While broader clean energy and energy conservation policy changes are under attack at the federal level of government, our collective, local actions have an impact. If you have had a home energy audit, installed solar or added a heat pump, let us know! Take our Energy Saver Survey (10 minutes or less) Continue reading to see what we’ve heard so far…
Author Archives: Kristen Colombo
A glimmer of good news this Earth Month…
It’s official! The Middletown Resource Recycling Advisory Commission (RRA) is transitioning to the Middletown Sustainability Commission (MSC).
How did this happen?
Through the dedication of the RRA and resident advocacy, this important ordinance change has been discussed publicly and passed through the Public Works & Facilities Commission as well as the General Council before it moved forward to the Middletown Town Council for discussion and approval.
On April 8th, Middletown Common Council members heard final public comments from the community and unanimously approved this change!
A Tool for Our Times – Middletown Community Participation Guide
“Act locally” is a mantra we will be hearing often. Some may ask, but how?
Wesleyan staff and students recently hosted an event to share the Middletown Government Participation Guide (available here in English and Spanish). This is an important “tool for our times” that offers a peek behind the curtain of our local government and explains the many ways we all can use our skills and voices to get involved.
Continue readingSlow Global Warming and Save Money – Make a Power Move in 2025
What does the clean energy transition have to do with you?
A lot more than you may think. We see “natural” disasters on the news more and more frequently. We know why it’s happening and many of us know the heartbreak of friends and relatives that have been impacted by extreme, sudden events. We all pay a heavy price for this accumulated damage.
The big picture:
- Costs – “Burning fossil fuels cause[s] around $500 billion in losses every year– from property damage to government spending on recovery, construction-surge inflation, and power outages.”*
- Solutions – Saving the planet is now more cost effective – “Every $1 invested in resilient infrastructure can yield $4 in benefits. Getting to net zero is a more than $12 trillion business.” *
The local picture:
These costs and solutions trickle down to each of us in our homes.
- The costs impact our taxes, insurance premiums, and many goods and services.
- The solutions can help us save money and time while doing what’s right for the planet. According to Energize CT, over 1,000 households in Middletown have participated in the Home Energy Solutions (HES) program (2001-Oct.2024), With over 20,000 households in Middletown and Portland, there is an enormous opportunity to use this program more fully.
While we can’t control what happens at a national level, each of us can make an impact by taking action in our lives for a healthier community.
Continue reading