[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6063530,"mediaKeyId","3268471-51f69266bf3a87003b3478d5dee61bac","parentId",3268471,"title","Committee hears state legislative update: House Bill 5004 passed the House; members express concern about related bills affecting solar incentives","audioSeconds",206,"startMs",1919000,"endMs",2125000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3268471-51f69266bf3a87003b3478d5dee61bac&start=1919&end=2125","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3268471-51f69266bf3a87003b3478d5dee61bac/thumbnail_1919000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6063530/Simsbury-Center/Capitol-County/Connecticut/Committee-hears-state-legislative-update-House-Bill-5004-passed-the-House-members-express-concern-about-related-bills-affecting-solar-incentives","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063530-cf0aa07f7ad4c71dcafaa50a6d9131aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775304487&Signature=Gl9TVXqI2VrjWdcCFT1okk3cp7cq4qVKCGCw4Qtx0yUw3YxKpI9nM~JwEn0ObnIpaJlPB0MFxUR3oFQ0RcyCRoge7-WAPjNSJcDzg7fHGAM51GgANtE4Ux2wQ0kPf7KR28soYOxb-wgfAS2e2rNw7SrYm4Azk6jWqKdb100qmAKr6aYTlOyiZoFipQyrHF9~JdRwRoPedQIw4IwXqNXTqYvsdiPg~P9oQnCZdJnwoZL~JOFUC0ya6ZODeMrHBZ5lybnpoA5mPLsEuUhMjE1HF9hCsr2xr0kllcYBtrUrttzJ84Xu0so1ewxwQ1idBZzHWA1yeVFi5H4fqKzjvE~z8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Simsbury Center, CT","date","2025-05-05T17:29:39Z","article","Mark briefed the committee on recent activity at the Connecticut legislature, reporting that House Bill 5004 passed the House and that other bills under consideration could affect solar incentives and public-benefits funding.

Mark said the bill “passed today” in the House and that while it contains “some good stuff,” the environmental and solar-installation communities are “freaking out right now at a bill that might really be damaging to the solar industry.” He cited file number 1560 during the discussion and described concerns that some language could reclassify nuclear generation and alter how public-benefit charges are administered.

Mark said one provision would count energy from Millstone nuclear generation “as a class 1 renewable equivalent with solar and wind,” and that another change would move public-benefit funds into direct legislative oversight rather than keeping them on an electric bill, which could make funding decisions subject to annual legislative votes. He said such a shift could jeopardize ongoing programs the public-benefit charge currently supports.

Committee members urged subscribers to legislative alerts and recommended the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters and nonprofit PACE (People's Action for Clean Energy) as sources for summaries and talking points. No formal town advocacy or vote was taken by the committee at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Simsbury Sustainability Committee Meeting - May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A committee member reported that House Bill 5004 passed the House and noted that legislation (including file 1560) could change how public benefits and renewables are treated on electric bills, prompting members to monitor legislative alerts and advocacy channels.","taxTitle","Simsbury Center, Capitol County, Connecticut","taxId",70146,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063535,"Committee to gather DPW and BOE input as town energy and sustainability plan moves forward",91,1561000,1652000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3268471-51f69266bf3a87003b3478d5dee61bac&start=1561&end=1652","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3268471-51f69266bf3a87003b3478d5dee61bac/thumbnail_1561000.jpg","/articles/6063535/Simsbury-Center/Capitol-County/Connecticut/Committee-to-gather-DPW-and-BOE-input-as-town-energy-and-sustainability-plan-moves-forward","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063535-6967724ca9a8305f87773864fe602a3e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775304487&Signature=L6zaM5HBWcaB9FsaLjfDANvzDDAe1gOMgz2YIGmGcsP3x0pQu3zP4mAZ7Rgk3~njD8FV~8SHHqRUTyArLVWSztLoQrVMj6LePS6y-iy0U-OxoTq2k6nO6aGCfS3cOww-JDPTvJQcyW5I75axCDicTq4xvgzi1oCN7~1jx5zzbRvglQwQ-3P0KMMefGiHVttLHx7~vKgMygQACRORqYun9hCi98u8Gld0tN69kgX8uNf7eqh9A1tW7Fzsf9m8eA~CxsM6PMtb33GkQY1JY~rtm5izGmVBJfH5caSod-~UYSajhxQGIjtYbs7tUjrNh~vaEr4cj~hAu8AEIcDrGgWv7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members said they recently met with Tom Roy and the Department of Public Works to align data and now plan to engage the Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen as the town energy and sustainability plan advances.

Jamie said the committee’s next steps include a similar conversation with the Board of Education (including Jason Casey) and then engagement with the Board of Selectmen to solicit feedback and tie numbers to implementation options. The plan is intended to collect operational data and stakeholder feedback before formal consideration by town leadership.

Members thanked staff and committee volunteers for their input to date and invited additional committee members to volunteer on the newsletter and outreach work connected to the plan. No formal votes or budget allocations for the energy plan were made during the meeting.","The Simsbury Sustainability Committee said it has discussed preliminary energy-plan ideas with the Department of Public Works and plans similar outreach to the Board of Education and the Board of Selectmen as it refines a town energy/sustainability plan.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063540,"PowerSmart campaign wrap-up: committee says fair will connect residents to solar, heat pump and storage information",56,1505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3268471-51f69266bf3a87003b3478d5dee61bac&start=1505&end=1561","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3268471-51f69266bf3a87003b3478d5dee61bac/thumbnail_1505000.jpg","/articles/6063540/Simsbury-Center/Capitol-County/Connecticut/PowerSmart-campaign-wrap-up-committee-says-fair-will-connect-residents-to-solar-heat-pump-and-storage-information","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063540-9ecbb6e097d0334e4885aa16358250c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775304487&Signature=QvS-XBUfaPbeBUVsJEsp9BzRMp-TO1QwagQFHhB-dyuMIBH682Dhi1m6KpTBwQdH0IRVhKbUmkL99LKdlbmrEtYbyN-d481PJJko21YpsdHq1vIvVOdIM9poeqaGTBV6EVZnFCR9oI~iv2hzlLPhUkJAkNpGYyF0mStDfwup~2-xYMYVh7RFSfh7Q7HYGYeCqpq6ARD94CNt4zFcwzNbkH169KYpo1zZ~MrWazd9mXJKnmEqlXOgDYY8yoZpAEIW1C03HdpTXlIQU8vsLEOplvlAc4H6QiYM0js~Ht8kKAMUd-0ulur1KpMStR~ftnfvXnEaXZjtqJpC4G75FZmDPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members said the town’s PowerSmart solar and storage outreach campaign is winding down with no new updates, but that the sustainability fair will present residents with installers, pricing information and experts on solar, heat pumps and storage.

Baird said, “there is nothing else to say other than the things we've done already,” and added that the fair should provide residents with the information needed to weigh options for solar plus storage and heat-pump systems. Mark agreed there were no additional items to report on the campaign’s status.

Members said they hope the fair’s vendor presence and educational workshops will help residents evaluate costs and technical options. No new incentives, permits or town-level procurement changes were reported during the meeting.","The committee reported no new developments on the PowerSmart solar and storage campaign but said the upcoming sustainability fair will provide residents with installers, pricing and informational resources to help decide on solar and storage adoption.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063545,"Committee advances pre-application for carton-recycling pilot in schools; data collection under way",504,920000,1424000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3268471-51f69266bf3a87003b3478d5dee61bac&start=920&end=1424","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3268471-51f69266bf3a87003b3478d5dee61bac/thumbnail_920000.jpg","/articles/6063545/Simsbury-Center/Capitol-County/Connecticut/Committee-advances-pre-application-for-carton-recycling-pilot-in-schools-data-collection-under-way","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063545-7ad203841a8d75038e27c66f4591c244/orig.mp4?Expires=1775304487&Signature=hqLenAYp5jwg-fKOiB--drQmuLKtEpuG~r4wnqP2LGA7rcRjQ4Voyu55ch5OdaCtOrhkrN3XwoSvmXOVbNLke2HjS0yrA6V1nxOQx7yqU2eSDZ3xxQAJlPpOEl4HPF8jXs31UxLecowiC0gScbcDCK9wUcRQT0CDATcQ0yoG91mIRoYUwhIEtWipuGqd8QCleZSvnSNPQBBWh3U1T3GfeOlr2gdL42HvEbc~ryO~eGnRD-Ppv2cBV38H7qBxoOcfTmuXb7DcIGRqZyM9VsCjZTPvQbmBPrTzxiQ8Z2Kz9g2J~nlskRp0sIuCYR7MX--K2EQLVQCzp0SizdAxDhA0eA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members said they are moving forward with a pre-application for a Curtin Council grant to support specialized carton-recycling stations in Simsbury schools, aiming to replicate work that has begun at the high school.

Jen said the high school has “gotten set up and started in a smaller scale,” and that Squadron Line Elementary School’s team “did give us the green light to go ahead and start the pre the pre application process for the grant.” The stations would allow cafeteria staff or students to dump liquids from cartons and then drain and clean the containers for collection.

Jen and others described collecting data needed for the grant application. Jen said she has been “collecting some data from Bonnie Anderson, the nutrition services director, for the district” and is translating that into estimates of cartons generated daily; she said the high school and Squadron Line are using a calculator hosted on the implementer’s website to estimate volumes.

Committee members emphasized the intent to document successes and challenges so other district schools can adopt the approach. Jamie said recycling is ultimately governed by state law and that the committee’s outreach and student-led work—via student councils and take-action clubs—are intended to support district compliance and scale-up.

Lydia, who identified herself as the committee’s liaison to the Board of Education, said she will “get a report from them” or accept a written summary and will report progress at the next Board of Education meeting in May. Members flagged operational questions—including whether increased carton collection might attract animals—and said they will track implementation issues and share lessons learned.

No formal grant award or contract was reported; the item at this stage is a pre-application and local pilot planning.","The Simsbury Sustainability Committee reported progress toward a pilot to recycle milk and juice cartons in school cafeterias and said Squadron Line Elementary and the high school have agreed to participate in a Curtin Council grant pre-application.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063550,"Simsbury Sustainability Committee finalizes logistics for May 3 library fair; raffle, survey, indoor backup set",550,259000,809000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3268471-51f69266bf3a87003b3478d5dee61bac&start=259&end=809","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3268471-51f69266bf3a87003b3478d5dee61bac/thumbnail_259000.jpg","/articles/6063550/Simsbury-Center/Capitol-County/Connecticut/Simsbury-Sustainability-Committee-finalizes-logistics-for-May-3-library-fair-raffle-survey-indoor-backup-set","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063550-a6d61e56c6a488be6f5110b2c1178c40/orig.mp4?Expires=1775304487&Signature=hi6JYGK4riFBadnD8F6M~IAen0tzGjNv6dTjK0kcVErm-aqOS9v4fjQ5Uv5B5B4gwtUn2ApQN3tLzuL5aWMZ0bT6ac~~OgHH9irpxd0Vup06-CRXyRtdVgvEb3pwwiw4nyLpA5vEBkxCa1zu6uE-INRahgaPpl0E~HfUGHwZtqm~gywGtvmMcrQgnfT8xbdLU-pIJxzi6JXfworkPY41jQSLXI7NMPG-waYyUeu6~5Tv9jZreS94mUUvw0ox2wmc~SzR6ofOmYHIChvsbb99kS~TcV0h9l8bKV2HF6fwUtVEuvBr3AY4ZCpBU5rBJCtSGezICJvOzWzqaIelDJSw3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Simsbury Sustainability Committee on its regular meeting confirmed final plans for a sustainability fair scheduled for Saturday, May 3 at the Simsbury Public Library, including volunteer assignments, a raffle and a QR-code survey to gather attendee priorities.

Committee members said the fair will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with setup beginning earlier; volunteers were asked to be on-site between about 7:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. to help deliver and erect tents. Organizers reserved the library’s TerraFill Room as an indoor backup if weather forces activities inside.

Committee member Baird said about 35 groups have confirmed and that the fair has “lots of kids groups this year” and more participatory activities than in prior years. Susan, who is organizing the raffle, provided an itemized list of donations: “We have a rain barrel from Aquarian. We have this EarthBox planter that Bosco's donated. We have another perennial planter… Swedish dish dishcloths… a shampoo bar… the compost bucket.” She said the raffle drawing will be at 1:30 p.m., and that organizers will deliver prizes if winners are not present.

Mark and others said volunteers will staff a front desk for registration, a short survey and the raffle ticket sales. Mark described a QR-code survey sheet that attendees can pick up and complete; the committee limited some survey questions to up to four selections and expects follow-up analysis after the event.

Library contact Chris Carney confirmed the TerraFill Room is available and that library staff will support setup; Bayard (committee member) said town staff would deliver and set up tents earlier in the morning and that volunteers would assist. Committee members asked volunteers to bring pens and to be prepared to move outdoor setups indoors if the forecasted storm arrives.

The swap shop run by the town recycling committee remains open on Saturdays through October, “9 to 2,” Joe said during ex-officio updates.

Organizers asked members to publicize the fair; the committee noted state representative Melissa Osborne and selectman Wendy Matsoukas had placed the event on their calendars but attendance was not guaranteed.

The committee expects the public to be able to access informational booths about solar, heat pumps and storage at the fair and said Simsbury Community Media would film the event.","The Simsbury Sustainability Committee confirmed setup, volunteer shifts, a raffle and a QR-based survey for a sustainability fair set for Saturday, May 3 at the Simsbury Public Library, with an indoor room reserved if weather forces a pivot.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears state legislative update: House Bill 5004 passed the House; members express concern about related bills affecting solar incentives

Committee to gather DPW and BOE input as town energy and sustainability plan moves forward

PowerSmart campaign wrap-up: committee says fair will connect residents to solar, heat pump and storage information

Committee advances pre-application for carton-recycling pilot in schools; data collection under way

Simsbury Sustainability Committee finalizes logistics for May 3 library fair; raffle, survey, indoor backup set