Industry and IBEW News

CT Green Bank Surpasses $3B in Green Investments

https://solarquarter.com/2026/01/14/connecticut-green-bank-surpasses-3-billion-in-green-economy-investments/

The Connecticut Green Bank has crossed a major milestone, surpassing $3.11 billion in cumulative investment in clean energy and environmental infrastructure since its founding in 2011, the first state level green bank in the nation. The total includes $463 million in public funds that have leveraged significant private capital, supporting nearly 30,000 green jobs and reducing energy costs for more than 71,000 families, businesses, and nonprofits across the state.

Zone Change Okayed For W Hartford Affordable Housing

https://patch.com/connecticut/westhartford/zone-change-okd-west-hartford-affordable-housing-project

The West Hartford Town Council voted 9 to 0 to approve a zoning change at 230 Newington Road, clearing the way for a 54 unit for-sale affordable housing development proposed by Honeycomb Real Estate Partners. The project calls for six two-story residential buildings on approximately 2.49 acres, with the zoning board still to take up the building permit application.

CT Renewable Energy Tariff Programs Successor Study

https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/connecticut-s-renewable-energy-tariff-2246739/

Connecticut's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has recommended replacing the state's current residential, non residential, and shared clean energy tariff programs with a unified eight-year successor program running from 2028 to 2035. Key changes include reduced export compensation to encourage on-site energy use, a shift to a "first-ready" project selection process for non-residential projects, and continued incentives for low-income customers and energy storage.

Branford Launches Fully Electric School Bus Fleet

https://chargedevs.com/newswire/zum-launches-fully-electric-school-bus-fleet-in-branford-connecticut/

Student transportation provider Zum will deploy a fully electric school bus fleet for Branford Public Schools beginning in the 2026 27 school year, making Branford the largest fully electric school district with vehicle to grid (V2G) capabilities in the Northeast. The district is completing its transition to 100% electric buses three years ahead of its original schedule, with bidirectional V2G charging infrastructure that will allow buses to return stored energy to the local grid when not in service.

Stronger Together: An IBEW and Civil Rights Veteran's Lessons on Progress (EW)

https://ibew.org/stronger-together/

At 91, Charlie Horhn reflects on a lifetime at the intersection of the Civil Rights and labor movements. Beginning with his work organizing IBEW Local 2268 at a segregated Jackson, Mississippi factory in the 1960s, Horhn draws a direct line between economic justice and civil rights, and the enduring power of solidarity across both movements.