Senator Anwar Releases Statement In Response To Proposed Eversource Rate Increase
Today, State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor) released the following statement in response to Eversource Energy’s Thursday announcement that it is seeking a rate increase that could cost average residents from $80 to more than $100 extra per month from January to June 2023:
“I have serious concerns about this proposed rate increase, especially given the significant challenges so many are having in this difficult economic climate. I urge the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to take whatever action it can to counter Eversource’s proposal. At a time when our state continues to recover from the pandemic and families are facing increased costs, no matter the state of the energy market, this will harm the well-being of those families and have an especially negative impact on the well-being of our seniors and our most vulnerable populations. This is not acceptable.”
“For my impacted constituents, information about the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program is available at this link: https://portal.ct.gov/DSS/Economic-Security/Winter-Heating-Assistance/Energy-Assistance—Winter-Heating/How-To-Apply.
Information about Operation Fuel is available here:https://operationfuel.org/gethelp.
Eversoucre payment assistance programs are available here: https://www.eversource.com/content/ct-c/residential/account-billing/payment-assistance.”
Senators Looney and Duff Release Statement Regarding Proposed Rate Hikes
Senators Looney and Duff Release Statement Regarding Proposed Rate Hikes
Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) released the following statement regarding proposed electric rate hikes:
“Eversource has doubled its stock price in the past 10 years and Avangrid posts billions of dollars in profit each and every year. It never ceases to amaze us how quarterly shareholder dividends and multi-million dollar CEO payoffs are always paid on the backs of consumers, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the profits, no matter what the payouts. Eversource and Avangrid have failed their customers and we will explore every available avenue to oppose these rate hikes. We cannot expect these profit driven, out-of-state companies to do what’s right for Connecticut residents.”
Senators Looney and Duff Release Statement Regarding Proposed Rate Hikes
Senators Looney and Duff Release Statement Regarding Proposed Rate Hikes
Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) released the following statement regarding proposed electric rate hikes:
“Eversource has doubled its stock price in the past 10 years and Avangrid posts billions of dollars in profit each and every year. It never ceases to amaze us how quarterly shareholder dividends and multi-million dollar CEO payoffs are always paid on the backs of consumers, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the profits, no matter what the payouts. Eversource and Avangrid have failed their customers and we will explore every available avenue to oppose these rate hikes. We cannot expect these profit driven, out-of-state companies to do what’s right for Connecticut residents.”
Senator Osten Honored By Connecticut Cities And Towns For Her Work Increasing Municipal Aid
Sen. Osten, Rep. Ryan Welcome State Dot Announcement On Its Plan To Re-Evaluate Norwich Roundabout Project
Senator Osten Honored By Connecticut Cities And Towns For Her Work Increasing Municipal Aid
State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) was recognized today as a “Legislative Champion” by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) for her work as Senate Chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee in maintaining and increasing municipal aid for Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.
CCM is the state’s largest, nonpartisan organization of municipal leaders, representing towns and cities of all sizes from all corners of the state, with 168 member municipalities.
“Senator Osten is a key legislator for towns, and she provides us access and is always willing to work with municipalities to try and find a solution to complex problems,” said CCM Director of Public Policy Brian O’Connor. “As a former municipal leader, Senator Osten has a deep understanding of how towns work, and this insight is invaluable during legislative deliberations.”
“Our cities and towns are the work horses of this state, delivering services and public policies at the grassroots level where people really see it and feel it,” said Sen. Osten, who is the former longtime first selectman of Sprague. “All of those services take money to provide, and I learned a long time ago the important role that state government plays in supporting these services. I’ve never forgotten that. That’s why I am so committed to providing as much state aid to Connecticut cities and towns as possible – to improve the local quality of life while keeping local property tax rates down as much as possible.”
CCM specifically cited these recent budgetary accomplishments by Sen. Osten in naming her their 2022 legislative Champion:
- Increasing funding for Tiered PILOT in FY22 and maintaining the funding in FY23
- Her leadership in securing $8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that were awarded to municipalities to assist with the 50% match requirement for the 2022 Summer Enrichment Program application.
- Ensuring the Municipal Revenue Sharing Account (MRSA) distributions are made by OPM in a more timely manner.
- Her advocacy in appropriating funds for school HVAC and air filtration upgrades and making them eligible for the school construction grant program.
- Senator Osten championed payments to volunteer fire departments for responses on limited access highways.
- Her work with environmental advocates and municipalities in securing $5 million for the Sustainable Materials Management Grant (SMM) and making the grant permanent.
Senator Slap Welcomes West Hartford Grant Supporting Food Scrap Collection Pilot Program
Senator Slap Welcomes West Hartford Grant Supporting Food Scrap Collection Pilot Program
State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) welcomes the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s recent release of grant awards for the Sustainable Material Management Grant program, which supports the development of food scrap collection programs among municipalities. West Hartford will receive up to $106,200 in reimbursable grants to support a transfer station food scrap drop-off collection pilot program for nine months.
“Our state needs new approaches for waste management that address cost and environmental concerns,” said Sen. Slap. “This pilot program for composing and processing food scraps can reduce the cost of waste disposal while reducing amounts of actual waste created by residents. I’m looking forward to seeing the results of the program and hope it can be expanded if it is successful.”
According to DEEP, West Hartford will receive the grant funds, which will largely cover the costs of bags and material transportation, to support the food scrap drop-off program. About 700 households will participate in the program for nine months. They will receive green and orange trash bags, which will be provided to them by program leaders; green trash bags will be used for food scrap collection, with orange ones used for other trash. The pilot program will begin in or around March 2023.
The pilot program is likely modeled off a successful one launched by the City of Meriden earlier this year, where 1,000 households separated food and household waste for four months. The program was a success, as more than 13 tons of food scraps were diverted from traditional waste streams. Meriden households used two special bags during the pilot, one for food and the other for trash, a similar model to the one to be adopted in Deep River.
Connecticut studies show that up to 41% of what residents throw away is organic material that can be composted, converted or processed; food scraps represent 22% of residential trash alone. Food scraps are regularly thrown away and are heavy; removing them from the waste stream will reduce the cost of waste disposal, often paid for by weight.