Hartford
- Environmental groups denounced Governor Rell’s decision to alter the Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) global warming regulations which she had already
submitted for final approval to the legislature’s Regulation Review committee.
RGGI is a regional agreement creating a cap and trade program for global
warming pollution emitted from power plants in Connecticut and other Northeastern states.
Implementing RGGI is a critical step towards achieving the mandatory global
warming pollution cuts the Governor signed into law in June.
Governor Rell’s Comic
“Relief” Proposal Harms Consumers
Governor Rell’s decision to alter the RGGI global warming
regulations at the 11th hour threatens to delay Connecticut’s
participation in the cap and trade program to cut power plant emissions and divert
funding away from programs that help consumers and businesses cut electric
bills through efficiency and clean energy investments. Increases in electricity rates are
primarily driven by increases in the price of fossil fuels, so policies to
reduce fossil fuel demand benefit both consumers and the environment.
“Every dollar
diverted from efficiency programs under the governor’s scheme costs consumers
four dollars on their electricity bills. We estimate the “rate relief rebates” proposed by Governor Rell would save the average homeowner at most $1.15 a month on their electric bills
if the program costs twice as much as the DEP’s highest analysis,” stated
Jessie Stratton, Director of Government Relations for Environment Northeast.
Governor Threatens
Funding for Consumer Energy Efficiency Programs
Unexpectedly high
consumer demand means that energy
efficiency programs for CL&P
customers face a $20 million shortfall causing them to institute a waiting list for the popular free Home
Energy Solutions program and put business programs on hold for the year. The
Governor’s proposal would divert money away from these programs that cut
electric bills for Connecticut’s
families.
“It’s ironic that under the guise of helping consumers,
Governor Rell will be robbing popular consumer energy efficiency programs of
much-needed funding. I think we can do a
lot more to help consumers than giving
them a rebate that won’t even pay for the stamp on their electric bill. With electricity prices high we need
solutions that solve the problem and get us off of fossil fuels, not political
posturing,” said Roger Smith, Campaign Director for Clean Water Action.
Connecticut’s
Energy Efficiency Fund (ctsavesenergy.org) provides residential customers with
the Home Energy Solutions program which offers free in-home energy assessments
which include weatherization help, rebates on insulation and EnergyStar
appliances, and free compact fluorescent lightbulbs, but demand for this relief
is so high the programs are oversubscribed and over budget.
“When the legislature required power generators to pay for
their pollution there was a reason they directed the proceeds provide permanent
lasting relief to consumers, rather than symbolic one-time rebates,”
Christopher Phelps, Program Director for Environment Connecticut. “We need to invest in energy efficiency and clean
energy to cut our electric bills and reduce global warming pollution.”
Governor Rell Ignores
Law, Circumvents Process
In a radical departure from ordinary procedures, at the 11th
hour the governor issued a letter demanding that the Department of
Environmental Protection rewrite their global warming regulations in a manner
inconsistent with existing state law and submit it to the Regulation Review
committee without the customary approval of the Attorney General. Current
law directs revenue from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to only be used
for consumer efficiency and clean energy programs and to pay the cost of
running the climate programs.
“Governor Rell’s DEP already issued global warming power
plant regulations that are consistent with state law after holding public hearings
and accepting public comments. The Regulation Review committee should reject
these illegal changes and adopt the regulations submitted by the Department of
Environmental protection before political interference,” said Smith.
“The Governor’s proposal takes money away from programs that cut
consumers electric bills and give rebates worth less than the price of a cup of
coffee to Connecticut’s
families. That’s not rate relief, it’s a bait-and-switch,” said Phelps. “The Governor should
stop playing politics with global warming and support the regulations she
originally submitted to cut global warming pollution while also investing in
the energy efficiency and clean energy programs Connecticut needs to secure a clean,
affordable energy future.”
