Community Corner

Connecticut Regulators Questioning Malloy Energy Plan

The governor's $2 billion plan to bring natural gas to hundreds of homes and businesses might prove more expensive for those customers.

 

By Eileen McNamara

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's ambitious plan to expand the use of natural gas in the state, unveiled in October as a clean energy project, doesn't make the case for cheaper energy costs, state regulators say.

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According to the state's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, Malloy’s $2 billion plan to connect 300,000 homes and businesses to natural gas lines is a ‘‘positive first step’’ forward for Connecticut, but the governor's proposal is not fully fleshed out in some areas, making the economic benefits questionable, the website Boston.com reports.

‘‘In some instances, many costs are not considered when evaluating the appropriateness of investment and details are not provided to support conclusions,’’ the website quotes state regulators on the energy plan.

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Malloy unveiled his a plan the governor believes will put Connecticut on "a clear path toward cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable energy."

Since then, however, oil providers have assailed the proposal, saying the cost savings are not obvious and that the administration is unfairly pushing one type of energy over another.

Malloy has argued that Connecticut's use of natural gas is far behind that of other states and that switching more customers to natural gas would be a boon for businesses in the state. He has said that some manufacturers left the state because of the lack of affordable energy sources.


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