More on Dept. of Energy Issue

Hello again-

In my last Blog I mentioned the latest in a series of proposals stretching over a number of years that Connecticut recreate an Energy Dept with a boss. Today I shall give some details on this proposal.

A study was commissioned by the Clean Energy Fund to be done by the Connecticut Academy of Sciences& Engineering (CASE) which was recently completed and reported to several legislative Committees. Appointment of an independent Energy Secretary reporting directly to the Governor was highly recommended.

The present situation of multiple agencies involved in Energy matters was cited as creating a duplication of effort and there exists a need for focus and clarity. It would create a “point person" which the State now lacks. It seems to me that this was a very polite way of saying that the State's current structure of multiple overlapping agencies, Boards and Funds is an ineffective mess. In spite of the skepticism of various members of the Committees which included the Energy and Technology Committee there appear to be some positive reactions from some members of the latter body. It will be this Committee where a Bill will have to emerge to create the Energy Czar and staff.

The House Chair, Vickie Nardello seems favorably disposed. And more important two House members, Rep. Backer and Rep. O'Rourke have introduced Bill No.5989 to do just that. It reads that the general statutes be amended to consolidate clean energy and energy efficiency programs within a new Department of Clean Energy.

That's all for now--we’ll keep you posted.

Press Conference on "Shovel Ready" Local Bike, Pedestrian and Transit Projects

Talk about federal stimulus funding being dedicated to “shovel ready” transportation projects has been swirling around for months.

The big economic stimulus bill has been assigned the number H.R. 1. It’s called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (here’s Washington Watch’s more readable format.)

President Obama has asked for the federal stimulus bill to be ready for him to sign by mid-February. So what will this mean for Connecticut? What should it mean? Find out more about the transportation angle of the stimulus bill on Thursday.

What:	Press Conference on "Shovel Ready" Local Bike, Pedestrian and Transit Projects
When:	January 29, 2009 11:00 am
Where:	Room 2E Legislative Office Building, Hartford, CT
Why:	The Federal Economic Stimulus Bill provides an opportunity to remake our transportation system so that it serves all users. Approximately 25% of the transportation funds will be directed to local projects, and we need to work collectively to prioritize green projects including multi-use paths, sidewalks, traffic calming, and safe routes to school and transit. Making investments now in transit-supportive bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure will have very real benefits: quick job creation, improved mobility options, reductions in traffic congestion and emissions, local economic development and responsible growth, and opportunities for active, healthy living. Join advocates from around the state to urge the Governor and lawmakers to make sure these projects are prioritized in local spending of federal transportation stimulus funds. Make Your Voice Heard!
Who:	For more information contact David Kooris, Regional Plan Association (david at RPA dot ORG)

CT Energy Policy--Who's In Charge?

Hello-the answer to the title question has been for the last 25 years--no one.

In fact the Department of Planning and Energy Policy created by Governor Grasso in 1975 to provide a single central source to deal with energy issues was disbanded by her successor Governor William O'Neill and the responsibilities parcelled out to what now amounts to a dozen or more agencies, etc. 

What a way to run a railroad. In 1972 Governor Meskill pulled together a diverse group of operations into what remains as the DEP for purposes of creating coherent policy. I often wonder why O'Neill didn't break the DEP into pieces while he was at it, following the same logic--save money.

In fact this organizational chaos has cost the State a lot of money over the years--duplication of programs, competition for dollars, etc.  The Clean Energy Fund and CT Innovations are a good example--the Governor just took several millions from the Clean Energy Fund and transferred it
to CT Innovations--neither independent operation has a good management record.

Over the years there have been numerous studies as to whether we should recreate an Energy Department.  Last year and this year two studies--one was killed by a tie vote in Program Review, while the other awaits the tender mercies of the Energy Committee.  This where the problem lies--the Senate Chair has consistently over the years opposed the idea but this year at least it appears the House Chair sees the light. A few years ago a Senate Bill 48 proposed an Energy Dept that went nowhere but let's hope we get some results now. The lack of an organized spokesman may cost us dearly in getting the renewable energy funds that will be coming from the new administration.

One last comment --what is my role in this issue? I served in the legislature from 1980 t0 1992 and was Chair of the Energy and Public Utilities Committee for two years and Ranking Member eight years and I hate to see the managerial nightmare that pretends to be making Energy policy in our State. 

New Year, New Leadership at CTLCV

After more than eight years at the helm, CTLCV Board Chairs Julie Belaga and Russ Brenneman, two of CTLCV’s original founders, are passing their chairmanships on to Martha Phillips and David Bingham.

Martha Phillips, of Goshen, worked in various staff positions in the U.S. House of Representatives beginning in 1965. Phillips was deputy minority counsel to the House Ways and Means Committee (1977-1986) and Minority Staff Director to the House Budget Committee (1986-1992). From 1992 to 1999, Phillips was executive director of the Concord Coalition, a bipartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded by former Senators Warren Rudman (R-NH) and Paul Tsongas (D-MA) to end federal deficit spending and promote entitlement reform and a balanced federal budget. Phillips is now a member of the Concord Coalition board. She is also Vice President of Redefining Progress, a public policy think tank dedicated to promoting sustainability through sound economics. Additionally, as Action Chair of the Litchfield County League of Women Voters, Phillips focuses on various environmental and energy issues. She is a Vice-Chair of the Garden Club of America National Affairs and Legislation Committee, Vice-President of the Litchfield Garden Club, and has served on the Endangered Lands Coalition.

"During this era of budget deficits and budget cuts, CTLCV's work is more important than ever. We will work with the legislature and the Rell administration to make sure that critical environmental protections are not neglected. Our state's coffers may be temporarily empty, but our natural resources are abundant—and we need to protect them so they stay that way," said Phillips.

Joining Phillips as CTLCV Co-Chair is David Bingham, a retired physician from Salem and self-styled “amateur naturalist.” Bingham has been active with the Sierra Club, NARAL, Audubon Society, and the national League of Conservation Voters. He currently serves on the Boards of Rivers Alliance, the CT Land Conservation Coalition, the Salem Land Trust and the Sierra Club (CT Chapter). An elected member of the Salem Planning and Zoning Commission, Bingham has worked with The Nature Conservancy and the Salem Land Trust to save land. Bingham ran for Congress in 1994 to emphasize fiscal and social responsibility for a sound environment. His grandfather, Hiram Bingham, was Governor and US Senator.

In sync with Phillips, Bingham believes that

"Conserving the beauty of our landscape and our wildlife, and protecting the health of our environment, requires vision, oversight, education and investment. Cutting corners cannot be acceptable, even in these difficult times. Natural resources that are lost are often lost forever. We are responsible for what future generations inherit, and these values are priceless. Martha and I have big shoes to fill, and we are honored to pick up where Russ and Julie left off."

The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (www.ctlcv.org) is a bipartisan environmental advocacy group that focuses on getting smart, sustainable environmental policies enacted in Connecticut. Its affiliates include the CTLCV Education Fund (www.conservationeducation.org) and the CTLCV PAC.

Stimulus Bill Text on Washington Watch Blog

For those interested in the text of the federal stimulus bill, see this excerpted post below from Washington Watch. Once at that blog entry, try searching for “state” to see what’s expected of state governments that apply for stimulus funds.

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Last week, the House Appropriations Committee posted a copy of the economic stimulus bill, called the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,” online. Though it hasn’t been officially introduced yet, in a statement released Thursday, the committee said the bill would be considered by Congress within the next two weeks.

The bill’s reported tally of $825 billion in spending works out to about $8,800 per U.S. family, or $2,800 per person in the United States.

Care to learn where that money is going? Want to see the changes to substantive law that are in the bill along with the spending?

The PDF version of the bill on the committee web site is difficult to read, so we’ve produced a cleaner-looking html version just for you. You can also grab a cleaned-up plaintext copy of the bill here.

TITLE I—GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE II—AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
TITLE III—COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND SCIENCE
TITLE IV—DEFENSE
TITLE V—ENERGY AND WATER
TITLE VI—FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT
TITLE VII—HOMELAND SECURITY
TITLE VIII—INTERIOR AND ENVIRONMENT
TITLE IX—LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION
TITLE X—MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS
TITLE XI—DEPARTMENT OF STATE
TITLE XII—TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
TITLE XIII—STATE FISCAL STABILIZATION FUND

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YOUR Connecticut Energy Guide - New Edition Released!

The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters Education Fund is pleased to announce the release of the December 2008 edition of YOUR Connecticut Energy Guide!

It's what you WANT to know, what you NEED to know, and WHERE to find it ...

• Grants
• Loans
• Tax Credits
• Rebates
• Educational Resources

... for your home, school, business and community!

Click here for your free download!

Many thanks to our funders!
YOUR Connecticut Energy Guide was underwritten by grants from the Betsy and Jesse Fink Fund of the Fairfield County Community Foundation, Harris and Frances Block Foundation, Byedale Foundation, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, Jane Marcher Foundation, Newman's Own Foundation, Northeast Utilities, Norwich Public Utilities, Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation and United Illuminating Company.