News Releases

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• 10/24/2025 DEEP Seeking Public Comment on Draft RFP for Paddlecraft Rentals in Five CT State Parks

  (HARTFORD, CT) — As part of its Partnership in Parks Initiative, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is seeking public comment on a draft Request for Proposal (RFP) for paddlecraft rentals in five Connecticut State Parks. Comments are due November 7, 2025.

• 10/23/2025 DEEP Launches Informational Process to Explore New Nuclear Energy Capacity in Connecticut

  (HARTFORD) - The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is launching an informational process to explore new nuclear capacity in Connecticut. Advanced nuclear reactors, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), fusion machines, and other advanced designs, are gaining considerable national interest as a potential source of safe, firm, dispatchable, carbon-free generation.

• 10/22/2025 Connecticut Celebrates Bat Week October 24 - 31

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is celebrating the importance of bats during Bat Week, an international event celebrated annually during the week before Halloween. Bats play a critical role in ecosystems worldwide and provide tremendous value to humans in a variety of ways. Bats in North America also currently face an unprecedented population crisis, making it even more important to call attention to these often-misunderstood creatures.

• 10/20/2025 DEEP Requests Proposals for Grants for Aquatic Invasive Species Control on Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers

  (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is now accepting proposals for the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Grant Program for 2026. Applications will be accepted through December 10, 2025. Please visit the DEEP AIS Grant Program website for details on how to apply for 2026 grants.

• 10/9/2025 DEEP Urges Residents to Avoid Conflicts with Bears this Fall

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) strongly urges residents to follow best practices to reduce the likelihood of a conflict with a black bear this fall.

• 10/8/2025 DEEP Announces $750,000 in Brownfield Remediation Grants

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce the release of $750,000 in grants under Round 2 of DEEP’s Brownfield Grant Program to support the assessment and remediation of contaminated properties in four municipalities across Connecticut, consisting of approximately 27 acres of land. Funding is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) State and Tribal Response Program.

• 10/2/2025 DEEP launches 2025 DEEP Climate Resilience Fund

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is pleased to announce a call for applications and a draft Request for Proposals under an expanded DEEP Climate Resilience Fund. DEEP is making available up to $33 million in state funds and up to $11.8 million in federal funds for projects that protect communities and critical infrastructure from extreme weather. This opportunity is open to municipalities, non-profit organizations, and other entities, and includes new funding categories that will support a wide range of community and energy resilience projects. In recent years, Connecticut has experienced widespread impacts from extreme weather, including historic flooding in the Naugatuck Valley, unprecedented wildfires, and the hottest summer weather on record. These climate-driven hazards have caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to homes, roads, bridges, and businesses. Connecticut’s communities have endured these recent challenges from extreme weather just as federal support for resilience is becoming less certain.

• 10/1/2025 DEEP Reminds Boaters that Paddlers are Required to Wear Life Jackets Starting October 1

  (HARTFORD) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reminds boaters that state law requires anyone operating a canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or other manually-propelled vessel between October 1 and May 31 must wear a personal floatation device (PFD).

• 10/1/2025 DEEP Seeks Innovative Proposals for Energy Efficiency Investment to Lower Ratepayer Costs and Improve Grid Resilience

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has issued a Final Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking bids for electric and natural gas energy efficiency and demand response measures to improve grid resilience and lower costs for customers. Proposals may offer, but are not limited to, upgrades to make buildings and systems more efficient, such as insulation, heating and cooling system upgrades, building energy management systems, and smart devices. The RFP encourages performance contracting where a customer’s energy bill savings would exceed their costs for completing the energy upgrades.  

• 9/29/2025 DEEP Announces Opening Days of Fall Turkey, Pheasant, and Small Game Hunting Seasons

  (HARTFORD) — Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has announced the Opening Days of the fall hunting seasons

• 9/25/2025 Governor Lamont Signs Agreement Giving Connecticut Oversight of Radioactive Materials in Research, Manufacturing, and Healthcare

  (HARTFORD) – Governor Ned Lamont and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman David Wright today signed an agreement making Connecticut the federal agency’s 40th “Agreement State,” giving the State of Connecticut oversight over the handling of radioactive materials used by more than 100 Connecticut businesses in the research, manufacturing, and healthcare fields.

• 9/24/2025 DEEP Announces Increased Incentive Levels For CHEAPR Program Effective October 1st

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today that the standard incentive level for the popular Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Vehicle Purchase Rebate (CHEAPR) program will be changing effective October 1, 2025. The CHEAPR program offers incentives to Connecticut residents who purchase or lease an eligible new or used battery electric (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicle from a licensed Connecticut automobile dealership or original equipment manufacturer.

• 9/23/2025 DEEP Requests Proposals for Recreational Trails Grants

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is now accepting proposals for the State’s Recreational Trails Grant Program. The grants awarded will be funded by a potential allocation of state bond funds in fiscal year 2026, authorized by CGS 23-103, as amended by PA 25-174, and may be limited by the actual amount allocated. An informational webinar will be offered October 16, and applications will be accepted through December 18, 2025.

• 9/18/2025 Bat Appreciation Day to Be Held at Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine on September 20th

  (HARTFORD) — Join the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Wildlife Division and the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) State Historic Preservation Office for a celebration of bat conservation at the Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine in East Granby on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event helps raise awareness about the story of one of Connecticut’s most intriguing historical sites and its importance to the conservation of endangered species.

• 9/18/2025 DEEP Approves Three-Year Energy Savings Plan for Connecticut

  (HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has issued its Final Determination on the 2025-2027 Conservation and Load Management (C&LM) Plan, a comprehensive strategy which guides the priorities, design, and incentives for Connecticut’s energy efficiency and demand management programs. These programs, administered by Eversource and Avangrid under the brand name Energize Connecticut, drive down energy costs by supporting efficient building upgrades such as insulation, air sealing, heating and cooling system improvements, and building controls and industrial process improvements for businesses.