RELEASE: ​New CTLCV Report Examines How Connecticut Became New England's Powerhouse and What It Has Cost Residents

Released today, a new study from the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis (CCEA), “How Did We Get Here? Connecticut Powers New England”, examines the story of how Connecticut became the power generator of New England and what that cost means for Connecticut residents. Commissioned by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV), the report provides critical insights at a pivotal moment for the state’s energy future. 

Affordability is top of mind for every resident across Connecticut, and this report provides a clear picture of what drives the cost of utilities and how policymakers should evaluate energy policy and the impact it will have on ratepayers across the state. This literature review provides historical context to Connecticut’s role in electric generation, distribution and consumption. While it is clear that the expansion of natural gas has played a key role in this discussion over the past 20 years, this report seeks to resolve whether Connecticut has truly benefitted.

“Ratepayers should understand the far-reaching and unintended consequences that expanding natural gas will have on the cost and quality of living for Connecticut residents. They should also understand the significant cost and impact that expanding natural gas will have on the state and on individuals' budgets. Investing in renewable energy is more than a benefit for the environment,” Connor Yakaitis, Deputy Director of CTLCV stated. “It offers energy independence. It is local, dependable and affordable. It is the solar above our roofs, the wind off our shores and the thermal beneath our feet. If we’re going to be the powerhouse of New England, let’s lead by investing in the green economy.” 

The report shows that Connecticut’s investments in natural gas expansion 20 years ago have led to significant disadvantages for its citizens: 

While it temporarily brought down costs to ratepayers, the dramatic increase in generation led to a huge growth in infrastructure costs for which Connecticut still has the 4th highest utility bills in the nation. 

While it brought down emissions compared to the coal-fired power plants that existed at the time, Connecticut residents deal with some of the worst air quality in the nation. 

While we generate more power than any other state in New England, we export much of that electricity to other states who don’t bear the burden of infrastructure costs or air pollution. 

The CTLCV report makes it clear: the cost of energy should not be calculated based on one bill or one statement. Expanding natural gas in Connecticut does not deliver the results financially or environmentally that have been promised. Connecticut deserves better. Our ratepayers deserve better. Our air quality deserves better. In a time when the fossil fuel markets remain volatile to conflicts in the Ukraine and the Middle East, Connecticut has an opportunity to invest in clean, renewable and locally reliable energy. 


Yakaitis concluded: “This report shows us that we need to take a pause and really understand the impact of future energy decisions before we commit to investments that will impact residents for generations to come. The increased cost to ratepayers, the competitive disadvantage to the state, and the public health effects of these decisions should be part of the discussion. CTLCV is excited to provide these tools to policymakers as they grapple with how to include affordability as a central plank to their platform.”

The full report, How Did We Get Here? Connecticut Powers New England, is available at www.conservationeducation.org/connecticut-powers-new-england and provides a comprehensive look at the history, costs, and future implications of Connecticut’s role in powering the region.