By Alycia Jenkins, Sierra Club Connecticut
I have lived in Hartford for over 10 years, fighting for a more sustainable city. Since 2022, the Capitol Area System, a state-owned former co-generation power plant in Hartford, has been my highest priority project. Over the past three years, I have worked with diverse peoples and communities throughout Hartford and beyond. We have held rallies, sent hundreds of messages to Governor Lamont, written multiple Op-Eds, organized sign-on letters with 30+ organization signatures, submitted public comments to the Lamont administration, and hosted countless community meetings – all in an effort to ensure cleaner air and less pollution in Hartford.
The State of Connecticut first purchased the decades-old Capitol Area System in 2022. The system requires extensive repair in order to continue providing heating and cooling to state and private buildings along its two mile loop, including the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Appellate Court.
In 2024, the Department of Administrative Service (DAS) conducted a decarbonization study weighing the economic and environmental cost of multiple replacement options, including fossil fuel and clean energy updates. Much to the frustration of our coalition of environmental advocates, DAS has confirmed they had selected a fossil fuel replacement for the system, specifically gas boilers in addition to a water source heat pump.
On March 31, myself and 70 other people marched from the Legislative Office Building to the Capitol Area System. There we laid on the ground, symbolizing the health toll should Governor Lamont and the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) follow through with their plans to replace the aging heating and cooling system with more fossil fuels. Together, we called on Governor Lamont to reverse DAS’s decision, and urgently.
Not just costly to our health and environment, the fossil fuel upgrade is also pricey. DAS already has $19 million in funding for the project. Governor Lamont has recommended an additional authorization of $16 million for the repairs in his proposed budget. The decision goes directly against Governor Lamont’s previous Executive Order 21-3 that calls for carbon free heating and cooling in state buildings.
It is imperative that Governor Lamont hold his administration accountable and keep his word. Hartford is already a U.S. “asthma capital” and a designated environmental justice community. A fossil fuel replacement for the Capitol Area System will only exacerbate the health impacts already felt by our Hartford neighbors, especially our most vulnerable children and elders. The decarbonization study showed affordable, clean energy options – like geothermal technology – can meet the needs of the buildings service by the Capitol Area System and protect locals from health-harming emissions.
Ultimately, the well-being of my Hartford neighbors is supremely important. All people should have access to clean, breathable air. Fighting the Capitol Area System has not been easy. It has brought me out of my comfort zone many times. I am grateful for my team at Sierra Club Connecticut and for the support we’ve received from community members and local organizations.
We are in this fight together for the betterment of our community. We call on Governor Lamont to keep his word, and transition the Capitol Area System to 100 percent clean energy. For how you can get involved and information on our weekly office hours, visit here: Events & Outings | CT Sierra Club.
Alycia Jenkins is a local activist, writer, and organizer with Sierra Club Connecticut.
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/smoke-coming-out-of-factory-pipes-60575/
