Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

2025 CEQ Annual Report


Resources


  1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service, NOWDATA, Hartford-Bradley International Airport, Accessed January 7, 2026; www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=box.
  2. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), BUILDING A LOW CARBON FUTURE FOR CONNECTICUT ACHIEVING A 45% GHG REDUCTION BY 2030; portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/climatechange/publications/BuildingaLowCarbonFutureforCTGC3Recommendationspdf.pdf#page=20.
  3. DEEP, 1990-2023 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory - August 2025; portal.ct.gov/-/media/deep/climatechange/1990-2023-ghg-inventory/deep_ghg_report_1990-2023-final.pdf.
  4. EPA, AirNow, Air Quality Index (AQI) Basics; www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/.
  5. EPA, Air Data: Air Quality Data Collected at Outdoor Monitors Across the US, accessed January 22, 2026; www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-data.
  6. DEEP, Air Quality Trends – Ozone; portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Air/Monitoring/Trends/Ozone-Trends.
  7. DEEP, Source Contribution to Connecticut’s Ozone Problem; portal.ct.gov/deep/air/planning/ozone/source-contribution-to-connecticut-ozone.
  8. DEEP, Presentation by Paul Farrell “Update on ozone reclassifications of CT Nonattainment areas for the 2008 & 2015 Ozone NAAQS”, September 25, 2025.
  9. EPA, “EPA Launches Biggest Deregulatory Action in U.S. History”, March 12, 2025; www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-launches-biggest-deregulatory-action-us-history.
  10. DEEP, Monthly Open Space Reports to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and the State Bond Commission, 2025 Open Space Reports; portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Open-Space/DEEP-Monthly-Open-Space-Reports.
  11. DEEP, Monthly Open Space Reports to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and the State Bond Commission, 2025 Open Space Reports and personal communication from A. Clark, February 5, 2026; portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Open-Space/DEEP-Monthly-Open-Space-Reports.
  12. DEEP, personal communication from A. Clark, February 5, 2026 and Urban Green and Community Gardens Grant Program; portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Open-Space/Urban-Green-and-Community-Garden-Grant-Program.
  13. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. Forests of Connecticut, 2024. Resource Update FS-571. October 2025; public.tableau.com/views/FIA_OneClick_V2/Pagetwo?%3Aorigin=viz_share_link&%3AshowVizHome=no#2.
  14. DEEP and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Trends In Connecticut’s Forests: A Half-Century of Change, NE-INF-143-01; www.fs.usda.gov/ne/newtown_square/publications/brochures/pdfs/state_forests/ct_forest.pdf.
  15. New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Immerse Yourself in a Forest for Better Health; www.dec.ny.gov/lands/90720.html.
  16. DEEP, GC3 Final Report: Working & Natural Lands Working Group - Rivers Sub-Working Group, p. 5; portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/climatechange/GC3/GC3-working-group-reports/GC3-WNLWG-Rivers-Final-Report-11-20-20.pdf.
  17. University of Connecticut (UConn), Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), CT Forest Fragmentation; clear.uconn.edu/projects/landscape/ct-forestfrag/.
  18. UConn, CLEAR, personal communication from Q. Lei-Parent received February 23, 2025.
  19. DEEP, 2020 Connect Forest Action Plan; portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/forestry/2020-Approved-CT-Forest-Action-Plan.pdf.
  20. DEEP, D. Danica and UConn, I. Zafetti, personal communication 3-12-2024.
  21. United State Census Bureau, County-level Urban and Rural information for the 2020 Census, (Updated September 2023) County-level 2020 Census Urban and Rural Information for the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Island Areas sorted by state and county FIPS codes, accessed March 18, 2024; www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/ua/2020_UA_COUNTY.xlsx.
  22. Nowak, David J; Greenfield, Eric J. 2018. US Urban Forest Statistics, Values, and Projections. Journal of Forestry. 116(2): 164-177.; www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/pubs/jrnl/2018/nrs_2018_Nowak_003.pdf.
  23. DEEP, General Urban Forestry Information; portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Forestry/Urban-Forestry/General-Urban-Forestry-Information.
  24. DEEP, Urban and Community Forestry Grant Accomplishments, 2025; portal.ct.gov/deep/forestry/urban-forestry/grants/urban-forestry-grant-accomplishments.
  25. Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAg), Farmland Preservation Program Report, Calendar Year 2025 PDR Farmland Closings January 1, 2025 - Dec. 31, 2025; personal communication from C. Weimar, January 8, 2026.
  26. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 2022 Census of Agriculture State Profile; www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Connecticut/cp99009.pdf,
    www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/Ag_Overview/stateOverview.php?state=CONNECTICUT, and 2022 Census of Agriculture; www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_State_Level/Connecticut/ctv1.pdf.
  27. USDA, AgCensus, Table 1. Farms, Land in Farms, and Land Use: 1982 and Earlier Census Years, Connecticut 1982; www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/archive/files/1982-Connecticut-CHAPTER_1_State_Data-121-Table-01.pdf.
  28. DEEP, GC3 Final Report: Working & Natural Lands Working Group - Agriculture/Soils Working Subgroup; portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/climatechange/GC3/GC3-working-group-reports/GC3_WNL_Ag_Soils_Final_Report_111320.pdf#page=5.
  29. Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) Sec. 22a-38 (15); www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_440.htm#sec_22a-38.
  30. DEEP, personal communication from K. O’Neill, January 29, 2026.
  31. DEEP, Final Report: Working and Natural Lands Working Group, Wetlands Subgroup, November 2020; portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/climatechange/GC3/GC3-working-group-reports/GC3_WNL_Wetlands_Final_Report_111320.pdf#page=11#page=11.
  32. DEEP, 2024 Final Integrated Water Quality Report to Congress; portal.ct.gov/-/media/deep/water/water_quality_management/305b/2024/final-2024-iwqr.pdf.
  33. DEEP, CT Sewage Right-to-Know webpage 2026 Annual Report (Due February 1, 2026), accessed March 4, 2026; portal.ct.gov/deep/municipal-wastewater/ct-sewage-right-to-know. Frequently Asked Questions about Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs); portal.ct.gov/deep/municipal-wastewater/combined-sewer-overflows-frequently-asked-questions.
  34. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Annual Sewage Notification Report 2024, May 15, 2024, Table A7; www.mass.gov/doc/2024-sewage-notification-annual-report/download.
  35. DEEP; Long Island Sound Water Quality and Hypoxia Monitoring Program, personal communication from K. O’Brien-Clayton, November 10, 2025; 2025 Hypoxia Season Quick Facts; portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Water/LIS-Monitoring/LIS-Water-Quality-Monitoring-Maps.
  36. Long Island Sound Study, Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2015; longislandsoundstudy.net/2015/09/2015-comprehensive-conservation-and-management-plan/.
  37. DEEP, Nitrogen Control Program for Long Island Sound; personal communications from I. Raffa, April 15 and 22, 2026.
  38. DEEP, Nitrogen Control Program for Long Island Sound; portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Municipal-Wastewater/Nitrogen-Control-Program-for-Long-Island-Sound.
  39. DEEP; Long Island Sound Water Quality and Hypoxia Monitoring Program, personal communication from K. O’Brien-Clayton, January 27, 2026.
  40. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Tides and Currents, Relative Sea Level Trend 8467150 Bridgeport; tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/sltrends_station.shtml?id=8467150.
  41. Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), James O’Donnell, Sea Level Rise in Connecticut 
    Final Report February 2019    ; circa.media.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1618/2019/10/Sea-Level-Rise-Connecticut-Final-Report-Feb-2019.pdf.
  42. EPA, Beach Advisory and Closing On-line Notification, accessed February 2, 2026; watersgeo.epa.gov/beacon2/reports.html. (Inland Beaches) DEEP, personal communication from A. Aarrestad, December 9, 2025. 
  43. Long Island Sound Study, Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2015; longislandsoundstudy.net/2015/09/2015-comprehensive-conservation-and-management-plan/.
  44. DoAg, Bureau of Aquaculture, personal communication with M. Zuber, January 12, 2026.
  45. DEEP, Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse, 2024 Final Integrated Water Quality Report, accessed January 14, 2026. portal.ct.gov/-/media/deep/water/water_quality_management/305b/2024/final-2024-iwqr.pdf.
  46. Long Island Sound Study, Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, 2015; longislandsoundstudy.net/2015/09/2015-comprehensive-conservation-and-management-plan/.
  47. EPA, Drinking Water Performance and Results Report, Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) tool, GPRA Summary Report and GPRA Violation Report, accessed January 22, 2026; www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/drinking-water-performance-and-results-report.
  48. Department of Public Health (DPH), Freedom of Information Response received March 23, 2026.
  49. DPH, Press Releases, Connecticut Department of Public Health Updates Drinking Water Action Level For Per And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), June 15, 2022; portal.ct.gov/DPH/Newsroom/Press-Releases---2022/PFAS-June-2022.
  50. EPA, Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule Data Finder through1/15/2026, Accessed 3/4/2026; www.epa.gov/dwucmr/fifth-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule-data-finder.
  51. EPA, The Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) Program Overview Fact Sheet; www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-02/ucmr5-factsheet.pdf.
  52. EPA, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) NPDWR Implementation; www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/pfas-rule-implementation.
  53. EPA, National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative: Increasing Compliance with Drinking Water Standards; www.epa.gov/enforcement/national-enforcement-and-compliance-initiative-increasing-compliance-drinking-water-0.
  54. NOAA, Annual commercial landing statistics, 1970-2024, accessed February 5, 2026; www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/sustainable-fisheries/commercial-fisheries-landings.
  55. Kisei R. Tanaka, Michael P. Torre et al., “An ensemble high-resolution projection of changes in the future habitat of American lobster and sea scallop in the Northeast US continental shelf”; April 27, 2020; onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ddi.13069.
  56. DEEP, Division of Marine Fisheries; personal communication from K. Gottschall February 9, 2026.
  57. DEEP, Wildlife Division, Personal communication from L. Saucier, March 26, 2026.
  58. United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Atlantic Coast Population Revised Recovery Plan, May 2, 1996; omnilearn.net/esacourse/pdfs/piping_plover_recovery_plan96.pdf.
  59. USFWS, “Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation”, March 2020, p. 138; ecos.fws.gov/docs/five_year_review/doc6378.pdf.
  60. USFWS, Abundance and Productivity Estimates – 2021 Update - Atlantic Coast Piping Plover Population; www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/piping-plover-abundance-and-productivity-update-2021.pdf.
  61. DEEP, Wildlife Division, Personal communication from L. Saucier, March 26, 2026.
  62. DEEP, personal communication from B. Hess, February 9 and 11, 2026.
  63. DEEP, Bald Eagle; portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/fact-sheets/bald-eagle.
  64. DEEP, Osprey; portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/fact-sheets/osprey.
  65. The Connecticut Audubon Society, Osprey Nation 2025 Season Report, December 4, 2025; ctaudubon.org/conservation/science/osprey-nation/osprey-nation-map-and-data/.
  66. USGS, Eastern Ecological Science Center, North American Breeding Bird Survey, accessed 10-20-2023; www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/.
  67. DEEP, Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Reptiles, Effective August 5, 2015; portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Endangered-Species/Endangered-Species-Listings/Endangered-Threatened--Special-Concern-Reptiles.
  68. USFWS, Final Rule – Northern Long-Eared Bat; www.fws.gov/species/northern-long-eared-bat-myotis-septentrionalis and www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/30/2022-25998/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-endangered-species-status-for-northern-long-eared-bat.
  69. USFWS, Tricolored Bat; www.fws.gov/species/tricolored-bat-perimyotis-subflavus.
  70. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES); personal communication from J. Shepard, November 19, 2025.
  71. CAES, Updated Beech Leaf Disease Biology and Management, May 14, 2025; portal.ct.gov/-/media/caes/documents/publications/fact_sheets/valley_laboratory/beech-leaf-disease-management-options.pdf.
  72. CAES, Spotted Lanternfly, accessed September 22, 2025; portal.ct.gov/caes/caps/caps/spotted-lanternfly---slf.
  73. CAES, ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE (Anoplophora glabripennis), Accessed February 11, 2026; portal.ct.gov/-/media/caes/caps/2012/factsheetasianlonghornedbeetlepdf.pdf.
  74. United States Army Corps of Engineers, New England District Website, Connecticut River Hydrilla Research & Demonstration Project; www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects-Topics/Connecticut-River-Hydrilla/.
  75. DEEP, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance; personal communication from B. Gianetti, February 25, 2026.
  76. DEEP, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance; personal communication from B. Giannetti, February 25, 2026.
  77. DEEP, News Release, DEEP Announces $15 Million in Grant Awards for Materials Management Infrastructure Grant Program, 03/27/2025; portal.ct.gov/deep/news-releases/news-releases---2025/deep-announces-15-million-in-grant-awards-for-materials-management-infrastructure-grant-program.
  78. DEEP, Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance; CT Bottle Bill Redemption Data, accessed September 29, 2025; portal.ct.gov/-/media/deep/reduce_reuse_recycle/bottles/bottle-bill-data---sept-25---thru-q2-2025---table.pdf.
  79. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Electricity Data Browser, Retail Sales of Electricity, Residential Sector, accessed February 25, 2026; www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/#/topic/5?agg=0,1&geo=008&endsec=o&freq=A&start=2001&end=2022&ctype=linechart&ltype=pin&rtype=s&pin=&rse=0&maptype=0.
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  81. Energize Connecticut, Connecticut Statewide Energy Efficiency Dashboard, accessed March 24, 2026; www.ctenergydashboard.com/Public/PublicPerformanceReports.aspx.
  82. DEEP, personal communication from Benjamin McMillan, February 4, 2025.
  83. ISO-New England, Final 2024 Energy Efficiency Forecast and Appendix (3.1 Average Annual Emissions), April 28, 2024; www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/100010/eef2024_final_4site.pdf.
  84. DEEP, 2018 Connecticut Comprehensive Energy Strategy, Building Sector; portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/energy/CES/BuildingsSectorpdf.pdf.
  85. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Emerging Technologies; www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/emerging-technologies.
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  87. DEEP, Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy; personal communication from M. Malmrose, February 4, 2026.
  88. ISO-New England, 2025 CELT Report, 2025-2034 Forecast Report of Capacity, Energy, Loads, and Transmission, Sheet 1.7 Electrification Forecast, Issued May 1, 2025; www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/100023/2025_celt.xlsx.
  89. ISO-New England, Distributed Generation Forecast Working Group, Final 2026 DER Forecast, March 23, 2026; www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/100033/2026_final_der_forecast.pdf.
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  92. ISO-New England, 2025 CELT Report, 2025-2034 Forecast Report of Capacity, Energy, Loads, and Transmission, Sheet 3.1 PV Forecast – Nameplate and 3.3 PV Forecast – BTM Energy, Issued May 1, 2025; www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/100023/2025_celt.xlsx.
  93. Energy Storage Solutions, Energy Storage Solutions Performance Report, slide 10 of 19, accessed February 24, 2026; energystoragect.com/ess-performance-report/.
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  95. EnergizeCT, EV Rebates and Incentives; www.energizect.com/explore-solutions/electric-vehicles/rebates-incentives.
  96. DEEP, 2020 Electric Vehicle Roadmap for Connecticut, April 21, 2020; portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Climate-Change/EV-Roadmap.
  97. Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS), personal communication from S. McGirr, January 20, 2026, and Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), personal communication from S. Boisclair, January 30, 2026.
  98. ISO-New England, Final 2025 Electric Vehicle Forecast, May 1, 2025; www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/100023/trans_fx_2025_final.pdf.
  99. ISO-New England, 2025-2034 Forecast Report of Capacity, Energy, Loads, and Transmission, Sheet 1.7 Electrification Forecast; www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/100023/2025_celt.xlsx.
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  101. United State Energy Information Administration (EIA), State Energy Data System (SEDS): State Energy Data System (SEDS): 2024 Updates by energy source, Aviation Gasoline and Jet Fuel consumption estimates, 2024; www.eia.gov/state/seds/seds-data-fuel.php?sid=CT#Petroleum.
  102. CTDOT, Bureau of Public Transportation, Office of Transit & Ridesharing; personal communication from T. Roth; February 27, 2026.
  103. CTDOT, CTTransit, Reduced Fares; www.cttransit.com/fares/seniordisabled-reduced-fares/reduced-fares, and CTTransit FAQs- Fares, accessed 2-27-2026; www.cttransit.com/faqs-fares.
  104. United States Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, State Transportation By The Numbers – Connecticut; www.bts.gov/browse-statistical-products-and-data/state-transportation-statistics/state-transportation-numbers.
  105. DEEP, Annual Permitting and Enforcement Reports and State Review Framework Reporting webpage, Enforcement Statistics (Federal Fiscal Year 2025), accessed February 6, 2026; portal.ct.gov/deep/enforcement/reports/annual-environmental-reports.
  106. Council on Environmental Quality, Preliminary findings of the review of programs and measures of local governments on the expenditure of funds from the surcharge on spirit or liquor beverage containers of fifty milliliters or less (Nips), December 17, 2025; portal.ct.gov/-/media/ceq/publications/2025/preliminary-findings-of-the-review-of-the-miniature-beverage-container-surcharge-program-12-18-2025f.pdf.