Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

The Council on Environmental Quality is continuing to carry out its mission while keeping both the public and our workforce safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. All submissions to the Council should be sent electronically to: peter.hearn@ct.gov

NEWS RELEASE

January 5, 2017

Contact:   Karl Wagener, Executive Director
               860-424-4000

               karl.wagener@ct.gov

Link to Draft Report:

https://www.ct.gov/ceq/lib/ceq/Energy_Sprawl_in_Connecticut_--_1-4-17_DRAFT.pdf

COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PUBLISHES DRAFT REPORT ON “ENERGY SPRAWL”

Welcomes comments

      HARTFORD – The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has published a draft report aimed at finding ways to stimulate solar energy facilities in Connecticut in places other than farms and forests.

      The draft report, Energy Sprawl in Connecticut, documents the surge in proposals to use farmland and forest for the construction of large solar electricity-generating facilities.

      “As a state working hard toward a sustainable economy, we should not be pitting solar energy against agriculture and forests,” said Council Chairman Susan Merrow, a resident of East Haddam. “We can have green power and green farms and forests, but we need to find ways to steer the power facilities toward industrial properties and other previously-developed land.”

      Some of the draft report’s conclusions include:

  • In an average year, the state preserves about 1700 acres of farmland and forest land. In 2016, the area of farmland and forest selected by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and/or approved by the Connecticut Siting Council for development of solar facilities nearly equaled that amount.
  • Connecticut is unprepared to guide the placement of solar facilities to minimize their environmental damage.
  • There are two decision points where state agencies influence the location of utility-scale solar facilities: DEEP’s selection of facilities to supply Eversource and United Illuminating with electricity from renewable sources, and the Connecticut Siting Council’s approval of the facilities. The draft report calls the Siting Council’s approval “nearly automatic” because of outdated statutes.
     "The CEQ is focusing on the legal responsibilities of state agencies to select and approve renewable-energy projects” explained Merrow. “We do not want to restrict the rights of individual landowners.”
     “This is a draft report,” Merrow concluded. “We think the relevant facts are in the report. Now we are seeking more input as to what the state should do to stimulate renewable energy production in appropriate places, away from farms and forests.”
     The report is on the CEQ’s website at www.ct.gov/ceq. The public is encouraged to submit ideas and comments until January 18, 2017. The Council expects to discuss the report further at its January 25, 2017 meeting.

END

The Council on Environmental Quality submits Connecticut’s annual report on the status of the environment to the Governor pursuant to state statutes. It also publishes special reports and makes recommendations for legislation to correct environmental problems. Additional responsibilities of the Council include review of construction projects of other state agencies, publication of the twice-monthly Environmental Monitor, and investigation of citizens’ complaints and allegations of violations of environmental laws. The Council is a nine-member board that is independent of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (except for administrative functions). The chairman and four other members are appointed by the Governor, two members by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and two by the Speaker of the House.