Connecticut's Energy Future - Who's Minding the Store?

By David Anderson

In my last post I mentioned an important study completed by the Connecticut Academy of Sciences and Engineering (CASE) on the development and implementation of energy policy in Connecticut.

Like other studies, CASE's Preparing for Connecticut's Energy Future report found that there is no coherent policy possible under the current totally decentralized administration of energy affairs with literally nobody in charge.

CASE's findings had a public hearing early in the session. Subsequently HB 6633 was introduced by House Co-Chair Vicky Nardello. This 18-page bill would create an Energy Secretary to oversee all the existing entities that are part of the energy puzzle. The Energy Secretary would be required to develop a coherent policy for the State and report periodically.

To those who say in these times we cannot afford another department, I say our present chaotic structure has cost us a lot of money over the years. And now that a lot of federal money is available we need a single strong voice to get our share.

HB 6633 had a public hearing on March 10 and the Energy and Technology Committee deadline is this Wednesday. Let’s hope the committee steps up to the plate like our sister states to recognize the importance of good management and vote the bill out of committee.

David Anderson is the Former Chair and Ranking Member of Energy Committee-1980-1992.

Contact the 2009 Energy Committee:

Dist. 001 Senator John Fonfara (Democrat-Hartford) 860-240-0043 Fonfara@senatedems.ct.gov

Dist. 008 Senator Kevin Witkos (Republican-Canton) 860-240-8800 Kevin.Witkos@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 010 Representative Henry Genga (Democrat-E. Hartford) 860-240-8534 henry.genga@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 025 Senator Bob Duff (Democrat-Norwalk), 860-240-0414 Duff@senatedems.ct.gov

Dist. 026 Representative Peter Tercyak (Democrat-New Britain), 860-240-8585 Peter.Tercyak@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 032 Representative James O'Rourke (Democrat-Cromwell) 860-240-8585 Jim.ORourke@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 035 Representative Brian O'Connor (Democrat-Clinton) 860-240-8585 Brian.OConnor@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 038 Representative Elizabeth Ritter (Democrat-Quaker Hill) 860-240-8585 Elizabeth.Ritter@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 049 Representative Susan Johnson (Democrat-Willimantic) 860-240-8585 Susan.Johnson@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 061 Representative Matthew Conway (Democrat-Suffield) 860-240-8585 Matthew.Conway@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 063 Representative John Rigby (Republican-Winsted) 860-240-8787 John.Rigby@housegop.ct.gov

Dist. 068 Representative Sean Williams (Republican-Watertown) 860-240-8700 Sean.Williams@housegop.ct.gov

Dist. 070 Representative Rosa Rebimbas (Republican-Naugatuck) 860-240-8799 Rosa.Rebimbas@housegop.ct.gov

Dist. 078 Representative William Hamzy (Republican-Terryville) 860-240-8700 William.Hamzy@housegop.ct.gov

Dist. 089 Representative Vickie Nardello (Democrat-Prospect) 860-240-0434 Vickie.Nardello@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 097 Representative Robert Megna (Democrat-New Haven) 860-240-8585 Robert.Megna@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 100 Representative Matthew Lesser (Democrat-Middletown) 860-240-8585 Matthew.Lesser@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 102 Representative Lonnie Reed (Democrat-Branford) 860-240-8500 Lonnie.Reed@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 103 Representative Elizabeth Esty (Democrat-Cheshire) 860-240-8585 Elizabeth.Esty@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 121 Representative Terry Backer (Democrat-Hartford) 860-240-8585 Terry.Backer@cga.ct.gov

Dist. 122 Representative Lawrence Miller (Republican-Stratford) 860-240-8700 Lawrence.Miller@housegop.ct.gov

Dist. 147 Representative William Tong (Democrat-Stamford) 860-240-8747 William.Tong@cga.ct.gov