Current Administrative Proceedings
The Governors Council on Climate Change (GC3), Administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) was established by Governor Malloy in 2015 to address mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gases. Governor Malloy reestablished and expanded the membership and added consideration of adaptation and resilience in the face of climate change impacts to its responsibilities. The Phase I Report on Near Term Actions was published in January 2021 based on numerous reports of working groups. Recommendation 26 in the report is to explore options for a statewide "no-net-loss of forest" policy, and includes consideration of protecting urban forests, building more parks and planting more trees.
This recommendation was based on the 2020 Forests Sub-Group Final Report to the GC3, which included the following at page 32:
"Short Term (1-5 year) Actions
o Do not permit removals of healthy street trees, and limit removals to trees in hazardous poor condition that are imminent threats to people or electric infrastructure. If trees are removed, PURA should require a plan and support funding for utilities to replant trees, especially in EJ communities with higher percentages of impervious surfaces and related heat island impacts.
o Pruning should focus on protecting the structural integrity, strength, and health of the trees, and not risk creating hazardous trees in the future by adherence to rigid clearance standards.
o Appropriate roadside trees, including those that will become large, should be planted with priority to residential areas and especially in EJ communities with higher percentages of impervious surfaces and related heat island impacts.
o Establish priorities for planned and opportunistic conversion from overhead pole and wire electric distribution to underground wires and upgraded circuits for electric reliability and reduced tree-wire conflicts.
o Create model municipal ordinances to encourage replacement of and mitigation offsets for non-emergency removals of street trees within the municipal road right-of-way.
o Establish new standards for state roads that minimize losses of healthy trees."
In order to further its positions on trees and power, the Garden Club of New Haven has participated and will continue to participate in relevant GC3 working groups by attending meetings and submitting written comments on draft reports.
This recommendation was based on the 2020 Forests Sub-Group Final Report to the GC3, which included the following at page 32:
"Short Term (1-5 year) Actions
o Do not permit removals of healthy street trees, and limit removals to trees in hazardous poor condition that are imminent threats to people or electric infrastructure. If trees are removed, PURA should require a plan and support funding for utilities to replant trees, especially in EJ communities with higher percentages of impervious surfaces and related heat island impacts.
o Pruning should focus on protecting the structural integrity, strength, and health of the trees, and not risk creating hazardous trees in the future by adherence to rigid clearance standards.
o Appropriate roadside trees, including those that will become large, should be planted with priority to residential areas and especially in EJ communities with higher percentages of impervious surfaces and related heat island impacts.
o Establish priorities for planned and opportunistic conversion from overhead pole and wire electric distribution to underground wires and upgraded circuits for electric reliability and reduced tree-wire conflicts.
o Create model municipal ordinances to encourage replacement of and mitigation offsets for non-emergency removals of street trees within the municipal road right-of-way.
o Establish new standards for state roads that minimize losses of healthy trees."
In order to further its positions on trees and power, the Garden Club of New Haven has participated and will continue to participate in relevant GC3 working groups by attending meetings and submitting written comments on draft reports.