Happy Tuesday! We have 66,276 signers and 342,242 petition views. Thank you everyone who has signed! Please review the many prior updates for the new people signers that have joined us. Just scroll down for the link that says "more updates".
Here is just a reminder that this Thursday, Sept. 12 at 9 a.m. will be the rally at the capitol. Here is the facebook page for the rally run by Cindy Jordan. Yankee Institute's Meghan Portfolio writes about it here which includes the link for the facebook rally page.
In the latest article published Friday, Sept 6, 2024 Meghan writes about No Relief in Sight for Connecticut Ratepayers. This adds to the information in the my last update.
"Connecticut lawmakers are unlikely to address the state’s skyrocketing electricity rates until the next year, leaving residents and businesses stuck paying steep public benefits charges on their electric bills in the meantime."
House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) revealed on Talk of Connecticut with Gary Byron that Gov. Lamont had not met with all legislative leaders as the governor had insinuated.
The article continues “The biggest problem we’ve got is long term, and that doesn’t help me in the short term,” he said, pointing to the state’s limited energy generation capacity as a major driver of rising costs." Gov Lamont said on an interview with WPLR Chaz and AJ.
Total deflection of the problem, Again! Not taking ownership of this grave issue is not what I would like to see from of our Governor.
“There is money out there, as of this moment, it’s over $700 million that could be used and provide significant relief to ratepayers,” Sen. Harding said, referring to unspent ARPA funds. He explained that these funds could offer immediate relief to ratepayers by lowering their energy bills, saying, “That would be, in my opinion, significant immediate relief.”
In a Sept. 5 press release, Yankee Institute President Carol Platt Liebau called on the General Assembly and Gov. Lamont to hold a special session. It was published by the CT Examiner and you can read it here. Lamont still refuses!
“Connecticut’s people are routinely burdened with some of the highest energy costs in the nation, and the recent surge in ‘public benefit’ charges has rightly enraged ratepayers across the state,” Liebau said. “Immediate action is needed to reduce our energy costs and make our state more affordable.”
Liebau pointed out that “there are millions of unspent ARPA funds still available to address the energy costs that have hit Connecticut’s hardworking families the hardest,” adding, “Rather than spending those taxpayer funds on pet projects and ‘green’ initiatives, policymakers should use them to correct previous policy mistakes.”
I found an article in the CT Mirror published February 9, 2024 in the view points section blasting the Yankee Institute about the article published Feb 2, 2024 Environmentalists Reveal “Green Monster” Bill for the 2024 Session and her recent follow up article posted.
This scathing "letter", apparently, needed 6 Democrats to write it. They are:
State Reps. Christine Palm (D-Chester), Moira Rader (D-Branford, Guilford) Hector Arzeno (D-Greenwich), John-Michael Parker (D-Durham, Madison) Aundre Bumgardner (D-Groton, Stonington) and Brandon Chafee (D-Middletown) represent the 36th, 98th, 151st, 101st, 41st and 33rd Connecticut House districts respectively.
In part, the editorial states "Is our “Green Monster" (HB 5004) ambitious? You bet it is, because it has to be; dithering in the face of climate change-induced calamity is disastrous."
This editorial continues "Is it full of opportunity for businesses that want to do the responsible thing? Yes, because environmentalism is actually good for the economy."
Good for the economy? How do you explain the highest electric bill in the country is good for Connecticut ratepayers and the ecomony? With one of the highest taxes in the nation, the middle class will spend less on everything else so that Connecticut can have EV charging stations in the wealthiest towns and full of incentives like EV rebates, tax cuts and waived fees.
All on the backs of ratepayers! Further, you can't even claim this tax on your IRS returns! I want the math on this!
A few business owners I have talked to stated that they are cutting cost elsewhere to help offset the cost of their electric bills.
These representatives (and others) are why our electric bills is so high! It demonstrates the total disregard and disconnect to our ratepayers / taxpayers. We are so heavily burdened to pay for these insane initiatives. Yankee Institute explains this bill here.
The only way to stop them is to vote them out!
Yankee Institute does indept investigative reporting on all articles before they are published. The real truth hurts some legistlators!
What about the picture in this update? I thought this may catch your attention :) The picture is a BMW hydrogen car being fueled!
As I have said before, technology has not caught up to us yet. We all want a cleaner planet and green energy through common sense legislation. Not through a Public Benefit tax expense that is breaking us financially!
BMW Will Launch a New Hydrogen Car in 2028 in a joint venture with Toyota, The zero-emission SUV is part of a test fleet of fewer than 100 units built in Spartanburg and modified at a pilot plant in Munich.
It's where the 396-horsepower iX5 gets its pair of 700-bar hydrogen tanks made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). The two hold six kilograms of hydrogen for a WLTP range of 313 miles. It takes three to four minutes to refuel the vehicle, so about the same as a gas or diesel X5. The article states that the tech will change many times before the launch. Nevertheless, its exciting new technology!
"There is a major problem we'd like to highlight. Yes, the refueling infrastructure. It’s basically nonexistent." the article pointed out.
In 2040, if this tech comes to fruition, Connecticut will have to replace EV stations with Hydro stations. Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants?
Thanks again for all your support for this petition to correct wrong policies of hidden tax on our electric bills!
~scott