SENATOR NEEDLEMAN LEADS SENATE IN DIVERSIFYING STATE ENERGY PRODUCTION IN SUPPORT OF RATEPAYERS

Early this morning, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) led the Senate’s passage of legislation that will create increased flexibility for Connecticut’s acquisition of energy supply in the best interest of ratepayers. The bill seeks to diversify Connecticut’s energy portfolio, reducing reliance on certain current forms of production, while enhancing cost saving mechanisms and supporting the production of clean energy. It passed the Senate by a 35-0 vote.

“Our state, and our region, can find new and improved ways to increase our energy supply in a manner that would result in savings for ratepayers,” said Sen. Needleman. “Our state needs to pursue additional means of supply and support Connecticut’s clean energy goals. This proposal gives state leaders a roadmap to accomplish just that. We’re continually finding ways to simplify complicated and outdated energy regulations and I’m encouraged by the progress this bill represents.”

Senate Bill 385, “An Act Concerning Energy Procurements,” takes the following steps:

• Protects ratepayers by authorizing the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Commissioner to coordinate with officials from at least two New England states to issue a solicitation for zero-carbon electricity generating resources from a nuclear power generating facility. The commissioner would be allowed to select proposals determined to be in ratepayers’ best interests, taking into consideration factors including impacts on electric system operations, reliability and fuel diversity.
• Based on the recommendations of the state’s Hydropower task force, the bill allows the DEEP Commissioner to support Connecticut’s clean hydropower energy production by soliciting proposals from providers of run-of-the-river hydropower who are interconnected with the electric distribution system.
• Ensures that Connecticut remains a national leader in fuel cell development by creating a rebate to support fuel cells impacted by the volatility of global energy markets that are part of the shared clean energy facilities (SCEF) program.
• Supports the clean energy market by extending the requirement that electric suppliers purchase 5% Class III renewable energy credits to 2026
• Creates a task force focused on improving consumer protections for people purchasing, leasing, or entering into solar panel agreements and requires it to provide recommendations to the Energy and Technology Committee.
• Expands an existing statute that allows PURA to select either the Green Bank, DEEP, the electric distribution companies, a third-party vendor, or any combination to administrate the energy storage solutions program to other programs for clean energy programs which would allow for the lowest cost administration of these programs.
• Finally, it would help spread out costs and lower ratepayer impact for offshore wind power purchase agreements by expanding the maximum term from 20 to 30 years. Additionally, it would require the EDCs to prioritize contracts related to offshore wind that support employment of local fishermen.

These steps support state efforts and policy directives to pursue zero-carbon and clean energy, supporting a cleaner energy future.