CT Senate GOP to Lamont administration: “Public needs to know—before any deal is signed—the true costs of these wind contracts.”

For Immediate Release

CT Senate GOP to Lamont administration: “Public needs to know—before any deal is signed—the true costs of these wind contracts.”

Connecticut Senate Republicans have written to the Lamont administration urging transparency with regard to offshore wind contracts. (The Sep. 13 letter is attached.)

“Governor Lamont and Commissioner Dykes:

We have read with interest about Connecticut’s recent action to delay its decision on the offshore wind procurement. We do appreciate that this is something the state needs to consider carefully, especially in light of the challenges our constituents are having with their electric bills.

With the recent changes ensuring more transparency in electric bills, our constituents are more focused than ever on the components of their electric bills. They are now well aware of the 5 cents per kilowatt hour cost of the Millstone contract and are now very concerned that the potential costs of these wind contracts will be much higher. They are worried because they simply cannot absorb any additional increases in electricity costs.

We were very alarmed when we realized Massachusetts will have finalized its deal long before the public knows the true costs of that contract. Ratepayers there will be locked in to paying those prices before they even know what those prices are. We cannot allow that to happen here in Connecticut. We
need transparency.

We are asking that you commit to releasing the details of the procurement contract—including the pricing—before the contract is finalized. This would follow our state’s long-standing tradition of open government and transparency. An open and frank discussion is in the best interest of the ratepayers.

The public needs to know—before any deal is signed—the true costs of these wind contracts.

Our constituents deserve no less.”