“CPES events are great networking opportunities for people in the energy industry.”
– Bruce McDermott, Partner, Murtha Cullina
On December 13, 2016, the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES) invited energy professionals to the Society Room in Downtown Hartford for networking and an address from the recently appointed Chair of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Katie Dykes.
PURA Chair Katie Dykes and CPES President Joey Lee Miranda
Dykes, appointed by Governor Malloy on October 27 and elected Chair of the three-member authority on October 31, shared insights from her first few weeks on the bench. She expressed appreciation for the new ways PURA finds to engage with stakeholders, whether through publicly-noticed stakeholder groups or formally docketed proceedings. She spoke of the pivotal decisions the region is facing with regard to potential wholesale market changes to accommodate and achieve the New England states’ public policy objectives. She also touched on PURA’s role in tackling issues relating to electric transmission and distribution infrastructure, observing the significant amount of distributed generation being added to the grid.
Commissioner Michael Caron receiving award from RESA’s New England Chair Marc Hanks
Following Chair Dykes’ remarks, the Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA) awarded its 2016 Champion-of-Choice Award to PURA Commissioner Michael Caron. Caron was recognized for his leadership on the bench and ongoing commitment to competitive retail markets.
Paul Brady, retiring CPES Executive Director, and Kathryn Dube, the society’s new Executive Director
To conclude the evening, CPES honored retiring Executive Director Paul Brady and introduced Kathryn Dube as the Society’s new executive director.
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Keri Enright-Kato of DEEP discussed Connecticut’s efforts to combat climate change and reviewed the state’s GHG reduction goals found in the Global Warming Solution Act. Adopted by the General Assembly in 2008, the Global Warming Solutions Act sets forth the following GHG emission reduction requirements: (1) reduce GHG emissions to 10% below 1990 levels by January 2020; and (2) reduce GHG emissions to 80% below 2001 levels by January 2050. Enright-Kato reviewed the two accounting methods for measuring GHG emissions, including the generation-based approach and the consumption-based approach. The generation-based approach measures emissions from electric generating facilities in Connecticut while the consumption-based approach measures GHG emissions based on Connecticut’s share of electricity consumption in the region. Enright-Kato stated that transformational change would be needed to meet the state’s long-term GHG reduction goals and highlighted the work of the 
Tracy Gionfriddo of Eversource discussed her company’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions across the New England region. Compared to its peers, Gionfriddo explained, Eversource has a small carbon footprint as an electric and gas delivery company. For that reason, Gionfriddo noted, Eversource began looking for ways to facilitate the reduction of GHG emissions beyond its own company footprint. Gionfriddo stated that Eversource has focused on programs that reduce the region’s carbon intensity, including energy-efficiency programs and renewable energy programs. Gionfriddo also mentioned Eversource’s efforts to bring additional supplies of carbon-free hydropower down from Eastern Canada to New England load centers through electric transmission infrastructure. 
Kevin Hennessy of Dominion discussed the role of nuclear power in achieving the state’s and region’s GHG reduction goals. Dominion owns Millstone Nuclear Power Station, located in Waterford, Connecticut, one of three remaining nuclear facilities in New England. The other two facilities are Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Seabrook Nuclear Power Station, located in Seabrook, New Hampshire. Pilgrim Station has decided to retire its unit as of