Phelps Endorsed by League of Conservation Voters

The following is a press release submitted by the Chris Phelps campaign:

Democratic State Representative candidate Christopher Phelps has been endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters. Phelps, current Portland School Board Chairman, has worked for many years as director of nonprofit public interest and environmental advocacy organizations. He is running in the Nov. 6 election for the 32nd District serving Cromwell and Portland.

In an official statement, the League’s Executive Director Lori Brown said, “For more than a decade, Chris Phelps has been a hard-working environmental advocate in Connecticut. In recent years, he has been especially effective in the areas of energy conservation and renewable energy sources. He has made safeguarding the environment his priority both professionally and personally. CTLCV is honored to endorse Christopher Phelps for the Connecticut General Assembly.”

“I am grateful to the League for their support of my campaign,” Phelps said in a press release. “I have spent my career working for common sense protections for our air, water and natural landscape. As an advocate, I stood up to special interest lobbyists to win victories for our environment and public health like Connecticut’s Clean Cars Law. If elected, I will continue that work as Cromwell and Portland’s State Representative.”

As an environmental advocate, Phelps fought for passage of the Connecticut Clean Cars Law in 2004, which requires new cars and trucks sold in Connecticut to emit less air pollution and go farther on a gallon of gas. Today, the average new car sold in Connecticut saves its owner over $700 at the pump each year compared with the average car on the road decade ago.

“Protecting our environment and strengthening our economy must go hand in hand,” said Phelps. “Not only did the Clean Cars Law slash tailpipe pollution from new vehicles, by requiring automakers to make cars and trucks more fuel efficient it is saving Connecticut’s families and businesses millions of dollars a year at the gas pump.”

Phelps also advocated for comprehensive energy policy reform leading up to passage in 2011 of energy legislation aimed at putting the brakes on rising electric and heating bills for consumers while also supporting growth of local renewable energy businesses in Connecticut.

“The 2011 energy bill was a big down payment on a cleaner and more affordable energy future for Connecticut,” said Phelps in the press release. “But there’s much more work yet to be done. As State Representative, one of my priorities will be continuing to work for policies that help Connecticut businesses create jobs building and installing renewable energy systems, and making our homes and businesses more energy efficient to cut electric and heating bills for our families.”