Connecticut Local Politics

Legislators in the State House passed a bill last month that included a key change to how some consumers buy their electricity in Connecticut – eliminating the ability for customers to choose between Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating or a different provider.
A gaggle of consumers, producers, and state legislators gathered today at the State Capitol to drum [...]

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During the Stakeholder meeting yesterday, December 18, 2008, discussed in the previous post, Dan Weekly, Dominion Northeast Government Affairs Director, provided some thoughts on Energy situation in New England.
There should be a greater focus on Fuel Diversity for the Power Generating Plants in New England.  Currently, there are too many Natural Gas plants.  Natural Gas [...]

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Author note:  This is a post I would normally just write in the Waterford Blog.  However, since Millstone Power Station is the largest Base Load Electricity provider in CT, I thought it might be of interest to readers outside of the Waterford area.
Safety!.  Dan Weekly, the Dominion Northeast Government Affairs Managing Director, started his brief [...]

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The state is investigating claims of price gouging at Cumberland Farms gas stations.
…They still have Cumberland Farms gas stations? Huh. Anyway, here’s what supposedly happened:
The alleged “sudden” increase in gasoline prices at Cumberland Farm’s stores has been as high as 48 cents a gallon, Rell stated.

The Governor said she has directed DCP to prepare additional [...]

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NOTE: In the interest of fairness during campaign season, I asked Boaz ItsHaky, Republican candidate for Congress in the 3rd district, if he was interested in also writing something about energy for posting here. This is what he sent. –GC
An American Energy Agenda for the 21st Century
As a whole – our health is inseparable from [...]

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Part of an occasional series of posts by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro –GC
This week I attended a press conference with Senators Byron Dorgan (SD) and Maria Cantwell (WA) and Representative Bart Stupak (MD) where we unveiled a new report that shows that the size and influence of speculators in the oil futures market is greater [...]

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From the Banking Committee:
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, announced that he will hold a hearing [today at 10:00am] entitled “Strengthening the Ability of Public Transportation to Reduce Our Dependence on Foreign Oil.” After months of high gas prices, a record number of Americans are [...]

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The House is still debating, but after a long day of last-minute wrangling and debate, which included splitting the bill in two (the first bill passed both houses, the second is being debated in the House right now), the state senate has passed two energy assistance bills. Here, according to a release from the Senate [...]

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Democrats expect to be able to vote on an energy plan during Friday’s special session. A press release was sent out by the Senate Democrats today detailing some of what’s under discussion:
Senate Democrats are working on the details of an energy assistance plan that will include – but is not limited to – the following:

Increased [...]

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Gov. Rell and legislative leaders have reached an agreement about holding a special session to deal with high fuel prices and heating this winter. The session will take place on August 22nd, and will involve the spending of a $22 million surplus that may, in fact, be imaginary.

Williams and a bipartisan group of top leaders [...]

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At some point, a special session will be called to deal with energy issues.
Democrats are supporting Gov. Rell’s plan to use the (still somewhat theoretical) $22 million surplus to fund heating oil relief programs. They also called today for a further $5 million in bonds to be issued to enhance the program (Rell’s spokesman [...]

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President Bush lifted the executive ban on offshore drilling yesterday, leading to quick press releases from Sean Sullivan and David Cappiello calling for Congressmen Courtney and Murphy to support the effort (not likely).
Cappiello noted that Congressman Murphy opposes lifting the offshore drilling ban, despite record high gasoline and home heating oil costs. “It [...]

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What a great idea:
Dams that once were used to power Connecticut industry are now being eyed by town officials as a resource to cut municipal energy bills.

Canton First Selectman Dick Barlow, for example, wants to use an old dam on the Farmington River to generate hydroelectric power. (AP)
The idea is that they’ll put some money [...]

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Gov. Rell is on board with legislative Republicans on the idea of a special session to enact a gas tax cap:
“I can’t control Congress or OPEC, but I can control the taxes in the state,” Rell said Thursday. She said as gas prices continue to rise and as the home heating oil season approaches “it [...]

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Fuel prices being what they are, Republicans want the legislature to return in special session to cap the state gas tax at $3.40/gallon. Why? Because as wholesale fuel prices go up, so does the gross receipts tax. See Larry Cafero talk about it here:

Responded Senate Democrats in a statement:
The legislative Republicans, all of whom support [...]

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State Sen. David Cappiello, GOP candidate for Congress in the 5th district, unveiled his energy plan today. Cappeillo calls his plan “Real Energy Solutions,” and you can read it on his website.
Energy is on everyone’s minds this week (for instance, Republicans want a special session of the legislature to do something about gas prices), [...]

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Richard Blumenthal has given the legal okay for the legislature to pass a bill permitting gas retailers to offer discounts to customers paying in cash. The idea here is to deny big companies a profit from credit card transaction fees.
At the request of Gov. M. Jodi Rell, Blumenthal issued a legal opinion saying there’s no [...]

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Score one for the Republicans. Democrats are finally going to address the gross receipts tax increase, scheduled for July 1, in the June 11 special session. Senate President Donald Williams said this in a press release today:
“Families across Connecticut are hurting – and it is only getting worse. Senate Democrats are determined to do what [...]

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Just what we need, more expensive fuel:
The gross receipts tax, which is based on the wholesale price of gasoline, will increase from 7 percent to 7.5 percent next month. According to the Independent Connecticut Petroleum Association, the increase in the tax will account for almost 26 cents per gallon. Add that to the state excise [...]

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Joseph Bell, who was Communications Director for Rep. Rob Simmons from 2001-07, has temporarily replaced Andrew Powaleny as Sean Sullivan’s Communications Director (Powaleny is going to DC for an internship–in the middle of a campaign–and intends to return August 5th. I take him at his word). The difference in tone is immediately apparent:
Today Sean Sullivan, [...]

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