Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Press Releases

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07/26/2017

DEEP Says Updated Energy Strategy will Continue Moving CT Toward Cheaper, Cleaner, More Reliable Energy

Public comment period opens on draft of 2017 Comprehensive Energy Strategy

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today released a draft of an updated energy strategy for Connecticut which focuses on building a 21st energy system that lowers costs for homeowners and businesses and reduces carbon emissions to help achieve the state’s climate change goals.
Governor Dannel P. Malloy said, “Since the establishment of DEEP in 2011 and the release of our first-ever Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) in 2013, we have put numerous innovative energy policies and programs in place.  As a result, Connecticut has emerged as a national leader in addressing the related challenges of energy and climate change – and our updated strategy will allow us to continue setting an example that others can follow.”
“Our draft 2017 CES recognizes that reducing carbon emissions – from power generation, heating and cooling buildings, and from the vehicles we all drive – is the key to both the health of our planet and sustainable economic success in Connecticut,” said DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee.  “To address these challenges, our updated strategy proposes continued development of a modern and versatile electric grid powered by renewable energy sources – and using this clean power to meet the needs of our building and transportation sectors.”
Key Themes of the 2017 Draft CES
The draft 2017 CES focuses on five key themes designed to further efforts to bring cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable energy to our state.  These include:
  • Decreasing carbon emissions to advance the state’s climate goals.
  • Increasing supplies of renewable energy, including expanding the state’s renewable portfolio standard to 30% Class I renewable by 2030, prioritizing low-cost grid-scale renewable energy procurements, and a transition to more transparent, cost-certain tariffs for behind-the-meter renewables.
  • Expanding energy efficiency initiatives – including procurement of efficiency as a resource and ensuring equitable efficiency investment across fuel types – and reducing the energy affordability gap in low income households.
  • Supporting the modernization of the electric grid.
  • Accelerating strategic electrification of transportation services through implementing the Zero Emissions Vehicle MOU and developing an Electric Vehicle roadmap.
Commissioner Klee said, “With the leadership of Governor Malloy, bipartisan support in the General Assembly, and the active engagement of numerous people in the environmental and business communities, Connecticut has made remarkable progress in building a new energy future – and the draft CES provides a blueprint for us to continue moving forward.”
“In the past few years, we’ve fostered a virtual revolution in the use of renewable energy, made strong gains in reduced demand for power through energy efficiency, and created real incentives for the use of electric vehicles,” Commissioner Klee said.  “We are now ready to take the next steps forward and build upon our accomplishments.”
Background on the 2017 Draft CES
The draft 2017 CES released by DEEP provides an update to the state’s first-ever CES, which was released in 2013.  The development and periodic updating of the CES as required in landmark energy legislation, Public Act 11-80, signed into law by Governor Malloy on July 1, 2011.
DEEP has opened a 60-day comment period on the draft CES, which will run through September 25.  During the comment period, DEEP will hold two technical meetings and a series of public meetings around the state.   A final CES will be released after all comments are reviewed and considered.  
The CES Executive Summary, the full text of the strategy, and details on how to comment, are available at www.ct.gov/deep/energystrategy
DEEP has announced the following series of meetings for review and comment on the draft 2017 CES:
Public Meetings
August 14, 2017, 6:30 PM
Webb Hall, Room 110
Eastern CT State University
83 Windham Street, Willimantic, CT 
August 16, 2017, 6:30 PM
Beacon Hall Events Center, Room 214,
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Boulevard, Bridgeport, CT 
August 21, 2017, 6:30 PM
Fort Trumbull State Park Conference Center
90 Walbach Street, New London, CT
August 29, 2017, 6:30 PM
Torrington City Hall Auditorium
140 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Torrington, CT
September 6, 2017, 4:00 PM
Gina McCarthy Auditorium
DEEP’s Hartford Office
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT
September 7, 2017, 6:30 PM
Jones Auditorium, Britton Building, 2nd Floor
CT Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT
Technical Meetings
August 28, 2017, 9 AM
DEEP’s New Britain Offices, Hearing Room 1
Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT
September 13, 2017, 11 AM
DEEP’s New Britain Offices, Hearing Room 1
Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT

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