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Lawmakers and activists congregated at the capitol Thursday morning to press for action on a bill that would allow state government to monitor “chemicals of concern” in consumer products.

The bill, which is currently on the House calendar, calls for the Department of Public Health to create a list of potentially toxic substances and requires the department to provide recommendations for reducing human exposure to those chemicals. It targets chemicals that may be harmful to children in particular by requiring any chemical that shows up in umbilical cord blood or breast milk to be automatically added to the list.

Vegetables that are genetically modified to resist pests have become a part of our daily diet, whether we like it or not. Several states have been considering legislation that would require the labeling of GMO products, but Connecticut could be the first to pass such a law. Opponents of the bill say there’s no health risk, and a law like this would pass on higher prices to consumers.

Other bills being considered would attempt to protect children and adults from toxic chemicals in products - but do state bans like this work?  We’ll consider GMOs and BPAs as they become hot topics at the state capitol.

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We need you to send a message to your legislators about a bill that will protect our kids from toxic chemicals.If you already sent a message, please ask your friends and family to join you – we need as many voices as possible. Send a message to anyone you know who wants to protect our communities from toxic chemicals and ask them to speak out! 

If you haven’t taken action yet, it’s not too late.  We need your voice now, more than ever. With only a few days left in the legislative session, it is URGENT for you to let your State Representative and Senator know how important this is to you and your family!

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — When Daniel Esty became Connecticut’s first commissioner of a merged energy and environmental agency two years ago, environmentalists saw an opportunity for new high-profile renewable energy policies linked to a cleaner environment.

Esty, a former Yale professor of environmental law, has now become a lightning rod for criticism by environmentalists who say he’s fashioning state energy policies that suit business and few others.

 Environmentalists are blasting state energy and environment Commissioner Dan Esty for briefing clients of an investment firm in a conference call Tuesday about state plans and pending legislation on energy that could benefit Northeast Utilities – which paid Esty $205,000 in consulting fees before Gov. Dannel P. Malloy appointed him in 2011.

Together we made hundreds of calls and letters to legislators in opposition to the clean energy rollbacks in Senate Bill 1138. We need you again! Click here to take action.

Instead of supporting environmentally damaging large-scale hydropower in Canada, and helping Northeast Utilities build a transmission line, let's support the entrepreneurs and small businesses that are building clean energy here in New England!

Energy industry watchers made comments Thursday on the state's plan to change how it categorizes renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydropower at a public hearing in Hartford.

The plan — out as an energy department study and pending legislation — opens the state's portfolio of renewable energy sources to large hydropower, tightens emissions on wood-burning biomass plants and gives the state a way to enter into long-term contracts with energy project developers.

Clean Water Action is proud to present the Connecticut premier of Unacceptable Levels, a documentary about the chemical burden our bodies carry.  This film challenges our companies, our government, and our society to do something about a nearly unseen threat with the inspired knowledge that small changes can create a massive impact.

Writer/Director/Producer Ed Brown will be available for a post-film discussion and Q&A .