University of Connecticut
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy

During the CT general assembly's legislative session, the Director of the Office of Environmental Policy (sustainability officer) receives copies of all environmental and sustainable energy legislation that is being tracked by UConn's Government Relations department, for his review and comment. The director has occasionally testified at the State Capitol on legislation or spoken with state agency (e.g., DEEP, DPH) legislative liaisons or other state agency staff responsible for drafting or advocating some of those legislative proposals. UConn has advocated for stronger renewable energy requirements in the state's Renewable Portfolio Standards law, which amounts to a state cap-and-trade law for greenhouse gas emissions. We have also advocated for full-funding of the CT Energy Efficiency Fund and other State incentives for energy efficiency projects. That kind of policy advocacy work at the legislature, or in coordination with members of CT’s congressional delegation is coordinated through UConn's Government Relations office (see URL below). We have also worked with DEEP and other state agencies on advocacy for state regulations pertaining to clean diesel, biodiesel, and high performance building regulations, and have encouraged state financial incentive programs for things like procurement of plug-in electric vehicles. A number of UConn faculty and staff technical or scientific experts serve on state advisory committees for topics such as Climate Change Adaptation, Low Impact Development/ Stormwater Management, brownfield remediation, the Long Island Sound Study and air quality (State Implementation Plan Revision Advisory Committee). All of these advisory committees develop policy, typically through proposed regulations and guidance documents that advance environmental sustainability goals and standards. Also, the OEP director is a member of the President's Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility (PCCSR). Among other things, PCCSR examines fair trade and "green" standards for various products, goods and services. The committee is more focused on social and economic sustainability issues and occasionally meets or corresponds with representatives of major UConn vendors and/or the certifying agencies or NPOs (e.g., Rain Forest Alliance, Green Seal cleaning products) to discuss, compare, and suggest revisions to these kinds of standards, or changes to the products offered by the vendors (e.g., bottled water, RFA coffee).

The OEP director is a former legislative attorney, as well as a former environmental and energy lobbyist, so he understands how to read and legislation and regulations, the legislative and rulemaking processes, and how to influence the process. So this is a strength that benefits UConn's sustainability policy advocacy efforts.