Gov. Dannel Malloy appointed a new chairman of the Connecticut agency charged with siting electric generating facilities, telecommunications towers and hazardous waste facilities after the current chairman abruptly quit on Thursday.
Daniel Caruso informed Gov. Dannel Malloy on Thursday that he would be stepping down as chairman of the Connecticut Siting Council, ending his five years of service on the board. Malloy appointed Robert Stein of Stamford to fill the position.
Former Gov. M. Jodi Rell appointed Caruso to the Siting Council in 2006. He currently also serves as probate judge for the Fairfield Probate District, a position he took in 1995. Prior to that, he served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1988 to 1994, representing Trumbull and Fairfield. He was named assistant minority leader during that span.
The Siting Council has the sole state authority to approve electric generation and transmission projects, as well as other infrastructure such as telecommunication towers and hazardous waste facilities.
This week, the Siting Council concluded public hearings over the controversial commercial wind project in Colebrook and Prospect. The proposal calls for eight commercial wind turbines and would be the first commercial wind project in the state. The projects is opposed by many area residents concerned about safety, noise and scenic views.
Because of the residents’ objections, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee has approved legislation limiting the power of the Siting Council to approve power projects. The legislation is pending before the entire General Assembly, and it would lay out specific regulations for wind turbines.
Stein – Caruso’s appointed replacement as Siting Council chairman – was the Stamford Land Use Bureau chief for the past 15 years. He’s worked for the City of Stamford since 1974, which includes the entire mayoral tenure of Malloy before he became governor.
“The council is responsible for balancing the technological and energy needs of today’s society while safeguarding our state’s land and environment,” Stein said in a statement. “I look forward to serving in this important role and collaborating with the many active participants of the process as we balance these needs in a collaborative, constructive and beneficial manner.”
