The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Renewable energy increases under bill
HARTFORD – An energy bill mandating that 40 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2030 easily passed the state Senate — despite opposition to changes in how customers pay for solar power.
"Connecticut has been a national leader in policies designed to combat the effects of climate change and this bill is no exception," said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
The bill passed by a 29-3 vote in the Senate late Monday evening and heads to the House, where it is also expected to be adopted.
However, provisions in the bill drew opposition from solar power producers and some state environmental groups upset over a change in renewable energy pricing called net metering.
The new pricing plan creates a flat rate for solar — a move opponents say is a nod to electric companies. Under net metering, homeowners and businesses receive a credit on their electric bill for the solar power produced by their system.
“It is regretful that the Senate voted to terminate one of the most successful solar energy policies in the nation, net metering,” a coalition of environmental groups and solar producers said in a statement after the vote.
“States like Nevada that hastily ended net metering lost thousands of solar jobs and have since reinstated productive policy for distributed generation,” said the coalition, which includes the Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, Litchfield Hills Solar and Solar Connecticut.
But other environmental groups supported the bill, saying there are enough important provisions to warrant passage.
“While we know that the bill also includes problematic new limitations on net metering, we believe the gains are extensive and should be passed this year,” said a coalition that includes the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, the Nature Conservancy and the Sierra Club.
“We will continue to fight for the best possible result for net metering,” the CFE-led coalition said. “And we will be back next year for a better fix in the legislature.”
Malloy noted the pricing change revises net metering so Connecticut residents “pay a more affordable rate per kilowatthour basis.”
Malloy added "by promoting clean, renewable energy, we will not only reduce our overall emissions, we will create good jobs in the green economy."
Electric costs
Along with increasing the state’s mandate for renewable energy to 40 percent by 2030, the bill expands opportunities for municipalities, state agencies and agricultural customers to deploy renewable energy sources under an auction structure.
The legislation creates a statewide shared clean energy program that targets low to moderate income customers and new "successor" programs to grow renewable energy.
"Today’s vote is an important step in helping Connecticut meet not just its climate change goals, but in helping bring down the cost of renewables," said Robert Klee, commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
State Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden, said one of his main concerns with the bill is it’s difficult to predict the impact on current electricity costs.
"Connecticut is already the second highest cost of electricity in the country, in part of which because we have adopted renewable portfolios and this is gong to accelerate that mor," Suzio said.
State Sen. Gary Winfield, DNew Haven, conceded the bill could cause short term increases in energy costs but over the long run will help bring down prices.