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04/30/2015 12:01 AMPat Widlitz was celebrated on Earth Day as the recipient of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) New England’s Lifetime Achievement award in Boston.
A Guilford resident, Widlitz was first elected to the Connecticut General Assembly as state representative for the 98th District (D — Branford, Guilford) in 1995. She served for 20 consecutive years before retiring at the end of her last elected term this January.
On April 22, Widlitz was one of three Connecticut citizens among 27 recipients from six New England states lauded at the 2015 Environmental Merit Awards in Boston. The ceremony recognizes merit award winners from sectors including government, business, organizations, and also gives annual lifetime achievement awards.
When Widlitz served as chair of the General Assembly’s Environment Committee, she helped shepherd a bill protecting Long Island Sound into law, and was primary sponsor of another, an Act Concerning Climate Change, which tightened auto emissions standards to clamp down on air pollution. Widlitz led a 2008 effort establishing emission reductions goals of 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and at least 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2050. The law also created a governor’s Steering Committee on Climate Change and its development of the comprehensive Climate Change Action Plan.
As Finance Committee co-chair, Widlitz helped secure more than $1 billion in bond funding for the state’s Clean Water Fund. The fund provides grants and loans for wastewater treatment projects and tens of millions of bond dollars for open space.
Connecticut citizens also have Widlitz to thank for helping create programs to capture and recycle e-waste, paint, and mattresses. She helped Connecticut become one of the first electronics recycling states in the country, as well as one of the nation’s first to introduce paint recycling. With Widlitz’s help, Connecticut was the first state to pass a mattresses recycling law, which goes into effect in May 2015.
In a press release, EPA New England regional administrator Curt Spalding said, “New England is rich with people who understand the importance of preserving the environment, but the citizens we are recognizing today went above and beyond in working as stewards of our air, land, and water.”
EPA New England also noted Widlitz was honored for her two decades of as a state representative who “consistently used her in-depth knowledge of issues, keen understanding of the legislative process, and strong alliances with colleagues to ensure the passage of several landmark pieces of legislation.”