HB 5634 Public Hearing (Increase to Energy Efficiency Funds)

HB 5634​ Increase Funding for Energy Efficiency Programs

Register to Testify: You must register to testify in person or virtually by 3pm on Wednesday, March 1st. 

Submit Written Testimony: It is recommended that you submit written testimony by Wednesday March 2nd.

Watch Live: If you register to testify, a zoom link will be sent to your email address.

Basics

• Bill supplements funding for energy efficiency programs identified in the Conservation and Load Management Plan by allocating twenty million dollars from the state budget to support such programs.

Intro

• Thank Committee Leadership: Co-Chairs Sen. Needleman and Rep. Steinberg, Vice Chairs Sen. McCrory and Rep. Foster, and Ranking Members Sen. Fazio and Rep. Buckbee for the opportunity to testify
• Mention your strong support with changes.
• Include a personal story if relevant.

Talking Points

• Strongly support investing in energy efficiency funds. Every dollar invested yields almost 4 times that in lifetime savings. The high demand for energy efficiency work cannot be met with limited budgets, and the annual budgets are decreasing. With the recent utility cost increases CT residents are in need of energy efficiency more than ever.
• Insist that the reference to the CT Green Bank be removed as this money is intended to go directly to the Conservation & Load Management Plan.
• Recommend increasing the amount - The current budget shortfall is $26 Million for the Home Energy Solutions programs, and $165 Million dollars that was raided from the funds in 2018 was never returned.
• Recommend directing the funding to the HES and HES-IE programs where the current budget shortfall is having the worst impact.
• Recommend passing this bill quickly to avoid losing workforce. Energy efficiency vendor budgets are scheduled to be cut on April 1st.