CT Passes Senate Bill 999: The Climate and Community Investment Act!
CT Passes Senate Bill 999: The Climate and Community Investment Act!
The Climate and Community Investment Act ensures a just transition to a clean energy economy by protecting the rights of renewable energy industry workers.
The bill was passed by both houses of the CT General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Lamont on June 14, 2021.
Learn More about Senate Bill 999
Alongside Connecticut labor leaders, and with technical assistance from the Climate Jobs National Resource Center, the Roundtable introduced Connecticut SB 999 (2021), An Act Concerning a Just Transition to Climate-Protective Energy Production and Community Investment.
This bill, also called the Climate and Community Investment Act, is a climate jobs bill that includes provisions for prevailing wage, community benefits agreements, and workforce development.
Press Release: Hartford, CT
On Thursday, June 3, the Connecticut Senate passed the Climate and Community Investment Act (SB 999), historic legislation that will combat climate change while creating good union jobs, sending the bill to Governor Lamont for his signature. The Connecticut House of Representatives passed SB 999 on Tuesday with an overwhelming majority (89-59).
SB 999 will help transition Connecticut to a low-carbon, renewable energy economy that creates good, union jobs. The legislation is the first in the nation to require all large-scale renewable energy projects in the state to pay workers prevailing wages, support workforce development through participation in apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, and create community benefits agreements.
The passage of SB 999 is a testament to the power and diversity of the CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs’s coalition, which brings together labor unions, environmentalists, community organizations, social justice organizations, interreligious groups, climate justice organizations, and students to rally around the need for good-paying green jobs in the state.
“As Connecticut makes strides towards a clean energy economy, it is essential that we protect the workers helping to create a more sustainable future for us all. The Senate passage of SB 999 is a key step towards a climate-friendly economy that guarantees workers’ rights, enables career development for workers from marginalized communities, and ensures that Connecticut will reap the economic benefits of green projects conducted in their communities,” said Aziz Dehkan, Executive Director of the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs.
Comments on SB 999
Julie Kushner, Senate Chair of Labor and Public Employees Committee
“For me, SB 999 is a really important bill because I fully understand the need for us to transition to renewable energy sources, for the good of the planet, for the good of future generations, and for the good of my grandkids. This bill shows that not only are we committed to the planet’s future, but also to workers and their families.”
—Julie Kushner, Senate Chair of Labor and Public Employees Committee stated, While defending the bill on the Senate floor.
“It gave me great pleasure to lead the passage of SB999 in the House of Representatives. This bill will level the playing field for many of our workers and provide a just transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy. It truly is a win-win for employers, employees, our environment, children and families – and I couldn’t have done it without my team and you all know who you are!”
—Representative Robyn Porter, House Chair of Labor and Public Employees Committee said,
Representative Robyn Porter, House Chair of Labor and Public Employees Committee
“The passage of SB 999 demonstrates Connecticut’s commitment to a just transition to a low-carbon economy. It demonstrates that we don’t need to choose between renewable energy and family-sustaining jobs—we can and should have both,” said Allison Pilcher, Policy Director at the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs.
“SB 999 illustrates the opportunity we have to create good-paying prevailing wage jobs as we address climate change through green infrastructure projects,” said David Roche, President of the CT State Building Trades Council.