From the moment I was sworn-in back in January until midnight on June 5, my first session as a state senator was a busy and exciting period. My colleagues and I spent the last six months working nonstop to change our state for the better. In my work as Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee, I dedicated myself to finding new ways forward to support green energy generation and to bolster our economy. I am ecstatic to share what we accomplished.
Wind Energy
The most important legislation we worked on involved a wide expansion of Connecticut’s production of and access to wind energy. A new bill passed this year authorizes state officials to solicit proposals for wind energy projects of up to 2,000 megawatts. That means up to 40 percent of our state’s total energy needs will likely come from carbon-free renewable energy. With projects to ramp up in the near future, this legislation positions our state not just to better embrace clean energy, but it creates a new green industry in our state. Its total economic impact could be as much as $2 billion, bringing with it thousands of skilled, good-paying new jobs. Connecticut will be in position to compete as a leader in the green economy.
House Bill 5002: Green Economy
Speaking of the green economy, we also pushed Connecticut forward in supporting new economic strategies based around clean energy. Among the many changes included in these strategies are:
- an expansion of residential and commercial solar incentive programs, promoting the use of green energy
- a doubling of virtual net metering caps, allowing towns to invest more in green energy generation
- a study of Department of Transportation land for potential installation of solar panels
- expansion of state anaerobic digestion programs, which use food and animal waste to generate energy
- allowing electric distribution companies to own energy storage systems and infrastructure
All of these, combined, represent a rare opportunity for our state to push forward into new solar, wind and other green technology, unleashing its full potential for the benefit of all.
Accountability
A third piece of legislation, one that I introduced to the General Assembly and led discussion of on the Senate floor, will hold our utility companies accountable, intended to improve their responses to power outages. Under its language, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority would establish standards for acceptable performance, staffing and equipment use for electric distribution companies. In recent years, response times to repair electrical systems after weather incidents have risen sharply, disrupting our modern way of life and harming businesses and families alike. By putting these new standards in place, we take steps to preserve service and mitigate the impact of severe weather, also studying current practices of these companies to determine their efficiency levels.
I am proud of these accomplishments, as they represent significant job and economic growth for Connecticut, all while pursuing increasingly eco-conscious strategies. I look forward to seeing what additional steps we can take to further bolster Connecticut’s economy in the near future.
From Norm Needleman, CT State Senator, 6/18/2019
