your rates!
Requested increases are as high as 23% – from companies that are spending billions of your premium dollars on executive pay, stock buybacks, and profits.
The insurance department is holding an informational session Monday, August 21 at 9 am. Join us in front of the LOB to demand it reject the requested increases and instead take into account executive pay, vertical integration, stock buybacks and profits. Click here to sign up for Monday's protest, and here to tell Commissioner Andrew Mais to reject the increases!
CCAG has revealed that 2022 spending by just four health insurance companies on profits, CEO pay and stock buybacks was just short of $400 billion. Click here for our posts and for some of the feedback we have received!
Click here for more background.
Clearly, government needs to act in a much stronger manner to rein in these corporate profiteers! Make sure to submit testimony and speak out at the public hearing!