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Legislators Send Letter to DEEP Regarding Draft Notice for Zero Carbon Energy

Posted on July 20, 2018

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HARTFORD – Led by State Representative Kathleen McCarty (R-Waterford), lawmakers from all over Southeastern Connecticut joined together last week in an opinion-editorial to urge the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to amend its draft RFP (Request for Proposals) that essentially excludes Millstone from participating in a competitive auction for zero carbon electricity until 2023. The legislators reminded DEEP of their responsibility to comply with a law passed last year which requires that Millstone be allowed to compete in a competitive auction for carbon-free resources.

This week, legislators from across the state have joined Rep. McCarty’s effort, with the help of Senator Paul Formica, and sent a letter directly to DEEP Commissioner Klee. In the letter, 46 Representatives and 9 Senators in a bipartisan manner informed DEEP of the adverse economic and environmental ramifications of a premature closing of Millstone.

“While we are pleased that DEEP recently issued a draft RFP, we were shocked and dismayed to discover DEEP is ignoring the legislative intent of the law,” the legislators wrote. “Unfortunately, in the draft RFP, DEEP usurped legislative authority by defining a new term, “at risk time period” to 2023, which would significantly delay the time frame of potential contracts for certain resources. This language is inappropriate and unfair.

“Millstone Power Station – the source of 50% of the state’s power, 90% of its carbon-free electricity and 1500 jobs – is the only resource participating in the comprehensive “At Risk” determination process and thus is the only resource potentially impacted. What’s more,” they continue, “DEEP waited until it knew that Millstone was the only resource seeking “At Risk” treatment before it defined the new term. This language in the draft RFP is unacceptable and MUST be removed before the Final RFP is issued on July 31, 2018. If Millstone is determined to be an existing resource confirmed At Risk, the risk is NOW and it should not be forced to wait until 2023 to be treated as such.”

DEEP has confirmed the receipt of this letter and states that they “appreciate” the legislators’ input and “will take [their] comments into consideration.”

View a copy of the letter here.

Signatories include:

Representatives:
Ackert
Belsito
Betts
Bocchino
Bolinsky
Buckbee
Camillo
Candelora, V.
Carney
Cheeseman
Conley
Cummings
D’Amelio
Davis
de la Cruz
Delnicki
Dubitsky
Dunsby
Floren
France
Green
Hall
Klarides, T.
Kokoruda
McCarty
O’Dea
Orange
Petit
Piscopo
Riley
Reed
Rutigliano
Ryan
Siegrist
Simanski
Skulczyck
Smith
Soto
Srinivasan
Storms
Tweedie
Vail
Wilms
Wilson
Yaccarino
Ziobron

Senators:
Fasano
Formica
Frantz
Hwang
MacLachlan
Martin
Miner
Osten
Somers

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