Month: June 2023

$6 MILLION IN VOLKSWAGEN SETTLEMENT FUNDS TO EXPAND ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS IN CONNECTICUT

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is releasing more than $6 million from the legal settlement in the Volkswagen Corporation (VW) emissions cheating scandal to fund 54 electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) projects across Connecticut.

Administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the state is making these funds available for the installation of EVSE to encourage the use of electric vehicles. Approximately $1.8 million is being awarded for EVSE deployment at state government sites to advance the sustainability goals of Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 1, with an additional $3.3 million awarded for municipal projects, ten of which are located in environmental justice communities. Additionally, nearly $1 million is being dedicated to support non-government, public EVSE.

“I’m really proud of the investments we’re making in Connecticut’s future while driving down air pollution from cars and trucks at the same time,” Governor Lamont said. “The projects we are announcing today will go a long way in helping to improve air quality and protect public health throughout Connecticut, while also providing economic development opportunities.”

“The transportation sector is responsible for approximately 70% of smog forming air pollution and 40% of climate pollution in Connecticut,” Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “Expanding the availability of charging infrastructure around the state is critical to scaling up EV adoption.”

The transportation sector is responsible for approximately Connecticut’s 70% of smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and 40% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This funding from the VW settlement will leverage utility sponsored incentives to support the growing number of electric vehicles and move the state closer toward meeting its health-based air quality standards, as well as its long-term climate goals, while at the same time creating economic development opportunities.

In 2015, Volkswagen publicly admitted that it had deliberately installed a defeat device – software designed to cheat emissions tests and deceive federal and state regulators – in nearly 590,000 VW, Audi, and Porsche model year 2009 to 2016 diesel vehicles sold nationwide, with nearly 12,000 vehicles sold in Connecticut. As a result of a federal civil enforcement case against VW for violating the Clean Air Act, Connecticut was allocated more than $55.7 million to be distributed over a ten-year period for use toward offsetting the excess NOx pollution emitted in the state by these vehicles.

NOx combines with organic compounds in the air to the form ground level ozone, an air pollutant known to cause a number of adverse respiratory health effects, including significant decreases in lung function and inflammation of airways. Ozone forms when NOx and volatile organic compounds from combustion sources like motor vehicles react in strong sunlight. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection continues to implement emission control programs to mitigate ozone’s negative impact on public health in Connecticut.

The fifty-five projects selected for funding under this funding cycle, over their lifetime, will cost-effectively reduce 2,760 tons of NOx emissions and almost 126,000 tons of GHGs from environmental justice communities and other areas of Connecticut that bear a disproportionate share of air pollution. The projects were selected from 87 submitted proposals for 163 projects at 181 individual sites (addresses) and included 24 state government projects, 50 municipal government projects, and 89 private (non-government) projects.

With the $6 million of this funding round, a total of $35 million of Connecticut’s VW settlement funding has been awarded to support more than 100 clean air projects statewide.

$144 MILLION TO IMPROVE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY IN CONNECTICUT

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes released the following statements in response to the announcement made today by President Joe Biden and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration that Connecticut is receiving $144 million in federal funding to support its ongoing efforts in deploying affordable, reliable high-speed internet service statewide:

Governor Lamont said, “Today’s announcement by the Biden administration that Connecticut will receive $144 million to expand broadband deployment is welcome news to the residents and businesses of our state. We know that fast, reliable internet connectivity is a necessity in our increasingly digital world. Thanks to President Biden and Connecticut’s amazing Congressional delegation, this funding will help us connect unserved and underserved residents and small businesses in our state, leveling the playing field as we work toward our goal of universal access to one gigabit per second download speeds and 100 megabits per second upload speeds that are becoming the standard of the industry.”

Commissioner Dykes said, “Internet connectivity has become a requirement to participation as more elements of daily life migrate to the digital space, and it’s critical that people aren’t being left behind. The funding announced for the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment Program today is a huge step toward ensuring access first and foremost to those unserved, and underserved in our state, and closing our connectivity and opportunity gap. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Office of Telecommunications and Broadband continues to work hard on our Five-Year Action Plan for broadband, due in August. Thank you to the Biden administration, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and our federal delegation for bringing this critically impactful funding to Connecticut.”

States, D.C., and territories receiving funding under today’s announcement will receive their formal notice of allocation on June 30, 2023. Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, eligible entities have 180 days from the date of that formal notice to submit their initial proposals describing how they propose to run their grant programs. Once the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has approved an initial proposal, which will occur on a rolling basis, eligible entities will be permitted to request access to at least 20% of their allocated funds.

Senator Gaston Selected to Participate in 2023 Emerging Legislative Leaders Program

State Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) has been selected to participate in the 2023 Emerging Legislative Leaders Program taking place at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Senator Gaston was chosen as one of 55 legislators from 46 state across the U.S. 

“I am so thankful for quite an opportunity to continue to grow and learn with other legislative leaders from around the U.S.,” said Senator Gaston. “It is an honor to have the hard work I did this past legislative session recognized. This program will provide myself and others with long-term benefits I can take with me for future endeavors through challenging discussions amongst other successful lawmakers. I look forward to learning from professors and other individuals who are afforded this same unique experience.”  

The Emerging Legislative Leaders Program is a collaborative effort of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business Administration. Senator Gaston was selected to this highly competitive program for his standout work this past legislative session. Only two legislators are selected from each state, one State Representative from the House, and one State Senator from the Senate. 

This 2023 legislative session, Senator Gaston took action to protect the Connecticut community to pass common sense legislation and accomplished writing, advocating, leading, and passing legislation as a first-year Senator. Senator Gaston, was elected to serve the 23rd state Senate district, representing parts of Bridgeport and Stratford, in the November 2022 election and in a short period of time, has authored, introduced, and led passage of several bills as he chaired the Public Safety and Security Committee. 

The Emerging Legislative Leaders Program will take place from July 10 to July 13.

FTC AMENDMENTS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM DECEPTIVE AUTO-RENEWALS

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and a coalition of 26 state attorneys general submitted comments in support of Federal Trade Commission amendments to the Negative Option Rule protecting consumers from deceptive auto-renewal programs.

Negative options are marketing methods for companies to enroll consumers in subscriptions, continuity plans and programs, automatic renewals, and other reoccurring actions. These plans and programs do not require consent for each attached reoccurring charge; rather, in some cases, a consumer’s silence is consent.

Amendments to the existing Negative Option Rule would provide more protection to consumers, clarifying terms at enrollment, offering easy and immediate cancellation options, and reminders of upcoming charges.

“My office has numerous complaints from consumers unwittingly lured into expensive subscriptions that they cannot cancel. It’s far too easy right now for sellers to bury fine print and trick consumers into these unwanted renewals and recurring charges. That shouldn’t be. The FTC has proposed a straightforward rule—sellers need to obtain clear consent before charging consumers. I fully support these pro-consumer reforms,” said Attorney General Tong.

The comment letter was filed on June 23 in response to an FTC notice of proposed rulemaking.  In the notice, the FTC sought comment on the following proposed amendments:

•             Applying the Rule to all forms of negative option marketing;

•             Prohibiting misrepresentations of any material fact regarding the entire agreement;

•             Requiring clear and conspicuous disclosures of certain information before obtaining consumer’s billing information;

•             Requiring sellers to obtain express informed consent before charging consumers;

•             Requiring sellers to provide a simple mechanism for consumer to cancel a negative option subscription; and

•             Requiring sellers to provide reminders concerning the frequency and amount of charges, and the means to cancel. 

Bridgeport News: Person Shot

Police UPDATE:

On June 26, 2023, at approximately 11:25 am the Bridgeport Emergency Operations Center (EOC) received reports of shots fired near the intersection of Washington Terrace & Washington Place.  A short time later EOC received reports of a male party who presented himself at an area hospital suffering from non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the foot. The victim is a 21-year-old Bridgeport man. 

Witnesses describe an unidentified Black male suspect, wearing all black clothing, and a black face mask shooting at the victim from the area in front of 15 Washington Terrace.  The suspect then fled on foot in an unknown direction. It appears the victim was targeted. No further information is available at this time.

The Detective Bureau has responded and taken over the investigation.  Ballistic evidence was collected from the street in front of 15 Washington Terrace.  Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the case officer, Detective Kateema Riettie, at 203-581-5253 or utilize the Bridgeport Police tips line at 203 576-TIPS.

2023-06-26@11:45am– A person was shot on Washington Terrace and was transported to the hospital by private vehicle with unknown injuries.

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