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Politics & Government

Bill Energizes Alternative Fuel Source Production

Energy Authority, Policy To Be Created

It wasn’t a silent spring on the energy front; the General Assembly passed the first comprehensive energy bill in 30 years. 

The massive bill, SB 1, which is now SB 1243, aim to jolt Connecticut’s energy policy, lower electricity costs, and push the state to lead in clean technology. It creates a new Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, (DEEP). And unlike the 2010 energy bill Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed, this bill will get Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s signature. 

State Sen. Edward Meyer a Democrat representing Madison in the 12th Senate District and chair of the Environment Committee, co-sponsored the bill because it will create a state energy policy. 

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“Connecticut has not had a state energy policy and this creates a state energy policy,” he said. “It is directed toward finding cheaper electricity. This is taking dead aim at that cause which has hurt residents and businesses in Connecticut.” 

“This legislation has multiple benefits for policy makers and for ratepayers – positioning us to bring down the high cost of energy, as well as bolstering job growth and innovation in our renewable energy sector,” said Malloy in a written statement. 

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“It means that our energy is going to be clean energy, environmentally sound energy,” said Meyer. “I'm very excited to have been a sponsor of the bill. I think it's going to establish a new pioneering front for Connecticut.” 

Meyer said the bill’s three goals are to bring down the cost of energy and provide options for ratepayers, to use clean energy and create economic opportunities. 

“It decreases our need to supply dirty energy to businesses,” said State Rep. James Crawford, a Democrat who represents Clinton in the 35th House District. 

However, many of the measures that directly affect consumers won’t take effect until October.

“We’ve been very invested in energy issues and for a little state not to have had any comprehensive plan made no sense. It was as if we had been broken up into 159 little fiefdoms,” Lori Brown, executive director for Connecticut League of Conservation, said. “Considering all the intricacies of the bill I can say overall we are tentatively happy with it. It’s many steps in the right direction.” 

However, it’s not likely the bill would have passed had it not been for the work of state Representative Vickie Nardello a Democrat representing Cheshire, Bethany, and Prospect in the 89th House District and state Senator John Fonfara a Democrat representing Hartford and Wethersfield in the 1st Senate District. The lawmakers chair their respective energy committees. 

Many also credit state Sen. Kevin Witkos, a Republican representing Avon and Canton in the 8th Senate District with helping shepherd the bill through. 

“It was a bi-partisan effort all the way. If a steamroller is coming down the street you can either jump on or jump in front. Most people decided to jump on,” said Mike Trahan, executive director Solar Connecticut, Inc., an association of 50 solar businesses. 

“Its biggest strength is in its long-term commitment to energy policy, something the state has not had for a long time, at least not in my recent memory,” Trahan said. “Most importantly we feel we have an ally in the governor’s office.” 

Effective Oct. 1, consumers wanting to replace old furnaces and burners will be able to do so with a new program. A home energy audit is required for eligibility. Condominium associations will also be eligible for energy efficiency programs come Oct. 1. 

It will also try to get new renewable energy projects and try and give consumers more protection should they choose to switch to competitive electricity suppliers. 

Crawford said Connecticut is open to all sorts of energy sources. 

“New Jersey is way ahead in solar and fuel cell technology,” he said. “As we see these things in use the more ways we can be creative.” 

And aside from introducing a Code of Conduct for suppliers, the state will have more flexibility in how it purchases power, said state Rep. T.R. Rowe, a Republican representing Trumbull in the 123rd House District.

The bill also makes a Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority. This will be charged with leveraging private capital for clean energy projects. 

Whether the state will attract private capital is another matter. Particularly since with many lawmakers calling the governor’s budget anti-business. 

But Chris Phelps, program director for Environment Connecticut said the state hasn’t much choice. One, it has the highest electric costs in the nation after Hawaii. Two, the state can’t risk falling behind the green industry. 

“In reality clean energy technology is a growth area. This is where our economy is going, this is what will create jobs,” Phelps said. “We’ve got to catch that wave.” 

Cutting costs depends both on reducing consumption through efficiency, as well as mitigating volatility of rates. It also depends on how Connecticut will deal with buying power and reusable energy. 

“The state would really benefit from reductions in energy because of the number of buildings it operates,” said Crawford. 

One lawmaker who voted for the bill said consumer’s costs wouldn’t decline soon. 

“Last year’s bill was an abomination,” State Rep. Larry Miller, a Republican representing Shelton and Stratford in the 122nd House District. “This bill is a very complicated bill but I voted for it because we need to do something. I’m not sure we’ll see a quick reduction in the bill because we subsidize so much through the electric bill.”

Miller said he knows the new DEEP aims to save money, streamline the permitting process, and unify the energy policy. But he worries it will mirror the DEP, an agency he deems ineffective. 

“DEP is not my favorite,” Miller said. “They’re a bunch of liberal tree huggers in that department. They’re asleep up there. They’re over-doing it going after petty stuff. They’re worried about sinkers that break off in the sound.” 

Miller also wants Connecticut to stop subsidizing the solar industry. 

He won’t find any quarrel there. 

“It’s helpful to kick start an industry but we want to get off incentives as quickly as possible,” Trahan said. “First it’s rate payers money, and second, it’s difficult to run a business when the government has such a big role in it.” 

According to environmental and energy groups, solar energy is getting competitive. Indeed, General Electric predicts it will compete with fossil fuels within five years. 

Right now a total system would cost homeowners between $8,000 and $12,000. State subsidies push the price down to between $4,000 and $6,000. The system generally pays for itself in about six years, Trahan said. 

Meyer said he is having a study done on his house to see if he can convert to a solar energy. 

“It’s not a cure-all,” Rowe said of the bill. “I don’t want to be a Pollyanna about it, but I am cautiously optimistic.”

“We’ve begun to learn from our neighbors and recognize that there’s a whole bunch of innovation pent up in Connecticut.” Crawford said. “It’s a new day if we can turn the corner on this.”

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