America, Please Take Your Foot Off the Gas – It Is Killing Us
Leticia Colon de Mejias
December 2024
Can the U.S. create an energy policy that protects people and places?
Yes, the U.S. can lead on climate resilience in Environmental justice (EJ) zones! Let's help them by showing the way.
Knowing our History, helps avoid Mystery
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A story of gas expansion and explosions in New England:
In April 2022, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) ended Connecticut's ratepayer funded gas expansion for heating and electricity generation. However, much expansion had already occurred.
In the 2019 decision, PURA concluded that firm gas ratepayers pay approximately $64 million in higher gas costs due to Non-firm Margin Credits (NFM) allocated to expansion projects. This amount represents the cumulative total for all three companies from 2014 to 2019. (See Natural Gas System Expansion Plan)
In 2022, in the state of Connecticut, 56% of electric generation was fired by natural gas.
It is critical to understand that Connecticut has no natural gas reserves. If Connecticut wants energy stability, then we can create it by investing in efficiency and solar projects. We must take our foot off the gas. Gas is a fossil fuel. Gas is burned in EJ zones to create electricity. Burning gas creates pollution in EJ zones. We all breathe air. We have to protect the air and the people who breathe air. That is us.
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It is time to take the chance to do something good for both people and the planet. Let's clean up our energy supplies. We must all increase efficiency.
Let’s draw down pollution. Let's be the solution. Together we can.
More Facts to Help Inform
In 2022, natural gas fueled 56% of Connecticut's total electricity net generation. The amount of the state's natural gas-fired generation increased to about 24,500 megawatts in 2022 from about 16,500 megawatts in 2012, as nearly 1,400 megawatts in natural gas-fired generating units came online during the decade. Seven of the state's ten largest power plants by capacity are natural gas-fired.
Nuclear power provided 37% of in-state generation in 2022, the seventh-largest share of any state.17,18,19,20 Connecticut ranks among the top 10 states with the highest share of electricity generated from nuclear power. Connecticut has one nuclear power plant, the 2,073-megawatt Millstone nuclear power station located in Waterford. The plant began operations in 1970 and has two reactors.21,22
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Solar was only 3% of net generation in Connecticut in 2022.
Biomass-fueled and petroleum-fired units, along with hydroelectric power, provided almost 3% of the state's net generation. There was also a minor amount of generation from wind energy.23
Connecticut Gas Plans 2014- 2019 Spending
Department of Public Health - Air Pollution
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We can do better – like this: We can draw down peak energy demand for heating and cooling by insulating all the houses and buildings. We can provide good jobs locally by investing and improving our old and leaky housing stock. We can lower energy losses, increase human health, and lower pollution – all by doing the right things. Energy efficiency is the least expensive, most effective way to lower energy costs, waste, and pollution. Efficiency is the best solution!
Efficiency For All’s M=POWER Workforce Program is Building Bridges as they Tear Down Walls
Together we can – We are Amer I Cans.
Leticia Colon de Mejias is the NEJAC National appointee region 1 Connecticut, the NECEC Environmental Justice Awardee in 2023, and a Sierra Club member.