Environment

The day after the annual legislative session ends is typically a time for all sides to declare victory, lament defeat, or spin one into the other. Below, our list of winners and losers from the 2012 session.

Not everything that didn’t get done is dead; legislators are expected to return for a special session in the coming weeks to vote on budget implementation bills that could incorporate proposals that didn’t get through in the regular session.

A huge energy bill with a number of critical components for running key state programs is another major casualty in this session, despite non-stop efforts over the last several days in particular to craft language acceptable to those who could assure its passage.

In what one lawmaker terms 'revolutionary,' the legislature has approved an environmental bill that represents a sea-change in how the state and shoreline communities can manage the shoreline in a changing environment.

The bill responds to the ravages of Irene and acknowledges the need to consider rising sea levels generated by global climate change.

Legislation that would make Connecticut the first state to mandate the recycling of used mattresses passed the Senate on Wednesday afternoon and is now headed for action in the House. The bill uses an environmental model called extended producer responsibility, EPR, a principle of the broader concept of product stewardship, in which producers take responsibility for reducing their products' environmental impact.

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With memories still fresh of the severe storms that slammed Connecticut during the second half of 2011, the Senate overwhelmingly adopted a bill targeting price gougers who take advantage of weather emergencies.

The measure empowers the Department of Consumer Protection to level an unfair trade practices charge against any business charging an 'unconscionably excessive price' for vital goods or services during a weather emergency.

The impact the warm, dry winter will have on growers is one concern. But that's nothing compared to the possible infestations.

Three big potential problems this season may be the fruit fly, the brown marmorated stinkbug; and the boxwood blight fungus.

These could send several large segments of the agricultural community into a tailspin.

Lars Helgeson recently got an energy assessment test on his home for only a $75 co-pay. He was also eligible for a number of free gadgets and services that would make his home more energy efficient.

But because Helgeson heats with oil, unless the legislature takes action, his home could be one of the last of its kind to get an energy assessment at this price instead of something closer to its real cost -- $600 to $800.

Environmental and business groups are marshalling forces for an anticipated showdown Friday that pits part of the cornerstone of state environmental law against development and job creation. At issue is legislation that would restrict using environmental grounds to block development projects.

Contradicting two earlier reports that concluded that Connecticut's largest utility was unprepared for last year's two major storms, Connecticut Light & Power Co. offered utility regulators a private report Thursday that found its power restoration efforts were "reasonable" compared with industry norms.