Regulators gave final approval to the Aquarion Water Company deal, paving the way for CT’s largest water utility to become a public entity.
John Moritz
John covers energy and the environment for CT Mirror, a beat that has taken him from wind farms off the coast of Block Island to foraging for mushrooms in the Litchfield Hills and many places in between. Prior to joining CT Mirror, he was a statewide reporter for the Hearst Connecticut Media Group and before that, he covered politics for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock. A native of Norwalk, John earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from Temple University.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Plug-in solar panels can help lower electric bills. Will CT make them legal?
The smaller panels are widely used in other countries, often on balconies, where they can help apartment renters offset electricity costs.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
CT launches tire stewardship program to make disposal easier
The program represents the nation’s first such effort to be led by tire manufacturers, known as ‘extended producer responsibility’
Posted inEnergy & Environment
In deal to sell Aquarion Water Co., lawmakers introduce a new wrinkle
CT lawmakers proposed keeping the utility under the purview of Public Utilities Regulatory Authority even if it’s sold to quasi-public RWA.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Revolution Wind provides first power to New England grid
The offshore wind installation, off the Rhode Island coast, turned on Friday night after several threats from the Trump administration
Posted inEnergy & Environment
How much does electricity cost at CT’s municipal utilities?
Eversource and UI provide electricity to most of CT — except the 77,000 or so customers of municipal-owned utilities. But who pays the most?
Posted inEnergy & Environment
CT considers Styrofoam ban and limits for single-use plastics
The proposed restrictions are included in wider-ranging bill before the CT legislature that addresses the management of solid waste, HB 5524.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Judge dismisses lawsuit, allowing DEEP to rule on pipeline project
Brookfield and Save the Sound filed suit in objection to DEEP’s denial of their efforts to intervene against Iroquois Gas Transmission System expansion.
Posted inTransportation
CT DOT seeks permission to resume buying diesel buses
The agency has been prohibited from buying new diesel buses since Jan. 1, 2024, part of a wider effort to convert the CT fleet to electric.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Reversing course, PURA signals approval of Aquarion Water sale
The proposed stoked opposition across Aquarion’s service territory, with lawmakers and local officials from both parties raising concerns.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Lawmakers advance nominations of new PURA board
Lamont’s four PURA nominees cleared a legislative hurdle after hours of questioning over what they might do about CT’s high electricity costs.
Posted inPolitics
CT to close transfer station at center of local trash dispute
The Torrington facility was the subject of a dispute involving two trash haulers and allegations of favoritism at the state Capitol.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
CT lawmakers pitch ‘superfund’ bill targeting fossil fuel industry
CT’s climate ‘superfund’ bill is modeled after a successful federal program to force polluters to pay for the cleanup of toxic waste sites.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
CT moves to crack down on bottle redemption fraud
CT lawmakers were to pass an emergency bill to crack down on illegal can and bottle redemptions through increased fines and other actions.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Blumenthal teams up with GOP senator to rein in data centers
The bipartisan bill would require new data centers to find their own power sources and ensure they don’t drive up consumer utility bills.