Current Funding Opportunities

• CT Clean Energy Fund’s Community Innovation Grants Program – Towns that have joined the 20% by 2010 initiative and the EPA’s Community Energy Challenge are eligible to receive a $4,000 grant ($2,000 for repeat grantees).  Through a grant-giving process, clean energy task forces issue micro grants in the amount of $250-$2,000 to organizations and citizens motivated to start local projects that support clean energy awareness and education within their communities.  There is also an At-Large Grant opportunity in the amount of $1,000 for individuals that do not reside in a 20% by 2010 town and not-for-profits interested in creating a model, sustainable clean energy community.
• Community Catalyst Funds – Grants of $250 to $2,500 per project (with rare grants of up to $5,000) are available to local energy committee/commissions, municipalities, and civic organizations to support energy and sustainability planning, education, and implementation projects. This program is offered by Clean Air-Cool Planet, through a grant from the Overbrook Foundation. No deadlines for grant submissions; proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis, with responses within 30 days of receipt.
• Shining Solutions CFL Fundraisers - Sell CFLs in your community and retain 50% of all proceeds for your school or organization.  This program, subsidized by the CT Energy Efficiency Fund, allows community groups and schools to run fundraisers that results in energy savings.

This page provides direction from the Governor’s Steering Committee on Climate Change (GSC) on the many actions Connecticut towns can take to address climate change.  The resources available for each action include funding and support programs, examples and models from other towns, and information on how to accomplish each action.  

Planning and Measurement
Transportation
Land Use
Energy
Recycling, environmental purchasing, other
Local foods
Adaptation to climate change
Education

To learn from other towns and get a broad overview of municipal climate action in Connecticut, view our map of Connecticut municipal climate actions. 

Organizations and contact names to help CT towns with climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Action Category	Action	Resources Available	Examples from CT Towns
Planning and Measurement	Complete a community-wide GHG inventory.	ICLEI Clean Air and Climate Protection software Clean Air-Cool Planet Small Town Carbon Calculator
	Develop a climate change action plan with GHG reduction goals and a set of actions to attain the goals.	Community Catalyst Fund, a project of Clean Air-Cool Planet, offers grants to community organizations of $250 to $5000 for local sustainability efforts in the areas of organizational planning, project planning and implementation, and education and outreach. Planning resources and sustainability toolkit available through ICLEI US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement and Climate Action Handbook EPA Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series EPA tools for local climate change planning, including webcasts and podcasts. California Local Government Toolkit – toolkit to help towns save money and protect the climate. Transition US - an international grassroots movement that builds community resilience in response to the challenges of peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis.	2010 Wethersfield Comprehensive Energy and Conservation Plan BGreen 2020 – The City of Bridgeport’s Comprehensive Sustainability Plan
Transportation	Adopt a telecommuting policy for municipal employees and promote telecommuting to businesses in your town.	Telecommute CT provides free consulting resources to develop programs. NuRide can be used to track mileage and GHG reduction from telecommuting.
	Reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by municipal employees and residents through a combination of walking, biking, telecommuting, taking public transit, carpooling, and telecommuting. Provide infrastructure for all modes of transportation – bike, pedestrian and transit.	Participate in regional VMT planning efforts with CT Regional Planning Organizations. NuRide provides incentives and tracking of VMT and GHG reductions from walking, biking, telecommuting, taking public transit, carpooling, and telecommuting. Data is tracked by individual and aggregated by employer (including towns). Safe Routes to Schools promotes walking and bicycling to school by supporting efforts to make it safe, convenient, and fun. CTRides commuter options.	Vernon walk to school initiatives
	Reduce emissions from your town fleet through more efficient use (including bicycle patrols, car sharing, route selection) and replacement with fuel-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles.	CT Clean Fuel Program pays towns the difference between the cost of a conventional vehicle and AFV (includes hybrid gas-electric vehicles). Use DAS contracts to purchase highly efficient vehicles such as gas-electric hybrids, police bicycles, etc.	State Capitol Police Bike Patrol
	Promote anti-idling and require school buses and town fleet to comply with state anti-idling requirements.	DEP anti-idling educational materials including: “Waste Busters” video, idling “ticket” brochure, anti-idling signs. CT anti-idling law and regulations	Wilton kids develop anti-idling program
Land Use and Responsible Growth	Implement land use codes or ordinances that promote smart growth and sustainable development, such as: Form based codes to promote walkability and enhanced community character. Mixed use zones or mixed use overlay zones. Transit Oriented Development zones or overlay zones. Policies or ordinances that encourage green building practices and site design. Low Impact or Light Imprint regulations to encourage green infrastructure. Policies or ordinances that encourage infill development, brownfields redevelopment or development in existing town/village centers (Transfer or Development Rights, etc). Zoning for affordable or mixed income housing.	OPM Office of Responsible Growth and Green and Growing Tools for Responsible Growth CRCOG Sustainable Capitol Region Initiative CRCOG Smart Growth Guidelines for Sustainable Design and Development EPA Essential Smart Growth Fixes for Urban and Suburban Zoning Codes ICLEI Sustainability Program Green Buildings for Cool Cities:  A Guide for Advocating for Local Green Building Policies (US Green Building Council and Sierra Club)  LEED Neighborhood Development 1000 Friends of CT CT Environmental Conditions Online- CT GIS geospatial data and maps of natural resources and environmental information. NOAA Smart Growth Guide for Coastal, Waterfront Communities Regional Plan Association	Sustainability Amendment to Stamford Master Plan, Dec 2010 Storrs Center: Special Design District and Zoning Approvals and Sustainability Design Guidelines From Grey to Green: Sustainable Practices for Redeveloping a Vacant Shopping Center (Manchester) BGreen 2020 – The City of Bridgeport’s Comprehensive Sustainability Plan
	Use Organic Land Care practices on school and town fields.	DEP Organic Land Care Program NOFA Organic Landcare Program
	Preserve open space and working farms.	CT DOAG Farmland Preservation Program Working Lands Alliance Farmland Preservation Options Planning for Agriculture:  A Guide for CT Municipalities DEP open space grants and financial assistance	Suffield Land Preservation Efforts
	Plant trees in urban areas to sequester carbon and reduce cooling loads.	CT DEP Urban Forestry Program and Grants
Energy	Reduce energy use (electricity and fuel) for all town buildings.	CT Energy Info – resources from the CT Energy Efficiency Fund to help towns lower energy costs. CT High Performance Schools Program EPA Community Energy Challenge EPA Portfolio Manager interactive energy management tool that allows you to track and assess energy and water consumption across your entire portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment. EPA Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator - helps determine how much new energy efficiency equipment can be purchased from anticipated savings, whether equipment purchase should be financed now or in the future, and whether money is being lost by waiting for a lower interest rate. Community Catalyst Fund, a project of Clean Air-Cool Planet, offers grants to community organizations of $250 to $5000 for local sustainability efforts in the areas of organizational planning, project planning and implementation, and education and outreach. EPA’s Energy Efficiency in Local Government Buildings and Facilities EPA’s Energy Efficiency in K-12 Schools EPA’s Evaluation of Energy Conservation Measures for Wastewater Treatment Facilities	2009 West Hartford Comprehensive Energy Plan Greenfield Energy Audit (Greenfield, MA) EPA Energy Star Leaders List
	Become a CT Clean Energy Community.	CCEF Clean Energy Communities Program CT Clean Energy Option	2009 Milford Clean Energy Roadmap CT Clean Energy Communities Top Programs
	Assess municipal buildings for on-site clean energy and combined heat and power potential.	EPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership, Northeast CHP Application Center CT DPUC distributed generation program
Local Foods	Increase locally grown foods: Start school gardens or buy from local farmers for school cafeterias. Support farmers’ markets.	CT Department of Agriculture’s Farm-to-School Program links school cafeterias with local farmers. CT farmers markets Wholesome Wave Nourishing Neighborhoods Initiative - suggest a Nourishgin Neighborhood program for your community. Find farm and farm stands in your community at www.BuyCTGrown.com	Westport Green Village Initiative Park City Harvest, Bridgeport City Seed, New Haven
Recycling, Environmental Purchasing, Other	Increase your town recycling rate: Implement a SMART (unit-based pricing) program. Institute and enforce recycling programs in all town schools.	DEP Municipal Recycling Resource Center SMART (Save Money And Reduce Trash) – how to implement unit-based pricing waste collection programs in CT Establishing recycling programs for schools EPA SMART BET Calculator (Saving Money and Reducing Trash Benefit Evaluation Tool) - combines local waste data with nationwide data and information to provide the greenhouse gas and cost savings that your community is likely to see after implementation of a unit-based pricing program.	CT “SMART” towns (with unit-based pricing programs)
	Increase purchase of Environmentally Preferable Products, including Energy Star computers and appliances.  Towns may “piggyback” on State contracts.	DAS Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
	“Green” your town meetings and events.	Green your meetings and events
Education	Include CT climate change education curriculum and programs in your schools.	Climate change resources for CT teachers and schools – includes Keep CT Cool competition and energy and climate curricula Community Catalyst Fund, a project of Clean Air-Cool Planet, offers grants to community organizations of $250 to $5000 for local sustainability efforts in the areas of organizational planning, project planning and implementation, and education and outreach. Climate change resources for CT students
	Educate town officials, residents, and businesses on the benefits of climate action	Make a CT climate action pledge and see the dollar, energy, and greenhouse gas savings
Adaptation	Plan for adaptation to climate change impacts.	ICLEI Climate Resilient Communities Program EPA’s Climate Ready Water Utilities Program Adaptation Subcommittee information including impacts of climate change on CT	Groton, CT Coastal Climate Adaptation Workshop Presentations Keene, NH Adapting to Climate Change: Planning a Climate Resilient Community