Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

About ERSI

In the Commissioner's Office, the Environmental Review and Strategic Initiatives (ERSI) staff review projects with high visibility that involve multiple DEEP programs and stakeholders. ERSI works with the Environmental Protection Agency and with state agencies to assist DEEP's compliance with federal and state agency regulations. This office assesses projects that engage several of DEEP's resource management and environmental quality programs, from hydropower and other forms of clean energy reviews to pollution prevention assistance and grant opportunities that assist DEEP and non-profit organizations.

ERSI actions are grouped under "Environmental Review" and "Strategic Initiatives" categories. 

Contact Us: DEEP.ERSI@ct.gov

CEPA: Connecticut Environmental Policy Act

The Connecticut Environmental Policy Act establishes a process by which state agencies must identify and review their proposed “actions which may significantly affect the environment”. An assessment is required for each state agency action that could have a major impact on the state’s environmental, social, and/ or economic resources. A key component of the assessment process is the public’s opportunity to review and provide feedback.

  • Take a look at this CEPA Overview for more information. 
  • As a first step, qualifying projects are scoped for public review in the Environmental Monitor, a publication of the Connecticut's Council on Environmental Quality.
  • Staff assist DEEP project managers throughout the CEPA process to determine the level of scoping, coordinate public notices, and review materials for public notice.
  • When other state agencies propose projects, staff coordinates multi-division input and provides comment letters to those state agencies.
  • CEPA training is available for DEEP staff. Please contact DEEP.ERSI@ct.gov to arrange training. 

NEPA: National Environmental Policy Act

  • Staff provide comments on environmental considerations as part of DEEP's reviews of federal projects under the National Environmental Policy Act.
  • ERSI coordinates the review of documents prepared by federal agencies pursuant to NEPA. These include Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, and Findings of No Significant Impact. Typical federal agencies utilizing NEPA include the Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Renewable Energy Projects Review and Coordination

  • DEEP is a principal commenting agency for a wide range of applications submitted to the Connecticut Siting Council related to power generation, energy storage, and transmission lines. ERSI staff review projects, conduct site visits, and make recommendations to the Connecticut Siting Council to avoid and/or mitigate environmental impacts.  
  • ERSI collaborates with the Office of Innovative Partnerships and Planning in two initiatives related to solar siting: Sustainable, Transparent, and Efficient Practices (STEPs) for Solar Development and to launch a Community Renewable Energy Siting Tool (CREST). Both STEPs and CREST involve stakeholder engagement and input related to the procurement, siting, and permitting of ground-mounted solar systems. 
  • ERSI collaborates with DEEP's Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy on energy procurements for the Shared Clean Energy Facilities program. 

CES: Commission on Environmental Standards

The Commission on Environmental Standards was established by DEEP's Commissioner from Public Act 19-71 to provide advice to DEEP on minimizing and mitigating environmental and commercial impacts associated with the construction and operation of offshore wind facilities. DEEP's Commissioner appoints members of the CES, and ERSI facilitates CES meetings. Meeting Minutes from the 2023 and 2019 Offshore Wind procurements are listed below:

2023 Offshore Wind CES Meeting Slides and Recordings

2019 Offshore Wind CES Meeting Slides

Strategic Initiatives Header

Federal Grants and Funding Opportunities

ERSI updates the following webpages to both report on federal grants that DEEP has pursued and on available grant opportunities that DEEP administers:

  • BIL and IRA Updates- Provides transparency on DEEP grants received through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. 
  • Grants and Financial Assistance- Lists DEEP funding opportunities with brief summaries and program contacts as well as links to each program page. 
  • Grants 101- Provides resources for grantseekers of DEEP and other grants. 

Pollution Prevention and Sustainability 

  • ERSI's Pollution Prevention program (P2) provides outreach and assistance primarily to businesses to voluntarily reduce pollution. ERSI administers recognition programs such as Better Bev, for the sustainable manufacturing of craft beverages, and Green Lodging Certification, for the hospitality sector. This office develops fact sheets, case studies, and additional resources such as an online training program on the management of chemicals to reduce storm-related contamination and spills, available at: Pollution Prevention. 
  • ERSI participates in cross-bureau efforts to facilitate Greener Gov initiatives under Governor Lamont's Executive Order #1. This includes the "Lead by Example" Program where state agencies are implementing projects to reduce energy use, water, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Quality Assurance

  • ERSI administers DEEP's Quality Assurance Program. Quality Assurance is a mandatory program required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for all state agencies and organizations receiving federal funding to ensure that environmental data collected and utilized by DEEP is scientifically valid and of known precision and accuracy.
  • DEEP's Quality Management Plan is required by EPA for organizations that accept federal funding and collect environmental data. 
  • Visit this page to learn more about Quality Assurance.

Reports on cross-cutting issues

Content last updated November 2025