CT regulators fine Eversource, UI $10K for lack of progress on shared renewable energy efforts

Luther Turmelle State utility regulators have fined the state’s two largest electric distribution companies $10,000 each for not making significant progress in developing pricing and billing mechanisms necessary for the implementation of shared renewable energy programs. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority levied the fines in a ruling issued late Friday. PURA’s commissioners in late February had threatened the utilities with fines. Jeff Gaudiosi, PURA’s executive secretary, said in a letter to representatives for the two utilities that information regulators had received from the two companies on July 1 was “insufficient and short of the Authority’s standards.” The companies “had been warned that if such circumstances occurred again they would be fined,” Gaudiosi said as part of his letter. One of the areas in which PURA officials found Eversource’s and UI’s filings insufficent was in detailing how the utilities would work with community action agencies to recruit participants for shared solar as well as the type of relationships and coordination they would have with solar developers, according to Gaudiosi’s letter.Eversource spokesman Mitch Gross said company officials “strongly support Connecticut’s commitment to renewable energy and we look forward to continue working with PURA and other stakeholders on the implementation of this important program.” “We are presently evaluating whether a hearing will be requested,” Gross said, referring to whether Eversource officials would seek a meeting with PURA members to discuss the ruling. UI spokesman Ed Crowder said company officials “remain fully committed to this program and its clean energy goals, and we will continue to work with PURA to resolve technical issues.” “We expect to be ready to procure power under the program this year,” Crowder said. State officials have been discussing shared renewable energy programs, especially those involving solar energy, since 2014. Shared solar energy programs, for example, involve setting up photovoltaic panels in a remote location and distributing the electricity that is generated to members who sign up for the service. The program at the center of PURA’s frustration with the utilities involves setting up shared renewable energy projects across the state that would produce up to 25 megawatts of electricity for a period of six years. Mike Trahan, executive director of the trade group Solar Connecticut, said PURA’s findings, combined with the fines, show state regulators are serious about making broad-based shared solar a reality sooner rather than later. “It’s a message there is a new team at PURA and they have new expectations,” Trehan said, referring to the agency’s chairwoman, Marissa Paslick Gillett, who began her new job in April 2019. The lower-level staff at PURA, he said, has seen some changes since Gov. Ned Lamont took office at the start of last year. “It’s not as if this is uncharted territory,” Trahan said of shared solar. “There are already 15 states that have some form of this in place.”

CT Port Authority hires former Maine exec as new leader

Luther Tutmelle Officials with Old Saybrook-based Connecticut Port Authority went out of state to find a new executive director, announcing Tuesday they had selected a Maine man for the job. John Henshaw, who was the executive director of the Maine Port Authority for more than 10 years, will start in his new job Sept. 8 at an annual salary of $200,000. David Kooris, chairman of the Port Authority’s board of directors, said Henshaw was selected for his extensive experience dealing with maritime issues. Kooris noted that before Henshaw’s time with the Maine Port Authority, he was on the Board of Harbor Commissioners for the Port of Portland, Maine. “John’s experience in working collaboratively with partners across local, state and federal government and his engagement with industry stakeholders will be important as we strengthen relationships with our local industry groups and communities,” Kooris said. “This hiring is the culmination of a yearlong effort to build a strong foundation within the CPA that ensures John has what he needs to be successful in forwarding the CPA’s mission to grow Connecticut’s maritime economy.”Henshaw’s selection is the culmination of a yearlong makeover of the quasi-public agency that saw his predecessor, Evan Matthews, resign last October while on administrative leave that began during summer 2019. Matthews resigned after making widely reported comments critical of Gov. Ned Lamont’s decision to step in and begin running the authority earlier in 2019 amid concerns regarding the authority’s finances.His resignation came after Bonnie Reemsnyder, chairwoman of the authority’s board, resigned amid news reports about the authority’s expenditure of $3,250 to purchase photographic office art from her daughter through a decorator. Scott Bates, who approved the purchase of the art, also resigned his seat on the board.Concerns about the authority’s finances led to an audit and public hearings by the state legislature’s Transportation Committee. Henshaw said Tuesday that the authority’s new operating format, which came out of the investigation into the authority’s financial troubles, has created “clear organizational similarities to those that have brought us success in Maine.” “I’m confident CPA has been buttoned-up to the point where it can be successful, and I think we can make a tremendous impact on Connecticut’s maritime future as we move forward,” Henshaw said in a statement. “There is a tremendous amount of maritime opportunity in Connecticut right now. Major investments to support port infrastructure and port operations are happening in all three of Connecticut’s deepwater ports, all while there is a consistent interest in further investing in the small harbors and marinas that form the foundation of Connecticut’s coastal culture.” The authority was established by the legislature in 2014 in an effort to develop the state’s ports, both large and small, into more substantial economic drivers. The agency’s biggest focus has been on the Port of New London, which state officials hope will be boosted by commitments to use the city’s State Pier as a staging area for a wind power project that will be located halfway between Martha’s Vineyard and Montauk, N.Y. The Revolution Wind project is a joint venture involving Eversource Energy and Dutch renewable energy giant Orsted. The partners have pledged $77.5 million to redevelop New London State Pier into a heavy-lift cargo and deep-water port. The day-to-day operations of the Port of New London are being run by New Haven-based Gateway Terminal. Connecticut Port Authority officials said Henshaw spearheaded the redevelopment of a derelict port terminal in Portland into a state-of-the-art small container operation, which created new shipping opportunities. Part of that effort included restoring rail service to Portland’s port for the first time in 60 years. He also led efforts to build a modernized cold storage facility in support of Maine’s food and beverage industry. Henshaw said initiatives such as the authority’s Small Harbor Improvement Projects program “will bring tremendous opportunity to their towns and municipalities (where those ports are located).” “Connecticut is already working on some incredible projects that are establishing it as a maritime leader in a variety of sectors,” he said. “Between the new energy opportunities and the already well-established aerospace and defense industries, we are looking at a period of solid growth for our maritime sector over the next decade.” Officials with the Port Authority did not provide information regarding how many candidates had sought the position or how many finalists there were for the job. Members of the state Office of Policy and Management and Gov. Lamont’s administration participated in interviewing candidates . Melissa McCaw, secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, said OPM “has worked to create necessary policies and procedures, rectify institutional deficiencies, and strengthen the organizational and functional framework to increase efficiencies, limit extraneous costs and activities, provide lucid guidelines for the agency, and enhance transparency.” “This work has led to a fresh start and a clean slate for the new executive director to take the reins in a stabilized environment,” McCaw said.