Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

News Releases - 2026

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  • 6/25/2026 DEEP Announces Over $5 million in Climate Resilience Fund Grants to Protect Communities From Extreme Weather

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced the recipients of the second round of grants from the DEEP Climate Resilience Fund (DCRF), the agency’s “one-stop shop” for resilience funding. Through this round, DEEP is awarding $5.1 million to14 municipalities, regional entities and non-profits to support projects that will proactively protect homes, businesses, and critical community lifelines from worsening floods, extreme heat and wind, and other natural hazards.

  • 6/25/2026 DEEP Announces New Paddlecraft Rental Operations at Five CT State Parks

    (HARTFORD, CT) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced new canoe, kayak and/or stand-up paddleboard rental services at five State Parks including Burr Pond State Park in Torrington, Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent, Mount Tom State Park in Litchfield, and Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield. These vendors were chosen as part of a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process that DEEP offered earlier this year.

  • 6/25/2026 MEDIA ADVISORY: DEEP To Unveil New Long Island Sound Research Vessel

    (HARTFORD) — On Friday, June 26, 2026, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes will join DEEP staff to help christen a new Research Vessel, the R/V Sound Outlook. The new vessel will be used to monitor and assess the water quality in Long Island Sound. The boat is named for its intended use, to help provide the outlook on the health of our treasured Long Island Sound ecosystem, one of North America’s most biologically diverse estuaries.

  • 6/24/2026 Commissioner Dykes, House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford), and the Metropolitan District Announce Major Progress Mitigating Sewer Flooding in North Hartford

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes, Connecticut House Speaker Matt Ritter and the MDC today announced that the state’s commitment of over $85 million in state funding from the state’s Clean Water Fund and Clean Water Fund-related funding, combined with MDC infrastructure funding launched in 2023, has delivered on a commitment to expedite relief for residents of Hartford’s North End suffering from sewage overflows in streets and basements.

  • 6/24/2026 MEDIA ADVISORY: Commissioner Dykes to Announce Over $5 Million in Grants to Protect Communities from Extreme Weather

    (HARTFORD) — Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes will announce on Thursday the recipients of the second round of grants from the DEEP Climate Resilience Fund (DCRF). In this round, DEEP is awarding $5.1 million to 14 municipalities, regional entities and non-profits to support projects that will proactively protect homes, businesses, and critical community lifelines from worsening floods, extreme heat and wind, and other natural hazards.

  • 6/24/2026 MEDIA ADVISORY: DEEP to Celebrate New Paddlecraft Rental Operations at Five CT State Parks

    (HARTFORD) — On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will host a ribbon cutting and press conference to announce new canoe, kayak and/or stand-up paddleboard rental services at five state parks including Burr Pond State Park in Torrington, Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent, Mount Tom State Park in Litchfield, and Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield.

  • 6/23/2026 MEDIA ADVISORY: Commissioner Dykes, House Speaker Ritter, and the Metropolitan District Announce Major Progress Mitigating Sewer Flooding in Hartford’s North End

    (HARTFORD) — On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), together with the Metropolitan District (MDC) and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter will provide an update on current and recently completed sewer infrastructure, delivering on a commitment to expedite relief for residents suffering from sewage overflows in streets and basements in Hartford’s North End

  • 6/12/2026 DEEP Announces New Grant Programs to Support Healthy Urban and Community Forests

    (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced two grant programs aimed at expanding tree canopy cover and improving the health and resilience of Connecticut’s urban and community forests. Together, these federally-funded programs, administered by DEEP’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, will help municipalities address tree canopy loss caused by pests and diseases while supporting resilient forestry practices in municipally and tribally owned forest.

  • 6/11/2026 Take Advantage of Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Federal Tax Credit Before It Expires June 30th

    (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds residents that until June 30, 2026, the federal Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit (30C) can help cover up to 30% of the cost of purchasing and installing a residential or commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging station.

  • 6/11/2026 DEEP Forecasts Elevated Levels of Ozone For Thursday, June 11, 2026 - Friday, June 12, 2026

    (HARTFORD)— The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) forecasts that air quality for coastal areas in Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties will reach or exceed levels that are high Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) on Thursday, June 11th and on Friday, June 12thdue to ozone levels in the outdoor air we breathe.

  • 6/11/2026 Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut Files Complaint Seeking Removal of Utilities’ Unjustified Transmission Profits

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC), the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General (OAG) have filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking to eliminate an unjustified charge to Connecticut ratepayers by Eversource Energy and United Illuminating for the utilities’ participation in New England’s regional transmission organization (RTO), ISO New England (ISO-NE), which operates the region’s transmission grid.

  • 6/10/2026 DEEP Announces $680,200 in State Grants to Support the Assessment and Remediation of Brownfields in Four Municipalities

    (HARTFORD)—The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today the release of $680,200 in state grants under Round 3 of DEEP’s Brownfields into Greenfields (BiG) Grant Program to support the assessment and remediation of contaminated properties in four municipalities across Connecticut, consisting of approximately 20 acres of land. This funding was awarded to DEEP by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a supplemental Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) 128(a) State and Tribal Response Program grant to administer to brownfield sites in Connecticut.

  • 6/8/2026 25-year-old man dies after kayak overturns in North Canaan pond; EnCon Police investigating

    (HARTFORD) – On June 6th, 2026, DEEP Environmental Conservation Police (EnCon) responded with emergency responders from North Canaan, LIFE STAR critical care, and Connecticut State Police Troop B to the area of 324 Norfolk Rd at a private pond for a report of an overturned kayak with one person in the water.

  • 6/8/2026 MEDIA ADVISORY: BiG News! Commissioner Dykes to Announce $680,200 in Grants to Support Remediation of Brownfields in Four Municipalities

    (HARTFORD) — Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes will announce on Wednesday the release of $680,200 in state grants under Round 3 of DEEP’s Brownfields into Greenfields (BiG) Grant Program to support the assessment and remediation of contaminated properties in four municipalities across Connecticut.

  • 6/5/2026 Governor Lamont Announces Commissioner Katie Dykes Leaving the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Names Emma Cimino as Acting Commissioner

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Dykes will be leaving her position with the state in July after nearly 14 years of state service to explore new professional opportunities.