News Stories

The Connecticut Power and Energy Society hosted its 2026 Annual Legislative Preview, convening key policymakers and regulators to outline energy priorities for Connecticut’s upcoming legislative session.

Featured speakers included Representatives Jonathan Steinberg and Tracy Marra and Senator Ryan Fazio and moderator Holly Cheeseman of PURA.

A central concern was Connecticut’s high electricity costs, which rank among the top five nationally.  Growing load growth and the pressure it places on grid reliability and resilience.

Energy procurement policy also generated significant debate. Senator Fazio argued that direct state procurements can distort the merchant energy market, while Representative Steinberg called for “leveling the playing field” in energy generation. He urged policymakers to move beyond viewing energy purely as a commodity and instead recognize differences in reliability, environmental impact, and overall system value. Steinberg also warned against waiting for a capacity crisis before acting.

Nuclear energy emerged as an area of broad support, particularly regarding the importance of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station to the Northeast’s energy stability. Fazio stressed that the region depends heavily on Millstone and described nuclear power as a cleaner, increasingly accepted resource, citing shifting public opinion and legislative developments such as Connecticut Senate Bill 7.

Renewables also featured prominently in the overall discussions and the importanceofmonitoringfederalpolicychangesthatcouldaffectrenewable energy development.