Acadia Center Comments on the Scope of Connecticut’s 2022 Comprehensive Energy Strategy

Acadia Center’s Ben Butterworth, Senior Manager, Climate and Energy Analysis, provides oral testimony which can be viewed in this video recording, beginning at the 30:20 mark.

Acadia Center Testimony in Support of LD 1959

Acadia Center Written Testimony- H7123 FY23

Acadia Center Slams Governor McKee’s Unjust Energy Efficiency Raid Plan

Acadia Center testified February 8 before the Senate Finance Committee to vigorously oppose the McKee Administration’s attempt to use $6 million in ratepayer energy efficiency funds as the sole means to support the state’s Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council. The budget proposal would divert a portion of the energy efficiency charges included on electric and gas bills to support other state climate activities, especially in the heating and transportation sectors according to Office of Energy Resources Commissioner Nick Ucci.

“Acadia Center strongly supports efforts to fund the EC4’s activities and urges the Administration to increase the budgets for all climate-related measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, Acadia Center must emphatically oppose the way in which the McKee Administration is seeking to fund EC4 activities, by diverting electric and gas ratepayer funds collected for energy efficiency while asking nothing of other fossil fuel users, or even the businesses that earn significant revenues from the sale of carbon-polluting fossil fuels,” said Hank Webster, Rhode Island Director of Acadia Center.

Beyond the inequities of this proposal, Acadia Center generally opposes diverting funding away from the Energy Efficiency programs when there is so still so much untapped savings potential. Energy Efficiency is a first and foundational tool in the fight against climate change. Investments in energy efficiency like insulation, weather sealing, appliance upgrades, and so much more help to reduce the amount of energy utilities and consumers need to buy, and does so at significant cost savings.

“There are far better, more equitable ways to pay for the climate action we all recognize are necessary. Acadia Center urges the General Assembly and McKee Administration to identify a different funding source that more accurately reflects the broad societal moral imperative to address the climate crisis,” said Webster.

Energy Storage Market Assessment

Considerations for LDC and Consultant D.P.U. 20-80 Draft Scenario Analysis Modeling

Public Interest Organizations ANOPR Comments

Reply and Post-technical Conference Comments of Acadia Center and Conservation Law Foundation

Acadia Center Comments_Department of Environmental Quality Rulemaking, 06-096 Chapter 128, Advanced Clean Trucks Program

Maine is nearly 100 percent dependent on petroleum to fuel rail, truck, bus, aerospace, marine, and automobile transportation vehicles. Transportation accounts for more than half of the State’s energy use, emissions, and costs. Transportation is responsible for 54 percent of Maine’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. When emissions are analyzed by vehicle type, 59 percent of Maine’s transportation-related emissions are from light-duty passenger cars and trucks; 27 percent are from medium- and heavy-duty trucks; and the remaining 14 percent come from rail, marine, aviation, and utility equipment vehicles. The proposed rule is the first step to reduce carbon pollution from medium- and heavy-duty trucks in Maine, and an additional step to reductions in ozone, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and toxic diesel particulate matter. To avoid missing compliance years and delaying the rule’s benefits, it is imperative that Maine adopt the ACT rule as soon as possible.

Acadia Center Comments on Chapter 128, Advanced Clean Trucks Program