Comprehensive Energy Strategy Written Comment

(DEEP) is charged with preparing a Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) for the state every four years. The CES examines future energy needs in the state and identifies opportunities to reduce costs for ratepayers, ensure reliable energy availability, and mitigate public health and environmental impacts of Connecticut's energy use, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and emissions of criteria air pollutants. In addition, Governor Lamont's Executive Order 21-3 directs DEEP to include in the next CES a set of strategies to: (a) provide for more affordable heating and cooling for Connecticut residents and businesses, (b) achieve reductions in GHG emissions from residential buildings and industrial facilities as needed to enable the state to meet the economy-wide GHG reduction targets for 2030 and 2050 established in the Global Warming Solutions Act, and (c) improve the resilience of the state's energy sector to extreme weather events, fuel commodity price spikes, and other disruptions.