Emissions Charges and Necessity as Mother of Invention

In a New York Times op-ed article published today, Connecticut’s Commissioner of Environmental Protection, Dan Esty, and world renown economic competitiveness authority Michael Porter, explain how greenhouse gas emissions charges would unleash entrepreneurial spirit and innovation across a broad range of enterprises - from multinational businesses to back-of-the-garage inventors.

The authors make a case that innovation in energy productivity and renewable energy would help stimulate global growth and free up resources to meet other pressing needs.

The authors write that the best way to drive energy innovation would be a modest emissions charge of $5 per ton of greenhouse gases beginning in 2012, rising to $100 per ton by 2032. The low initial charge, starting next year, would make the short-term burden on consumers and businesses almost negligible.

If necessity is the mother of invention, then emissions charges may be just the kick in the pants that modern society needs to change our fossil fuel ways.

Your Calls & Emails Needed for Energy Bill

SB 1, AAC Connecticut's Energy Future, Up for P&D Committee Vote

SB 1, AAC Connecticut's Energy Future, is on the Planning and Development Committee calendar this Monday, April 18, in a 3:00pm meeting. SB 1 includes:

• Formation of the joint Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (Sections 1-3 and 43)
• PACE financing authorization for municipalities (Section 17) and studies of other financing options (Section 15)
• Solar PV and thermal expansion and incentives (Sections 25-28)
• Efficiency standards for appliances and lectronics (Section 20)

The problematic reclassification of large hydro as a Class 1 Renewable has been removed.

It is vital that you call the members of the Planning & Development Committee to express your support.

Because this committee does not usually deal in energy policy, it is important that committee members here from you about how important these policies are for Connecticut, for energy security, for jobs creation, for our energy future.

Further, SB 1 will create a new environment and energy agency to manage a comprehensive energy policy for Connecticut, help stabilize the renewable energy and efficiency retrofit markets, enable a financing program for bringing efficiency retrofits of older housing stock up to scale, support our solar industry, and set higher standards for appliance efficiency.

Please take a moment to call or email the leadership of the committee:

• Sen. Steve Cassano, co-chair 800-846-1420 or cassano@senatedems.ct.gov
• Rep. Linda Gentile, co-chair 800-842-8267 or Linda.Gentile@cga.ct.gov
• Sen. Eric Coleman, vice chair 800-846-1420 or coleman@senatedems.ct.gov
• Rep. Auden Grogins, vice chair 800-842-8267 or Auden.Grogins@cga.ct.gov
• Sen. Len Fasano, ranking member 800-842-1421 or Len.Fasano@cga.ct.gov
• Rep. Bill Aman, ranking member 800-842-1423 or Bill.Aman@cga.ct.gov

Other members of the Planning & Development Committee include:

• Rep. Vincent Candelora: Vincent.Candelora@housegop.ct.gov
• Rep. Christopher Davis: christopher.davis@housegop.ct.gov
• Rep. Mae M. Flexer: Mae.Flexer@cga.ct.gov
• Rep. Mary G. Fritz: Mary.Fritz@cga.ct.gov
• Rep. Linda M. Gentile: Linda.Gentile@cga.ct.gov
• Rep. Noreen S. Kokoruda Noreen.Kokoruda@housegop.ct.gov
• Rep. Roland J. Lemar: roland.lemar@cga.ct.gov
• Rep. Elaine C. O'Brien: Elaine.OBrien@cga.ct.gov
• Rep. Jason Perillo: jason.perillo@housegop.ct.gov
• Rep. Lonnie Reed: Lonnie.Reed@cga.ct.gov
• Rep. Tom Reynolds Tom.Reynolds@cga.ct.gov
• Rep. Matthew Ritter: Matthew.Ritter@cga.ct.gov
• Rep. Jason Rojas: Jason.Rojas@cga.ct.gov
• Rep. Kim Rose: Kim.Rose@cga.ct.gov
• Rep. Bill Simanski bill.simanski@housegop.ct.gov
• Rep. Richard A. Smith: richard.smith@housegop.ct.gov

Say what? Oil Company CEO Suggests a $1 gas tax Increase and Higher Fuel Economy Standards

At a March 8 conference held by IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates in Houston, Hess Oil Company CEO, John Hess, made some pretty remarkable statements.  For starters:

• The U.S. should consider imposing a $1-a-gallon gasoline tax and boosting average auto fuel economy to 50 miles a gallon to help avert a global energy crisis;
• The U.S. also needs to “get serious about climate change once our economy recovers; and
• The $140-per-barrel oil price of three years ago was not an aberration -- it was a warning.

Bloomberg News reports here:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-08/u-s-should-mull-1-gas-tax-boost-auto-efficiency-hess-says.html

Hope for Energy Conservation Funds?

Jessie Stratton, a Director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters and an advisor on Governor Malloy’s transition team, is quoted in the January 11 CT News Junkie article, Finance Committee May Restore Conservation Funds.

CT News Junkie reporter Christine Stuart writes, “Environmentalists and small businesses are hopeful that since the state doesn’t have to borrow as much money as it initially expected when it passed the budget last year that it will restore some of the $28.5 million it planned on taking annually from the Energy Conservation and Load Management Fund.”

Jessie Stratton of Environment Northeast estimates that taking a portion of the Energy Conservation and Load Management Fund to pay off the debt will cost the state 1,120 jobs a year. She said restoring the money for the fund will help maintain jobs in the state.

The 2010 legislation that raided the energy conservation fund was roundly viewed as bad for Connecticut’s green jobs sector, bad for consumers who want to save money by making their homes and businesses more energy-efficient, and bad for the environment by adding to greenhouse gas pollution.

Clean Energy Plan Going on Tour

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund has drafted its 2011-2012 plan for programs and investments and invites the public to information sessions on it.  Public  information and comment sessions will take place on June 28, 29 and 30, in Essex, Westport and Hartford. 

The comprehensive clean energy plan covers the gamut of renewable energy issues, including everything from high-performance schools, net zero energy homes, and education and training, to on-site renewable distributed generation,  emerging renewable energy technologies, and financing programs. The comprehensive plan is available online at www.ctcleanenergy.com/comprehensiveplan.

Public Meeting Schedule

• Monday, June 28, 2010
  6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  Essex Town Hall Auditorium
  29 West Avenue
  Essex, CT
• Tuesday, June 29, 2010
  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
  Westport Town Hall, Auditorium
  110 Myrtle Avenue
  Westport, CT
• Wednesday, June 30, 2010
  11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  Legislative Office Building, Room 1A
  Hartford, CT

Public comments may also be sent by email or mail by July 14th to:

Connecticut Clean Energy Fund
200 Corporate Place, 3rd Floor
Rocky Hill, CT  06067
Attn: Loyola French
comprehensiveplan@ctcleanenergy.com

Want Cleaner, Cheaper Energy? Tell Governor Rell to Sign the Energy Bill!

Connecticut legislative leaders led a press conference today to encourage Governor Rell to sign the just-passed landmark energy reform bill, and to tout the bill's potential to lower electric rates, increase the generation of renewable energy, and promote energy efficiency.

Email:  governor.rell@ct.gov
Tel: 860-566-4840
Toll-Free: 800-406-1527
TDD: 860-524-7397

Tell Governor Rell to sign the bill!  Watch the video for details.

 

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The Really Big Energy Bill: Supporters & Opponents

Senate Bill 463, the 169 page energy bill released a few days ago, seems to be pitting traditional energy businesses against new clean energy businesses.  As part of a press conference yesterday, the Connecticut Citizen Action Group displayed a poster identifying the bill’s biggest supporters and opponents (below).

Background on the Bill
For background on what the bill proposes, see:
-  The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Research summary here
-  CT News Junkie and CT Mirror articles here and here
-  This morning’s Hartford  Courant endorsed a go-slow approach.  You can read the Courant editorial here.

Connecticut’s Green Jobs Makers

- Kelly Kennedy, CTLCV

Kudos to the Connecticut Fund for the Environment for assembling a Google map of Connecticut’s green industry.  Maybe it’s time for a new industry cluster so Connecticut can genuinely position itself for the inevitable shift to a clean energy economy.   We have clusters for bioscience, aerospace, software/IT, metal manufacturing, maritime, plastics, agriculture, and insurance & services.

Map Key
Red: Solar (design, installation, supply)
Aqua: Alternative Energy (geothermal, wind, other)
Yellow: Architecture, Green Building Design
Blue: Weatherization & Efficiency Retrofit, Builders
Pink: Electrical Efficiency & Lighting (consulting, installation, supply)
Green: Fuel cell, Research, Manufacturing
Purple: Development, Finance
---

Why not?  As the Department of Economic & Community Development website states,  the Industry Cluster Initiative “puts Connecticut companies on the fast track; develops the resources needed to compete globally; achieves sustained, measurable growth in jobs, education levels, start-ups and R&D funding; and ensures that positive results extend beyond a single contract, company or city.” 

It’s worrisome that aside from frequently noting the state’s high energy costs, the state’s Strategic Economic Development Plan says little about a vision and plan for developing the clean, green business sector, deferring mostly to Governor' Rell’s 2006 Energy Vision.

Anyway…  You can click on the green business map above to enlarge it.  And if you’re a part of Connecticut’s burgeoning green industry and you’re not listed, email CFE at survey@cfenv.org to get added to the map.

Broad Coalition Rallies for Action on Green Jobs

A broad coalition of environmental advocates and clean energy businesses united with legislative leaders yesterday to call for policies that will get Connecticut residents back to work in good, green jobs.

Some policies would cost nothing to adopt

While some of those policies would require some financial investment, others would require no financial expense at all. In many cases, the no-cost policies call only for planning, cooperation and communication.

Many no-cost, green jobs policies call only for planning, cooperation and communication, perennial shortcomings in Connecticut’s fragmented approach to government—shortcomings that have caught up with us in the form of out-of-control budget deficits.

Businesses call for state to “Stay the Course” to Develop & Support Ct’s clean Energy& energy efficiency Industries

If Connecticut is serious about being a major player in the new clean energy economy, it’s critical that legislators and the Governor stay the course and keep our focus on investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy. 

As businessman David Leishman, Chair of the Connecticut Chapter of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Council, pointed out, Connecticut’s energy efficiency programs have been rated number 1 in the country by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).  Energy and energy efficiency businesses need to be able to count on those policies staying in place if they are to stay in business, hire or expand.

Chris Lenda from Aegis Electrical Systems added that in terms of supporting our home-grown clean energy industry, Connecticut is falling behind compared to nearby states.  New Jersey was mentioned several times as the new state leader in clean energy policy. 

Connecticut’s waffling on those pro-clean energy and pro-efficiency business policies, such as last year’s proposal to siphon off clean energy and energy efficiency funds and dump them into the general operating fund kitty, makes the industry more than a little uneasy. The same goes for this year’s proposal to securitize some of those clean energy funds. 

Policies that spur Good Green Jobs

Based on their report entitled “Building Connecticut’s Economic and Environmental Future,” the advocates call for policies to be enacted this legislative session that:

• Expand Connecticut’s solar industry to its full potential.
• Invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy to lower the cost of energy and develop reliable sources for the future.
• Create financing options to make it easier to invest in energy efficiency improvements and clean energy.
• Rebuild and repair our stormwater and sewage systems to clean up our water.
• Restore Long Island Sound habitat and water quality.
• Get toxins out of our environment .
• Manage our forests and open lands sustainably.
• Support our farms and farmers so we have  fresh, healthy and locally-grown  food.
• Create a 21st century transit system to provide reliable, rapid transportation between our towns and cities and to the northeast region.
• Make our communities more livable, walkable and sustainable.

Green Jobs Advocates

Groups speaking up for green jobs include:  American Farmland Trust • Audubon Connecticut • Clean Water Action • Connecticut Forest & Park Association • Connecticut League of Conservation Voters • Connecticut Fund for the Environment • Environment Connecticut • Environment Northeast • Rivers Alliance of Connecticut • Save the Sound • Sierra Club, Connecticut Chapter • The Nature Conservancy • Transit for Connecticut • Working Lands Alliance • 1000 Friends of Connecticut.

Bag deposit bill confusion

Plastic bags clog our drains, waste energy, litter our streets. Paper bags compost poorly, waste our trees, litter our streets. Both are unnecessary.

A deposit required for those who need bags for consumer goods would drastically diminish bag use, save energy and provide desperately needed funds for the State.

But the forces of "business as usual" that are responsible for our global energy crisis, pollution and litter seem to be winning again. When will we ever learn?
David

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.