LET’S ENERGIZE CT!

by State Rep. Linda Menna Gentile

Connecticut families and businesses are being crushed by utility and fuel costs. While the problem is clearly rooted in a failed global energy policy by President Bush and Congress that rewards the oil industry with big tax breaks and record profits, state leaders still have a responsibility to do whatever can be done to ease the pain here in Connecticut.

In order to help with the skyrocketing costs of energy, the House Democrats have launched a series of “Energize CT” forums that will help educate residents and businesses on becoming more energy efficient. The first forum will be held in Ansonia on September 5 and will include a presentation by United Illuminating.

Last week, we also announced several key components of crafting a successful long-term state energy policy, conservation and the development of two task forces, one on alternative fuels such as corn, bio-mass, and bio-diesel and one on renewable energy sources such as solar power. The task forces will be made up of industry representatives and the academic community and are charged with making recommendations to the state legislature by January 1. A third energy summit was also convened last week with the idea of drafting comprehensive energy legislation after the Department of Public Utility Control issues a “Request for Proposal” (RFP) on future electricity generation on September 15th.

Trying to influence energy prices is a very complicated issue and too risky to tackle in haste. It is imperative that we take the time to make the right decision, because a wrong decision could be devastating. It will be shame on us if we allow panic and politics to rule this decision-making process. Although we are talking about a failure of vision and policy at the national level, in Connecticut we need to formulate and enact a long-term comprehensive energy plan.

True energy reform will require a sea of change in policies, market forces and consumer behavior—to name just a few of the factors. It is truly a Herculean task.

We will be fully prepared in the coming months to craft energy legislation that is right for Connecticut’s working families and businesses because we have spent the time on finding the best solution that will work for our state.

For now, the prudent thing to do is conserve as much energy as possible. I also encourage the residents of Ansonia and Derby to attend the “Energize CT” forum that will be held in Ansonia on September 5th, at the Ansonia Armory on State Street at 7:00 PM.

Rep. Linda Menna Gentile is serving her second term representing the 104th General Assembly District. She is a member of the Commerce, Education, and Planning and Development Committees. Rep. Gentile can be reached at her state office at (860) 240-8500.