See Gina McCarthy's Keynote Address at Connecticut Energy Conference

Former Commissioner of Environmental Protection Gina McCarthy returned to Connecticut earlier this month as keynote speaker for the 2009 What's the Deal? energy conference, sponsored by the Connecticut Power and Energy Society and CBIA.

The well-respected McCarthy, known for her work with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), was recruited earlier this year by the Obama administration to serve as the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Air and Radiation at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

McCarthy provided an inside look at about federal regulatory and legislative efforts on climate change, and how proposed changes could affect the power and energy industry. Her keynote address covered such topics as:

• a map in progress for utilities compliance with future air quality standards
• revisions to clean air standards
• new source performance standards and permitting for new facilities that emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases
• cap and trade legislation
• a proposed endangerment finding on the public health threat of manmade greenhouse gases and light duty vehicles contribution to them
• proposed clean car rule aligning CAFÉ standards with greenhouse gas emissions standards
• proposed rules on mandatory reporting of emissions
• and the administrations commitment to aligning technological advances, environmental considerations and economic considerations in the nations shift to a clean energy economy.
• McCarthy provided an inside look at about federal regulatory and legislative efforts on climate change, and how proposed changes could affect the power and energy industry.

Highlights of McCarthy's keynote address are shown in this two-part video, below.

As Nation Renews Focus on Climate Action, A Look Back at Connecticut's Visit from Carol Browner, Assistant to President for Energy & Climate Change

With the US Senate’s climate action bill taking shape, the EPA’s move last week to regulate greenhouse gases, and major companies rejecting the US Chamber of Commerce’s stance on climate action, the shift continues toward America’s clean energy future.

Late this summer, CTLCV attended a clean energy panel discussion that Congressman Chris Murphy hosted with Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, at the Hill-stead Museum in Farmington.

The panel focused on the promise that green energy advancements hold for our environment and for Connecticut’s economy.

Joining Browner and Murphy were representatives from Connecticut-based renewable energy businesses, including Apollo Solar of Bethel, FuelCell Energy (Danbury and Torrington), Duracell (Bethel) and Optiwind (Torrington).

The nearly two-hour meeting covered stimulus investments in energy, the US House bill on climate change (ACES), transmission issues for renewable energy, smart meters, energy efficiency rules for appliances, initiatives of some of Connecticut’s renewable energy businesses, and more.

Here’s some of what they had to say.