Jodi Rell ignored you. She vetoed PA 10-97 (Senate Bill 493), our energy reform legislation. She turned a deaf ear to your thousands of calls, e-mails, faxes and letters calling for energy reform and sided with power producers, the utilities and Wall Street speculators who have driven our electricity prices to the second highest in the United States only to Hawaii.
The May issue of Chief Executive Magazine contains the publication’s annual ‘Best & Worst States’ survey that asks CEOs to rank states on business conditions including job growth potential. Connecticut’s slip from 38th in 2009 to 45th in 2010 was the second biggest drop of any state.
The cost of electric power has a lot to do with it.
In no state in America, with the exception of Hawaii, do electric power companies charge more for electricity than in Connecticut. Rising unemployment was another reason for the state’s poor ranking.
A new energy bill just approved by state lawmakers after long debate aims to reduce the cost of electricity and create thousands of clean energy jobs. This important legislation is currently awaiting Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s signature of approval.
The House gave final legislative approval at 6:01 a.m. today to a bill that subsidizes solar power, encourages energy efficiency and exerts influence over a deregulated electric industry that has given Connecticut the nation's second-highest electric rates.
The most heavily lobbied bill of year was passed 20 to 14 in the Senate on Tuesday night and 81 to 40 in the House as the sun rose over the State Capitol today, the final day of the 2010 session.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell has expressed opposition, but environmentalists urged her to sign a bill that encourages the consolidation of energy functions in one department, an idea proposed by Rell in 2007.
"This bill is an important first step in addressing a broken energy infrastructure, and a way for the state to move towards cleaner energy and a stronger economy," said Charles Rothenberger, a staff attorney for the Connecticut Fund for the Environment.
A thaw in one of the General Assembly's chilliest relationships has produced a sweeping, 11th-hour proposal to overhaul Connecticut's electric regulatory structure and subsidize solar energy.
Setting aside three years of conflict, Sen. John W. Fonfara, D-Hartford, and Rep. Vickie O. Nardello, D-Prospect, are collaborating on what could be the biggest energy bill since deregulation in 1998.
The two co-chairs of the Energy and Technology Committee circulated drafts of their legislation this week, setting off a scramble by industry and environmental groups.
"It's getting everyone in this building in a frenzy," said Sen. Kevin D. Witkos, R-Canton, the ranking Republican on the committee. "This is huge, and it never had a public hearing."
Welcome to CCAG's Online Energy Forum! To make sure you are always first to know about upcoming events, and actions you can take, please take a moment to sign up for e-mail action alerts:
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Get involved in lowering the high cost of energy!
CCAG and AARP have held Energy Forums in Watertown, Hartford and Waterford--but in order to reach the greatest number of people with resources for lowering our energy bills, we are presenting this Online Energy Forum.
At this Online Energy Forum you can view videos of speakers at the Waterford forum, peruse Rep. Vickie Nardello's powerpoint presentation on energy, and follow links to resources that will help you lower your energy bills. You can also look at some of the proposed legislation to help consumers with energy costs, including a bill that would create a Connecticut Power Authority.
Most importantly, the Online Energy Forum is a resource that will be periodically updated with the latest information. We suggest that you bookmark this page (http://ccag.net/energyforum) so that if you need resources on energy assistance, you can find them.
In the video below from the Waterford forum, State Representative Vickie Nardello, House Co-Chair of the General Assembly’s Energy and Technology Committee, explains why Connecticut has the highest electric rates in the continental United States and how we can fight back.
Representative Nardello also discusses the major legislation that will be coming out of the Energy and Technology Committee, which includes a public power authority proposal and a windfall profits rebate. For the last three years, CCAG, AARP and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal have advocated for a public power authority. AARP has commissioned a study that proves Connecticut consumers would save money on their power bills if we had a public power authority.
Presentations
Representative Nardello's Presentation
View Rep. Nardello's slides below:
Rep. Nardello explains how a Connecticut Power Authority will help Connecticut ratepayers.
Shirley Berger of Connecticut Legal Services speaks about ways that consumers can lower their energy bills.
The legislative agenda is the master plan for this session’s lobbying, research and issue communications with members focusing on five main areas of public interest.
Come to a special tour of the first large new solar electric installation in a dental/medical office building!
Discover how to "green" your office!
The tour/seminars will take place on Saturday afternoon May 17 at 12 noon, 1:30 and 3:00 at Dental Associates in Farmington.
This event is a special invitation to all offices and building owners. We especially encourage all health professionals who either own their own buildings or can work with the owners of their building to produce clean grid-tied solar electricity. PACE believes that clean energy is synonymous with an improved health environment.
The tour/seminars are sponsored by PACE and co-sponsored by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. The event will include experts from the Clean Energy Fund, the Connecticut Green Building Council, Solar Works and a dentist from the office.
For more information, visit People's Action for Clean Energy at www.pace-cleanenergy.org
MAY 3 SOLAR TOUR & SEMINAR TO BE HELD IN CANTON, CT
On Saturday, May 3, a special solar tour and seminar will be held in Canton, Connecticut. The tour will showcase an outstanding passive solar timber frame home with solar energy systems that were installed in three stages. This is the 50th solar house tour sponsored by People’s Action for Clean Energy; it is co-sponsored by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.
Space is limited! To make reservations and for more information, please visit People’s Action for Clean Energy at www.pace-cleanenergy.org
Unitarian Society of Hartford
50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford
(1/10 mile north from intersection of Rts. 44 & 189)
Admission is free to the public. Donations are welcome.
5:00-7:00 PM
EXHIBITS AND DINNER
Solar energy installers (Connecticut Clean Energy Fund)
Environmental Exhibits
City Line Pizza, homemade desserts, coffee
7:00 PM Annual Meeting - Rep. James O'Rourke, President
7:30 PM AWARDS
Lifetime Achievement:
The American Solar Energy Society (ases.org)
(represented by Steven and Marilyn Strong)
Legislative: Rep. Steve Fontana; Rep. Vickie Orsini Nardello
Business: Van Zelm, Heywood & Shadford, Inc.
Media: Jennifer Boyd (CPTV "The Warming of Connecticut")
8:00 PM
AMAZING POWER POINT PRESENTATION
"HEADING TOWARD ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS"
Steven J. Strong -
Award Winner & President of Solar Design
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