Sane Energy Policy

We need a saner energy policy. How often have you heard politicians say that? At the Northwest Leadership Breakfast, shortly after an important Broadwater decision, speaker after speaker spoke about our need for a saner energy policy. It was a gathering of Connecticut politicians and much of the focus was on energy policy as it applied to Connecticut. Connecticut has the highest energy prices in the Nation.

Yet where is that energy policy going to come from? The current energy policy, crafted in secret between Mr. Cheney and some of his buddies in the energy industry clearly is in the best interest of Bush and Cheney’s cronies, and not in the best interest of our country.

Last night at the New Haven Democracy for America Meetup, two members of ‘Fight the Hike’ showed up to talk about their efforts.

They spoke about H.B. 5819, An Act Concerning Energy Relief and Assistance. This bill would have created a Connecticut Energy Authority which would oversea the buying of energy for the State. It passed through several committees and modifications before it was ‘tabled for the calendar’.

A second bill they supported, H.B. 5783, An Act Concerning Electricity Market Incentive Repates made it through the Energy and Technology committee before stalling. Another bill, H.B. 5815 An Act Concerning the Mission of the Department of Public Utility Control sailed through the Energy and Technology committee but failed to pass the Joint Committee on Legislative Management on a twelve to twelve vote, with six legislators absent. One final bill on their list was S.B. 589, An Act Establishing a Residential Electric and Gas Customer Discount Rate. It unanimously passed the Energy and Technology committee, but failed to get any further.

Governor Rell has been pushing onething, encouraging every one to take a “a simple step you take to save energy.” The Laundry List is a grassroots organization pushing for similar conservation efforts and notes that “Electric dryers use five to ten percent of residential electricity in the United States”. They have pushed for ‘Right to Dry’ legislation across the country. In many places, renters and condominium owners are restricted by covenants from drying clothes outside.

At the other end of the spectrum, United Illuminating is making another effort to raise rates and Fight the Hike is organizing a rally and demonstration this coming Saturday at noon in front of the UI corporate headquarters at 157 Church St in New Haven.

Yet none of this seems to be moving us that much closer to a sane energy policy. Electricity is just part of the equation. What do we consume for gasoline for transportation? How should mass transit fit into the policy? What about renewable energy such as solar energy or wind? Are the rules around ‘net metering’, where energy that a home produces is sold back onto the grid fair? Currently, the ‘net metering’ rules in Connecticut seem to be slanted in favor of the energy companies. For that matter, might we not be better off with high electric prices discouraging usage? That is all well and good for home owners with disposable income who could put in some sort of solar energy or make the trade off between a trip to the Islands or more electricity usage, but what about the renter that is already having to make choices between food, fuel, and medicine?

No, we need better energy policies and, perhaps more importantly, better ways of creating energy, and other policies. We need opportunities for people to learn about energy policy, how they can change energy usage and how they can help change energy policy. True, it might be better if such a policy were driven at the national level, but Connecticut does have the highest electricity costs in the nation, and perhaps Connecticut can start leading the discussion on better energy policy.

At the Computers, Freedom and Privacy, 2008 conference, an effort was started to draft a technology issues paper to be sent to whomever the new President will be.

Fight the Hike has been working on getting municipalities to pass resolutions supporting their legislative efforts. Could this be expanded? Should there be energy teach-ins to help people understand energy policy better? Could people be brought together to craft a better energy policy? Last night’s Democracy for America Meetup in New Haven may have been a good starting point towards bringing together a stronger coalition seeking a saner energy policy.

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