The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental
Protection (DEEP) released its long-awaited 2018 Comprehensive
Energy Strategy (CES) last Friday, February 9. Representing the
culmination of a process that began with stakeholder meetings in
2016 and a draft CES issued in July 2017, the latest CES includes
recommendations that could have a significant impact on energy
development in the state, particularly in the areas of renewables
and distributed generation.
Overview
The 2018 CES outlines eight strategies for the state, the
majority of which are designed in part to reduce greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions in the state. The CES references the requirements
of Connecticut's Global Warming Solutions Act to reduce GHG by
10 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent from 2001 levels
by 2050. To accomplish these goals, the CES proposes Renewable
Portfolio Standard (RPS) modifications and carbon-free procurements
to decrease emissions in the generation sector,
