By Luther Turmelle, North Bureau Chief

HARTFORD — A city environmental group claims Connecticut households could save an average of $349 annually in energy costs and 8,900 jobs would be created in the state in 10 years if strong energy-efficiency measures are included in the American Clean Energy Security Act, which is before the U.S. Senate.

Environment Connecticut cites a national report prepared by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy in making its claim. The group held a press conference on the steps of the State Capitol Wednesday to urge U.S. Sens. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., and Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., to support the efficiency standards in the legislation.

“We’re pretty sure our senators are going to be voting for this bill, but we just want to make them realize how important this is to the state,” said Nancy Pyne of Environment Connecticut.

Among the strong energy-efficiency provisions the group wants to see in the bill are:

ÇRequirements that up to a third of any federal money allocated to utilities for implementing new efficiency standards be earmarked for making power plants more efficient.

ÇCreation of a separate set of standards for energy efficiency rather than tying them to renewable energy standards, as is done now.

But even if strong efficiency standards are included in the federal legislation, state officials need to do a better job managing money charged to utility ratepayers that is used to fund projects that promote energy conservation and power from renewable sources, other environmental advocates said.

“We hope that the state will not try to leverage those funds for bonding,” said Charles Rothenberger, a staff attorney for the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, referring to the state’s Clean Energy Fund and its Energy Efficiency Fund.

David Leishman, co-chairman of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Council, said that in the past, the General Assembly has raided both funds in an effort to bridge a shortfall in the budget.

“To make energy-efficiency programs, you need to use the ratepayer money to get business owners to commit their dollars to efficiency projects,” said Leishman. “This ying-yang, this yo-yoing of whether to fund the programs or not drives business away.” Continued...

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Kerry O’Neill, president of Earth Markets in Norwalk, said she’s heard from out-of-state clients that they are reluctant to open operations in Connecticut because of its uneven commitment to renewable energy and efficiency programs.

“It may be unfair, but that’s the kind of feedback we’re getting,” O’Neill said.

Luther Turmelle can be reached at lturmelle@nhregister.com or 789-5706.

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