Photo: Justin Henry via Creative Commons 2.0
April 27, 2022 (NEW BRITAIN, CT) – The Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) has released a final decision to immediately wind down the state’s efforts to expand gas heating, concluding that the program is not in the best interest of families and businesses and does not further the state’s climate and energy goals. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement in response.
“This is a huge step towards getting polluting, dirty fossil fuels out of our homes,” said Shannon Laun, CLF staff attorney. “Unfortunately, PURA is giving gas companies a grace period to sign up more customers for the incentive program. Gas poisons our air and is a major driver of the climate crisis, and the incentives should have been ended immediately.”
The 2013 gas expansion plan was designed to convert homes and businesses from oil heating to cheaper natural gas. The plan has not been successful as the price of gas has increased and gas companies have struggled to attract new customers. Connecticut’s Global Warming Solutions Act also requires the state to put an end to the use of fossil fuels.
In today’s final decision, PURA is allowing gas companies to continue signing up certain customers for the incentives if they have a fully executed contract for gas service within 90 days. CLF and other groups had pushed for the incentives to end immediately.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
###