In May 2022, Gov. Ned Lamont signed a law committing Connecticut to be 100 percent carbon-free by 2040, building on an executive order he signed in 2019. This ambitious goal includes benchmarks such as a 45 percent reduction in emissions from 2001 levels by 2030. At the same time, Connecticut has imposed an energy storage mandate of 1,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030 and is exploring an offshore wind venture with Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
While the environmental goals driving these policies are worth considering, a new joint report, The Staggering Costs of New England’s Green Energy Policies , raises serious concerns about their impact on Connecticut’s economy and residents’ quality of life.
The report, compiled by Always on Energy Research (AOER) in collaboration with Yankee Institute and other leading public policy organizations across New England, clearly demonstrates the costs and challenges associated with the region’s decarbonization plans. According to the findings, Connecticut’s electricity rates could double under the current trajectory. What’s more, the region could face rolling blackouts as the push for “green” energy like wind and solar fails to meet growing electricity demands…