The working group developed as part of Gov. Dan Malloy’s transition team has suggested the new administration overhaul the state’s energy agencies and policy for a better, more affordable energy future.
Among the immediate project initiatives suggested by the working group are creating a new Energy Policy Office; a possible restructuring of the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control to address more than just utilities; develop energy efficiency programs for state buildings; establish a request for proposal process for renewable energy; and develop a system to foster small-scale renewable projects.
The short-term initiatives suggested include standardizing energy data for market participants; have the Energy Policy Office reduce consumers’ utility bills by 10 percent; expedited siting of renewable energy projects; coordinating transmission projects with new generation projects; and addressing the aging energy infrastructure.
The long-term initiatives include enacting and reviewing the administration’s energy policy after a two-year period; and further exploring which heating technologies the state should favor, such as heating oil, natural gas, biomass, solar thermal or geothermal.
