Hosted by CPES and Connecticut Bar Association’s (CBA)
Energy, Public Utility and Communications Section

Speakers:  Co-Chair – Representative Lonnie Reed;  Co-Chair – Senator Paul Formica;  Vice Chair – Senator Tony Hwang; Ranking Member – Representative Tim Ackert

Moderated by: Alex Judd, Vice Chair of the CBA’s Energy, Public Utility and Communications Law Section, Member of CPES’ New Energy Professionals Group, and Energy Associate at Day Pitney LLP,

Nearly 100 attendees joined CPES for its Annual Legislative Preview to hear from Energy and Technology Committee leadership on what to expect in the 2018 legislative session. The session started on February 7 and was followed by DEEP’s released of the 2018 Comprehensive Energy Strategy the next day, teeing up a busy year for the committee. CPES hosted the program in collaboration with the Connecticut Bar Association’s Energy, Public Utility and Communications Law Section.

The night’s conversation was wide ranging, but throughout, the committee members kept returning to the state’s fiscal problems as a driving force in this year’s session – a reality they said affects their ability to develop rational policy recommendations on energy issues.

The night kicked off with discussion highlighting the need for a diversity of energy resources and a long-term strategic plan to reliably and cost-effectively satisfy the state’s energy needs. Legislators noted that opposition to siting new resources can be a barrier to future development.

The committee members identified a range of anticipated topics for discussion this session, including the state’s renewable portfolio standard and funding for energy efficiency and the Green Bank, and urged attendees to weigh in on these matters at upcoming public hearings.

Throughout the discussion, legislators emphasized the committee’s commitment to working in a bipartisan, collaborative way to best leverage a range of expertise and resources.