Energy efficiency investments crucial to hunt for true equity

We hear a lot of talk about “equity” these days from government officials quick to speak of its importance, but slower to do the hard work required to boost our lowincome communities. That was evident at the July 29 press conference in which the Lamont administration applauded themselves for not raiding the Energy Efficiency Fund, despite having allowed over $67 million to be diverted this month under a previous budget agreement.

If we’re going to talk about equity, we need to get serious about the real challenges lowincome families face. They are hit particularly hard by skyhigh energy bills that are needlessly inflated due to energy waste. Connecticut has numerous energy efficiency programs focused on reducing this waste, such as HESIE, Home Energy SolutionsIncome Eligible and CHEER Middletown. It’s time for us to support them.

Energy efficiency is an equity issue. Those living on the margins are not able to afford costly weatherization or energy efficiency improvements. It’s everything they can do just to keep the lights on and put food on their tables.

That’s why our electric bills include a specific fee to fund energyefficiency programs. Our state — in concert with the utility companies — promised Connecticut citizens that these funds would help us live more comfortably, improve public health and reduce energy waste.

Instead, the previous administration diverted $145 million from the Energy Efficiency Fund into the 2017 General Fund. Lawmakers plugged budgetary shortfalls with funds meant to help the most vulnerable among us.

Since the early 1980s, working class, middle class, and poor Americans have fallen further and further behind the top wage earners. This is especially true in Connecticut. Roughly 35 percent of Connecticut residents live either below the poverty line or just above it in the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed population.

The Economic Policy Institute ranks Connecticut as the third worst state for income inequality based on the ratio of top 1 percent to bottom 99 percent income. We are at the bottom in terms of economic fairness in this country, and it is becoming harder and harder for our struggling families to keep up.

We can only achieve true equity in Connecticut by supporting programs like energy efficiency that improve the health and wellness for everyone in our state, including lowincome families, underrepresented communities, renters, etc.

Not only is investing in efficiency imperative to our hunt for real equity, it also makes strong economic sense. The return on investment on our current energy efficiency programs generates $7 for every $1 spent, according to the 2017 Report of the CT Energy Efficiency Board. Such a high return is far from common. A cashstrapped state like Connecticut should be eager to fund this program and reap the rewards — both moral and economic.

Lawmakers who talk about equity also like to talk about jobs. The clean energy and energy efficiency sector employs nearly 34,000 people in Connecticut. Because of the raids, 3,000 jobs have already been lost.

If our leaders want to do more than talk about equity — if they want to take steps to really achieve it — they need to start by restoring the $147 million they diverted from the Energy Efficiency Fund. Then we need to find a legislative mechanism to prevent future raids.

Gov. Ned Lamont’s pledge to avoid raiding energy efficiency funds is a good start, but it does nothing to stop future administrations or legislatures from turning to familiar tactics when the coffers get low again.

A commitment to equity means a commitment to one of the few successful statewide programs that improves the quality of life in Connecticut. If we don’t support energy efficiency, we will cost Connecticut jobs, hinder our economy, and worsen the divide between the wealthy and the poor.

Jeff Hush of founder of the Middletown Green Community Center. Leticia Colon de Mejias is Chispa director for the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.