Edward Meyer

Meyer Touts Benefits of New Energy Reforms at Branford Construction Firm

BRANFORD—Speaking today on the shop floor of a local construction firm that is heavily involved in various ‘green’ energy projects, state Sen. Ed Meyer (D-Guilford) touted the many benefits of Connecticut’s new energy reforms, benefits that will grow jobs, reduce electricity prices and improve the environment.

“It’s jobs, but it’s also a promise of lower energy costs, which is really a problem in Connecticut,” Sen. Meyer told the half-dozen local businessmen gathered to discuss the new legislation. “We in the legislature want to promote these new reforms, we want to help them, but we need to hear from you as to other things we can do or ways we are obstructing you.”

Sen. Meyer, who is Co-Chairman of the Environment Committee, was speaking about Connecticut’s new energy reforms at the Pat Munger Construction Company on Route 1 in Branford; Munger Construction is a subcontractor assembling the solar arrays for use on Gaylord Hospital’s new, $500,000 solar array project which received a $323,000 state grant in August from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.

It is those types of renewable energy residential and business investments that the new energy regulations seek to grow, thereby stimulating local business growth in both the production and installation of ‘green’ energy sources.

Joining Sen. Meyer were: Munger Construction Company President David DeMaio; Munger Construction Sustainable Energy Consultant Jeffrey Lendroth; Thomas Massaro, owner of Innovative Engineering Services in East Haven; Gus Kellogg, CEO of GreenLeaf Biofuels in Guilford; and Ben Kaplan, chief financial officer of SolarUS Inc. in Branford.

“These reforms will help us in the green construction industry, they will help the average homeowner, and they will help business owners who are seeking to control their bottom lines and address ever-increasing and volatile energy costs,” Lendroth said. “The constant complaint I hear from CEOs is that they’re trying to reduce the cost of their energy.”

The new energy reforms, as outline in Public Act 11-80, include: Creating the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Creating the Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority to leverage private capital for clean energy projects Improving electricity contracting and procurement procedures to lower rates Ordering a study of electric market rules and their effect on higher rates Supporting zero-emission and low-emission electric generation Establishing a one-stop-shop to proactively reach out to businesses and consult with them on available programs and reducing their energy costs.

The reforms passed the General Assembly in June on a bipartisan vote of 175-8 and were signed into law on July 1.