Thomas Breen File Photo
Climate activists outside City Hall in 2019.
The following opinion essay was submitted by Meredith Polk on behalf of the New Haven Climate Movement.
Mayor Justin Elicker has stated that New Haven’s goal is to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. In 2021, the New Haven Board of Alders City Services and Environmental Policy Committee passed a resolution outlining the importance of electrification and the actions the city would take to electrify. This resolution was an important step towards net-zero, but it has been two years and the city has not made enough progress. New Haven has the opportunity and responsibility to save lives by implementing the promises in the resolution.
What does electrification have to do with saving lives? Electrifying buildings, buses, and more means they will no longer emit the dangerous chemicals that their gas-powered counterparts release indoors and outdoors. New Haven has made the list of cities that are most difficult to live in with asthma due to the burning of fossil fuels multiple times. The World Health Organization estimates that 7 million people globally die from poor air quality every year.
New Haven’s electrification resolution lists eight specific steps that the city must take to develop and implement a plan to improve air quality and public health, including:
● The City Engineer shall develop a schedule to replace all existing heating systems, and evaluate electrifying all new construction and existing heating systems.
● The Mayor shall work with Board of Education to electrify school transportation.
● The Livable City Initiative and Building Department will work with UI, the Green Bank, and other appropriate partners to educate current building owners about electrification incentives and resources.
● The Economic Development Department will produce a report on how electrification transition can create local jobs, boost local businesses, and support historically marginalized communities.
The New Haven Climate Movement put together a report card showing how much progress has been made on each of the action items. While some commitments have been put into motion, more must be done. Right now, the New Haven Office of Climate and Sustainability is spearheading efforts, but abandoning fossil fuels in favor of clean energy sources needs to be a focus across all city departments. Here are some things the city can do now:
● Hold a hearing on the status of the promises of the Electrification Resolution before the end of 2023 to ensure that New Haven is on track to meet its electrification goal.
● Track and regularly report on carbon emissions to make progress towards these goals more transparent and accessible.
There are seven years left until 2030, so it may seem like there’s plenty of time left to fulfill these commitments. However, based on the minimal progress in the past two years, we need to pick up the pace. The sooner we reduce fossil fuel emissions, the sooner we can reap the health, financial, and future benefits of cleaner, safer air.
It’s clear that the city recognizes that electrification is key to making New Haven a more livable and sustainable place, but we must increase the speed of change. Here’s how you can help:
● Write to or call your alder and the mayor to encourage them to make more progress faster.
● Share this article and the electrification resolution on social media to get your friends involved.
● Learn more about how you can electrify your own life.
It’s going to take a lot of effort, but electrification will result in tangible long-term benefits for everyone.
so where does the electricity come from? Magic? Pixies? Hint: In CT in 2023 the answer is that 97%comes from burning Natural Gas.