In fact many are concerned about his departure, worrying that no successor will have the breadth of expertise Esty had across energy and environmental subjects, and some fear a backsliding, especially in regional energy initiatives.
Energy & Environment
As climate change continues to impact Connecticut, keep up with the latest news on environmental legislation, energy, coastal resilience, pollution, and land use.
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Politics
One bicyclist’s fight with ConnDOT
Chris Brown put on a dark suit, shirt and tie for his day in court Tuesday, then he grabbed an important accessory that he never, ever goes without: a bright green bicycle helmet. As a judge in Hartford Superior Court was about to hear, Brown goes everywhere by bike. Even to court on cold day with a forecast of snow.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Murphy is in new Senate climate group
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy is among a group of Democratic senators unveiling a climate change task force on Tuesday. Its goal, he said, is to combat what he called “Republican intransigence” on issues related to climate change.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Cold-caused power grid problems start to level off
Power usage on the New England grid leveled off a bit Wednesday as temperatures began to slowly rise. But prices were still running high – more than $300 a megawatt hour at times – as the Independent System Operator that manages the grid, ISO New England, continued to use more expensive oil- and coal-fired generation.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Frigid spell diverts natural gas from New England’s power grid
For the second time since Friday, frigid temperatures in New England are forcing a realignment of how natural gas is used to power the region -– a renewed reminder that increasing reliance on natural gas, coupled with limited pipeline capacity to deliver it, has ramifications for the reliability of the electric grid and, potentially, the cost to consumers.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Renewable and clean energy surges in Connecticut
Bridgeport — There’s little to suggest that the five large, white-painted steel boxes and a collection of pipes near the railroad tracks was one of the most astonishing developments in clean energy in Connecticut in 2013. The only hint are these words lettered on each box: FuelCell Energy –- Ultra-clean, Efficient, Reliable Power.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Connecticut gets first federal buyouts for Sandy victims
The results of the first federal property buyout for victims of storm Sandy are likely to mean, among other changes, that in the next few years, one shoreline neighborhood in West Haven could all but disappear.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Connecticut, 7 other states seek EPA crackdown on Midwest pollution
Connecticut and seven other eastern states, all with Democratic governors and all under longstanding orders to reduce air pollution, said Monday they are petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency to force stricter air standards on nine upwind states from the Rust Belt and Appalachia that rely on coal-fired power plants.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
New England governors sign energy agreement
Representatives of consumers and New England’s largest utility reacted with cautious optimism Friday to a pact announced Thursday night that commits the governors of Connecticut and five other states to expand gas and electric transmission lines, without endorsing any specific project.
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Politics
NU execs shine brightest as source of cash for Connecticut’s Democratic Party
Over the previous decade, it’s unlikely that anyone at the Connecticut Democratic Party had the top echelon of Northeast Utilities on speed dial. On average, the party squeezed a paltry $307.50 a year out of the entire NU workforce.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Wind power blocked again in CT — political charges fly
For the fourth time in a little less than a year, a legislative committee has declined to approve regulations for wind turbines in Connecticut, leaving in place a moratorium on wind power projects that has been in effect for more than two years. It reaffirms Connecticut as the only state in the region, and possibly in the nation, that specifically does not permit wind projects.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
New CT customers to pick up most of tab for natural gas conversions
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority Friday signed off on the final version of a plan to convert 280,000 homes and businesses to natural gas heat from oil and other fuels over the next 10 years. The gas conversion plan is the cornerstone of the state’s Comprehensive Energy Strategy unveiled just over a year ago and officially approved by the legislature in the last session.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Connecticut EV buyers — Malloy has a deal for you
Hartford — If all it takes to get you into an electric vehicle is a reliable network of charging stations, then Gov. Dannel P. Malloy opened the Connecticut International Auto Show Friday with a pitch that may sell some cars in 2014. Yes, the administration is promising an end to range anxiety.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Norwich lights way as Connecticut starts to push gas heat
Norwich – Paul Blanchard’s heating system is purring like a kitten. OK, a very large kitten. But to him, it’s the sound of music. Before last winter that same system ran on oil. Now a new burner attached to his boiler runs on natural gas.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
CT gets climate change – not the $ to fix it
Do folks in Connecticut think climate change is occurring? Yes they do – and big time, according to the first comprehensive state-by-state polling on climate change. Data compiled at Stanford University for 46 states (Alaska, Hawaii, North Dakota, Wyoming and the District of Columbia were the exceptions) show a generally high belief that there is climate change, and government should do something about it – in fact several different things – even without the cooperation of other nations.