Yankee Institute, in collaboration with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, released a comprehensive policy report titled “The Green Monster: A Review of Connecticut’s Climate Protection Act of 2025,” authored by Jason Hayes, Director of Energy and Environmental Policy at the Mackinac Center. The report critically examines Connecticut’s originally proposed House Bill 5004 (H.B. 5004), dubbed the “Green Monster,” and its updated 2025 iteration, highlighting significant flaws in its scientific assumptions, economic impacts, and risks to energy reliability.
The report details how H.B. 5004, when reintroduced in 2025 as “An Act Concerning the Protection of The Environment and the Development of Renewable Energy Sources and Associated Job Sectors,” mandated aggressive greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, net-zero goals, and a transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar. However, it argues that these policies — which may still be implemented — are based on questionable scientific premises and impose substantial economic burdens on Connecticut residents.
Key Findings from the Report:
- Flawed Scientific Assumptions: The legislation assumes that GHG reductions will significantly mitigate climate change, but historical data and expert analyses, including those from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), show climate is influenced by multiple factors beyond CO2. Connecticut’s unilateral net-zero goals, such as a 65% GHG reduction by 2040, are canceled out completely by rising global emissions, particularly from nations like China.
- Economic Burdens: The bill’s mandates, including all-electric construction and reliance on intermittent renewables, are likely to increase Connecticut’s already high electricity costs — already the third-highest in the nation. A November 2024 Yankee Institute report estimates an additional $175.2 billion in costs by 2050 to meet existing net-zero mandates, with potential increases in housing costs and grid upgrade expenses. This will come as unwelcome news to those who already claim Connecticut is confronting an affordable housing crisis.
- Energy Security Risks: The shift from reliable fossil fuels and nuclear power to variable wind and solar threatens grid reliability, with ISO-New England warning of potential blackouts lasting up to 18 hours. Excluding nuclear power, such as the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, from clean energy classifications could jeopardize a full 33% of Connecticut’s electricity supply.
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