The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received March 12, 2026.
As my work chairing the legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee has continued since my first term, I have learned so much about our state’s energy needs. There are a LOT of them. Our grid needs to be focused on affordability, reliability and the needs of the future all at once, and far too many Connecticut residents are struggling in the current landscape.
This year, as our committee’s work continues, we are focused on energy policy issues that can do everything possible to manage our grid’s many needs. Fuel sources, supply connections, pollution and keeping the power on remain key challenges our state needs to respond to, and I remain committed to finding common-sense solutions that aren’t tied to political party but are focused on moving us forward.
As one example, our state is located at the end of a pipeline when it comes to natural gas, our most commonly-used source of fuel. We are simply too far away from generation sources and need to import natural gas from other states. That leaves us vulnerable to significant cost spikes, like those seen during hot summers and frigid winters, putting stress on the power grid. As a result, the E&T Committee is looking at enhancing availability of other sources like nuclear power. We are looking to enhance state programs to meet the needs of the industry and reviewing opportunities we can use to bring reliable, lower-cost energy to our state.
That’s not the only additional fuel source we’re looking at. All sources joining the grid can be beneficial at reducing stress on our power needs, and we need an all-hands-on-deck approach. We’re also reviewing opportunities to ease and improve the availability and distribution of solar power. It’s not the right time to fully shift to renewable energies, but it’s greatly beneficial to our state if we add them to our current resources. Easing the process and allowing more solar, especially in municipal uses, can help relieve pressure and support our needs.
One additional step we’re looking into to protect Connecticut’s energy grid is to approach energy generation and use in the same breath. Over the course of this decade, with the ascent of data centers and artificial intelligence, data centers have gone from promising regional investments to drawing attention for potential high usage of energy impacting the grid. As a result, we’re reviewing shifting toward a new method of prioritization for data centers, where they bring power generation to the conversation to cover their needs. It’s a more equitable approach for everyone involved.
These are only a few of the dozens of bills under review this year by the Committee, and I’m sure our work is far from over as the session continues through May. However, I also know we’ve got a good track record, and all of our major bills have passed, many of them near-unanimously, in the Senate in recent years, so I’m confident we’ll build on that good work this year. I look forward to providing you with future updates.
