Lawmakers Urge DEEP to Adjust RFP Regarding State’s Zero Carbon Energy Procurement
July 22, 2018Co-Chairs of the Energy & Technology Committee, State Senator Paul Formica (R-East Lyme) and State Representative Lonnie Reed (D-Branford), today submitted comments to the State Department of Energy & Environmental Protection urging the agency to revise its draft request for proposals (RFP) for carbon-free energy.
Both lawmakers, who worked with a large group of bipartisan legislators and the agency to craft Public Act 17-3 An Act Concerning Zero Carbon Solicitation and Procurement, asked the DEEP to remove language included in the agency’s draft RFP that would delay allowing Dominion Energy, owner of Millstone Power Station, an opportunity to bid in Connecticut’s energy procurements until 2023.
The lawmakers emphasized that the legislative intent was always to allow Dominion the ability to participate in submitting bids immediately, as the risk of closure for Millstone, the state’s largest base load energy provider, would be disastrous for New England and result in the state having to replace nuclear with fossil fuel energy sources that would create more pollution and lead to higher energy costs.
“As our energy system evolves from what’s now to what’s next, it is imperative that the power policies we craft preserve a reliable, affordable base load while incentivizing and fast-tracking renewable deployment. Those objectives go hand in hand,” Formica and Reed wrote. “Given this reality, we are frankly appalled that the draft RFP as proposed by DEEP regarding the state’s energy procurement auction appears to undo the careful collaborative planning among the energy committee, the agency and key stakeholders to produce rational, responsible legislation that received bipartisan approval from the Connecticut General Assembly.”
The lawmakers emphasized that allowing Dominion the opportunity to bid is important in preserving the state’s current base load energy while the state is transitioning and developing new renewable energy systems that can help provide power to the state in the future.
They also emphasized how the RFP process lawmakers approved differs from other states’ more costly efforts to prevent their nuclear plants from closing. This is not a subsidy for Millstone, but rather an opportunity to submit a bid that will be carefully considered and reviewed by state regulators.
While Millstone is participating in the Forward Capacity Market, this does not mean Millstone has to operate through May 31, 2023 as some have suggested. Millstone has options to leave these obligations that the company could pursue if determined to be in the best interest of their national business.
Both Formica and Reed also joined a group of over 50 bipartisan lawmakers in signing a letter to DEEP urging the agency to adjust the RFP.
Public comments on the RFP are due to DEEP today. DEEP will issue its final RFP by July 31, 2018.