Senate Leadership
July 20, 2006
Williams Hosts Legislative Energy Summit
Experts discuss perspectives to secure Connecticut's energy future
Senator Williams hosted a summit on the future of the state's energy policy, with a focus on electricity. Sparking the Debate: A new Perspective on Securing Our Energy Future brought together five national experts to discuss Connecticut's energy future.. (July 20, 2006)
Joined by Democratic and Republican legislative leaders, Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) hosted a summit on the future of the state's energy policy, with a focus on electricity. Sparking the Debate: A new Perspective on Securing Our Energy Future brought together five national experts to discuss Connecticut's energy future.
"Our state has seen an astronomical increase in electric rates over the past year. At the end of 2005, Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) customers saw a 22.4% increase in their electric rates, and there is speculation that United Illuminating (UI) customers could face an increase of 40% or more in 2007," said Senator Williams. "It would be easy to say we can't change the situation, but as legislators we can't ignore that residents and businesses are facing undue financial burdens just to keep the power on."
"Electricity is a necessity and a commodity we cannot live without," said Senator Williams. "The heat wave earlier this week set a record for the use of electricity in New England, and we cannot assume we will always have an adequate supply to meet that demand."
Senator Williams said this is a complex issue, and that is why he invited five, independent energy policy experts to provide information on energy policy. They are:
- Dr. Susan Tierney, Managing Principal, Analysis Group
- Carrie Conaway, Deputy Director, New England Public Policy Center
- Frederick Weston, Director, The Regulatory Assistance Project
- Kate Burke, Policy Analyst, National Conference of State Legislature's Energy Program
- Cort Richardson, Policy Analyst, Council of State Governments-Eastern Region
"The energy policy experts provided members of the General Assembly with some valuable information that should have a positive impact on efforts to plan for Connecticut's energy future," said Senator Williams. "I hope we can protect our economic growth by moving forward with a consensus on how to stabilize electricity prices in our state, while ensuring reliability and encouraging energy efficiency investments."
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