[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325240,"mediaKeyId","2334266-73afcc64e541a54cc21cee3a1e5c16ec","parentId",2334266,"title","Advocates press for home energy labels; industry urges use of existing national metrics","audioSeconds",2553,"startMs",10209000,"endMs",12762000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334266-73afcc64e541a54cc21cee3a1e5c16ec&start=10209&end=12762","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334266-73afcc64e541a54cc21cee3a1e5c16ec/thumbnail_10209000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325240/Connecticut/Advocates-press-for-home-energy-labels-industry-urges-use-of-existing-national-metrics","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325240-34b5e2278e83695a42ab6172a3111c87/orig.mp4?Expires=1770483170&Signature=I-HqVz8sPayKgsvJx908veJNE5WhpNG856AKJajstwGqBfsnounerVT9eb36L1z4sYVmolhv7iysfXNZsFbHfcQdSr7ox~zl6wkItYlmEb04Oet1rZ2Briu-Aa2lEQodTh5TaJHdrO--taZKYNywv4YcuMrDZ3zpNpD-yfP5IMsIwztSOEpJ4jH30BE2Zpxzg7GhLXoc4DNEXB2fSDBJbteza7gqwRcnN10yxYUm7j0RC2fjurlqwmAvnKapzVJDTNIFgN4xP-yuPe~-YqLTXGuzjhM7~9Z-U~Opymm04Llbf1PqWTwfmbGx0VZ~pXGepD2YChGofE2L8h-cPRN~hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CGA - Energy and Technology Committee","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","A pair of bills on home-energy labeling and auditor training drew sharply divided testimony on Feb. 27 about the best way to give homebuyers and owners reliable energy information.

State and nonprofit witnesses said a standardized home-energy label would function like a nutrition label for houses, help buyers compare lifetime energy costs, encourage investment in weatherization, and support workforce development for energy auditors. Carrie Lynch of The Nature Conservancy and Cameron Kritikos of Build Green Connecticut urged the committee to adopt a label and to fund a training program for auditors so assessments are accurate and the state develops the workforce to conduct assessments at scale.

Industry witnesses, including the Propane Gas Association of New England and some builders' and realtor interests, warned that creating a separate Connecticut-only label risks consumer confusion and a patchwork of incompatible metrics. Those witnesses urged the committee to rely on established national systems such as the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) or Energy Star, or to adapt them, rather than asking DEEP to develop a brand-new state-only rating.

Several lawmakers asked about how a label would be administered and whether it would be mandatory to show a label on a listing. Witnesses said the most practical near-term step is to create a voluntary label program and credentialed auditors, and to ensure that consumer information is standardized and comparable across jurisdictions. Supporters argued that municipalities, market actors and lenders would benefit from a clear, reliable energy score as the state expands weatherization and electrification programs.

Next steps: The committee will examine whether to reference an existing national label or to authorize DEEP to use an adapted standard; lawmakers also asked for estimates of training costs and professional capacity to produce scores at scale.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Energy and Technology Committee 2.18 Public Hearing","oneSentenceSummary","Supporters told lawmakers a Connecticut home-energy label would help buyers, sellers and contractors compare efficiency and prepare housing for upgrades; industry groups urged the committee to adopt or adapt national standards rather than a Connecticut-only label.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature CT, Connecticut","taxId",77677,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325245,"Lawmakers hear competing views on AI/data-center growth, energy demands and the need for state standards",3083,10992000,14075000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334266-73afcc64e541a54cc21cee3a1e5c16ec&start=10992&end=14075","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334266-73afcc64e541a54cc21cee3a1e5c16ec/thumbnail_10992000.jpg","/articles/6325245/Connecticut/Lawmakers-hear-competing-views-on-AIdata-center-growth-energy-demands-and-the-need-for-state-standards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325245-bd81391110584011856e4565bb9ed7ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1770483170&Signature=JEqK7exakPEEaHopY0cTyKP-Bd~uXZkoYzDehRizFyPTsF7hv9-pDxAke1Ac7KdVL986emWye7y9vmzx4OYC6kt~GyRTfmMMhR7wb1P1eZ38hDjLyaaW1bEV6ihZcpofsxDOOhXoApWjdO~pSMRy~MOncA3uSyw3vbI7GUFnIbGbzAVYVdCWVAiZZnKQm0o6roE8LCr1QUphD8hdkhYJR-Wu2YAOuAo~ZfpT09nB0Klg5fMppZvnqmYLFetm5zQCZAlcDx3rI2RobQ~7B59XtoF-Zxw5OQH~ND0aKE8g~jU-4HKV-qby6XwfnilcmetarQc2djYektKsooD-Is5~lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A lively debate over how Connecticut should regulate large-scale data centers and new AI computing facilities took center stage during the Energy & Technology Committee hearing.

Supporters of reporting and efficiency standards urged the committee to require quarterly disclosure of energy and water use and directed DEEP to set minimum energy- and water-efficiency standards for data centers (SB 1292). Environment and consumer groups said unchecked growth of large facilities can stress grid capacity, raise generation and system costs for all ratepayers, and concentrate water and noise impacts in host communities.

Witnesses from Eversource and other utilities said integration and procurement planning are necessary if large loads appear; Eversource asked for coordination with PURA and cited the need for clear interconnection and settlement timelines. Several environmental witnesses suggested linking new centers to renewable-energy commitments, and recommended standards that favor closed-loop cooling and limits on water-intensive cooling methods.

Developers and trade representatives countered that modern hyperscale and AI facilities use advanced air-cooled and closed-loop designs, can be sited on industrial land, and often invest millions in local infrastructure and host agreements. Project proponents said many projects plan behind-the-meter generation strategies that avoid diesel/gas backup and will pay public-benefit charges and interconnection costs so costs are not shifted to other ratepayers.

Committee members pressed for more data: what would be the impact on reliability if multiple large facilities came online, how much new generation would be needed, how to treat behind-the-meter arrangements in procurement, and how to protect communities from noise and water impacts. Witnesses pointed to other states' ongoing work (MA, GA, and others) and urged Connecticut to adopt clear standards for energy, water and community protections rather than ad hoc approvals.

Concluding note: the hearing surfaced trade-offs among economic development, job creation and environmental planning. Lawmakers signaled interest in measures that require reporting, set efficiency standards and ensure costs and environmental impacts are explicitly addressed before large AI facilities are cleared to proceed.","Developers, utilities, environmental groups and public-interest organizations debated whether Connecticut should create reporting and efficiency rules for large AI/data centers; testimony covered grid capacity, water use, noise, backup generation and how costs should be allocated.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":44,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":50,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325250,"Advocates press panel for funding to remove health-and-safety barriers that block weatherization for low-income households",4159,14368000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334266-73afcc64e541a54cc21cee3a1e5c16ec&start=10209&end=14368","/articles/6325250/Connecticut/Advocates-press-panel-for-funding-to-remove-health-and-safety-barriers-that-block-weatherization-for-low-income-households","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325250-e00c53ab7ca40eb15bea306bd18820b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770483170&Signature=a6ls7nrYTU8HqEDMq5AsytgFnL987JuGvpaulpizBnRnYOlrTe5zLfxBwqGmWCQtQKVsuzLVB4FYijYcR~vsbp6kUARCTwq80LX3HXuUNq7aNzm7oZq45YkmZriXF7iBVv~vtHY3dv5zEcww3svXaQdgfzXu2ZeG-g1bROYqHV7SR8BaCydNFVnYMgxUItScXb3Gf-s7xmr3aBivYdw1AMU2gsQ95MjwG0nnBgp~~AF9UV9HpqlMmtO78oARWQzq4DI1UPSz8ZO8PMyjdJjQ4iyv5vmG4rC~SXoYAcFB8gwBxQ~smWqXbaTkQoWcxN2G5CZKyp0ltLh~ZRgpRiBqBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Advocates and nonprofit providers told the Energy & Technology Committee that Connecticut's REPS program, which addresses health and safety issues that block weatherization, needs stable funding to reach the many homes currently deferred.

Gannon Long of Operation Fuel urged lawmakers to commit $8 million to supplement DEEP's REPS funding, saying many households are deferred from efficiency programs because of mold, asbestos, old oil tanks, defective stoves or refrigerators and other barriers. Operation Fuel and partners have used limited discretionary funds to help households convert to heat pumps and address urgent replacements, but Long said grant support is patchy and insufficient to meet need.

Rhonda Evans of the Connecticut Association for Community Action testified that REPS must not be funded by cutting the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) block grant, which provides heating assistance to tens of thousands of low-income households. Advocates and community-action providers said LIHEAP benefit levels remain below 2019 levels while demand is steady; they urged REPS funding to be supplemental and not to reduce LIHEAP benefits.

DEEP and providers described REPS as a gateway that allows homes to complete remediation and then proceed to full weatherization, which produces long-term energy and health benefits. Witnesses also said REPS work produces systemic benefits: better indoor air quality, reduced utility arrears over time, and fewer emergency energy crises. Committee members asked for data on program scale and backlog; witnesses reported hundreds of projects completed or underway and hundreds more on wait lists and said funding gaps limit throughput.

The committee will weigh how to fund REPS without impairing LIHEAP and other critical assistance, and whether a recurring appropriation or a one-time supplemental should be included in the budget.","Nonprofits and DEEP supporters urged the committee to appropriate funds for the Residential Energy Preparation Services (REPS) program to remediate mold, asbestos and other barriers that currently prevent many low- and moderate-income households from receiving weatherization and energy-efficiency work.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325253,"Supporters push grants, clarify utility role for thermal energy networks as pilot projects move forward",6272,1871000,8143000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334266-73afcc64e541a54cc21cee3a1e5c16ec&start=1871&end=8143","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334266-73afcc64e541a54cc21cee3a1e5c16ec/thumbnail_1871000.jpg","/articles/6325253/Connecticut/Supporters-push-grants-clarify-utility-role-for-thermal-energy-networks-as-pilot-projects-move-forward","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325253-052fdd1087d6a575fd8231a66199d2be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770483170&Signature=G~88MarGWR3L0gTU7xlxDzrLpfg8kc4tkMtP4JgpXe-mC1D8EXMe0cxIeSfrJqIv1agyVxU34ZJyyF5GdKmisAoXhSuVRURpf7Ijv9riXza4PQOmzLi2hWeLVanrJ0DknROc~L3xzFaue555d85OAS3X3H6AN2EY3kzKBeo3yrqK6Ux2dghOXLyrKsOdFea90yS4CBOne34sJKTpAdOPLtfth7wwcL1AMeeY7o37lUyVfexqpn7XTFSV02ZO-37tVFZBwreBL~F-5SPXFweBeW0DGC9uH27Gi3-XPi-zltPHUiP3xgR-Nj-V53f9yaQibXyS70malZqjQsqlO7ukJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several witnesses on Feb. 27 urged Connecticut lawmakers to authorize and fund thermal energy network pilots that would deliver district-scale geothermal heating and cooling. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes told the Energy & Technology Committee that DEEP supports House Bill 6929 to create a grant and loan program for thermal energy networks (TENS) and called for clarification of utility ownership questions and procurement authority.

Dykes and DEEP staff described TENS as district-scale systems built around shared geothermal wells and piping that can serve multiple buildings, reduce emissions and lower energy costs through higher system efficiency and dispatchability. DEEP's deputy commissioner for energy, Joe DeNicola, explained the technical advantage of ground-source systems over air-source heat pumps: belowground temperatures are more stable and, when paired with storage, can be charged when power prices are low and discharged when prices rise.

Eversource described its Framingham, Mass., pilot for a community thermal project and asked that HB 6929 clarify that natural gas distribution companies may own and operate networks and be eligible for program funds. Eversource's manager of clean technologies, Eric Bosworth, described the Framingham project's first-season operation and said scaling benefits bring per-customer costs down on later phases. He also noted that utility expertise in trenching, fusion and hydraulic operations transfers well to closed-loop geothermal piping.

Conservation and environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and Conservation Law Foundation, asked for funding in the draft bill and for eligibility that includes municipalities and non-utility stakeholders, not only investor-owned utilities. They and several municipal legislators said the program could provide important local benefits where dense building loads and existing infrastructure make TENS viable.

Questions for the committee remain about pilot design and cost recovery. Utilities urged statutory clarity on ownership and cost-recovery mechanisms so regulated companies can propose pilot projects to PURA or under DEEP programs. DEEP and witnesses also flagged pipeline-replacement budgets and other regulated spending as potential sources to consider for pilot funding where feasible. The committee will weigh clarifying language about who may own and operate TENS and whether pilot proposals should come through PURA.","State and utility witnesses told the committee that thermal energy networks (district geothermal/\"TENS\") can lower heating costs and emissions; utilities asked that natural gas distributors be explicitly allowed to participate and that pilot projects and procurement pathways be clarified.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325258,"Connecticut hearing spotlights municipal electric aggregation as a local option for cheaper, cleaner supply",5517,2817000,8334000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334266-73afcc64e541a54cc21cee3a1e5c16ec&start=2817&end=8334","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334266-73afcc64e541a54cc21cee3a1e5c16ec/thumbnail_2817000.jpg","/articles/6325258/Connecticut/Connecticut-hearing-spotlights-municipal-electric-aggregation-as-a-local-option-for-cheaper-cleaner-supply","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325258-03d68b213be096e033d19ac93316c5d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770483170&Signature=l7cX5o3HTDaz60DvS7vhtCPk~PIQLcEShwIxMAnC95sZkhk~qhoGVpWF4VE398o46plSdp7YFHdiIGlV1VBzPlFIriL9ks9BIFebReD7CRt2TW4rRbym~Hc55CeLAPXnN8fCNOU5XRZ9NeqB-cVt-UpsfHM0eoH1u9EiCl1dQH72NqklHCJTtd6~5B8dnHJaYNe8Vf7XcOtuAnvv3zmEVC19F1DIAnuVTsFSOeOqm4C4qyq7Bqr3SBC7xbelzNpDPLwbxS4chDMIqLapPjoZj7s4GZuhMmH2sml2zVkofIA9IaDlC3h9EloZtJm8cCL1Stt4ZO2KHiM8orzbYC7Jmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Supporters of municipal electric aggregation told the Connecticut General Assembly's Energy & Technology Committee on Feb. 27 that the policy could give cities and towns a new tool for buying bulk electricity, developing local clean energy projects and stabilizing prices for residents and municipal accounts. Proponents urged lawmakers to permit joint power agencies so municipalities could pool purchasing power and build local programs.

Speakers including Peter Millman of People's Action for Clean Energy and Cody Hoopin, who led the launch of San Diego Community Power, said a municipal model would let local governments become the default electricity supplier unless individual customers opt out, and that experience in other states shows competitive supply and new local investments have followed. Millman said the New Hampshire joint power agency model in particular produces reserve funds that can be reinvested in local clean-energy programs without taxpayer subsidies.

Consumer and utility witnesses pressed for protections and clarified options. Claire Coleman, director of the Office of Consumer Counsel, urged lawmakers to preserve Connecticut's existing consumer protections that were adopted after abuses by some third-party retail suppliers. United Illuminating and Eversource recommended stronger regulatory oversight and clear deadlines for data exchange and system updates so utilities can integrate aggregation into procurement and billing. Eversource warned 15-minute interval settlement and other system changes would require significant metering and billing upgrades.

Committee members asked whether aggregation would raise costs for customers who remain on standard service; witnesses disagreed about scale effects but said properly timed procurement and regulatory coordination are important. Supporters said Massachusetts and New Hampshire provide working models and urged enabling legislation that lets towns choose from multiple administration models: simple broker procurement, municipal-run programs or a nonprofit joint power agency.

The testimony left lawmakers with competing priorities: expanding local choice and clean-energy tools versus protecting ratepayers and ensuring the state's standard-service procurement remains competitive. Several witnesses recommended additional statutory language to: (a) clarify consumer notification and opt-out rules; (b) allow municipalities to create joint power agencies; (c) require timely data sharing and producer procurement notices to distribution utilities; and (d) preserve PURA oversight and consumer protections already in Connecticut law.

Ending note: Supporters said municipal aggregation would add a new option, not replace existing supply choices; opponents and some consumer advocates said the state must move cautiously and design safeguards to avoid harm to low-income and fixed-income residents.","Supporters urged the Energy & Technology Committee to authorize municipal electric aggregation (community choice aggregation) to give towns purchasing power and new revenue tools; utilities and consumer advocates urged careful consumer protections and study of effects on standard service rates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Advocates press for home energy labels; industry urges use of existing national metrics

Lawmakers hear competing views on AI/data-center growth, energy demands and the need for state standards

Advocates press panel for funding to remove health-and-safety barriers that block weatherization for low-income households

Supporters push grants, clarify utility role for thermal energy networks as pilot projects move forward

Connecticut hearing spotlights municipal electric aggregation as a local option for cheaper, cleaner supply