The proposed stoked opposition across Aquarion’s service territory, with lawmakers and local officials from both parties raising concerns.
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
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.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Could Manresa Island project become model for shuttered power plants?
If successful, the developers hope ‘Manresa Wilds’ might serve as an example for similar structures nearing the end of their useful lives.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Snow and cold scrambled CT’s power grid. Here’s how it stayed up
As more than a foot of snow fell on parts of CT on Jan. 25, a massive shift was taking place within power plants across New England.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
‘Endangerment finding’ repealed; CT promises legal battle
The Environmental Protection Agency revoked its own determination that required it to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
Posted inMoney
Senate GOP pitches deep cuts to CT tax and electric bills
Senate Republicans say Connecticut can afford far more than the one-time $500 million tax rebate Gov. Ned Lamont pitched last week.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
In CT, opposition to Iroquois natural gas project crosses party lines
Despite Trump’s affinity for natural gas, residents of a relatively conservative town are campaigning to block a $272M natural gas expansion.
Posted inTransportation
Lamont’s budget keeps commuter rail, bus service flat
The governor’s plan would keep rail and bus services flat and proposes slowing the growth of the Special Transportation Fund.
Posted inMoney
Lamont to propose $200-per-person CT tax rebate
The $500 million rebate technically would be paid out of CT’s sales tax receipts and would not force deep cuts to the state budget.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Former PURA chair appeals fine from public records panel
Marissa Gillett said the $2,500 fine, issued by the state’s Freedom of Information Commission in December, was excessive and unwarranted.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
CT seeks new contracts for nuclear power, renewables
The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said it would seek new contracts to purchase carbon-free electricity.