Connecticut is one of ten states considering climate ‘superfund’ bills to make fossil fuel companies pay for climate change resilience. (Adobe Stock)
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By Edwin J. Viera
Jan 29, 2026
Connecticut groups are rallying support for a statewide climate “superfund” bill that fines large-scale greenhouse-gas contributors and uses the collected funds to support statewide climate-resilience projects.
Nearby Vermont and New York passed similar laws, which the federal government and fossil fuel companies are now challenging in court.
Julianna Larue, an organizer for the Sierra Club Connecticut chapter, described some of the projects this would fund. “Whether that’s building bridges to fortify them, to make them stronger against climate-related weather, rebuilding bridges or rebuilding roads, making sure that municipalities have the resources to rebuild after storms,” she said.
These funds would also help farmers mitigate topsoil damage and provide compensation for farm loss. Reports show stronger storms are creating millions of dollars in damage. Extreme rain during the first two weeks of July 2023 hit Connecticut with 425% of its normal monthly rainfall. This led to $21 million in losses because of farm and crop damage.
However, the fossil-fuel industry opposes the bill, arguing this creates another tax on fossil-fuel companies that will fall to consumers. In contrast, many economists view these laws as beneficial because they save taxpayers from covering millions in climate-resilience projects.
Larue said the ongoing federal lawsuit against state superfund laws could discourage change.
“That opposition,” she said, “may spark people’s interest and say, ‘well, we don’t want to pass this because of the ongoing litigation, and we don’t have the resources to do so, and why put effort into something [where] we don’t know the outcome yet.’”
Fossil-fuel lobbying groups against superfund laws, such as the American Petroleum Institute, are working to secure a liability shield from Congress to protect them from being held financially responsible for climate impacts. Sixteen Republican state attorneys general have recommended that policy to Congress.
Research shows companies such as Exxon have known since the 1950s that fossil fuels cause climate change.
