Big agenda, and a few battles, brewing for energy and environment in 2012

The CT Mirror ^

[matt04]

After the bumper 2011 legislative session, you might expect a modest wish list from Connecticut legislators, environmentalists and conservation advocates for 2012.

Not happening. Nearly a year after those groups and the Malloy administration began an energy and environmental reform quest that resulted in the new Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, an unprecedented comprehensive energy bill designed to upend energy business as usual, scads of funding for clean water projects, commitments to open space and a host of other initiatives, all parties are back asking for more.

And a lot more -- legislative and not -- have agendas that, while not in conflict, don't always overlap.

"Number one," said Jamie Howland, Environment Northeast's director of climate and energy analysis, "Is a sustainable funding stream for oil heat efficiency."

That actually could be the biggest area of agreement among advocates, legislators and the administration. But get ready for a fight.

The issue is that energy efficiency loans have not been made consistently available to folks with oil heat -- about half the homes in the state -- who want to upgrade their equipment. Energy efficient gas and electric heat systems can be funded through fees on electric and gas bills. For the last two years federal stimulus funds were available for oil systems, but those are gone. A little additional funding has come with a more than 9 percent interest rate, in contrast to around 3 percent for electric and gas heat upgrades.

Some, including DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty, are suggesting a fee on oil.

[matt04]

Soon the last resident to leave won't have to worry about turning out the light.

[technically right]

“to allow state and municipal workers to do power line work” Yeah, there ya go. I wanna see a garbage truck worker from Stamford put on a set of hooks and glove energized 13.2. F*cking idiots.