As described by Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection:
“In 2012, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) developed the first-ever Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) for the State of Connecticut – an assessment and strategy for all residential, commercial, and industrial energy issues, including energy efficiency, industry, electricity, natural gas, and transportation.
In 2017, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) prepared an update to the CES to advance the State’s goal to create a cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy future for Connecticut’s residents and businesses. By statute, DEEP is required to periodically update the CES to assess and plan for all energy needs in the state, including, but not limited to, electricity, heating, cooling and transportation.”
The overdue new draft was released on July 26th, 2017. You can find the draft Comprehensive Energy Strategy on the DEEP website.
DEEP says the overall strategy focuses on five areas:
• Decreasing carbon emissions to advance the state’s climate goals.
• Increasing supplies of renewable energy, prioritizing “low-cost, grid-scale renewable energy procurements.”
• Expanding energy efficiency initiatives.
• Supporting the modernization of the electric grid.
• Cutting emissions in the transportation sector by encouraging the purchase of electric vehicles by developing a better system of recharging stations, both in Connecticut and the region.
DEEP has developed the draft Strategy and invites public comment on the draft Strategy. There are multiple ways to offer input to the draft. There will be a series of public hearings to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the draft Strategy or an option to submit written comments. Details are below.
Public Hearings
• August 14, 2017, 6:30 p.m., Webb Hall, Room 110, Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), Eastern Road, Willimantic, Connecticut
• August 16, 2017, 6:30 p.m., Beacon Hall Events Center, Room 214, Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Boulevard, Bridgeport, Connecticut
• August 21, 2017, 6:30 p.m., Fort Trumbull State Park Conference Center, 90 Walbach Street, New London, Connecticut. The Conference Center is the building behind the Visitor’s Center.
• August 29, 2017, 6:30 p.m., Auditorium, Torrington City Hall, 2nd floor, 140 Main Street, Torrington, Connecticut.
• September 6, 2017, 4:00 p.m., Gina McCarthy Auditorium, 5th Floor, DEEP’s Hartford Office, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut.
• September 7, 2017, 6:30 p.m., Jones Auditorium, Britton Building, 2nd Floor, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut.
Written comments
DEEP is providing a 60-day period during which comments will be accepted. All interested persons are invited to submit written comments electronically on or before September 25, 2017, by 4:00 p.m. Written comments can be submitted online on the DEEP website. Written comments can also be e-mailed to DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov or sent via US Mail to Debra Morrell, DEEP’s, Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy, Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051. All of the written comments received on the draft Strategy will be posted on the DEEP website.