Connecticut Energy Justice Groups Rally to Stop Project Maple, Fracked Gas Expansion

HARTFORD, CT. – Today, a group of Connecticut’s climate and energy justice organizations rallied at the State Capitol in opposition to gas expansion and Enbridge’s proposed Project Maple. Together, the groups hand-delivered a letter signed by 30 state and local elected officials to the offices of Governor Ned Lamont and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes. The community members present at the rally and petition-signers demand an end to the expansion of polluting methane gas infrastructure in Connecticut. 

Read More on the Dangers of Fracked Gas Use in Connecticut Here.

Project Maple is a state-crossing gas expansion project proposed by Enbridge, owner of one of Connecticut’s three massive interstate gas pipelines. If approved, emissions from Project Maple are estimated to equal an astounding 7 coal plants, threatening to erase all of Connecticut’s emission-reduction progress. 

Stopping the proposed expansion of a gas compressor station near a local middle school in Brookfield, was another priority issue for the coalition. Experts recommend compressors be at least 1.8 miles away from occupied structures. In Brookfield, there are 800 residential buildings within a mile of the existing facility. In total, 2,000 people live within a mile of the station, including 125 children under five, 549 minors 17 and younger, and 293 adults over 65.

Currently, Connecticut is covered by 590 miles of gas transmission pipelines. Hundreds more miles of pipelines continue to be constructed, connecting consumers to health-harming, explosive fracked gas. Nationally, the United States is fracking more gas and oil and exporting more methane than ever before in our history. Despite the high quantity of methane in Connecticut's pipelines, fossil fuel interests repeatedly attribute inadequate stores of gas as the cause of Connecticut’s high electricity prices.

After today’s rally, participating groups released the following statements. 

"We continue to see the climate crisis break records daily, impacting communities across the world, as well as here in Connecticut,” said Sena Wazer of Stop Project Maple. “To ensure that young people and future generations have a planet that is safe and secure, we must stop building or expanding fossil fuel infrastructure, such as Project Maple. As a young person, I will fight to ensure that our future, and the health of communities, are prioritized. I hope that state leaders will step up to do the same instead of allowing fossil fuel infrastructure that will increase environmental injustices to move forward."

"Facing the climate crisis isn't just about honoring facts; it is about confronting my own fears, vulnerabilities, and the toxic systems that hurt both our planet and our people,” said Sydney Collins, resident of Coventry. “Fossil fuels don't just fracture our Earth-- they fracture our communities through higher rates of alcoholism. substance misuse, isolation, and political extremism, stripping away our sense of safety and connection. We oppose projects like Project Maple to reclaim our right for healthy communities, and fight for a future where our planet and people can both heal."

"Energy generation is the second leading cause of climate and health harming pollution because we still burn fossils for power,” said Martha Klein, volunteer with Sierra Club Connecticut. “That's primitive. We know what needs to be done to prevent climate catastrophe and the solutions are already at hand: increase building efficiencies, encourage solar on every rooftop and every new building, invest in wind and renewable thermal technologies, institute energy saving methods such as demand response and other easy, inexpensive tactics to reduce energy load, and most importantly, stop expanding fossil fuel infrastructure such as fracked gas pipelines, metering and regulating stations and compressor stations."