Connecticut leaders need to update electricity sourcing

Gov. Ned Lamont has announced two important legislative efforts regarding climate change: offshore wind implementation and carbon neutrality. These are excellent steps in the right direction for Connecticut and New England. Connecticut needs to take actionable and practical steps to both lower energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions by increasing residential and business rooftop solar and energy storage.

Connecticut has both expensive electricity rates and generally environmentally unfriendly sourcing — essentially there is no silver lining. This is due to a number of problems, but regarding cost, largely secondary to a limited diversity in energy sourcing and expensive fuel importation. Offshore wind will help this general equation, but this may take years. Connecticut can immediately improve its situation by increasing utilization of rooftop solar and solarlithium battery devices.

Fortunately, Connecticut already has a number of incentives (both with regards to tax laws and greenenergy loans) and has generally been friendly towards implementing solar. In fact, Tesla recently rolled out solar roof rentals in six states including Connecticut, which reflects the costeffective nature of solar energy in our state. The state can do even more to advertise these benefits. Further, I propose modernizing incentives by including them for solar battery energy storage and for apartment complexes in which renters pay their electricity separately as well as expanding benefits for businesses (which often have large swaths of available rooftops). With these changes, it is possible that we can organically grow energy development in the state and hopefully bring down costs, as well.

To be sure, some may argue solar energy is more expensive than natural gas, which is more environmentally friendly than coal. Further, some argue that while bringing solar energy may reduce costs for those who use it, this may come at the expense of the rest who use the same grid. To the first point, natural gas use still increases high amounts of greenhouse gasses including methane. Regarding costs rising for those who do not use solar, that is why solarenergy storage with batteries is important because it will reduce the requirement by power plants to supply electricity, thereby preventing mismatch of generation during the day and at night.

As a primary care doctor, I see the consequences of expensive utility costs for many patients and the devastation of our climate by greenhouse gases and poor air quality. It may be easier to continue with the status quo, but Connecticut can lead by example for the rest of the country by modernizing our electricity sourcing.