News Releases - 2025
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5/16/2025
Visitors to Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield Can Purchase Advance Parking Reservations for Weekends and Holidays
(HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) once again will offer an online reservation system for parking at Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield. Parking passes for holidays and weekends may be purchased up to 14 days prior to arrival to help improve the experience for visitors and reduce traffic congestion near the park.
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4/2/2025
DEEP to Conduct Prescribed Burns at Six Locations This Spring
(HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) plans to conduct prescribed (controlled) burns at six locations this spring, weather and conditions permitting. The areas include Quinebaug River Wildlife Management Area in Plainfield, Suffield Wildlife Management Area in Suffield, Belding Wildlife Management Area in Vernon, Goodwin State Forest in Hampton, Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown, and Mansfield Hollow State Park in Mansfield.
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3/7/2025
DEEP Reminds Residents To Use Best Practices When Wood Burning for Heat During Remaining Days of Winter
(HARTFORD)— Burning wood to keep a home warm is a long-standing tradition in New England, and we still expect to have a few more cold days before spring truly arrives. Depending on the source of the wood, wood burning can provide a cost-effective alternative to use of fossil fuels. This practice does produce indoor and outdoor emissions harmful to human health, however, which is why the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is urging residents to protect their health and that of their family, friends, and neighbors by employing “best burn” practices. Properly burning the correct type of wood limits exposure to wood smoke, which is a toxic air pollutant.
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4/22/2025
DEEP Announces Release of Key Saltmarsh Dataset
(HARTFORD) — Coinciding with Earth Day, and after more than two years of intensive work, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and its contractor, Vermont-based geospatial technology company Whiteout Solutions, have released a groundbreaking high-resolution dataset capturing over 12,000 acres of coastal saltmarsh and adjoining upland buffer in the state of Connecticut.
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1/17/2025
DEEP Reminds Connecticut Residents that New Incentive Levels for CHEAPR Program Began Jan 1 2025
(HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding the public that incentive levels for the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Vehicle Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) program changed on January 1, 2025. As prices for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) continue to decline and consumer interest in the CHEAPR program continues to grow, the new incentive levels will enable DEEP to continue to meet consumer demand for the standard CHEAPR rebate within available resources, while prioritizing higher incentive levels to improve EV affordability for low- and moderate-income residents in Connecticut.
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4/28/2025
DEEP EnCon Police Make Arrest in Fatal May 2024 Candlewood Lake Boating Incident
(HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that DEEP’s Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police arrested Robert McDonald, 23, of Flushing, New York, for a fatal boating incident that took place on Candlewood Lake on May 29th, 2024.
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2/19/2025
Connecticut Greenways Council Accepting Nominations
(HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Connecticut Greenways Council announced today that they are now soliciting nominations for official state greenway designations.
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2/11/2025
DEEP Expands Scope of Energy Efficiency Procurement to Enable Businesses as Well as Residents to Benefit from Innovative Approaches to Lowering Energy Bills
(HARTFORD)- As noted in Governor Lamont’s State of the State address in January, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is conducting a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) to invite bids from efficiency suppliers to expand access to electric efficiency for United Illuminating (UI) and Eversource customers. This week, as part of the RFP process, DEEP released an updated schedule and expanded scope for its electric efficiency and affordability procurement. The initial draft request for proposals (RFP) was focused on energy efficiency measures delivered to residential customers. In response to bidder requests, DEEP is now expanding the RFP scope by clarifying that interested bidders could include energy efficiency measures for commercial and industrial customers, as well as residential customers. In addition, interested bidders would be permitted to use the customer’s electric bill to collect payments from the participating customers to pay for the installed measures over a period of time if those payments are less than the expected savings from the efficiency measures.
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7/29/2025
Governor Lamont, Attorney General Tong, Commissioner Dykes, and Commissioner Juthani Respond to the EPA’s Proposed Repeal of the Landmark Endangerment Finding
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes, and Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, released the following statements in response to today’s announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it is rescinding the “endangerment finding” – an Obama-era determination that allows the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
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4/28/2025
Connecticut and Northeast Partners Issue Strategic Action Plan to Advance Cost-Saving Electric Transmission Solutions
(HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today joined eight other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states in issuing a joint strategic action plan that identifies specific steps that state, regional, and federal policymakers can take to pursue interregional transmission solutions to reduce costs for consumers and make our energy systems more reliable.
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4/24/2025
DEEP To Celebrate Arbor Day in Communities Across Connecticut
(HARTFORD) — The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is celebrating Arbor Day April 25th with communities across Connecticut and invites you to join us at any one of the many events planned around the state. Many municipalities celebrate Arbor Day as part of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City Program. This national program recognizes cities across the United States for their dedication to growing, protecting, and maintaining urban and community forests. Connecticut boasts 24 Tree Cities, 4 Tree Campuses, and 4 Tree City Growth Awards this year. This list includes the Town of Fairfield and City of Stamford, which are tied for first place as the longest-standing Tree Cities in the state at 37 years.
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8/6/2025
MEDIA ADVISORY: DEEP Fish with CARE and No Child Left Inside® Offer a FREE Saltwater Fishing Day on Saturday, August 9
ParkConneCT Program to Provide Free Bus Transportation from Norwich for a Limited Number of Pre-Registered Guests
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4/22/2025
Governor Lamont Applauds Legislative Approval of Release-Based Cleanup Regulations
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes, and Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe are applauding the vote today by the Connecticut General Assembly’s Legislative Regulation Review Committee to approve the adoption of Release-Based Cleanup Regulations.
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6/30/2025
Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police Announce “Operation Dry Water” Campaign to Halt Boating Under the Influence
(HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation Police (EnCon) will again participate in the “Operation Dry Water” campaign, a national initiative aimed at curbing boating under the influence (BUI). Set to run from July 4 through July 6, this heightened enforcement and awareness campaign targets the dangerous combination of alcohol or drug use while operating a vessel.
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2/4/2025
Release-Based Cleanup Plan Poised to Transform Connecticut’s Blighted Properties and Spur Economic Growth
Today, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes, and Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner Dan O’Keefe announced that the release-based cleanup regulations (RBCRs) have been submitted to the Connecticut General Assembly for review and approval. These regulations will streamline the remediation and redevelopment of blighted properties impacted by releases. Approval by the General Assembly’s Legislative Regulation Review Committee (LRRC) is the final step in the regulatory adoption process.