House Republican Press Release

January 30, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. Caron Working with Environmental Leaders

Meets with League of Conservation Voters to Collaborate on 2007 State Legislation

State Rep. Michael Caron, R-44, Killingly, Plainfield, Sterling, is working with the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) on 2007 environment issues, as a result of a meeting today with the conservation voters’ board members. The league is an umbrella group for numerous Connecticut citizens’ environmental organizations.

For the first time, Rep. Caron and other House Republican leaders met with CTLCV board at the start of the year to discuss areas of common interest and review issues for the 2007 Connecticut legislative session.

“Republican legislators have been in the forefront of new laws to protect the state’s environment and conserve energy,” said Rep. Caron, “but we are not always perceived as environmental leaders. This year, we are working more closely with environmental groups from the outset to move the state forward and improve our quality of life.”

Rep. Caron noted that he helped pass legislation requiring new Connecticut government buildings to meet national standards for low energy use and environmental protection. Connecticut House Republicans have proposed legislation this year to help new school buildings to meet the national LEED construction standards, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

“Research has shown that incorporating LEED standards in new construction can save building managers as much as 70 percent in energy costs,” Rep. Caron said. “LEED buildings use less water, create less waste and help improve the environment inside and outside the building. The great thing is this can be done for the cost of code construction.”

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a nationally accepted flexible point system for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

Other proposed legislation that House Republicans and the League of Conservation Voters discussed included:

• Addressing global warming and climate change
• Creating incentives for energy conservation, as Republicans have proposed
• Establishing a state energy department, as Gov. M. Jodi Rell has proposed
• Increasing clean water funds for streams, rivers and Long Island Sound
• Adding funds for state Department of Environmental Protection programs.

Rep. Caron serves the 44^th Assembly District of Killingly, Plainfield and Sterling in the state House of Representatives.