Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05004 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 34
4		-
5		-	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5004
	3	+
	4	+	LCO No. 4924 1 of 58
	5	+
	6	+	General Assembly Committee Bill No. 5004
6	7		January Session, 2025
7		-
8		-
	8	+	LCO No. 4924
	9	+
	10	+
	11	+	Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT
	12	+
	13	+
	14	+	Introduced by:
	15	+	(ENV)
9	16
10	17
11	18
12	19		AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT
13	20		AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND
14	21		ASSOCIATED JOB SECTORS.
15	22		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
16	23		Assembly convened:
17	24
18	25		Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) In the aggregate, state 1
19	26		agencies shall have the following greenhouse gas emissions reduction 2
20	27		goals: (1) A forty-five per cent reduction from 2001 levels by 2030; (2) a 3
21	28		seventy per cent reduction from 2016 levels by 2040; and (3) achieving a 4
22	29		level determined to be net-zero by 2050. 5
23	30		(b) Such state agencies shall have the goal of only utilizing zero-6
24	31		carbon generating electricity by 2030. 7
25	32		(c) Such state agencies may use the social cost of greenhouse gas 8
26	33		emissions when evaluating the costs and benefits of activities and 9
27	34		improvements to the facilities of such agencies to meet the goals in this 10
28	35		section. For purposes of this section, "social cost" includes, but is not 11
29	36		limited to, net agricultural productivity, harms to human health, 12
30	37		property damage and the value of ecosystem services. 13
31	38		(d) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Energy and 14
	39	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	40	+
	41	+
	42	+	LCO No. 4924 2 of 58
	43	+
32	44		Environmental Protection shall publish guidelines for such state 15
33		-	agencies on the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions on the 16 Substitute Bill No. 5004
34		-
35		-
36		-	LCO 2 of 34
37		-
	45	+	agencies on the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions on the 16
38	46		department's Internet web site. 17
39	47		Sec. 2. Section 22a-200a of the general statutes is repealed and the 18
40	48		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 19
41	49		(a) The state shall reduce the level of emissions of greenhouse gas: 20
42	50		(1) Not later than January 1, 2020, to a level at least ten per cent below 21
43	51		the level emitted in 1990; 22
44	52		(2) Not later than January 1, 2030, to a level at least forty-five per cent 23
45	53		below the level emitted in 2001; 24
46	54		(3) Not later than January 1, 2040, to a level at least sixty-five per cent 25
47	55		below the level emitted in 2001, including to a level of zero per cent from 26
48	56		electricity supplied to electric customers in the state; 27
49	57		(4) Not later than January 1, 2050, to [a level] an economy-wide net-28
50	58		zero level, provided direct and indirect emissions of greenhouse gases 29
51	59		are at least eighty per cent below the level emitted in 2001; and 30
52	60		(5) All of the levels referenced in this subsection shall be determined 31
53	61		by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. 32
54	62		(b) On or before January 1, 2010, and biannually thereafter, the state 33
55	63		agencies that are members of the Governor's Steering Committee on 34
56	64		Climate Change shall submit a report to the Secretary of the Office of 35
57	65		Policy and Management and the Commissioner of Energy and 36
58	66		Environmental Protection. The report shall identify existing and 37
59	67		proposed activities and improvements to the facilities of such agencies 38
60	68		that are designed to meet state agency energy savings goals established 39
61	69		by the Governor. The report shall also identify policies and regulations 40
62	70		that could be adopted in the near future by such agencies to reduce 41
63	71		greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with subsection (a) of this 42
64	72		section. 43
	73	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	74	+
	75	+
	76	+	LCO No. 4924 3 of 58
	77	+
65	78		(c) [Not later than January 1, 2012, and every three years thereafter, 44
66		-	the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall, in 45 Substitute Bill No. 5004
67		-
68		-
69		-	LCO 3 of 34
70		-
	79	+	the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall, in 45
71	80		consultation with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management 46
72	81		and the Governor's Steering Committee on Climate Change, report, in 47
73	82		accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing 48
74	83		committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 49
75	84		relating to the environment, energy and transportation on the 50
76	85		quantifiable emissions reductions achieved pursuant to subsection (a) 51
77	86		of this section. The report shall include a schedule of proposed 52
78	87		regulations, policies and strategies designed to achieve the limits of 53
79	88		greenhouse gas emissions imposed by said subsection, an assessment of 54
80	89		the latest scientific information and relevant data regarding global 55
81	90		climate change and the status of greenhouse gas emission reduction 56
82	91		efforts in other states and countries.] The Commissioner of Energy and 57
83	92		Environmental Protection shall, not later than January 1, 2026, and 58
84	93		annually thereafter, publish an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions 59
85	94		sources and carbon sequestered to (1) establish a baseline for such 60
86	95		emissions for the state, and (2) report on the quantifiable emissions 61
87	96		reductions and carbon sequestration achieved in pursuit of the 62
88	97		greenhouse gas emissions levels specified in this section. 63
89	98		(d) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall, 64
90	99		not later than January 1, 2026, and not more than every three years 65
91	100		thereafter, in consultation with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 66
92	101		Management and the Governor's Council on Climate Change, produce 67
93	102		a report, with an opportunity for public comment, on the quantifiable 68
94	103		emissions reductions and carbon sequestration achieved in pursuit of 69
95	104		the greenhouse gas emissions levels specified in this section. The report 70
96	105		shall include (1) a schedule of proposed regulations, policies and 71
97	106		strategies designed to achieve the limits of greenhouse gas emissions 72
98	107		specified in this section, by the relevant date provided, (2) an assessment 73
99	108		of the latest scientific information and relevant data regarding global 74
100	109		climate change, and (3) the status of greenhouse gas emission reduction 75
101	110		efforts in other states and countries. Such proposed regulations, policies 76
102	111		and strategies may include carbon sequestration. The commissioner 77
	112	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	113	+
	114	+
	115	+	LCO No. 4924 4 of 58
	116	+
103	117		may engage a consultant to assist in preparing such report or portions 78
104		-	of such report. The commissioner shall submit such report, in 79 Substitute Bill No. 5004
105		-
106		-
107		-	LCO 4 of 34
108		-
109		-	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing 80
110		-	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 81
111		-	relating to the environment, energy and technology and transportation. 82
	118	+	of such report. The commissioner shall submit said report, in accordance 79
	119	+	with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of 80
	120	+	the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the 81
	121	+	environment, energy and technology and transportation. 82
112	122		[(d)] (e) At least one year prior to the effective date of any federally 83
113	123		mandated greenhouse cap and trade program including greenhouse gas 84
114	124		emissions subject to any state cap and trade requirements adopted 85
115	125		pursuant to this section, the Commissioner of Energy and 86
116	126		Environmental Protection and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 87
117	127		Management shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 88
118	128		11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 89
119	129		cognizance of matters relating to the environment, energy and 90
120	130		technology and transportation. Such report shall explain the differences 91
121	131		between such federal and state requirements and shall identify any 92
122	132		further regulatory or legislative actions needed to achieve consistency 93
123	133		with such federal program. 94
124	134		Sec. 3. Section 22a-200b of the general statutes is repealed and the 95
125	135		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 96
126	136		[(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection 97
127	137		shall, with the advice and assistance of a nonprofit association 98
128	138		organized to provide scientific, technical, analytical and policy support 99
129	139		to the air quality and climate programs of northeastern states: (1) Not 100
130	140		later than December 1, 2009, publish an inventory of greenhouse gas 101
131	141		emissions to establish a baseline for such emissions for the state and 102
132	142		publish a summary of greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies on 103
133	143		the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Internet web 104
134	144		site, (2) not later than July 1, 2010, publish results of various modeling 105
135	145		scenarios concerning greenhouse gas emissions, including, but not 106
136	146		limited to, an evaluation of the potential economic and environmental 107
137	147		benefits and opportunities for economic growth based on such 108
138	148		scenarios, (3) not later than July 1, 2011, analyze greenhouse gas 109
	149	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	150	+
	151	+
	152	+	LCO No. 4924 5 of 58
	153	+
139	154		emission reduction strategies and, after an opportunity for public 110
140	155		comment, make recommendations on which such strategies will achieve 111
141		-	the greenhouse gas emission levels specified in section 22a-200a, and (4) 112 Substitute Bill No. 5004
142		-
143		-
144		-	LCO 5 of 34
145		-
	156	+	the greenhouse gas emission levels specified in section 22a-200a, and (4) 112
146	157		not later than July 1, 2012, and every three years thereafter, develop, 113
147	158		with an opportunity for public comment, a schedule of recommended 114
148	159		regulatory actions by relevant agencies, policies and other actions 115
149	160		necessary to show reasonable further progress towards achieving the 116
150		-	greenhouse gas emission levels specified in section 22a-200a.] 117
151		-	[(b)] The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with 118
152		-	~~the~~ provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of [this 119
153		-	~~section]~~ subsection (d) of section 22a-200a, as amended by this act. 120
154		-	~~Nothing in~~ section 4a-67h, 22a-200 or 22a-200a, as amended by this act, 121
155		-	~~or this~~ section shall limit a state agency from adopting any regulation 122
156		-	~~within~~ its authority in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. 123
	161	+	greenhouse gas emission levels specified in section 22a-200a. 117
	162	+	(b)] The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the 118
	163	+	provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of [this section] 119
	164	+	subsection (d) of section 22a-200a, as amended by this act. Nothing in 120
	165	+	section 4a-67h, 22a-200 or 22a-200a, as amended by this act, or this 121
	166	+	section shall limit a state agency from adopting any regulation within 122
	167	+	its authority in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. 123
157	168		Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than January 1, 2026, 124
158	169		the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall initiate an uncontested 125
159		-	proceeding regarding the future of the natural gas distribution system 126
160		-	in the state in relation to the provisions of section 22a-200a of the general 127
161		-	statutes, as amended by this act. Such proceeding shall include, but need 128
162		-	not be limited to, the consideration and implementation of beneficial 129
163		-	electrification measures such as geothermal systems and heat pumps, 130
164		-	the integration of natural gas and electric company joint planning 131
165		-	processes, transparent accounting for the full costs and benefits of 132
166		-	energy systems infrastructure, consideration of the disproportionate 133
167		-	burdens placed on environmental justice communities, as defined in 134
168		-	section 22a-20a of the general statutes, and consideration of ratepayer 135
169		-	impacts presented in any scenario. Such proceeding shall also give 136
170		-	consideration to maximizing the efficiency, ratepayer value and other 137
171		-	benefits of the existing natural gas distribution system. Upon 138
172		-	completion of such uncontested proceeding, said authority shall submit 139
173		-	a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 140
174		-	statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 141
175		-	having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and energy 142
176		-	and technology on any recommendations for legislative changes 143
177		-	necessary to implement the findings of such docket. 144
178		-	Sec. 5. Subdivision (3) of subsection (c) of section 32-7t of the general 145 Substitute Bill No. 5004
179		-
180		-
181		-	LCO 6 of 34
182		-
183		-	statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 146
184		-	(Effective July 1, 2025): 147
185		-	(3) The commissioner, upon consideration of an application and any 148
186		-	additional information, may approve an application in whole or in part 149
187		-	or may approve an application with amendments, provided the 150
188		-	commissioner may give preference to applications that: (A) Make 151
189		-	significant investments in environmentally sustainable practices, 152
190		-	including, but not limited to, zero-carbon energy and energy efficiency, 153
191		-	(B) are in sectors of the economy such as renewable energy, energy 154
192		-	efficiency and zero-emission vehicles, or (C) are for farming operations 155
193		-	that are sustainable from a climate perspective. If the commissioner 156
194		-	disapproves an application, the commissioner shall identify the defects 157
195		-	in such application and explain the specific reasons for the disapproval. 158
196		-	The commissioner shall render a decision on an application not later 159
197		-	than ninety days after the date of its receipt by the commissioner. 160
198		-	Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Secretary of the State shall 161
199		-	provide a voucher for the amount of any registration or renewal fee for 162
200		-	a benefit corporation, as defined in section 33-1351 of the general 163
201		-	statutes, provided such corporation submits proof to the secretary that 164
202		-	the corporation meets the parameters of a benefit corporation, as 165
203		-	defined in section 33-1351 of the general statutes. 166
204		-	Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a 167
205		-	Connecticut Clean Economy Council that shall advise on economic 168
206		-	development strategies and policies that strengthen the state's climate 169
207		-	mitigation, clean energy, resilience and sustainability programs, in 170
208		-	particular for vulnerable communities, as defined in section 16-243y of 171
209		-	the general statutes. 172
210		-	(b) Such council shall meet not less than quarterly, at dates, times and 173
211		-	locations to be established by the cochairpersons of such council. The 174
212		-	council shall: (1) Identify opportunities to leverage state and federal 175
213		-	funding to scale economic development and workforce opportunities 176
214		-	associated with climate mitigation, clean energy, resilience and 177 Substitute Bill No. 5004
215		-
216		-
217		-	LCO 7 of 34
218		-
219		-	sustainability investments, (2) serve as a central coordinating body for 178
220		-	climate mitigation, clean energy, resilience and sustainability workforce 179
221		-	efforts and opportunities state wide for a technically advanced, 180
222		-	enduring labor force, (3) develop economic development and workforce 181
223		-	strategies that support investment and growth of climate mitigation, 182
224		-	clean energy, resilience and sustainability job growth, and (4) advise the 183
225		-	Governor on any state-wide economic or workforce action plan in clean 184
226		-	energy, climate and sustainability. 185
227		-	(c) Such council shall develop a plan to facilitate the transition of 186
228		-	workers from fossil-fuel-based employment to clean economy jobs 187
229		-	consistent with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Such plan 188
230		-	shall be submitted not later than July 1, 2026, to the joint standing 189
231		-	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 190
232		-	relating to the environment, energy and technology and commerce, in 191
233		-	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 192
234		-	(d) Such council shall be composed of the following members: (1) The 193
235		-	Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the 194
236		-	commissioner's designee, who shall also serve as a cochairperson of the 195
237		-	council, (2) the Chief Workforce Officer, or said officer's designee, who 196
238		-	shall also serve as a cochairperson of the council, (3) the Commissioner 197
239		-	of Energy and Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's 198
240		-	designee, who shall also serve as cochairperson of the council, (4) the 199
241		-	Commissioner of Transportation, or the commissioner's designee, (5) 200
242		-	the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's 201
243		-	designee, (6) a representative from the office of the Governor, (7) the 202
244		-	chief executive officer of the Connecticut Green Bank, or the chief 203
245		-	executive officer's designee, (8) the chief executive officer of Connecticut 204
246		-	Innovations, Incorporated, or the chief executive officer's designee, (9) 205
247		-	the Labor Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, (10) the 206
248		-	Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's designee, 207
249		-	(11) one member appointed by the Chief Workforce Officer who shall 208
250		-	be a representative of a regional workforce development board, (12) one 209
251		-	member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, (13) 210
252		-	one member appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, (14) 211 Substitute Bill No. 5004
253		-
254		-
255		-	LCO 8 of 34
256		-
257		-	one member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, (15) one 212
258		-	member appointed by the majority leader of the House of 213
259		-	Representatives, (16) one member appointed by the minority leader of 214
260		-	the Senate, (17) one member appointed by the minority leader of the 215
261		-	House of Representatives, and (18) any other member so designated by 216
262		-	the cochairpersons. Members appointed pursuant to subdivisions (12) 217
263		-	to (17), inclusive, of this subsection shall have one or more of the 218
264		-	following backgrounds or qualifications: (A) Be a member of the 219
265		-	Connecticut Technical Education Career System, (B) be a representative 220
266		-	of a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping people overcome 221
267		-	barriers to workforce participation, (C) have expertise in hiring and 222
268		-	training employees in the trades related to green technologies, (D) be a 223
269		-	representative of a higher education institution and have expertise in 224
270		-	technical education, or (E) be a member of the Connecticut State 225
271		-	Building Trades Council. Any member appointed pursuant to 226
272		-	subdivision (18) of this subsection shall serve at the pleasure of the 227
273		-	cochairpersons of the council. 228
274		-	(e) A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a 229
275		-	quorum. 230
276		-	(f) The cochairpersons shall, in addition to their general duties, have 231
277		-	the following specific responsibilities: The cochairperson from the 232
278		-	Department of Economic and Community Development shall lead the 233
279		-	activities specified in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section and 234
280		-	the cochairperson from the Office of Workforce Strategy shall lead the 235
281		-	activities specified in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section. 236
282		-	(g) Not later than February 15, 2026, and biannually thereafter, the 237
283		-	council shall report on its work, findings and recommendations to the 238
284		-	Governor, the Office of Policy and Management, and the joint standing 239
285		-	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 240
286		-	relating to the environment, energy and technology, higher education 241
287		-	and commerce, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 242
288		-	general statutes. 243 Substitute Bill No. 5004
289		-
290		-
291		-	LCO 9 of 34
292		-
293		-	Sec. 8. Section 31-3rr of the general statutes is repealed and the 244
294		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 245
295		-	(a) As used in this section and section 10a-55g: 246
296		-	(1) "Green jobs" has the same meaning as provided in section 10a-55d; 247
297		-	(2) "Green technology" has the same meaning as provided in section 248
298		-	10a-55d; and 249
299		-	(3) "Career ladder" means a description of the progression from an 250
300		-	entry level position to higher levels of pay, skill, responsibility or 251
301		-	authority. 252
302		-	(b) Not later than January 1, 2020, the Connecticut Clean Economy 253
303		-	Council, in consultation with the Office of Higher Education, 254
304		-	Department of Education, Labor Department, Department of Energy 255
305		-	and Environmental Protection, regional workforce development boards 256
306		-	and employers, shall, within available appropriations, identify a career 257
307		-	ladder for jobs in the green technology industry, including, but not 258
308		-	limited to, a listing of (1) careers at each level of the green technology 259
309		-	industry and the requisite level of education and the salary offered for 260
310		-	such career, (2) all course, certificate and degree programs in green jobs 261
311		-	offered by technical education and career schools within the Technical 262
312		-	Education and Career System and institutions of higher education in the 263
313		-	state, and (3) jobs available in the green technology industry in the state. 264
314		-	The Connecticut Clean Economy Council shall update the green jobs 265
315		-	career ladder established pursuant to this section on an as needed basis. 266
316		-	[(c) Not later than January 1, 2024, the Connecticut Clean Economy 267
317		-	Council shall develop a plan for green jobs workforce training to 268
318		-	accomplish the greenhouse gas emissions goals set forth in subsection 269
319		-	(a) of section 22a-200a. Such plan shall include, but need not be limited 270
320		-	to, (1) development of work-based learning programs for green jobs 271
321		-	with workforce shortages; (2) development of certificate and degree 272
322		-	programs related to the green technology industry at technical 273
323		-	education and career schools and institutions of higher education in the 274 Substitute Bill No. 5004
324		-
325		-
326		-	LCO 10 of 34
327		-
328		-	state; (3) identification of available funding, whether from a public or 275
329		-	private source, to fund the development of such work-based learning 276
330		-	and certificate and degree programs and provide grants to apprentices 277
331		-	and students; and (4) a strategy to market and recruit individuals, 278
332		-	especially from underrepresented populations, to existing and newly 279
333		-	developed green jobs work-based learning programs and certificate and 280
334		-	degree programs related to the green technology industry at job centers, 281
335		-	technical education and career schools and institutions of higher 282
336		-	education. Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, said 283
337		-	council shall update such plan as necessary. 284
338		-	(d) Not later than February 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the 285
339		-	Connecticut Clean Economy Council shall submit, in accordance with 286
340		-	the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the 287
341		-	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher 288
342		-	education and employment advancement the plan developed or 289
343		-	updated pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.] 290
344		-	Sec. 9. Subsection (b) of section 10-283 of the general statutes is 291
345		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 292
346		-	2025): 293
347		-	(b) Notwithstanding the application date requirements of this 294
348		-	section, at any time within the limit of available grant authorization and 295
349		-	within the limit of appropriated funds, the Commissioner of 296
350		-	Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of 297
351		-	Education, may approve applications for grants and make payments for 298
352		-	such grants, for any of the following reasons: [(A)] (1) To assist school 299
353		-	building projects to remedy damage from fire and catastrophe, [(B)] (2) 300
354		-	to correct safety, health and other code violations, [(C)] (3) to replace 301
355		-	roofs, including the replacement or installation of skylights as part of 302
356		-	the roof replacement project, [(D)] (4) to remedy a certified school 303
357		-	indoor air quality emergency, [(E)] (5) to install insulation for exterior 304
358		-	walls and attics, or [(F)] (6) to purchase and install a limited use and 305
359		-	limited access elevator, windows, photovoltaic panels, air source or 306
360		-	ground source heat pumps, wind generation systems, building 307 Substitute Bill No. 5004
361		-
362		-
363		-	LCO 11 of 34
364		-
365		-	management systems or portable classroom buildings, provided 308
366		-	portable classroom building projects shall not create a new facility or 309
367		-	cause an existing facility to be modified so that the portable buildings 310
368		-	comprise a substantial percentage of the total facility area, as 311
369		-	determined by the commissioner. 312
370		-	Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) The Commissioner of 313
371		-	Energy and Environmental Protection shall develop a plan for the 314
372		-	installation of efficient heat pumps for affordable heating and cooling 315
373		-	systems in the state. 316
374		-	(b) Such plan shall provide for the availability of affordable heat 317
375		-	pump options, with a focus on heat pump applications that have the 318
376		-	greatest potential benefits, including, but not limited to, lowering 319
377		-	consumers' energy costs, reducing impacts to the electric grid, and 320
378		-	improving building resilience, including, but not limited to: (1) 321
379		-	Residences in environmental justice communities, as defined in section 322
380		-	22a-20a of the general statutes, and long-term care facilities where not 323
381		-	less than eighty per cent of such residents are Medicaid recipients in 324
382		-	good financial standing with the state, (2) access to energy efficient, 325
383		-	affordable air conditioning for residents experiencing high energy bills 326
384		-	and health risks during heat waves, (3) increased resilience during 327
385		-	extreme heat events for homes and businesses, (4) improved flood 328
386		-	resilience for homes and businesses by enabling home heating systems 329
387		-	to be located above ground, (5) low or no interest loans to replace 330
388		-	heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment to residences 331
389		-	impacted by extreme weather events, (6) cost savings and potential 332
390		-	benefits for transitioning from electric resistance heating, (7) analysis of 333
391		-	accelerating the adoption of heat pump water heaters, including public 334
392		-	education and the possible need for contractor incentives, and (8) 335
393		-	potential for a demand response program. Such plan shall describe how 336
394		-	the state could best utilize any available or future grant or loan funding. 337
395		-	Not later than January 1, 2027, the commissioner shall submit a report, 338
396		-	in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 339
397		-	to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 340
398		-	cognizance of matters relating to the environment and energy and 341 Substitute Bill No. 5004
399		-
400		-
401		-	LCO 12 of 34
402		-
403		-	technology on the status of such plan and any recommendations for 342
404		-	expanding or revising such plan. 343
405		-	Sec. 11. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of 344
406		-	Administrative Services, in consultation with the Secretary of the Office 345
407		-	of Policy and Management, shall develop a model policy or guidelines 346
408		-	for environmentally sustainable purchasing that municipalities may 347
409		-	voluntarily utilize and implement. Such policy or guidelines shall 348
410		-	include, but need not be limited to, a list of any state contracts for 349
411		-	sustainable purchasing that allow for municipal participation. The 350
412		-	Commissioner of Administrative Services shall post such policy or 351
413		-	guidelines on the Internet web site of the Department of Administrative 352
414		-	Services not later than January 1, 2026. 353
415		-	Sec. 12. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than January 1, 354
416		-	2026, the Department of Administrative Services, in consultation with 355
417		-	the Office of Policy and Management, the Departments of Energy and 356
418		-	Environmental Protection and Transportation, and any other state 357
419		-	agency deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Administrative 358
420		-	Services, shall establish a process for said commissioner to consider 359
421		-	when making any decision to remodel, alter, repair, construct or enlarge 360
422		-	any state real asset, pursuant to section 4b-51 of the general statutes, the 361
423		-	capability of such state real asset to: (1) Increase energy efficiency, (2) 362
424		-	utilize zero-carbon heating and cooling and water heating alternatives, 363
425		-	(3) utilize Class I renewable energy, as defined in section 16-1 of the 364
426		-	general statutes, (4) facilitate electric vehicle charging, (5) reduce energy 365
427		-	use, and (6) serve as a resilience hub. 366
428		-	(b) Not later than July 1, 2027, the Department of Administrative 367
429		-	Services, in consultation with the Office of Policy and Management and 368
430		-	the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, shall develop 369
431		-	a plan and a budget to retrofit existing fossil fuel-based heating and 370
432		-	cooling systems at state buildings to systems capable of being operated 371
433		-	without carbon-emitting fuels. Such plan and budget shall be submitted, 372
434		-	in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 373
435		-	to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 374 Substitute Bill No. 5004
436		-
437		-
438		-	LCO 13 of 34
439		-
440		-	cognizance of matters relating to the environment and energy and 375
441		-	technology. 376
442		-	Sec. 13. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of 377
443		-	Energy and Environmental Protection shall evaluate how to integrate 378
444		-	and advance nature-based solutions in the state that support climate 379
445		-	change mitigation, climate change adaptation, ecosystem resilience and 380
446		-	biodiversity through (1) the microgrid and resilience grant and loan 381
447		-	pilot program authorized pursuant to section 16-243y of the general 382
448		-	statutes, (2) the open space and watershed land acquisition program 383
449		-	authorized pursuant to sections 7-131d to 7-131k, inclusive, of the 384
450		-	general statutes, as amended by this act, and (3) other applicable state 385
451		-	and federal programs administered by the Department of Energy and 386
452		-	Environmental Protection that advance nature-based solutions, 387
453		-	including, but not limited to, (A) federal Clean Water Act programs, (B) 388
454		-	the Long Island Sound Study program, and (C) the Urban Forestry 389
455		-	program. The department's efforts to advance such nature-based 390
456		-	solutions shall be known as the nature-based solutions initiative. 391
457		-	(b) The commissioner shall, as part of such evaluation, consider best 392
458		-	practices that encourage the use of the state's ecosystems to naturally 393
459		-	sequester and store carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase 394
460		-	biodiversity and protect against climate change impacts including: (1) 395
461		-	Increasing carbon sequestration through increased forest acreage, 396
462		-	including reforestation, (2) controlling invasive species, (3) encouraging 397
463		-	soil health across all landscapes, (4) protecting carbon stocks through 398
464		-	avoiding the conversion of forests and wetlands to other purposes, (5) 399
465		-	restoring habitats to improve biodiversity, (6) increasing climate-smart 400
466		-	agriculture and soil conservation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 401
467		-	while improving habitat and protecting biodiversity, (7) increasing 402
468		-	community resilience by improving water quality and addressing 403
469		-	flooding and drought through nature-based stormwater management 404
470		-	and shoreline protection that uses nature-based approaches such as 405
471		-	living shorelines, (8) improving air quality and reducing urban heat 406
472		-	island effects through urban forestry and increasing green spaces, and 407
473		-	(9) increase access to open space for public health benefits. 408 Substitute Bill No. 5004
474		-
475		-
476		-	LCO 14 of 34
477		-
478		-	(c) Not later than July 1, 2026, the commissioner shall post such 409
479		-	nature-based solutions initiative program evaluation on the 410
480		-	department's Internet web site for review and written comment. As part 411
481		-	of that evaluation, the commissioner shall seek review and input from 412
482		-	the Departments of Agriculture, Public Health, Housing, 413
483		-	Transportation, the Insurance Department, the Connecticut Green Bank 414
484		-	and the Office of Policy and Management. In addition, the 415
485		-	commissioner shall host one listening session before such nature-based 416
486		-	solutions initiative is so posted in order to seek public comment. 417
487		-	Sec. 14. (Effective from passage) Not later than January 15, 2027, the 418
488		-	chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall submit, in 419
489		-	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 420
490		-	the results of a study to develop a solar canopy strategic plan and 421
491		-	program design to the joint standing committee of the General 422
492		-	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy and 423
493		-	technology. The plan shall identify opportunities for solar canopies in 424
494		-	the state and shall prioritize the development of solar canopies in 425
495		-	environmental justice communities, as defined in section 22a-20a of the 426
496		-	general statutes. The plan shall include an examination of different ways 427
497		-	to promote solar canopies and shall include recommendations for 428
498		-	policies, programs or regulations to promote the construction of solar 429
499		-	canopies in the state, consistent with the greenhouse gas reduction goals 430
500		-	established in section 22a-200a of the general statutes, as amended by 431
501		-	this act. 432
502		-	Sec. 15. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Energy and 433
503		-	Environmental Protection shall, in accordance with the provisions of 434
504		-	section 11-4a of the general statutes, not later than February 1, 2026, 435
505		-	submit to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 436
506		-	cognizance of matters relating to the environment and energy and 437
507		-	technology, a report with recommended regulations, policies and 438
508		-	strategies that can significantly lower energy costs for families and 439
509		-	businesses, increase community resilience to extreme weather events, 440
510		-	including, but not limited to, flooding and extreme heat and contribute 441
511		-	to the greenhouse gas emissions reductions required in section 22a-200a 442 Substitute Bill No. 5004
512		-
513		-
514		-	LCO 15 of 34
515		-
516		-	of the general statutes, as amended by this act. Such report may utilize 443
517		-	modeling scenarios concerning greenhouse gas emissions. The 444
518		-	commissioner may engage a consultant to assist in preparing the report 445
519		-	or portions thereof. 446
520		-	Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this 447
521		-	section: 448
522		-	(1) "Utility-scale renewable thermal energy network" means 449
523		-	distribution infrastructure (A) established for the purpose of providing 450
524		-	thermal energy for space heating and cooling, domestic hot water 451
525		-	production, refrigeration, thermal energy storage or commercial and 452
526		-	industrial processes requiring heating or cooling, and (B) effected 453
527		-	through interconnections between one or more renewable thermal 454
528		-	energy resources, which may be owned by multiple parties, and 455
529		-	between these resources and heat pumps in multiple buildings owned 456
530		-	by multiple parties; and 457
531		-	(2) "Renewable thermal energy" means (A) ambient heating or 458
532		-	cooling provided, absorbed or stored by geothermal wells, boreholes or 459
533		-	other noncombusting, non-fossil-fuel-consuming, nonnuclear thermal 460
534		-	resources, or (B) thermal energy otherwise lost to the atmosphere or 461
535		-	other environmental compartment as waste heat. 462
536		-	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of title 16 of the general statutes, 463
537		-	not later than twelve months after passage of this section, the Public 464
538		-	Utilities Regulatory Authority shall initiate a proceeding to establish a 465
539		-	program for development of utility-scale renewable thermal energy 466
540		-	networks by gas companies, as defined in section 16-1 of the general 467
541		-	statutes. In establishing such program, the authority shall develop 468
542		-	parameters for such networks, procedures or filing proposals for such 469
543		-	networks and a standardized data collection system enabling the 470
544		-	authority and the public to track the status and performance of utility-471
545		-	scale renewable thermal energy networks developed pursuant to this 472
546		-	section. 473
547		-	(c) The authority shall structure the utility-scale renewable thermal 474 Substitute Bill No. 5004
548		-
549		-
550		-	LCO 16 of 34
551		-
552		-	energy network program in the best interest of ratepayers of public 475
553		-	service companies, as defined in section 16-1 of the general statutes. For 476
554		-	purposes of this section, a determination of the best interest of 477
555		-	ratepayers shall be based on an analysis of the reasonableness of the 478
556		-	size, scope, scale and character of the project and related budget and the 479
557		-	costs and benefits of the project, including, but not limited to: (1) 480
558		-	Avoided long-term energy and infrastructure investments in extending 481
559		-	or maintaining gas infrastructure; (2) the anticipated contribution of 482
560		-	such projects to alleviation of seasonal strains on the state's natural gas 483
561		-	supply and electric distribution system; (3) consumer protections and 484
562		-	benefits for end users of the project; (4) adherence to best practices 485
563		-	emerging from thermal energy network programs and project designs 486
564		-	developed in other states or elsewhere in the state; (5) adherence to 487
565		-	workforce development practices, including the adoption of wage 488
566		-	standards pursuant to section 31-53 of the general statutes, and the use 489
567		-	of registered apprentice programs approved by the Labor Department; 490
568		-	(6) potential for accrual of capital and operational cost savings via 491
569		-	interconnection with other existing or future thermal energy networks; 492
570		-	(7) improvements in air quality in the buildings and neighborhoods 493
571		-	served by the project; (8) reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to 494
572		-	contribute to achieving the emissions reductions set forth in section 22a-495
573		-	200a of the general statutes, as amended by this act; and (9) the potential 496
574		-	rate impact on any class of ratepayers, including a distributional equity 497
575		-	analysis that details the benefits and burdens on any such class of 498
576		-	ratepayers. The authority may approve a utility-scale renewable 499
577		-	thermal energy network proposal that meets the parameters established 500
578		-	under the program. 501
579		-	(d) The authority shall create a pilot component of the utility-scale 502
580		-	renewable thermal energy network program that requires each gas 503
581		-	company to file with the authority, for its review and approval, 504
582		-	proposals for not less than one and not more than two pilot projects for 505
583		-	the development of utility-scale renewable thermal energy networks 506
584		-	that meet the program parameters established in subsection (c) of this 507
585		-	section. The authority shall review a proposal for a pilot project based 508 Substitute Bill No. 5004
586		-
587		-
588		-	LCO 17 of 34
589		-
590		-	on the program parameters contained in subsection (c) of this section 509
591		-	and on the basis of the project's ability to provide insights into the 510
592		-	potential for scaling up future deployment of thermal energy networks 511
593		-	in the state, for improving the performance of such networks, and for 512
594		-	bringing down the cost of broader deployment of such networks. 513
595		-	(e) The authority shall require projects submitted to the utility-scale 514
596		-	renewable thermal energy network program for approval to include a 515
597		-	proposed rate structure for thermal energy services supplied to network 516
598		-	end users as well as consumer-protection plans for end users. The 517
599		-	authority may approve the proposed rate structure if the projected 518
600		-	heating and cooling costs for end users is not greater than the heating 519
601		-	and cooling costs the end users would be projected to incur if they had 520
602		-	not participated. 521
603		-	(f) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall consider the 522
604		-	appropriate cost recovery methodology for incentives established 523
605		-	pursuant to this section as part of the proceeding established pursuant 524
606		-	to section 4 of this act. 525
607		-	(g) A gas company may meet its obligation under subsection (b) of 526
608		-	section 16-20 of the general statutes through a project approved by the 527
609		-	authority pursuant to this section. 528
610		-	(h) The authority shall ensure transparency and validity of the 529
611		-	outcomes of the projects developed pursuant to this section through 530
612		-	third-party evaluation of the data the authority collects through its 531
613		-	standardized data collection requirement. 532
614		-	(i) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a municipality from 533
615		-	developing, owning or maintaining a utility-scale renewable thermal 534
616		-	energy network. 535
617		-	(j) As part of the utility-scale renewable thermal energy network 536
618		-	program, the authority shall establish a working group on thermal 537
619		-	energy networks, comprising representatives of the staffs of the 538
620		-	authority, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the 539 Substitute Bill No. 5004
621		-
622		-
623		-	LCO 18 of 34
624		-
625		-	Connecticut Green Bank, the gas and electric companies, the 540
626		-	Connecticut State Building Trades Council and environmental 541
627		-	nongovernmental organizations. 542
628		-	(k) As part of the utility-scale renewable thermal energy network 543
629		-	program, the authority shall, through the working group established 544
630		-	under subsection (j) of this section, undertake a study or studies 545
631		-	assessing the potential breadth of deployment of thermal energy 546
632		-	networks in the state. Such study shall address factors including, but not 547
633		-	limited to: (1) Technical feasibility; (2) economic feasibility, taking into 548
634		-	account the potential for: (A) Reduction in energy costs of the customer 549
635		-	that is the off-taker of the system, (B) reduction in network capital costs 550
636		-	as the scale of deployments increases, (C) reduction in capital and 551
637		-	operating costs as thermal energy networks are interconnected, (D) 552
638		-	avoided cost of expanding and maintaining portions of the gas-553
639		-	distribution system, (E) minimization of the cost of expanding the 554
640		-	electricity-distribution system to facilitate increasing electrification of 555
641		-	thermal loads, (F) reduction in per-kilowatt-hour cost of supplying 556
642		-	electricity as more electricity is sold, (G) state and federal financial 557
643		-	incentives available, (H) employing and advancing the skills of gas-558
644		-	utility workers, (I) providing the gas utility companies a business model 559
645		-	not dependent on continued use of combustion of fossil fuels, and (J) 560
646		-	improvement of air quality; (3) deployment strategies to maximize the 561
647		-	scope, minimize the cost, and equitably allocate the cost of thermal 562
648		-	energy networks, including systematic identification of significant 563
649		-	sources of waste heat across the state; (4) considerations regarding: (A) 564
650		-	Deployment in low and moderate-income communities, (B) deployment 565
651		-	in environmental justice communities, (C) deployment in new 566
652		-	residential and commercial construction versus deployment in 567
653		-	retrofitting existing residential and commercial buildings, (D) 568
654		-	deployment in urban versus rural communities, (E) deployment in areas 569
655		-	with existing gas service versus areas without, and (F) ownership and 570
656		-	business models; and (5) appropriate parameters for broader 571
657		-	deployment in the near and medium term, including site selection, 572
658		-	network design, interactions with and impacts on the gas and electricity 573 Substitute Bill No. 5004
659		-
660		-
661		-	LCO 19 of 34
662		-
663		-	distribution systems, ratepayer protections, billing models, consumer 574
664		-	protections, data collection, community engagement, and deployment 575
665		-	in low-and moderate-income communities and environmental justice 576
666		-	communities, as defined in section 22a-20a of the general statutes. 577
667		-	Sec. 17. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this 578
668		-	section: 579
669		-	(1) "Renewable thermal energy network" means distribution 580
670		-	infrastructure (A) established for the purpose of providing thermal 581
671		-	energy for space heating and cooling, domestic hot water production, 582
672		-	refrigeration, thermal energy storage or commercial and industrial 583
673		-	processes requiring heating or cooling, and (B) effected through 584
674		-	interconnections between one or more renewable thermal energy 585
675		-	resources, which may be owned by multiple parties, and between these 586
676		-	resources and heat pumps in multiple buildings owned by multiple 587
677		-	parties; and 588
678		-	(2) "Renewable thermal energy" means (A) ambient heating or 589
679		-	cooling provided, absorbed or stored by geothermal wells, boreholes or 590
680		-	other noncombusting, non-fossil-fuel-consuming, nonnuclear thermal 591
681		-	resources, or (B) thermal energy otherwise lost to the atmosphere or 592
682		-	other environmental compartment as waste heat. 593
683		-	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of title 16 of the general statutes, 594
684		-	each gas company, as defined in section 16-1 of the general statutes, shall 595
685		-	develop an incentive program for renewable thermal energy networks 596
686		-	to be owned by municipalities, a municipal utility, as defined in section 597
687		-	12-265 of the general statutes, a municipal electric energy cooperative, 598
688		-	as defined in section 7-233b of the general statutes, or an entity that has 599
689		-	a contractual obligation to a municipality to construct, operate and 600
690		-	maintain a renewable thermal network for the purpose of reducing 601
691		-	natural gas and electric demand in the state. Such program shall provide 602
692		-	an incentive payment to such entities to connect end-use customers to 603
693		-	the renewable thermal energy network. Such incentive payment shall be 604
694		-	based on the projected natural gas and electric demand reduction of 605 Substitute Bill No. 5004
695		-
696		-
697		-	LCO 20 of 34
698		-
699		-	contractually obligated demand for a period of twenty years. The 606
700		-	projected natural gas and electric demand reduction shall be based on 607
701		-	the expected gas or electric demand that the renewable thermal loop is 608
702		-	displacing. 609
703		-	(c) A gas company shall design its renewable thermal energy network 610
704		-	program in the best interest of ratepayers of public service companies, 611
705		-	as defined in section 16-1 of the general statutes, and submit its program 612
706		-	design for review and approval by the Public Utilities Regulatory 613
707		-	Authority. For purposes of this section, a determination of the best 614
708		-	interest of ratepayers shall be based on an analysis of the reasonableness 615
709		-	of the size, scope, scale and character of the project and related budget 616
710		-	and the costs and benefits of the project, including, but not limited to: 617
711		-	(1) Avoided long-term energy and infrastructure investments in 618
712		-	extending or maintaining gas infrastructure; (2) the anticipated 619
713		-	contribution of such projects to alleviation of seasonal strains on the 620
714		-	state's natural gas supply and electric distribution system; (3) consumer 621
715		-	protections and benefits for end users of the project; (4) adherence to 622
716		-	best practices emerging from thermal energy network programs and 623
717		-	project designs developed in other states or elsewhere in the state; (5) 624
718		-	potential for accrual of capital and operational cost savings via 625
719		-	interconnection with other existing or future thermal energy networks; 626
720		-	(6) improvements in air quality in the buildings and neighborhood 627
721		-	served by the project; and (7) reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to 628
722		-	contribute to achieving the emissions reductions set forth in section 22a-629
723		-	200a of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 630
724		-	(d) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall consider the 631
725		-	appropriate cost recovery methodology for incentives established 632
726		-	pursuant to this section as part of the proceeding established pursuant 633
727		-	to section 4 of this act. 634
728		-	(e) The owners of the renewable thermal energy network shall ensure 635
729		-	transparency and validity of the outcomes of the networks developed 636
730		-	pursuant to this section through submitting data to track the status and 637
731		-	performance of said network, which data shall be submitted to the 638 Substitute Bill No. 5004
732		-
733		-
734		-	LCO 21 of 34
735		-
736		-	authority. 639
737		-	Sec. 18. Section 16a-3j of the general statutes is repealed and the 640
738		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 641
739		-	(a) In order to secure cost-effective resources to provide more reliable 642
740		-	electric or gas service for the benefit of the state's electric or gas 643
741		-	ratepayers and to meet the state's energy and environmental goals and 644
742		-	policies established in the Integrated Resources Plan, pursuant to 645
743		-	section 16a-3a, and the Comprehensive Energy Strategy, pursuant to 646
744		-	section 16a-3d, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 647
745		-	Protection, in consultation with the procurement manager identified in 648
746		-	subsection (l) of section 16-2, the Office of Consumer Counsel and the 649
747		-	Attorney General, may, in coordination with other states in the control 650
748		-	area of the regional independent system operator, as defined in section 651
749		-	16-1, or on behalf of Connecticut alone, issue multiple solicitations for 652
750		-	long-term contracts from providers of resources described in 653
751		-	subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section. 654
752		-	(b) In any solicitation for resources to reduce electric or gas demand 655
753		-	and improve resiliency and electric or gas grid reliability in the state, 656
754		-	issued pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner shall seek 657
755		-	proposals for (1) active or passive demand response measures, 658
756		-	including, but not limited to, energy efficiency, load management, and 659
757		-	the state's conservation and load management programs, pursuant to 660
758		-	section 16-245m; [, that are capable, either singly or through 661
759		-	aggregation, of reducing electric demand by one megawatt or more;] 662
760		-	and (2) Class I renewable energy sources and Class III sources, as 663
761		-	defined in section 16-1, provided any such project proposal is for a 664
762		-	facility that has a nameplate capacity rating of more than two megawatts 665
763		-	and less than twenty megawatts. The commissioner may also seek 666
764		-	proposals for energy storage systems, as defined in section 16-1, that are 667
765		-	capable of storing up to twenty megawatts of energy. Proposals 668
766		-	pursuant to this subsection shall not have a contract term exceeding 669
767		-	twenty years. Each electric distribution company and gas company, as 670
768		-	defined in section 16-1, shall, in consultation with the Energy 671 Substitute Bill No. 5004
769		-
770		-
771		-	LCO 22 of 34
772		-
773		-	Conservation Management Board established pursuant to section 16-672
774		-	245m, assess whether the submission of a proposal for active and 673
775		-	passive demand response measures is feasible pursuant to any 674
776		-	solicitation issued pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, 675
777		-	provided such proposal only includes electric or gas demand reductions 676
778		-	that are in addition to existing and projected demand reductions 677
779		-	obtained through the conservation and load management programs. 678
780		-	(c) In any solicitation issued pursuant to this subsection, the 679
781		-	commissioner shall seek proposals from (1) Class I renewable energy 680
782		-	sources, as defined in section 16-1, having a nameplate capacity rating 681
783		-	of twenty megawatts or more, and any associated transmission; and (2) 682
784		-	verifiable large-scale hydropower, as defined in section 16-1, and any 683
785		-	associated transmission. The commissioner may also seek proposals for 684
786		-	energy storage systems, as defined in section 16-1, having a nameplate 685
787		-	capacity rating of twenty megawatts or more. Proposals under this 686
788		-	subsection shall not have a contract term exceeding twenty years. In 687
789		-	soliciting Class I renewable energy sources, and any associated 688
790		-	transmission, pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner may, for the 689
791		-	purpose of balancing such Class I energy deliveries and improving the 690
792		-	economic viability of such proposals, also seek proposals for electricity 691
793		-	and capacity from Class II renewable energy sources, as defined in 692
794		-	section 16-1, and existing hydropower resources other than those 693
795		-	described under section 16-1, provided such resources are 694
796		-	interconnected to such associated transmission and are located in the 695
797		-	control area of the regional independent system operator or imported 696
798		-	into the control area of the regional independent system operator from 697
799		-	resources located in an adjacent regional independent system operator's 698
800		-	control area. 699
801		-	(d) In any solicitation for natural gas resources issued pursuant to this 700
802		-	subsection, the commissioner shall seek proposals for (1) interstate 701
803		-	natural gas transportation capacity, (2) liquefied natural gas, (3) 702
804		-	liquefied natural gas storage, and (4) natural gas storage, or a 703
805		-	combination of any such resources, provided such proposals provide 704
806		-	incremental capacity, gas, or storage that has a firm delivery capability 705 Substitute Bill No. 5004
807		-
808		-
809		-	LCO 23 of 34
810		-
811		-	to transport natural gas to natural gas-fired generating facilities located 706
812		-	in the control area of the regional independent system operator. 707
813		-	Proposals under this subsection shall not have a contract term exceeding 708
814		-	a period of twenty years. 709
815		-	(e) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in 710
816		-	consultation with the procurement manager identified in subsection (l) 711
817		-	of section 16-2, the Office of Consumer Counsel and the Attorney 712
818		-	General, shall evaluate project proposals received under any solicitation 713
819		-	issued pursuant to subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section, based on 714
820		-	factors including, but not limited to, (1) improvements to the reliability 715
821		-	of the electric system, including during winter peak demand; (2) 716
822		-	whether the benefits of the proposal outweigh the costs to ratepayers; 717
823		-	(3) fuel diversity; (4) the extent to which the proposal contributes to 718
824		-	meeting the requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and 719
825		-	improve air quality in accordance with sections 16-245a, 22a-174 [,] and 720
826		-	22a-200a, as amended by this act; (5) whether the proposal is in the best 721
827		-	interest of ratepayers; and (6) whether the proposal is aligned with the 722
828		-	policy goals outlined in the Integrated Resources Plan, pursuant to 723
829		-	section 16a-3a, and the Comprehensive Energy Strategy, pursuant to 724
830		-	section 16a-3d, including, but not limited to, environmental impacts. In 725
831		-	conducting such evaluation, the commissioner may also consider the 726
832		-	extent to which project proposals provide economic benefits for the 727
833		-	state. In evaluating project proposals received under any solicitation 728
834		-	issued pursuant to subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section, the 729
835		-	commissioner shall compare the costs and benefits of such proposals 730
836		-	relative to the expected or actual costs and benefits of other resources 731
837		-	eligible to respond to the other procurements authorized pursuant to 732
838		-	this section. 733
839		-	(f) The commissioner may hire consultants with expertise in 734
840		-	quantitative modeling of electric and gas markets, and physical gas and 735
841		-	electric system modeling, as applicable, to assist in implementing this 736
842		-	section, including, but not limited to, the evaluation of proposals 737
843		-	submitted pursuant to this section. All reasonable costs, not exceeding 738
844		-	one million five hundred thousand dollars, associated with the 739 Substitute Bill No. 5004
845		-
846		-
847		-	LCO 24 of 34
848		-
849		-	commissioner's solicitation and review of proposals pursuant to this 740
850		-	section shall be recoverable through the nonbypassable federally 741
851		-	mandated congestion charge, as defined in subsection (a) of section 16-742
852		-	1. Such costs shall be recoverable even if the commissioner does not 743
853		-	select any proposals pursuant to solicitations issued pursuant to this 744
854		-	section. 745
855		-	(g) If the commissioner finds proposals received pursuant to this 746
856		-	section to be in the best interest of [electric] ratepayers, in accordance 747
857		-	with the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, the commissioner 748
858		-	may select any such proposal or proposals, provided the total capacity 749
859		-	of the resources selected under all solicitations issued pursuant to this 750
860		-	section in the aggregate do not exceed three hundred seventy-five 751
861		-	million cubic feet per day of natural gas capacity, or the equivalent 752
862		-	megawatts of electricity, electric demand reduction or combination 753
863		-	thereof. Any proposals selected pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of 754
864		-	this section shall not, in the aggregate, exceed ten per cent of the load 755
865		-	distributed by the state's electric distribution companies or ten per cent 756
866		-	of the load distributed by the state's gas companies. The commissioner 757
867		-	may, on behalf of all customers of electric distribution companies, direct 758
868		-	the electric distribution companies to enter into long-term contracts for 759
869		-	active or passive demand response measures that result in electric 760
870		-	savings, electricity time-of-use shifts, electricity, electric capacity, 761
871		-	environmental attributes, energy storage, interstate natural gas 762
872		-	transportation capacity, liquefied natural gas, liquefied natural gas 763
873		-	storage, and natural gas storage, or any combination thereof, from 764
874		-	proposals submitted pursuant to this section, provided the benefits of 765
875		-	such contracts to customers of electric distribution companies outweigh 766
876		-	the costs to such companies' customers. The commissioner may, on 767
877		-	behalf of all customers of gas companies, direct the gas companies to 768
878		-	enter into long-term contracts for active or passive demand response 769
879		-	measures that result in gas savings or time-of-use shifts from proposals 770
880		-	submitted pursuant to this section, provided the benefits of such 771
881		-	contracts to customers of gas companies outweigh the costs to such 772
882		-	companies' customers. 773 Substitute Bill No. 5004
883		-
884		-
885		-	LCO 25 of 34
886		-
887		-	(h) Any agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall be 774
888		-	subject to review and approval by the Public Utilities Regulatory 775
889		-	Authority. The electric distribution company or gas company shall file 776
890		-	an application for the approval of any such agreement with the 777
891		-	authority. The authority shall approve such agreement if it is cost 778
892		-	effective and in the best interest of electric or gas ratepayers. The 779
893		-	authority shall issue a decision not later than ninety days after such 780
894		-	filing. If the authority does not issue a decision within ninety days after 781
895		-	such filing, the agreement shall be deemed approved. Where an electric 782
896		-	distribution company or gas company both apply for recovery of net 783
897		-	costs of the same such agreement, the authority shall determine which 784
898		-	net costs are attributable to each company. The net costs of any such 785
899		-	agreement, including costs incurred by the electric distribution 786
900		-	company or gas company under the agreement and reasonable costs 787
901		-	incurred by the electric distribution company or gas company in 788
902		-	connection with the agreement, shall be recovered on a timely basis 789
903		-	through a fully reconciling component of electric rates or gas rates for 790
904		-	all customers of the electric distribution company or gas company. Any 791
905		-	net revenues from the sale of products purchased in accordance with 792
906		-	long-term contracts entered into pursuant to this section shall be 793
907		-	credited to customers through the same fully reconciling rate 794
908		-	component for all customers of the contracting electric distribution 795
909		-	company or gas company. For any contract for interstate natural gas 796
910		-	transportation capacity, liquefied natural gas, liquefied natural gas 797
911		-	storage or natural gas storage entered into pursuant to this section, the 798
912		-	electric distribution company may contract with a gas supply manager 799
913		-	to sell such interstate natural gas transportation capacity, liquefied 800
914		-	natural gas, liquefied natural gas storage or natural gas storage, or a 801
915		-	combination thereof, into the wholesale markets at the best available 802
916		-	price in a manner that meets all applicable requirements pursuant to all 803
917		-	applicable regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 804
918		-	(i) Certificates issued by the New England Power Pool Generation 805
919		-	Information System for any Class I renewable energy source or Class III 806
920		-	source procured by an electric distribution company pursuant to this 807 Substitute Bill No. 5004
921		-
922		-
923		-	LCO 26 of 34
924		-
925		-	section may be: (1) Sold into the New England Power Pool Generation 808
926		-	Information System renewable energy credit market to be used by any 809
927		-	electric supplier or electric distribution company to meet the 810
928		-	requirements of section 16-245a, so long as the revenues from such sale 811
929		-	are credited to electric distribution company customers as described in 812
930		-	this subsection; or (2) retained by the electric distribution company to 813
931		-	meet the requirements of section 16-245a. In considering whether to sell 814
932		-	or retain such certificates the company shall select the option that is in 815
933		-	the best interest of such company's ratepayers. 816
934		-	Sec. 19. Subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of section 8-240a of the 817
935		-	general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 818
936		-	thereof (Effective from passage): 819
937		-	(a) As used in this section, [: 820
938		-	(1) "Alliance district" has the same meaning as provided in section 10-821
939		-	262u; 822
940		-	(2) "Environmental justice community" has the same meaning as 823
941		-	provided in section 22a-20a; and 824
942		-	(3) "Low-income resident"] "low-income resident" means, after 825
943		-	adjustments for family size, individuals or families whose income is not 826
944		-	greater than [(A)] (1) sixty per cent of the state median income, [(B)] (2) 827
945		-	eighty per cent of the area median income for the area in which the 828
946		-	resident resides, as determined by the United States Department of 829
947		-	Housing and Urban Development, or [(C)] (3) any other definition of 830
948		-	"low-income resident" included in any program in the state that utilizes 831
949		-	federal funding, as determined by the Commissioner of Energy and 832
950		-	Environmental Protection. 833
951		-	(b) There is established a revolving loan and grant fund to be known 834
952		-	as the "Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and 835
953		-	Grant Fund". The fund may be funded from the proceeds of bonds 836
954		-	issued pursuant to section 8-240b or from any moneys available to the 837
955		-	Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or from other 838 Substitute Bill No. 5004
956		-
957		-
958		-	LCO 27 of 34
959		-
960		-	sources. Investment earnings credited to the fund shall become part of 839
961		-	the assets of the fund. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of 840
962		-	any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the next fiscal 841
963		-	year. Payments of principal or interest on a low interest loan made 842
964		-	pursuant to this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit 843
965		-	in the Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant 844
966		-	Fund. The fund shall be used to make grants or low interest loans 845
967		-	pursuant to this section to pay reasonable and necessary fees incurred 846
968		-	in administering loans under this section. The Commissioner of Energy 847
969		-	and Environmental Protection may enter into contracts with quasi-848
970		-	public agencies, [or] nonprofit corporations, or electric distribution or 849
971		-	gas companies, as such terms are defined in section 16-1, to provide for 850
972		-	the administration of the Housing Environmental Improvement 851
973		-	Revolving Loan and Grant Fund by such entity or entities, provided no 852
974		-	grant or low interest loan shall be made from the fund without the 853
975		-	authorization of the commissioner as provided in this section. 854
976		-	(c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in 855
977		-	collaboration with the Commissioner of Housing, shall establish a pilot 856
978		-	program or programs to provide financing or grants from the fund 857
979		-	established in subsection (b) of this section for retrofitting projects for 858
980		-	single and multifamily residences located in environmental justice 859
981		-	communities or alliance districts that (1) improve the energy efficiency 860
982		-	of such residences, which may include, but need not be limited to, the 861
983		-	installation of heat pumps, solar power generating systems, improved 862
984		-	roofing, exterior doors and windows, improved insulation, air sealing, 863
985		-	improved ventilation, appliance upgrades and any electric system or 864
986		-	wiring upgrades necessary for such retrofit, (2) remediate health and 865
987		-	safety concerns that are barriers to any such retrofit, including, but not 866
988		-	limited to, mold, vermiculite, asbestos, lead and radon, [or] (3) add 867
989		-	resilience measures to such residences, which may include, but need not 868
990		-	be limited to, flood mitigation, (4) provide services to assist residents 869
991		-	and building owners to access and implement the programs established 870
992		-	pursuant to this section or other available state or federal programs that 871
993		-	enable the implementation of energy efficiency retrofitting, or (5) 872 Substitute Bill No. 5004
994		-
995		-
996		-	LCO 28 of 34
997		-
998		-	replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment to 873
999		-	residences impacted by extreme weather events. 874
1000		-	(d) On and after July 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Energy and 875
1001		-	Environmental Protection, or any program administrator the 876
1002		-	commissioner may designate, shall accept applications, in a form 877
1003		-	specified by the commissioner, from any owner of a residential dwelling 878
1004		-	unit for financing or a grant under the program or programs. Any such 879
1005		-	financing or grant may be awarded to an owner of a residential dwelling 880
1006		-	unit, as defined in section 47a-1. 881
1007		-	(e) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 882
1008		-	[prioritize] limit the awarding of financing or grants [for] to projects that 883
1009		-	benefit any resident or prospective resident who is a low-income 884
1010		-	resident. 885
1011		-	Sec. 20. Section 7-131d of the general statutes is repealed and the 886
1012		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 887
1013		-	(a) There is established the protected open space and watershed land 888
1014		-	acquisition grant program. The program shall provide grants to 889
1015		-	municipalities and nonprofit land conservation organizations to acquire 890
1016		-	land or permanent interests in land for open space and watershed 891
1017		-	protection and to water companies, as defined in section 25-32a, to 892
1018		-	acquire and protect land which is eligible to be classified as class I or 893
1019		-	class II land, as defined in section 25-37c, after acquisition. All lands or 894
1020		-	interests in land acquired under this program shall be preserved in 895
1021		-	perpetuity predominantly in their natural scenic and open condition for 896
1022		-	the protection of natural resources while allowing for recreation 897
1023		-	consistent with such protection and, for lands acquired by water 898
1024		-	companies, allowing for the improvements necessary for the protection 899
1025		-	or provision of potable water. 900
1026		-	(b) Grants may be made under the protected open space and 901
1027		-	watershed land acquisition grant program established under subsection 902
1028		-	(a) of this section or under the Charter Oak open space grant program 903
1029		-	established under section 7-131t to match funds for the purchase of land 904 Substitute Bill No. 5004
1030		-
1031		-
1032		-	LCO 29 of 34
1033		-
1034		-	or permanent interests in land which purchase meets one of the 905
1035		-	following criteria: (1) Protects land identified as being especially 906
1036		-	valuable for recreation, forestry, fishing, conservation of wildlife or 907
1037		-	natural resources; (2) protects land which includes or contributes to a 908
1038		-	prime natural feature of the state's landscape, including, but not limited 909
1039		-	to, a shoreline, a river, its tributaries and watershed, an aquifer, 910
1040		-	mountainous territory, ridgelines, an inland or coastal wetland, a 911
1041		-	significant littoral or estuarine or aquatic site or other important 912
1042		-	geological feature; (3) protects habitat for native plant or animal species 913
1043		-	listed as threatened or endangered or of special concern, as defined in 914
1044		-	section 26-304; (4) protects a relatively undisturbed outstanding 915
1045		-	example of a native ecological community which is now uncommon; (5) 916
1046		-	enhances and conserves water quality of the state's lakes, rivers and 917
1047		-	coastal water; (6) preserves local agricultural heritage; or (7) in the case 918
1048		-	of grants to water companies, protects land which is eligible to be 919
1049		-	classified as class I land or class II land after acquisition. 920
1050		-	(c) Grants may be made under the protected open space and 921
1051		-	watershed land acquisition grant program established under subsection 922
1052		-	(a) of this section for restoration or protection of natural features or 923
1053		-	habitats on open space already owned by a (1) distressed municipality, 924
1054		-	as defined in section 32-9p, (2) targeted investment community, as 925
1055		-	defined in section 32-222, (3) municipality, provided such open space is 926
1056		-	located in an environmental justice community, as defined in section 927
1057		-	22a-20a, or (4) nonprofit land conservation organization, provided such 928
1058		-	open space is located in a distressed municipality, targeted investment 929
1059		-	community or environmental justice community. Such restoration or 930
1060		-	protection may include, but need not be limited to, wetland, wildlife or 931
1061		-	plant habitat restoration or restoration of other sites to a more natural 932
1062		-	condition or replacement of vegetation. Such grants may also fund the 933
1063		-	development of urban agricultural sites on such open space for 934
1064		-	nonprofit or commercial use. The total amount of grants made pursuant 935
1065		-	to this subsection shall not exceed twenty per cent of the total amount 936
1066		-	of grants made pursuant to the open space and watershed land 937
1067		-	acquisition grant program in any fiscal year. 938 Substitute Bill No. 5004
1068		-
1069		-
1070		-	LCO 30 of 34
1071		-
1072		-	(d) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no 939
1073		-	grant may be made under the protected open space and watershed land 940
1074		-	acquisition grant program established under subsection (a) of this 941
1075		-	section or under the Charter Oak open space grant program established 942
1076		-	under section 7-131t for: (A) Land to be used for commercial purposes 943
1077		-	or for recreational purposes requiring intensive development, 944
1078		-	including, but not limited to, golf courses, driving ranges, tennis courts, 945
1079		-	ballfields, swimming pools and uses by motorized vehicles other than 946
1080		-	vehicles needed by water companies to carry out their purposes, 947
1081		-	provided trails or pathways for pedestrians, motorized wheelchairs or 948
1082		-	nonmotorized vehicles shall not be considered intensive development; 949
1083		-	(B) land with environmental contamination over a significant portion of 950
1084		-	the property provided grants for land requiring remediation of 951
1085		-	environmental contamination may be made if remediation will be 952
1086		-	completed before acquisition of the land or any interest in the land and 953
1087		-	an environmental assessment approved by the Commissioner of Energy 954
1088		-	and Environmental Protection has been completed and no 955
1089		-	environmental use restriction applies to the land; (C) land which has 956
1090		-	already been committed for public use, except as provided in subsection 957
1091		-	(c) of section 7-131g; (D) development costs, including, but not limited 958
1092		-	to, construction of ballfields, tennis courts, parking lots or roadways; (E) 959
1093		-	land to be acquired by eminent domain; or (F) reimbursement of in-kind 960
1094		-	services or incidental expenses associated with the acquisition of land. 961
1095		-	This subsection shall not prohibit the continuation of agricultural 962
1096		-	activity, the activities of a water company for public water supply 963
1097		-	purposes or the selling of timber incidental to management of the land 964
1098		-	which management is in accordance with approved forest management 965
1099		-	practices provided any proceeds of such timber sales shall be used for 966
1100		-	management of the land. In the case of land acquired under this section 967
1101		-	which is designated as a state park, any fees charged by the state for use 968
1102		-	of such land shall be used by the state in accordance with the provisions 969
1103		-	of title 23. 970
1104		-	(2) Grants in a total amount not exceeding five per cent of the total 971
1105		-	amount of grants made pursuant to the open space and watershed land 972 Substitute Bill No. 5004
1106		-
1107		-
1108		-	LCO 31 of 34
1109		-
1110		-	acquisition grant program in any fiscal year may be made to distressed 973
1111		-	municipalities, as defined in section 32-9p, targeted investment 974
1112		-	communities, as defined in section 32-222, nonprofit land conservation 975
1113		-	organizations and municipalities, for the purpose of reimbursement for 976
1114		-	in-kind services or incidental expenses associated with the acquisition 977
1115		-	of land, including, but not limited to, survey fees, appraisal costs and 978
1116		-	legal fees, provided such land is located in a distressed municipality, 979
1117		-	targeted investment community or environmental justice community, 980
1118		-	as defined in section 22a-20a. 981
1119		-	(e) Any municipality or group of contiguous municipalities may 982
1120		-	apply to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection for 983
1121		-	a grant-in-aid of a program established to preserve or restrict to 984
1122		-	conservation or recreation purposes the use of open space land. Such 985
1123		-	grant shall be used for the acquisition of land, or easements, interests or 986
1124		-	rights therein, or for the development of such land, or easements, 987
1125		-	interests or rights therein, for purposes set forth in this section, or both, 988
1126		-	in accordance with a plan of development adopted by the municipal 989
1127		-	planning commission of the municipality within which the land is 990
1128		-	located. Any application for a grant-in-aid relating to land located 991
1129		-	beyond the territorial limits of the applying municipality shall be subject 992
1130		-	to approval of the legislative body of the municipality within whose 993
1131		-	territorial limits the land is located. A municipality applying for aid 994
1132		-	under this section, may designate its conservation commission as its 995
1133		-	agent to make such application. 996
1134		-	(f) At closing, a permanent conservation easement, as defined in 997
1135		-	section 47-42, shall be executed for any property purchased with grant 998
1136		-	funds, which conservation easement shall provide that the property 999
1137		-	shall remain forever predominantly in its natural and open condition 1000
1138		-	for the specific conservation, open space or water supply purposes for 1001
1139		-	which it was acquired provided any improvements or changes to the 1002
1140		-	property shall be supportive of such condition or purposes. The 1003
1141		-	permanent conservation easement shall be in favor of the state acting 1004
1142		-	through the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or 1005
1143		-	his designee, which may be a municipality or a land conservation 1006 Substitute Bill No. 5004
1144		-
1145		-
1146		-	LCO 32 of 34
1147		-
1148		-	organization. In the case of land acquired for water supply protection, a 1007
1149		-	water company may hold an easement in conjunction with the state or 1008
1150		-	a nonprofit entity to protect the water supply. Such permanent 1009
1151		-	conservation easement shall also include a requirement that the 1010
1152		-	property be made available to the general public for appropriate 1011
1153		-	recreational purposes, the maintenance of which recreational access 1012
1154		-	shall be the responsibility of the grantee provided such access shall not 1013
1155		-	be required for land which will be classified as class I or class II land by 1014
1156		-	a water company if such access is inconsistent with the provision of pure 1015
1157		-	drinking water to the public. An exception to the provision of public 1016
1158		-	recreational access may be made at the discretion of the Commissioner 1017
1159		-	of Energy and Environmental Protection when provision for public 1018
1160		-	access would be unreasonably detrimental to the wildlife or plant 1019
1161		-	habitat or other natural features of the property or, for land where 1020
1162		-	development rights have been purchased, would be disruptive of 1021
1163		-	agricultural activity occurring on the land. Any instrument conveying 1022
1164		-	an interest in land less than fee which interest is purchased under this 1023
1165		-	section shall provide for the permanent preservation of the land and 1024
1166		-	public access consistent with the land's use or protection and with any 1025
1167		-	restrictions prescribed by the Department of Public Health in order to 1026
1168		-	protect a public drinking water source. 1027
1169		-	(g) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this 1028
1170		-	section, not more than ten per cent of the funds authorized for the open 1029
1171		-	space and watershed land acquisition program may be allocated by the 1030
1172		-	commissioner for the purpose of mitigating wildfire risks on properties 1031
1173		-	acquired or protected through the program, including properties 1032
1174		-	already protected by the program, through the management of 1033
1175		-	vegetative fuel loads. 1034
1176		-	(2) Not later than January 15, 2026, the commissioner shall establish 1035
1177		-	criteria and guidelines for the allocation and use of funds under this 1036
1178		-	subsection, ensuring that such funds are used efficiently and in 1037
1179		-	alignment with the program's overarching goals of protecting open 1038
1180		-	space and natural resources while reducing wildfire risk. 1039 Substitute Bill No. 5004
1181		-
1182		-
1183		-	LCO 33 of 34
1184		-
1185		-	Sec. 21. (Effective from passage) The Department of Energy and 1040
1186		-	Environmental Protection shall conduct a study on renter utilization of 1041
1187		-	state energy efficiency and clean energy programs for which such 1042
1188		-	department can obtain data, including, but not limited to, any barriers 1043
1189		-	for renters to access such programs and any attendant 1044
1190		-	recommendations for addressing any such barriers. Not later than July 1045
1191		-	1, 2026, the department shall submit a report to the joint standing 1046
1192		-	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 1047
1193		-	relating to the environment and energy and technology, in accordance 1048
1194		-	with section 11-4a of the general statutes, that contains any such 1049
1195		-	recommendations. 1050
	170	+	proceeding regarding the future of natural gas use in the state in relation 126
	171	+	to the provisions of section 22a-200a of the general statutes, as amended 127
	172	+	by this act. Such proceeding shall include, but need not be limited to, 128
	173	+	the consideration and implementation of beneficial electrification 129
	174	+	measures such as geothermal systems and heat pumps, the integration 130
	175	+	of natural gas and electric company joint planning processes. Upon 131
	176	+	completion of such uncontested proceeding, said authority shall submit 132
	177	+	a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general 133
	178	+	statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 134
	179	+	having cognizance of matters relating to the environment and energy 135
	180	+	and technology on any recommendations for legislative changes 136
	181	+	necessary to implement the findings of such docket. 137
	182	+	Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) On or before July 1, 2026, the 138
	183	+	Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall, within available 139
	184	+	appropriations, establish a centralized data dashboard that shall be 140
	185	+	offered through a publicly accessible Internet web site through which 141
	186	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	187	+
	188	+
	189	+	LCO No. 4924 6 of 58
	190	+
	191	+	residents of the state have access to high-quality data that is relevant to 142
	192	+	ratepayer-funded clean and renewable energy programs. Such 143
	193	+	centralized data dashboard shall contain, at a minimum, the following: 144
	194	+	(1) Data related to ratepayer-funded clean and renewable energy 145
	195	+	programs overseen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority; (2) a 146
	196	+	complete list of Class I renewable energy sources, as defined in section 147
	197	+	16-1 of the general statutes, including those located in the state, that are 148
	198	+	connected to the electric distribution system; (3) a complete list of 149
	199	+	energy storage projects in the state that are connected to the electric 150
	200	+	distribution system; and (4) key metrics and other information related 151
	201	+	to the affordability of the services provided by the electric distribution 152
	202	+	companies, as defined in section 16-1 of the general statutes, at the 153
	203	+	discretion of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. 154
	204	+	(b) The authority shall develop and maintain such centralized data 155
	205	+	dashboard Internet web site and may enter into an agreement with a 156
	206	+	consultant for the development of such centralized data dashboard 157
	207	+	Internet web site, provided any costs related to such consultant's 158
	208	+	development of such centralized data dashboard Internet web site shall 159
	209	+	not be recoverable through a fully reconciling component of electric 160
	210	+	rates for all customers of electric distribution companies. 161
	211	+	(c) Each such electric distribution company shall be responsible for 162
	212	+	collecting and providing the information required pursuant to this 163
	213	+	section to the authority. An electric distribution company shall be 164
	214	+	deemed compliant with the requirements of this section when any such 165
	215	+	requisite information is provided to the authority through a docket or 166
	216	+	directive of said authority. 167
	217	+	(d) Not less than annually, or at a more frequent interval as 168
	218	+	determined by the authority, the data required pursuant to subsection 169
	219	+	(a) of this section shall be updated with the most up-to-date information 170
	220	+	reasonably available to the authority and the electric distribution 171
	221	+	companies. 172
	222	+	Sec. 6. Subdivision (3) of subsection (c) of section 32-7t of the general 173
	223	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	224	+
	225	+
	226	+	LCO No. 4924 7 of 58
	227	+
	228	+	statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 174
	229	+	(Effective July 1, 2025): 175
	230	+	(3) The commissioner, upon consideration of an application and any 176
	231	+	additional information, may approve an application in whole or in part 177
	232	+	or may approve an application with amendments, provided the 178
	233	+	commissioner may give preference to applications that: (A) Make 179
	234	+	significant investments in environmentally sustainable practices, 180
	235	+	including, but not limited to, zero-carbon energy and energy efficiency, 181
	236	+	(B) are in sectors of the economy such as renewable energy, energy 182
	237	+	efficiency and zero-emission vehicles, or (C) are for farming operations 183
	238	+	that are sustainable from a climate perspective. If the commissioner 184
	239	+	disapproves an application, the commissioner shall identify the defects 185
	240	+	in such application and explain the specific reasons for the disapproval. 186
	241	+	The commissioner shall render a decision on an application not later 187
	242	+	than ninety days after the date of its receipt by the commissioner. 188
	243	+	Sec. 7. (Effective from passage) The Secretary of the State shall provide 189
	244	+	a voucher for the amount of any registration or renewal fee for a benefit 190
	245	+	corporation, as defined in section 33-1351 of the general statutes, 191
	246	+	provided such corporation submits proof to the secretary that the 192
	247	+	corporation meets the parameters of a benefit corporation, as defined in 193
	248	+	section 33-1351 of the general statutes. 194
	249	+	Sec. 8. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a Connecticut 195
	250	+	Clean Economy Council that shall advise on economic development 196
	251	+	strategies and policies that strengthen the state's climate mitigation, 197
	252	+	clean energy, resilience and sustainability programs, in particular for 198
	253	+	vulnerable communities, as defined in section 16-243y of the general 199
	254	+	statutes. 200
	255	+	(b) Such council shall meet not less than quarterly, at dates, times and 201
	256	+	locations to be established by the cochairpersons of such council. The 202
	257	+	council shall: (1) Identify opportunities to leverage state and federal 203
	258	+	funding to scale economic development and workforce opportunities 204
	259	+	associated with climate mitigation, clean energy, resilience and 205
	260	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	261	+
	262	+
	263	+	LCO No. 4924 8 of 58
	264	+
	265	+	sustainability investments, (2) serve as a central coordinating body for 206
	266	+	climate mitigation, clean energy, resilience and sustainability workforce 207
	267	+	efforts and opportunities statewide, (3) develop economic development 208
	268	+	and workforce strategies that support investment and growth of climate 209
	269	+	mitigation, clean energy, resilience and sustainability, and (4) advise the 210
	270	+	Governor on any state-wide economic or workforce action plan in clean 211
	271	+	energy, climate and sustainability. 212
	272	+	(c) Such council shall develop a plan to facilitate the transition of 213
	273	+	workers from fossil-fuel-based employment to clean economy jobs 214
	274	+	consistent with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Such plan 215
	275	+	shall be submitted not later than July 1, 2026, to the joint standing 216
	276	+	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 217
	277	+	relating to the environment, energy and technology and commerce, in 218
	278	+	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. 219
	279	+	(d) Such council shall be composed of the following members: (1) The 220
	280	+	Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the 221
	281	+	commissioner's designee, who shall also serve as a cochairperson of the 222
	282	+	council, (2) the Chief Workforce Officer, or said officer's designee, who 223
	283	+	shall also serve as a cochairperson of the council, (3) the Commissioner 224
	284	+	of Energy and Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's 225
	285	+	designee, who shall also serve as cochairperson of the council, (4) the 226
	286	+	Commissioner of Transportation, or the commissioner's designee, (5) 227
	287	+	the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or the secretary's 228
	288	+	designee, (6) a representative from the office of the Governor, (7) the 229
	289	+	chief executive officer of the Connecticut Green Bank, or the chief 230
	290	+	executive officer's designee, (8) the chief executive officer of Connecticut 231
	291	+	Innovations, Incorporated, or the chief executive officer's designee, (9) 232
	292	+	the Labor Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, (10) the 233
	293	+	Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or the commissioner's designee, 234
	294	+	(11) one member appointed by the Chief Workforce Officer who shall 235
	295	+	be a representative of a regional workforce development board, (12) one 236
	296	+	member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who 237
	297	+	shall be a member of the Connecticut Technical Education Career 238
	298	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	299	+
	300	+
	301	+	LCO No. 4924 9 of 58
	302	+
	303	+	System, (13) one member appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, 239
	304	+	who shall be a representative of a nonprofit organization that focuses on 240
	305	+	helping people overcome barriers to workforce participation, (14) one 241
	306	+	member appointed by the majority leader of the House of 242
	307	+	Representatives, who shall have expertise in hiring and training 243
	308	+	employees in the trades related to green technologies, (15) one member 244
	309	+	appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a 245
	310	+	representative of a higher education institution and have expertise in 246
	311	+	technical education, (16) one member appointed by the minority leader 247
	312	+	of the House of Representatives, who shall be a member of the 248
	313	+	Connecticut State Building Trades Council, and (17) any other member 249
	314	+	so designated by the cochairpersons. Any member appointed pursuant 250
	315	+	to subdivision (17) of this subsection shall serve at the pleasure of the 251
	316	+	cochairpersons of the council. 252
	317	+	(e) A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a 253
	318	+	quorum. 254
	319	+	(f) The cochairpersons shall, in addition to their general duties, have 255
	320	+	the following specific responsibilities: The cochairperson from the 256
	321	+	Department of Economic and Community Development shall lead the 257
	322	+	activities specified in subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section and 258
	323	+	The cochairperson from the Office of Workforce Strategy shall lead the 259
	324	+	activities specified in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section. 260
	325	+	(g) Not later than February 15, 2026, and biannually thereafter, the 261
	326	+	council shall report on its work, findings and recommendations to the 262
	327	+	Governor, the Office of Policy and Management, and the joint standing 263
	328	+	committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 264
	329	+	relating to the environment, energy and technology, higher education 265
	330	+	and commerce, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 266
	331	+	general statutes. 267
	332	+	Sec. 9. Section 31-3rr of the general statutes is repealed and the 268
	333	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 269
	334	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	335	+
	336	+
	337	+	LCO No. 4924 10 of 58
	338	+
	339	+	(a) As used in this section and section 10a-55g: 270
	340	+	(1) "Green jobs" has the same meaning as provided in section 10a-55d; 271
	341	+	(2) "Green technology" has the same meaning as provided in section 272
	342	+	10a-55d; and 273
	343	+	(3) "Career ladder" means a description of the progression from an 274
	344	+	entry level position to higher levels of pay, skill, responsibility or 275
	345	+	authority. 276
	346	+	(b) Not later than January 1, 2020, the Connecticut Clean Economy 277
	347	+	Council, in consultation with the Office of Higher Education, 278
	348	+	Department of Education, Labor Department, Department of Energy 279
	349	+	and Environmental Protection, regional workforce development boards 280
	350	+	and employers, shall, within available appropriations, identify a career 281
	351	+	ladder for jobs in the green technology industry, including, but not 282
	352	+	limited to, a listing of (1) careers at each level of the green technology 283
	353	+	industry and the requisite level of education and the salary offered for 284
	354	+	such career, (2) all course, certificate and degree programs in green jobs 285
	355	+	offered by technical education and career schools within the Technical 286
	356	+	Education and Career System and institutions of higher education in the 287
	357	+	state, and (3) jobs available in the green technology industry in the state. 288
	358	+	The Connecticut Clean Economy Council shall update the green jobs 289
	359	+	career ladder established pursuant to this section on an as needed basis. 290
	360	+	[(c) Not later than January 1, 2024, the Connecticut Clean Economy 291
	361	+	Council shall develop a plan for green jobs workforce training to 292
	362	+	accomplish the greenhouse gas emissions goals set forth in subsection 293
	363	+	(a) of section 22a-200a. Such plan shall include, but need not be limited 294
	364	+	to, (1) development of work-based learning programs for green jobs 295
	365	+	with workforce shortages; (2) development of certificate and degree 296
	366	+	programs related to the green technology industry at technical 297
	367	+	education and career schools and institutions of higher education in the 298
	368	+	state; (3) identification of available funding, whether from a public or 299
	369	+	private source, to fund the development of such work-based learning 300
	370	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	371	+
	372	+
	373	+	LCO No. 4924 11 of 58
	374	+
	375	+	and certificate and degree programs and provide grants to apprentices 301
	376	+	and students; and (4) a strategy to market and recruit individuals, 302
	377	+	especially from underrepresented populations, to existing and newly 303
	378	+	developed green jobs work-based learning programs and certificate and 304
	379	+	degree programs related to the green technology industry at job centers, 305
	380	+	technical education and career schools and institutions of higher 306
	381	+	education. Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, said 307
	382	+	council shall update such plan as necessary. 308
	383	+	(d) Not later than February 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the 309
	384	+	Connecticut Clean Economy Council shall submit, in accordance with 310
	385	+	the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the 311
	386	+	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher 312
	387	+	education and employment advancement the plan developed or 313
	388	+	updated pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.] 314
	389	+	Sec. 10. Subsection (b) of section 10-283 of the general statutes is 315
	390	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 316
	391	+	2025): 317
	392	+	(b) Notwithstanding the application date requirements of this 318
	393	+	section, at any time within the limit of available grant authorization and 319
	394	+	within the limit of appropriated funds, the Commissioner of 320
	395	+	Administrative Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of 321
	396	+	Education, may approve applications for grants and make payments for 322
	397	+	such grants, for any of the following reasons: [(A)] (1) To assist school 323
	398	+	building projects to remedy damage from fire and catastrophe, [(B)] (2) 324
	399	+	to correct safety, health and other code violations, [(C)] (3) to replace 325
	400	+	roofs, including the replacement or installation of skylights as part of 326
	401	+	the roof replacement project, [(D)] (4) to remedy a certified school 327
	402	+	indoor air quality emergency, [(E)] (5) to install insulation for exterior 328
	403	+	walls and attics, or [(F)] (6) to purchase and install a limited use and 329
	404	+	limited access elevator, windows, photovoltaic panels, air source or 330
	405	+	ground source heat pumps, wind generation systems, building 331
	406	+	management systems or portable classroom buildings, provided 332
	407	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	408	+
	409	+
	410	+	LCO No. 4924 12 of 58
	411	+
	412	+	portable classroom building projects shall not create a new facility or 333
	413	+	cause an existing facility to be modified so that the portable buildings 334
	414	+	comprise a substantial percentage of the total facility area, as 335
	415	+	determined by the commissioner. 336
	416	+	Sec. 11. Section 16a-48 of the general statutes is repealed and the 337
	417	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 338
	418	+	(a) As used in this section: 339
	419	+	(1) "Department" means the Department of Energy and 340
	420	+	Environmental Protection; 341
	421	+	(2) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Energy and 342
	422	+	Environmental Protection; 343
	423	+	(3) "State Building Code" means the building code adopted pursuant 344
	424	+	to section 29-252; 345
	425	+	[(2)] (4) "Fluorescent lamp ballast" or "ballast" means a device 346
	426	+	designed to operate fluorescent lamps by providing a starting voltage 347
	427	+	and current and limiting the current during normal operation, but does 348
	428	+	not include such devices that have a dimming capability or are intended 349
	429	+	for use in ambient temperatures of zero degrees Fahrenheit or less or 350
	430	+	have a power factor of less than sixty-one hundredths for a single 351
	431	+	F40T12 lamp; 352
	432	+	[(3)] (5) "F40T12 lamp" means a tubular fluorescent lamp that is a 353
	433	+	nominal forty-watt lamp, with a forty-eight-inch tube length and one 354
	434	+	and one-half inches in diameter; 355
	435	+	[(4) "F96T12 lamp" means a tubular fluorescent lamp that is a nominal 356
	436	+	seventy-five-watt lamp with a ninety-six-inch tube length and one and 357
	437	+	one-half inches in diameter; 358
	438	+	(5) "Luminaire" means a complete lighting unit consisting of a 359
	439	+	fluorescent lamp, or lamps, together with parts designed to distribute 360
	440	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	441	+
	442	+
	443	+	LCO No. 4924 13 of 58
	444	+
	445	+	the light, to position and protect such lamps, and to connect such lamps 361
	446	+	to the power supply; 362
	447	+	(6) "New product" means a product that is sold, offered for sale, or 363
	448	+	installed for the first time and specifically includes floor models and 364
	449	+	demonstration units; 365
	450	+	(7) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Energy and 366
	451	+	Environmental Protection; 367
	452	+	(8) "State Building Code" means the building code adopted pursuant 368
	453	+	to section 29-252;] 369
	454	+	[(9)] (6) "Torchiere lighting fixture" means a portable electric lighting 370
	455	+	fixture with a reflector bowl giving light directed upward so as to give 371
	456	+	indirect illumination; 372
	457	+	[(10) "Unit heater" means a self-contained, vented fan-type 373
	458	+	commercial space heater that uses natural gas or propane and that is 374
	459	+	designed to be installed without ducts within the heated space. "Unit 375
	460	+	heater" does not include a product regulated by federal standards 376
	461	+	pursuant to 42 USC 6291, as amended from time to time, a product that 377
	462	+	is a direct vent, forced flue heater with a sealed combustion burner, or 378
	463	+	any oil fired heating system; 379
	464	+	(11) "Transformer" means a device consisting of two or more coils of 380
	465	+	insulated wire that transfers alternating current by electromagnetic 381
	466	+	induction from one coil to another in order to change the original 382
	467	+	voltage or current value; 383
	468	+	(12) "Low-voltage dry-type transformer" means a transformer that: 384
	469	+	(A) Has an input voltage of six hundred volts or less; (B) is between 385
	470	+	fourteen kilovolt-amperes and two thousand five hundred one kilovolt-386
	471	+	amperes in size; (C) is air-cooled; and (D) does not use oil as a coolant. 387
	472	+	"Low-voltage dry-type transformer" does not include such transformers 388
	473	+	excluded from the low-voltage dry-type distribution transformer 389
	474	+	definition contained in the California Code of Regulations, Title 20: 390
	475	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	476	+
	477	+
	478	+	LCO No. 4924 14 of 58
	479	+
	480	+	Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4: Appliance Efficiency Regulations; 391
	481	+	(13) "Pass-through cabinet" means a refrigerator or freezer with 392
	482	+	hinged or sliding doors on both the front and rear of the refrigerator or 393
	483	+	freezer; 394
	484	+	(14) "Reach-in cabinet" means a refrigerator, freezer, or combination 395
	485	+	thereof, with hinged or sliding doors or lids; 396
	486	+	(15) "Roll-in" or "roll-through cabinet" means a refrigerator or freezer 397
	487	+	with hinged or sliding doors that allows wheeled racks of product to be 398
	488	+	rolled into or through the refrigerator or freezer; 399
	489	+	(16) "Commercial refrigerators and freezers" means reach-in cabinets, 400
	490	+	pass-through cabinets, roll-in cabinets and roll-through cabinets that 401
	491	+	have less than eighty-five feet of capacity, which are designed for the 402
	492	+	refrigerated or frozen storage of food and food products; 403
	493	+	(17) "Traffic signal module" means a standard eight-inch or twelve-404
	494	+	inch round traffic signal indicator consisting of a light source, lens and 405
	495	+	all parts necessary for operation and communication of movement 406
	496	+	messages to drivers through red, amber and green colors; 407
	497	+	(18) "Illuminated exit sign" means an internally illuminated sign that 408
	498	+	is designed to be permanently fixed in place and used to identify an exit 409
	499	+	by means of a light source that illuminates the sign or letters from within 410
	500	+	where the background of the exit sign is not transparent; 411
	501	+	(19) "Packaged air-conditioning equipment" means air-conditioning 412
	502	+	equipment that is built as a package and shipped as a whole to end-user 413
	503	+	sites; 414
	504	+	(20) "Large packaged air-conditioning equipment" means air-cooled 415
	505	+	packaged air-conditioning equipment having not less than two hundred 416
	506	+	forty thousand BTUs per hour of capacity; 417
	507	+	(21) "Commercial clothes washer" means a soft mount front-loading 418
	508	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	509	+
	510	+
	511	+	LCO No. 4924 15 of 58
	512	+
	513	+	or soft mount top-loading clothes washer that is designed for use in (A) 419
	514	+	applications where the occupants of more than one household will be 420
	515	+	using it, such as in multifamily housing common areas and coin 421
	516	+	laundries; or (B) other commercial applications, if the clothes container 422
	517	+	compartment is no greater than three and one-half cubic feet for 423
	518	+	horizontal-axis clothes washers or no greater than four cubic feet for 424
	519	+	vertical-axis clothes washers; 425
	520	+	(22) "Energy efficiency ratio" means a measure of the relative 426
	521	+	efficiency of a heating or cooling appliance that is equal to the unit's 427
	522	+	output in BTUs per hour divided by its consumption of energy, 428
	523	+	measured in watts; 429
	524	+	(23) "Electricity ratio" means the ratio of furnace electricity use to total 430
	525	+	furnace energy use; 431
	526	+	(24) "Boiler" means a space heater that is a self-contained appliance 432
	527	+	for supplying steam or hot water primarily intended for space-heating. 433
	528	+	"Boiler" does not include hot water supply boilers; 434
	529	+	(25) "Central furnace" means a self-contained space heater designed 435
	530	+	to supply heated air through ducts of more than ten inches in length; 436
	531	+	(26) "Residential furnace or boiler" means a product that utilizes only 437
	532	+	single-phase electric current or single-phase electric current or DC 438
	533	+	current in conjunction with natural gas, propane or home heating oil 439
	534	+	and that (A) is designed to be the principal heating source for the living 440
	535	+	space of a residence; (B) is not contained within the same cabinet as a 441
	536	+	central air conditioner with a rated cooling capacity of not less than 442
	537	+	sixty-five thousand BTUs per hour; (C) is an electric central furnace, 443
	538	+	electric boiler, forced-air central furnace, gravity central furnace or low 444
	539	+	pressure steam or hot water boiler; and (D) has a heat input rate of less 445
	540	+	than three hundred thousand BTUs per hour for an electric boiler and 446
	541	+	low pressure steam or hot water boiler and less than two hundred 447
	542	+	twenty-five thousand BTUs per hour for a forced-air central furnace, 448
	543	+	gravity central furnace and electric central furnace; 449
	544	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	545	+
	546	+
	547	+	LCO No. 4924 16 of 58
	548	+
	549	+	(27) "Furnace air handler" means the section of the furnace that 450
	550	+	includes the fan, blower and housing, generally upstream of the burners 451
	551	+	and heat exchanger. The furnace air handler may include a filter and a 452
	552	+	cooling coil;] 453
	553	+	[(28)] (7) "High-intensity discharge lamp" means a lamp in which 454
	554	+	light is produced by the passage of an electric current through a vapor 455
	555	+	or gas, the light-producing arc is stabilized by bulb wall temperature 456
	556	+	and the arc tube has a bulb wall loading in excess of three watts per 457
	557	+	square centimeter; 458
	558	+	[(29)] (8) "Metal halide lamp" means a [high intensity] high-intensity 459
	559	+	discharge lamp in which the major portion of the light is produced by 460
	560	+	radiation of metal halides and their products of dissociation, possibly in 461
	561	+	combination with metallic vapors; 462
	562	+	[(30)] (9) "Metal halide lamp fixture" means a light fixture designed 463
	563	+	to be operated with a metal halide lamp and a ballast for a metal halide 464
	564	+	lamp; 465
	565	+	[(31)] (10) "Probe start metal halide ballast" means a ballast used to 466
	566	+	operate metal halide lamps that does not contain an ignitor and that 467
	567	+	instead starts lamps by using a third starting electrode probe in the arc 468
	568	+	tube; 469
	569	+	[(32) "Single voltage external AC to DC power supply" means a 470
	570	+	device that (A) is designed to convert line voltage AC input into lower 471
	571	+	voltage DC output; (B) is able to convert to only one DC output voltage 472
	572	+	at a time; (C) is sold with, or intended to be used with, a separate end 473
	573	+	use product that constitutes the primary power load; (D) is contained 474
	574	+	within a separate physical enclosure from the end use product; (E) is 475
	575	+	connected to the end use product in a removable or hard-wired male 476
	576	+	and female electrical connection, cable, cord or other wiring; (F) does 477
	577	+	not have batteries or battery packs, including those that are removable 478
	578	+	or that physically attach directly to the power supply unit; (G) does not 479
	579	+	have a battery chemistry or type selector switch and indicator light or a 480
	580	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	581	+
	582	+
	583	+	LCO No. 4924 17 of 58
	584	+
	585	+	battery chemistry or type selector switch and a state of charge meter; 481
	586	+	and (H) has a nameplate output power less than or equal to two 482
	587	+	hundred fifty watts;] 483
	588	+	[(33)] (11) "State regulated incandescent reflector lamp" means a lamp 484
	589	+	that is not colored or designed for rough or vibration service 485
	590	+	applications, has an inner reflective coating on the outer bulb to direct 486
	591	+	the light, has an E26 medium screw base, a rated voltage or voltage 487
	592	+	range that lies at least partially within one hundred fifteen to one 488
	593	+	hundred thirty volts, and that falls into one of the following categories: 489
	594	+	(A) A bulged reflector, [or] elliptical reflector or a blown PAR bulb shape 490
	595	+	[and] that has a diameter that equals or exceeds two and one-quarter 491
	596	+	inches, or (B) a reflector, parabolic aluminized reflector, bulged reflector 492
	597	+	or similar bulb shape [and] that has a diameter of two and one-quarter 493
	598	+	to two and three-quarters inches. "State regulated incandescent reflector 494
	599	+	lamp" does not include ER30, BR30, BR40 and ER40 lamps of not more 495
	600	+	than fifty watts, BR30, BR40 and ER40 lamps of sixty-five watts and R20 496
	601	+	lamps of not more than forty-five watts; 497
	602	+	[(34) "Bottle-type water dispenser" means a water dispenser that uses 498
	603	+	a bottle or reservoir as the source of potable water;] 499
	604	+	[(35)] (12) "Commercial hot food holding cabinet" means a heated, 500
	605	+	fully-enclosed compartment with one or more solid or [partial glass] 501
	606	+	transparent doors [that is] designed to maintain the temperature of hot 502
	607	+	food that has been cooked [in] using a separate appliance. "Commercial 503
	608	+	hot food holding cabinet" does not include heated glass merchandizing 504
	609	+	cabinets, drawer warmers or cook-and-hold appliances; 505
	610	+	[(36) "Pool heater" means an appliance designed for heating 506
	611	+	nonpotable water contained at atmospheric pressure for swimming 507
	612	+	pools, spas, hot tubs and similar applications, including natural gas, 508
	613	+	heat pump, oil and electric resistance pool heaters;] 509
	614	+	[(37)] (13) "Portable electric spa" means a factory-built electric spa or 510
	615	+	hot tub, supplied with equipment for heating and circulating water at 511
	616	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	617	+
	618	+
	619	+	LCO No. 4924 18 of 58
	620	+
	621	+	the time of sale or sold separately for subsequent attachment; 512
	622	+	[(38) "Residential pool pump" means a pump used to circulate and 513
	623	+	filter pool water to maintain clarity and sanitation; 514
	624	+	(39) "Walk-in refrigerator" means a space refrigerated to 515
	625	+	temperatures at or above thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit that has a total 516
	626	+	chilled storage area of less than three thousand square feet, can be 517
	627	+	walked into and is designed for the refrigerated storage of food and food 518
	628	+	products. "Walk-in refrigerator" does not include refrigerated 519
	629	+	warehouses and products designed and marketed exclusively for 520
	630	+	medical, scientific or research purposes; 521
	631	+	(40) "Walk-in freezer" means a space refrigerated to temperatures 522
	632	+	below thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit that has a total chilled storage area 523
	633	+	of less than three thousand square feet, can be walked into and is 524
	634	+	designed for the frozen storage of food and food products. "Walk-in 525
	635	+	freezer" does not include refrigerated warehouses and products 526
	636	+	designed and marketed exclusively for medical, scientific or research 527
	637	+	purposes; 528
	638	+	(41) "Central air conditioner" means a central air conditioning model 529
	639	+	that consists of one or more factory-made assemblies, which normally 530
	640	+	include an evaporator or cooling coil, compressor and condenser. 531
	641	+	Central air conditioning models may provide the function of air cooling, 532
	642	+	air cleaning, dehumidifying or humidifying;] 533
	643	+	[(42)] (14) "Combination television" means a system in which a 534
	644	+	television or television monitor and an additional device or devices, 535
	645	+	including, but not limited to, a digital versatile disc player or video 536
	646	+	cassette recorder, are combined into a single unit in which the additional 537
	647	+	devices are included in the television casing; 538
	648	+	[(43) "Compact audio player" means an integrated audio system 539
	649	+	encased in a single housing that includes an amplifier and radio tuner 540
	650	+	with attached or separable speakers and can reproduce audio from one 541
	651	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	652	+
	653	+
	654	+	LCO No. 4924 19 of 58
	655	+
	656	+	or more of the following media: Magnetic tape, compact disc, digital 542
	657	+	versatile disc or flash memory. "Compact audio player" does not mean 543
	658	+	a product that can be independently powered by internal batteries, has 544
	659	+	a powered external satellite antenna or can provide a video output 545
	660	+	signal;] 546
	661	+	[(44)] (15) "Component television" means a television composed of 547
	662	+	two or more separate components, such as a separate display device and 548
	663	+	tuner, marketed and sold as a television under one model or system 549
	664	+	designation, which may have more than one power cord; 550
	665	+	[(45)] (16) "Computer monitor" [means an analog or digital device 551
	666	+	designed primarily for the display of computer generated signals and 552
	667	+	that is not marketed for use as a television] has the same meaning as set 553
	668	+	forth in section 1602 of the California Code of Regulations, Title 20, 554
	669	+	Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4; 555
	670	+	[(46)] (17) "Digital versatile disc" means a laser-encoded plastic 556
	671	+	medium capable of storing a large amount of digital audio, video and 557
	672	+	computer data; 558
	673	+	[(47)] (18) "Digital versatile disc player" means a commercially 559
	674	+	available electronic product encased in a single housing that includes an 560
	675	+	integral power supply and for which the sole purpose is the decoding 561
	676	+	of digitized video signals; 562
	677	+	[(48) "Digital versatile disc recorder" means a commercially available 563
	678	+	electronic product encased in a single housing that includes an integral 564
	679	+	power supply and for which the sole purpose is the production or 565
	680	+	recording of digitized audio, video and computer signals on a digital 566
	681	+	versatile disc. "Digital versatile disc recorder" does not include a model 567
	682	+	that has an electronic programming guide function;] 568
	683	+	[(49)] (19) "Television" means an analog or digital device designed 569
	684	+	primarily for the display and reception of a terrestrial, satellite, cable, 570
	685	+	internet protocol television or other broadcast or recorded transmission 571
	686	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	687	+
	688	+
	689	+	LCO No. 4924 20 of 58
	690	+
	691	+	of analog or digital video and audio signals. "Television" includes 572
	692	+	combination televisions, television monitors, component televisions 573
	693	+	and any unit that is marketed to consumers as a television but does not 574
	694	+	include a computer monitor; 575
	695	+	[(50)] (20) "Television monitor" means a television that does not have 576
	696	+	an internal tuner/receiver or playback device; 577
	697	+	(21) "Cold temperature fluorescent lamp" means a fluorescent lamp 578
	698	+	that is not a compact fluorescent lamp that: (A) Is specifically designed 579
	699	+	to start at negative twenty degrees Fahrenheit when used with a ballast 580
	700	+	that conforms to the requirements of ANSI C78.81 and ANSI C78.901; 581
	701	+	and (B) is expressly designated as a cold temperature lamp both in 582
	702	+	markings on the lamp and in marketing materials, including, but not 583
	703	+	limited to, catalogs, sales literature and promotional material; 584
	704	+	(22) "Computer" has the same meaning as set forth in section 1602 of 585
	705	+	the California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, 586
	706	+	Article 4; 587
	707	+	(23) "Commercial dishwasher" means a machine designed to clean 588
	708	+	and sanitize plates, pots, pans, glasses, cups, bowls, utensils and trays 589
	709	+	by applying sprays of detergent solution, with or without blasting 590
	710	+	media granules, and a sanitizing rinse; 591
	711	+	(24) "Commercial fryer" means an appliance, including a cooking 592
	712	+	vessel, in which oil is placed to such a depth that the cooking food is 593
	713	+	essentially supported by displacement of the cooking fluid rather than 594
	714	+	by the bottom of the vessel. Heat is delivered to the cooking fluid by 595
	715	+	means of an immersed electric element or band-wrapped vessel (electric 596
	716	+	fryers) or by heat transfer from gas burners through either the walls of 597
	717	+	the fryer or through tubes passing through the cooking fluid (gas 598
	718	+	fryers); 599
	719	+	(25) "Commercial oven" means a chamber designed for heating, 600
	720	+	roasting or baking food by conduction, convection, radiation or 601
	721	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	722	+
	723	+
	724	+	LCO No. 4924 21 of 58
	725	+
	726	+	electromagnetic energy; 602
	727	+	(26) "Commercial steam cooker" or "compartment steamer" means a 603
	728	+	device with one or more food-steaming compartments in which the 604
	729	+	energy in the steam is transferred to the food by direct contact, 605
	730	+	including, but not limited to, the following models: Countertop models, 606
	731	+	wall-mounted models and floor models mounted on a stand, pedestal 607
	732	+	or cabinet-style base; 608
	733	+	(27) "High color rendering index fluorescent lamp" means a 609
	734	+	fluorescent lamp with a color rendering index of eighty-seven or greater 610
	735	+	that is not a compact fluorescent lamp; 611
	736	+	(28) "Impact-resistant fluorescent lamp" means a fluorescent lamp 612
	737	+	that is not a compact fluorescent lamp that: (A) Has a coating or 613
	738	+	equivalent technology that is in compliance with NSF/ANSI 51 and is 614
	739	+	designed to contain the glass if the glass envelope of the lamp is broken; 615
	740	+	and (B) is designated and marketed for the intended application, with 616
	741	+	the designation on the lamp packaging and marketing materials that 617
	742	+	identify the lamp as being impact-resistant, shatter-resistant, shatter-618
	743	+	proof or shatter-protected; 619
	744	+	(29) "Faucet" means a lavatory faucet, kitchen faucet, metering faucet, 620
	745	+	public lavatory faucet or replacement aerator for a lavatory, public 621
	746	+	lavatory or kitchen faucet; 622
	747	+	(30) "Lavatory faucet means" a plumbing fitting designed for 623
	748	+	discharge into a lavatory; 624
	749	+	(31) "Public lavatory faucet" means a fitting intended to be installed 625
	750	+	in nonresidential bathrooms that are exposed to walk-in traffic; 626
	751	+	(32) "Metering faucet" means a fitting that, when turned on, will 627
	752	+	gradually shut itself off over a period of several seconds; 628
	753	+	(33) "Residential ventilating fan" means a ceiling, wall-mounted or 629
	754	+	remotely mounted in-line fan designed to be used in a bathroom or 630
	755	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	756	+
	757	+
	758	+	LCO No. 4924 22 of 58
	759	+
	760	+	utility room, whose purpose is to move air from inside the building to 631
	761	+	the outdoors; 632
	762	+	(34) "Showerhead" means a device through which water is 633
	763	+	discharged for a shower bath and includes a hand-held showerhead but 634
	764	+	does not include a safety shower showerhead; 635
	765	+	(35) "Hand-held showerhead" means a showerhead that can be held 636
	766	+	or fixed in place for the purpose of spraying water onto a bather and 637
	767	+	that is connected to a flexible hose; 638
	768	+	(36) "Water cooler" means a freestanding device that consumes 639
	769	+	energy to cool or heat potable water; 640
	770	+	(37) "Hot and cold unit water cooler" means a water cooler that 641
	771	+	dispenses both hot and cold water and may dispense room-temperature 642
	772	+	water; 643
	773	+	(38) "Cook and cold unit water cooler" means a water cooler that 644
	774	+	dispenses both cold and room-temperature water; 645
	775	+	(39) "Storage-type hot and cold unit water cooler" means a water 646
	776	+	cooler where thermally conditioned water is stored in a tank in the water 647
	777	+	cooler and is available instantaneously, including, but not limited to, 648
	778	+	point-of-use, dry storage compartment and bottled water coolers; 649
	779	+	(40) "On demand hot and cold water cooler" means a water cooler 650
	780	+	that heats water as it is requested and typically takes a few minutes to 651
	781	+	deliver; 652
	782	+	(41) "Gas fireplace" means a decorative gas fireplace or a heating gas 653
	783	+	fireplace; 654
	784	+	(42) "Decorative gas fireplace" means a vented fireplace, including 655
	785	+	appliances that are freestanding, recessed, zero clearance, or a gas 656
	786	+	fireplace insert, that is fueled by natural gas or propane, is marked for 657
	787	+	decorative use only, and is not equipped with a thermostat or intended 658
	788	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	789	+
	790	+
	791	+	LCO No. 4924 23 of 58
	792	+
	793	+	for use as a heater; 659
	794	+	(43) "Heating gas fireplace" means a vented fireplace, including 660
	795	+	appliances that are freestanding, recessed, zero clearance, or a gas 661
	796	+	fireplace insert, that is fueled by natural gas or propane and is not a 662
	797	+	decorative fireplace; 663
	798	+	(44) "Replacement aerator" means an aerator sold as a replacement, 664
	799	+	separate from the faucet to which is intended to be attached. 665
	800	+	[(b) The provisions of this section apply to the testing, certification 666
	801	+	and enforcement of efficiency standards for the following types of new 667
	802	+	products sold, offered for sale or installed in the state: (1) Commercial 668
	803	+	clothes washers; (2) commercial refrigerators and freezers; (3) 669
	804	+	illuminated exit signs; (4) large packaged air-conditioning equipment; 670
	805	+	(5) low voltage dry-type distribution transformers; (6) torchiere lighting 671
	806	+	fixtures; (7) traffic signal modules; (8) unit heaters; (9) residential 672
	807	+	furnaces and boilers; (10) residential pool pumps; (11) metal halide lamp 673
	808	+	fixtures; (12) single voltage external AC to DC power supplies; (13) state 674
	809	+	regulated incandescent reflector lamps; (14) bottle-type water 675
	810	+	dispensers; (15) commercial hot food holding cabinets; (16) portable 676
	811	+	electric spas; (17) walk-in refrigerators and walk-in freezers; (18) pool 677
	812	+	heaters; (19) compact audio players; (20) televisions; (21) digital versatile 678
	813	+	disc players; (22) digital versatile disc recorders; and (23) any other 679
	814	+	products as may be designated by the commissioner in accordance with 680
	815	+	subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section.] 681
	816	+	[(c)] (b) The provisions of this section do not apply to (1) new 682
	817	+	products manufactured in the state and sold outside the state, (2) new 683
	818	+	products manufactured outside the state and sold at wholesale inside 684
	819	+	the state for final retail sale and installation outside the state, (3) 685
	820	+	products installed in mobile manufactured homes at the time of 686
	821	+	construction, or (4) products designed expressly for installation and use 687
	822	+	in recreational vehicles. 688
	823	+	[(d) (1) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection 689
	824	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	825	+
	826	+
	827	+	LCO No. 4924 24 of 58
	828	+
	829	+	shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, 690
	830	+	to implement the provisions of this section and to establish minimum 691
	831	+	energy efficiency standards for the types of new products set forth in 692
	832	+	subsection (b) of this section. The regulations shall provide for the 693
	833	+	following minimum energy efficiency standards: 694
	834	+	(A) Commercial clothes washers shall meet the requirements shown 695
	835	+	in Table P-3 of section 1605.3 of the California Code of Regulations, Title 696
	836	+	20: Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4; 697
	837	+	(B) Commercial refrigerators and freezers shall meet the August 1, 698
	838	+	2004, requirements shown in Table A-6 of said California regulation; 699
	839	+	(C) Illuminated exit signs shall meet the version 2.0 product 700
	840	+	specification of the "Energy Star Program Requirements for Exit Signs" 701
	841	+	developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; 702
	842	+	(D) Large packaged air-conditioning equipment having not more 703
	843	+	than seven hundred sixty thousand BTUs per hour of capacity shall 704
	844	+	meet a minimum energy efficiency ratio of 10.0 for units using both 705
	845	+	electric heat and air conditioning or units solely using electric air 706
	846	+	conditioning, and 9.8 for units using both natural gas heat and electric 707
	847	+	air conditioning; 708
	848	+	(E) Large packaged air-conditioning equipment having not less than 709
	849	+	seven hundred sixty-one thousand BTUs per hour of capacity shall meet 710
	850	+	a minimum energy efficiency ratio of 9.7 for units using both electric 711
	851	+	heat and air conditioning or units solely using electric air conditioning, 712
	852	+	and 9.5 for units using both natural gas heat and electric air 713
	853	+	conditioning; 714
	854	+	(F) Low voltage dry-type distribution transformers shall meet or 715
	855	+	exceed the energy efficiency values shown in Table 4-2 of the National 716
	856	+	Electrical Manufacturers Association Standard TP-1-2002;] 717
	857	+	(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection or 718
	858	+	subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of this section, on and after October 1, 719
	859	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	860	+
	861	+
	862	+	LCO No. 4924 25 of 58
	863	+
	864	+	2025, the following minimum energy efficiency standards and any test 720
	865	+	methods associated with such standards shall apply to new products: 721
	866	+	[(G)] (A) Torchiere lighting fixtures shall not consume more than one 722
	867	+	hundred ninety watts and shall not be capable of operating with lamps 723
	868	+	that total more than one hundred ninety watts; 724
	869	+	[(H) Traffic signal modules shall meet the product specification of the 725
	870	+	"Energy Star Program Requirements for Traffic Signals" developed by 726
	871	+	the United States Environmental Protection Agency that took effect in 727
	872	+	February, 2001, except where the department, in consultation with the 728
	873	+	Commissioner of Transportation, determines that such specification 729
	874	+	would compromise safe signal operation; 730
	875	+	(I) Unit heaters shall not have pilot lights and shall have either power 731
	876	+	venting or an automatic flue damper; 732
	877	+	(J) On or after January 1, 2009, residential furnaces and boilers 733
	878	+	purchased by the state shall meet or exceed the following annual fuel 734
	879	+	utilization efficiency: (i) For gas and propane furnaces, ninety per cent 735
	880	+	annual fuel utilization efficiency, (ii) for oil furnaces, eighty-three per 736
	881	+	cent annual fuel utilization efficiency, (iii) for gas and propane hot water 737
	882	+	boilers, eighty-four per cent annual fuel utilization efficiency, (iv) for oil-738
	883	+	fired hot water boilers, eighty-four per cent annual fuel utilization 739
	884	+	efficiency, (v) for gas and propane steam boilers, eighty-two per cent 740
	885	+	annual fuel utilization efficiency, (vi) for oil-fired steam boilers, eighty-741
	886	+	two per cent annual fuel utilization efficiency, and (vii) for furnaces with 742
	887	+	furnace air handlers, an electricity ratio of not more than 2.0, except air 743
	888	+	handlers for oil furnaces with a capacity of less than ninety-four 744
	889	+	thousand BTUs per hour shall have an electricity ratio of 2.3 or less;] 745
	890	+	[(K) On or after January 1, 2010, metal] (B) Metal halide lamp fixtures 746
	891	+	designed to be operated with lamps rated greater than or equal to one 747
	892	+	hundred fifty watts but less than or equal to five hundred watts shall 748
	893	+	not contain a probe-start metal halide lamp ballast; 749
	894	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	895	+
	896	+
	897	+	LCO No. 4924 26 of 58
	898	+
	899	+	[(L) Single-voltage external AC to DC power supplies manufactured 750
	900	+	on or after January 1, 2008, shall meet the energy efficiency standards of 751
	901	+	table U-1 of section 1605.3 of the January 2006 California Code of 752
	902	+	Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4: Appliance 753
	903	+	Efficiency Regulations. This standard applies to single voltage AC to DC 754
	904	+	power supplies that are sold individually and to those that are sold as a 755
	905	+	component of or in conjunction with another product. This standard 756
	906	+	shall not apply to single-voltage external AC to DC power supplies sold 757
	907	+	with products subject to certification by the United States Food and 758
	908	+	Drug Administration. A single-voltage external AC to DC power supply 759
	909	+	that is made available by a manufacturer directly to a consumer or to a 760
	910	+	service or repair facility after and separate from the original sale of the 761
	911	+	product requiring the power supply as a service part or spare part shall 762
	912	+	not be required to meet the standards in said table U-1 until five years 763
	913	+	after the effective dates indicated in the table;] 764
	914	+	[(M) On or after January 1, 2009, state] (C) State regulated 765
	915	+	incandescent reflector lamps shall be manufactured to meet the 766
	916	+	minimum average lamp efficacy requirements for federally regulated 767
	917	+	incandescent reflector lamps contained in [42 USC 6295(i)(1)(A)] 42 USC 768
	918	+	6295(i)(1)(B). Each lamp shall indicate the date of manufacture; 769
	919	+	[(N)] (D) On or after January 1, 2009, bottle-type water dispensers, 770
	920	+	commercial hot food holding cabinets, portable electric spas, walk-in 771
	921	+	refrigerators and walk-in freezers shall meet the efficiency requirements 772
	922	+	of section 1605.3 of the January 2006 California Code of Regulations, 773
	923	+	Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4: Appliance Efficiency 774
	924	+	Regulations. On or after January 1, 2010, residential pool pumps shall 775
	925	+	meet said efficiency requirements; 776
	926	+	[(O) On or after January 1, 2009, pool heaters shall meet the efficiency 777
	927	+	requirements of sections 1605.1 and 1605.3 of the January 2006 778
	928	+	California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4: 779
	929	+	Appliance Efficiency Regulations; 780
	930	+	(P) By January 1, 2014, compact audio players, digital versatile disc 781
	931	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	932	+
	933	+
	934	+	LCO No. 4924 27 of 58
	935	+
	936	+	players and digital versatile disc recorders shall meet the requirements 782
	937	+	shown in Table V-1 of Section 1605.3 of the November 2009 amendments 783
	938	+	to the California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, 784
	939	+	Article 4, unless the commissioner, in accordance with subparagraph (B) 785
	940	+	of subdivision (3) of this subsection, determines that such standards are 786
	941	+	unwarranted and may accept, reject or modify according to 787
	942	+	subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of this subsection; 788
	943	+	(Q) On or after January 1, 2014, televisions] 789
	944	+	(E) Televisions manufactured on or after July 1, 2011, shall meet the 790
	945	+	requirements shown in Table V-2 of Section 1605.3 of the November 791
	946	+	2009 amendments to the California Code of Regulations, Title 20, 792
	947	+	Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4; [, unless the commissioner, in 793
	948	+	accordance with subparagraph (B) of subdivision (3) of this subsection, 794
	949	+	determines that such standards are unwarranted and may accept, reject 795
	950	+	or modify according to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of this 796
	951	+	subsection;] and 797
	952	+	[(R)] (F) In addition to the requirements of subparagraph [(Q)] (E) of 798
	953	+	this subdivision, televisions manufactured on or after January 1, 2014, 799
	954	+	shall meet the efficiency requirements of Sections 1605.3(v)(3)(A), 800
	955	+	1605.3(v)(3)(B) and 1605.3(v)(3)(C) of the November 2009 amendments 801
	956	+	to the California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, 802
	957	+	Article 4; [, unless the commissioner, in accordance with subparagraph 803
	958	+	(B) of subdivision (3) of this subsection, determines that such standards 804
	959	+	are unwarranted and may accept, reject or modify according to 805
	960	+	subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of this subsection.] and 806
	961	+	(2) On or after January 1, 2026, except as provided in subdivision (1) 807
	962	+	of subsection (d) of this section, the following minimum energy 808
	963	+	efficiency standards and test methods associated with such standards 809
	964	+	shall apply to new products sold or leased, offered for sale or lease, or 810
	965	+	installed in the state: 811
	966	+	(A) Commercial dishwashers included in the scope of the version 2.0 812
	967	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	968	+
	969	+
	970	+	LCO No. 4924 28 of 58
	971	+
	972	+	product specification of the "Energy Star Program Requirements for 813
	973	+	Commercial Dishwashers" developed by the United States 814
	974	+	Environmental Protection Agency shall meet the qualification criteria of 815
	975	+	such specification; 816
	976	+	(B) Commercial fryers included in the scope of the version 2.0 817
	977	+	product specification of the "Energy Star Program Requirements for 818
	978	+	Commercial Fryers" developed by the United States Environmental 819
	979	+	Protection Agency shall meet the qualification criteria of such 820
	980	+	specification; 821
	981	+	(C) Commercial hot food holding cabinets shall meet the version 2.0 822
	982	+	product specification of the "Energy Star Program Requirements for 823
	983	+	Commercial Hot Food Holding Cabinets" developed by the United 824
	984	+	States Environmental Protection Agency; 825
	985	+	(D) Commercial ovens included in the scope of the version 2.2 826
	986	+	product specification of the "Energy Star Program Requirements for 827
	987	+	Commercial Ovens" developed by the United States Environmental 828
	988	+	Protection Agency shall meet the qualification criteria of such 829
	989	+	specification; 830
	990	+	(E) Commercial steam cookers shall meet the version 1.2 product 831
	991	+	specification of the "Energy Star Program Requirements for Commercial 832
	992	+	Steam Cookers" developed by the United States Environmental 833
	993	+	Protection Agency; 834
	994	+	(F) Computers and computer monitors shall meet the requirements 835
	995	+	of subsection (v) of section 1605.3 of the California Code of Regulations, 836
	996	+	Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4, and compliance with such 837
	997	+	requirements shall be measured in accordance with the test methods 838
	998	+	prescribed in subsection (v) of section 1604 of said California regulation. 839
	999	+	Any regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to this section 840
	1000	+	shall define "computer" and "computer monitor" to have the same 841
	1001	+	meanings as set forth in subsection (v) of section 1602 of the California 842
	1002	+	Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4, and 843
	1003	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1004	+
	1005	+
	1006	+	LCO No. 4924 29 of 58
	1007	+
	1008	+	subsection (a) of this section, provided the commissioner may amend 844
	1009	+	such regulations to provide that the definitions of "computer" and 845
	1010	+	"computer monitor" and the minimum efficiency standards for 846
	1011	+	computers and computer monitors conform to subsequently adopted 847
	1012	+	versions of subsection (v) of section 1605.3 of the California Code of 848
	1013	+	Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 4, and subsection (v) 849
	1014	+	of section 1602 of the California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 850
	1015	+	2, Chapter 4, Article 4, as applicable; 851
	1016	+	(G) Faucets, except metering faucets, shall meet the standards in this 852
	1017	+	subparagraph when tested in accordance with the "Uniform Test 853
	1018	+	Method for Measuring the Water Consumption of Faucets and 854
	1019	+	Showerheads" set forth in 10 CFR 430, Subpart B, Appendix S. Lavatory 855
	1020	+	faucets and their replacement aerators shall not exceed a maximum flow 856
	1021	+	rate of 1.5 gallons per minute at sixty pounds per square inch. Kitchen 857
	1022	+	faucets and their replacement aerators shall not exceed a maximum flow 858
	1023	+	rate of 1.8 gallons per minute at sixty pounds per square inch, with 859
	1024	+	optional temporary flow of 2.2 gallons per minute, provided they 860
	1025	+	default to a maximum flow rate of 1.8 gallons per minute at sixty pounds 861
	1026	+	per square inch after each use. Public lavatory faucets and their 862
	1027	+	replacement aerators shall not exceed a maximum flow rate of 0.5 863
	1028	+	gallons per minute at sixty pounds per square inch; 864
	1029	+	(H) Gas fireplaces shall comply with the following requirements: 865
	1030	+	(i) Gas fireplaces shall be capable of automatically extinguishing any 866
	1031	+	pilot flame when the main gas burner flame is extinguished or shall 867
	1032	+	prevent any ignition source for the main gas burner flame from 868
	1033	+	operating continuously for more than seven days from last use of the 869
	1034	+	main burner; and 870
	1035	+	(ii) Heating gas fireplaces shall have a fireplace efficiency greater than 871
	1036	+	or equal to fifty per cent when tested in accordance with Canadian 872
	1037	+	Standards Association P.4.1-15, "Testing Method for Measuring Annual 873
	1038	+	Fireplace Efficiency", as amended from time to time; 874
	1039	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1040	+
	1041	+
	1042	+	LCO No. 4924 30 of 58
	1043	+
	1044	+	(I) High color rendering index, cold temperature, and impact-875
	1045	+	resistant fluorescent lamps shall meet the minimum efficacy 876
	1046	+	requirements contained in 10 CFR 430.32(n)(4), as in effect on January 1, 877
	1047	+	2021, as measured in accordance with the "Uniform Test Method for 878
	1048	+	Measuring Average Lamp Efficacy (LE), Color Rendering Index (CRI), 879
	1049	+	and Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of Electric Lamps" set forth in 880
	1050	+	10 CFR 430, Subpart B, Appendix R, as in effect on January 1, 2022; 881
	1051	+	(J) Portable electric spas shall meet the requirements of 882
	1052	+	ANSI/APSP/ICC-14-2019, "American National Standard for Portable 883
	1053	+	Electric Spa Energy Efficiency"; 884
	1054	+	(K) In-line residential ventilating fans shall have a fan motor efficacy 885
	1055	+	of not less than 2.8 cubic feet per minute per watt. All other residential 886
	1056	+	ventilating fans shall have a fan motor efficacy of not less than 1.4 cubic 887
	1057	+	feet per minute per watt for airflows less than ninety cubic feet per 888
	1058	+	minute and not less than 2.8 cubic feet per minute per watt for other 889
	1059	+	airflows when tested in accordance with Home Ventilation Institute 890
	1060	+	Publication 916, "HVI Airflow Test Procedure"; 891
	1061	+	(L) Showerheads shall not exceed a maximum flow rate of 2.0 gallons 892
	1062	+	per minute at eighty pounds per square inch when tested in accordance 893
	1063	+	with the "Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Water Consumption 894
	1064	+	of Faucets and Showerheads" set forth in 10 CFR 430, Subpart B, 895
	1065	+	Appendix S; and 896
	1066	+	(M) Water coolers included in the scope of the version 2.0 product 897
	1067	+	specification of the "Energy Star Program Requirements for Water 898
	1068	+	Coolers" developed by the United States Environmental Protection 899
	1069	+	Agency shall have an on mode with no water draw and energy 900
	1070	+	consumption less than or equal to the following values as measured in 901
	1071	+	accordance with the test requirements of such specification: (i) 0.16 902
	1072	+	kilowatt-hour per day for cold-only water coolers and cook and cold 903
	1073	+	unit water coolers; (ii) 0.87 of one kilowatt-hour per day for storage-type 904
	1074	+	hot and cold unit water coolers; and (iii) 0.18 of one kilowatt-hour per 905
	1075	+	day for on demand hot and cold unit water coolers. 906
	1076	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1077	+
	1078	+
	1079	+	LCO No. 4924 31 of 58
	1080	+
	1081	+	[(2) Such] (d) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 29-252, 907
	1082	+	such efficiency standards, where in conflict with the State Building 908
	1083	+	Code, shall take precedence over the standards contained in the State 909
	1084	+	Building Code. Not later than [July 1, 2007] October 1, 2026, and 910
	1085	+	biennially thereafter, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 911
	1086	+	Protection shall review and increase the level of such efficiency 912
	1087	+	standards by adopting regulations in accordance with the provisions of 913
	1088	+	chapter 54 upon a determination that increased efficiency standards 914
	1089	+	would serve to promote energy conservation in the state and would be 915
	1090	+	cost-effective for consumers who purchase and use such new products, 916
	1091	+	provided [no] any such increased efficiency standards shall become 917
	1092	+	effective [within] not earlier than one year [following] after the adoption 918
	1093	+	of any amended regulations providing for such increased efficiency 919
	1094	+	standards. 920
	1095	+	[(3) (A)] (2) If any of the efficiency standards issued or approved for 921
	1096	+	publication by the Office of the United States Secretary of Energy as of 922
	1097	+	December 31, 2024, pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation 923
	1098	+	Act, 10 Code of Federal Regulation Parts 430-431, are withdrawn, 924
	1099	+	repealed, or otherwise voided, new products shall meet or exceed the 925
	1100	+	minimum efficiency level permitted for products previously subject to 926
	1101	+	federal efficiency standards as of said date. This subdivision shall not 927
	1102	+	apply to any federal efficiency standard set aside by a court upon the 928
	1103	+	petition of a person who will be adversely affected, as provided in 929
	1104	+	section 6306(b) of title 42 of the United States Code. 930
	1105	+	(3) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection 931
	1106	+	[shall] may adopt regulations, or amend regulations previously adopted 932
	1107	+	pursuant to this section, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, 933
	1108	+	to designate additional products to be subject to the provisions of this 934
	1109	+	section and to establish efficiency or greenhouse gas emissions 935
	1110	+	standards for such products upon a determination that such [efficiency] 936
	1111	+	standards: [(i) would] (A) Would (i) serve to promote energy 937
	1112	+	conservation in the state, or (ii) make reasonable further progress 938
	1113	+	towards the greenhouse gas emission reduction levels set forth in 939
	1114	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1115	+
	1116	+
	1117	+	LCO No. 4924 32 of 58
	1118	+
	1119	+	section 22a-200a, as amended by this act; (B) would be cost-effective for 940
	1120	+	consumers who purchase and use such new products; [,] and [(iii)] (C) 941
	1121	+	would not impose an unreasonable burden on [Connecticut] businesses 942
	1122	+	in the state. Such standards may include, but need not be limited to, 943
	1123	+	requirements concerning the ability of a product to interface with a local 944
	1124	+	electric utility's demand response program. 945
	1125	+	(4) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may 946
	1126	+	adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 947
	1127	+	designate additional products that shall be subject to the provisions of 948
	1128	+	this section for any product that energy standards were issued for or 949
	1129	+	approved for publication on or before January 1, 2018, pursuant to the 950
	1130	+	Energy Policy and Conservation Act, 42 USC 6201 et seq., by the United 951
	1131	+	States Department of Energy and that were subsequently withdrawn, 952
	1132	+	repealed or otherwise voided. For such products, the minimum energy 953
	1133	+	efficiency level permitted shall be such previously applicable federal 954
	1134	+	energy conservation standards, as such standards existed on January 1, 955
	1135	+	2018. This subdivision shall not apply to any federal energy 956
	1136	+	conservation standard set aside by a court upon the petition of a person 957
	1137	+	who will be adversely affected, as provided in 42 USC 6306(b). 958
	1138	+	[(B) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in 959
	1139	+	consultation with the Multi-State Appliance Standards Collaborative, 960
	1140	+	shall identify additional appliance and equipment efficiency standards. 961
	1141	+	The commissioner shall review all California standards and may review 962
	1142	+	standards from other states in such collaborative. The commissioner 963
	1143	+	shall issue notice of such review in the Connecticut Law Journal, allow 964
	1144	+	for public comment and may hold a public hearing within six months of 965
	1145	+	adoption of an efficiency standard by a cooperative member state 966
	1146	+	regarding a product for which no equivalent Connecticut or federal 967
	1147	+	standard currently exists. The commissioner shall adopt regulations in 968
	1148	+	accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 adopting such efficiency 969
	1149	+	standard unless the commissioner makes a specific finding that such 970
	1150	+	standard does not meet the criteria in subparagraph (A) of this 971
	1151	+	subdivision. 972
	1152	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1153	+
	1154	+
	1155	+	LCO No. 4924 33 of 58
	1156	+
	1157	+	(e) On or after July 1, 2006, except for commercial clothes washers, for 973
	1158	+	which the date shall be July 1, 2007, commercial refrigerators and 974
	1159	+	freezers, for which the date shall be July 1, 2008, and large packaged air-975
	1160	+	conditioning equipment, for which the date shall be July 1, 2009, no new 976
	1161	+	product of a type set forth in subsection (b) of this section or designated 977
	1162	+	by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may be 978
	1163	+	sold, offered for sale, or installed in the state unless the energy efficiency 979
	1164	+	of the new product meets or exceeds the efficiency standards set forth 980
	1165	+	in such regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. 981
	1166	+	(f) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 982
	1167	+	adopt procedures for testing the energy efficiency of the new products 983
	1168	+	set forth in subsection (b) of this section or designated by the 984
	1169	+	commissioner if such procedures are not provided for in the State 985
	1170	+	Building Code. The commissioner shall use United States Department 986
	1171	+	of Energy approved test methods, or in the absence of such test 987
	1172	+	methods, other appropriate nationally recognized test methods. The 988
	1173	+	manufacturers of such products shall cause samples of such products to 989
	1174	+	be tested in accordance with the test procedures adopted pursuant to 990
	1175	+	this subsection or those specified in the State Building Code. 991
	1176	+	(g) Manufacturers of any new products set forth in subsection (b) of 992
	1177	+	this section for which (1) no efficiency standards exist in California, and 993
	1178	+	(2) the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection adopts 994
	1179	+	efficiency standards, shall certify to the commissioner that such 995
	1180	+	products are in compliance with the provisions of this section, except 996
	1181	+	that certification is not required for single voltage external AC to DC 997
	1182	+	power supplies and walk-in refrigerators and walk-in freezers. All 998
	1183	+	single voltage external AC to DC power supplies shall be labeled as 999
	1184	+	described in the January 2006 California Code of Regulations, Title 20, 1000
	1185	+	Section 1607(9). The commissioner shall promulgate regulations 1001
	1186	+	governing the certification of such products.] 1002
	1187	+	(e) Manufacturers of products subject to the provisions of this section 1003
	1188	+	shall submit documentation, on a form prescribed by the commissioner, 1004
	1189	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1190	+
	1191	+
	1192	+	LCO No. 4924 34 of 58
	1193	+
	1194	+	concerning the certification of such products by the California Energy 1005
	1195	+	Commission, the United States Environmental Protection Agency's 1006
	1196	+	Water Sense program or successor program that promotes water 1007
	1197	+	efficiency, the federal Energy Star program or successor program that 1008
	1198	+	promotes energy efficiency, or a third-party certification body 1009
	1199	+	designated by the commissioner, as applicable, for compliance with this 1010
	1200	+	section or compliance with identical standards adopted by another 1011
	1201	+	jurisdiction. The commissioner shall publish an annual list of [any 1012
	1202	+	products set forth in subsection (b) of this section on the department's 1013
	1203	+	Internet web site that designates which such products are certified in 1014
	1204	+	California and which such products not certified in California have 1015
	1205	+	demonstrated compliance with efficiency standards adopted by the 1016
	1206	+	commissioner pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (3) of 1017
	1207	+	subsection (d) of this section] such products. 1018
	1208	+	(f) The commissioner may periodically inspect or cause inspections 1019
	1209	+	to be made, either in person or online, of distributors and retailers of 1020
	1210	+	new products subject to the provisions of this section. The commissioner 1021
	1211	+	may establish a process to anonymously report potential violations of 1022
	1212	+	this section through the department's Internet web site. 1023
	1213	+	[(h)] (g) The Attorney General may institute proceedings to enforce 1024
	1214	+	the provisions of this section. Any person who violates any provision of 1025
	1215	+	this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than two 1026
	1216	+	hundred fifty dollars. Each violation of this section shall constitute a 1027
	1217	+	separate offense, and each day that such violation continues shall 1028
	1218	+	constitute a separate offense. 1029
	1219	+	Sec. 12. Subsection (b) of section 21a-86a of the general statutes is 1030
	1220	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1031
	1221	+	1, 2025): 1032
	1222	+	(b) The maximum water use allowed in the regulations adopted 1033
	1223	+	under subsection (a) of this section for [showerheads, urinals, faucets 1034
	1224	+	and replacement aerators] urinals manufactured or sold on or after 1035
	1225	+	October 1, 1990, shall be [as follows: For showerheads, 2.5 gallons per 1036
	1226	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1227	+
	1228	+
	1229	+	LCO No. 4924 35 of 58
	1230	+
	1231	+	minute; for urinals, 1.0 gallons per flush; for bathroom sinks, lavatory 1037
	1232	+	and kitchen faucets and replacement aerators, 2.5 gallons per minute, 1038
	1233	+	except that lavatories in restrooms of public facilities shall be equipped 1039
	1234	+	with outlet devices which limit the flow rate to a maximum of 0.5 gallons 1040
	1235	+	per minute] 1.0 gallons per flush. The maximum water use allowed in 1041
	1236	+	the regulations adopted under subsection (a) of this section for tank-1042
	1237	+	type toilets, flushometer-valve toilets, flushometer-tank toilets and 1043
	1238	+	electromechanical hydraulic toilets manufactured or sold on or after 1044
	1239	+	January 1, 1992, shall be 1.6 gallons per flush, unless and until 1045
	1240	+	equivalent standards for similar types of toilets are adopted by the 1046
	1241	+	American National Standards Institute, Inc. 1047
	1242	+	Sec. 13. Section 21a-86b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1048
	1243	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 1049
	1244	+	No person may sell, offer for sale or install any new [showerhead, 1050
	1245	+	urinal, faucet or replacement aerator on and after October 1, 1990,] 1051
	1246	+	urinal or any new tank-type toilet, flushometer-valve toilet, 1052
	1247	+	flushometer-tank toilet or electromechanical hydraulic toilet on and 1053
	1248	+	after January 1, 1992, unless such [showerhead, urinal, faucet, 1054
	1249	+	replacement aerator] urinal, tank-type toilet, flushometer-valve toilet, 1055
	1250	+	flushometer-tank toilet or electromechanical hydraulic toilet meets or 1056
	1251	+	exceeds the efficiency standards set forth in regulations adopted by the 1057
	1252	+	Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to subsection (a) of 1058
	1253	+	section 21a-86a, or is authorized under the regulations adopted by the 1059
	1254	+	commissioner pursuant to subsection (d) of said section. 1060
	1255	+	Sec. 14. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) The Commissioner of 1061
	1256	+	Energy and Environmental Protection shall develop a plan for the 1062
	1257	+	installation of efficient heat pumps for affordable heating and cooling 1063
	1258	+	systems in the state. 1064
	1259	+	(b) Such plan shall provide for the availability of affordable heat 1065
	1260	+	pump options, with a focus on heat pump applications that have the 1066
	1261	+	greatest potential benefits, including, but not limited to, lowering 1067
	1262	+	consumers' energy costs; reducing impacts to the electric grid; and 1068
	1263	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1264	+
	1265	+
	1266	+	LCO No. 4924 36 of 58
	1267	+
	1268	+	improving building resilience, including, but not limited to, (1) 1069
	1269	+	residences in environmental justice communities and long-term care 1070
	1270	+	facilities where not less than eighty per cent of such residents are 1071
	1271	+	Medicaid recipients in good financial standing with the state, (2) access 1072
	1272	+	to energy efficient, affordable air conditioning for residents 1073
	1273	+	experiencing high energy bills and health risks during heat waves, (3) 1074
	1274	+	increased resilience during extreme heat events for homes and 1075
	1275	+	businesses, (4) improved flood resilience for homes and businesses by 1076
	1276	+	enabling home heating systems to be located above ground, and (5) low 1077
	1277	+	or no interest loans to replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning 1078
	1278	+	equipment to residences impacted by extreme weather events. Such 1079
	1279	+	plan shall describe how the state could best utilize any available or 1080
	1280	+	future grant or loan funding. Not later than January 1, 2027, the 1081
	1281	+	commissioner shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions 1082
	1282	+	of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees 1083
	1283	+	of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the 1084
	1284	+	environment and energy and technology on the status of such plan and 1085
	1285	+	any recommendations for expanding or revising such plan. 1086
	1286	+	Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Secretary of the Office of 1087
	1287	+	Policy and Management, in consultation with the Department of 1088
	1288	+	Administrative Services, shall develop a model policy or guidelines for 1089
	1289	+	environmentally sustainable purchasing that municipalities may 1090
	1290	+	voluntarily utilize and implement. Such policy or guidelines shall 1091
	1291	+	include, but need not be limited to, a list of any state contracts for 1092
	1292	+	sustainable purchasing that allow for municipal participation. The 1093
	1293	+	Commissioner of Administrative Services shall post such policy or 1094
	1294	+	guidelines on the Internet web site of the Department of Administrative 1095
	1295	+	Services not later than January 1, 2025. 1096
	1296	+	Sec. 16. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than January 1, 1097
	1297	+	2026, the Department of Administrative Services, in consultation with 1098
	1298	+	the Office of Policy and Management, the Departments of Energy and 1099
	1299	+	Environmental Protection and Transportation, and any other state 1100
	1300	+	agency deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Administrative 1101
	1301	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1302	+
	1303	+
	1304	+	LCO No. 4924 37 of 58
	1305	+
	1306	+	Services, shall establish a process for said commissioner to consider 1102
	1307	+	when making any decision to remodel, alter, repair, construct or enlarge 1103
	1308	+	any state real asset, pursuant to section 4b-51 of the general statutes, the 1104
	1309	+	capability of such state real asset to: (1) Increase energy efficiency, (2) 1105
	1310	+	utilize zero-carbon heating and cooling and water heating alternatives, 1106
	1311	+	(3) utilize Class I renewable energy, as defined in section 16-1 of the 1107
	1312	+	general statutes, (4) facilitate electric vehicle charging, and (5) reduce 1108
	1313	+	energy use. 1109
	1314	+	(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the Department of Administrative 1110
	1315	+	Services, in consultation with the Office of Policy and Management and 1111
	1316	+	the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, shall develop 1112
	1317	+	a plan and a budget to retrofit existing fossil fuel-based heating and 1113
	1318	+	cooling systems at state buildings to systems capable of being operated 1114
	1319	+	without carbon-emitting fuels. Such plan and budget shall be submitted, 1115
	1320	+	in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 1116
	1321	+	to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 1117
	1322	+	cognizance of matters relating to the environment and energy and 1118
	1323	+	technology. 1119
	1324	+	Sec. 17. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of 1120
	1325	+	Energy and Environmental Protection shall evaluate how to integrate 1121
	1326	+	and advance nature-based solutions in the state that support climate 1122
	1327	+	change mitigation, climate change adaptation, ecosystem resilience and 1123
	1328	+	biodiversity through (1) the microgrid and resilience grant and loan 1124
	1329	+	pilot program authorized pursuant to section 16-243y of the general 1125
	1330	+	statutes, (2) the open space and watershed land acquisition program 1126
	1331	+	authorized pursuant to sections 7-131d to 7-131k, inclusive, of the 1127
	1332	+	general statutes, as amended by this act, and (3) other applicable state 1128
	1333	+	and federal programs administered by the Department of Energy and 1129
	1334	+	Environmental Protection that advance nature-based solutions, 1130
	1335	+	including, but not limited to, (A) federal Clean Water Act programs, (B) 1131
	1336	+	the Long Island Sound Study program, and (C) the Urban Forestry 1132
	1337	+	program. The department's efforts to advance such nature-based 1133
	1338	+	solutions shall be known as the nature-based solutions initiative. 1134
	1339	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1340	+
	1341	+
	1342	+	LCO No. 4924 38 of 58
	1343	+
	1344	+	(b) The commissioner shall, as part of such evaluation, consider best 1135
	1345	+	practices that encourage the use of the state's ecosystems to naturally 1136
	1346	+	sequester and store carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase 1137
	1347	+	biodiversity and protect against climate change impacts including: (1) 1138
	1348	+	Increasing carbon sequestration through increased forest acreage, 1139
	1349	+	including reforestation, (2) controlling invasive species, (3) encouraging 1140
	1350	+	soil health across all landscapes, (4) protecting carbon stocks through 1141
	1351	+	avoiding the conversion of forests and wetlands to other purposes, (5) 1142
	1352	+	restoring habitats to improve biodiversity, (6) increasing climate-smart 1143
	1353	+	agriculture and soil conservation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 1144
	1354	+	while improving habitat and protecting biodiversity, (7) increasing 1145
	1355	+	community resilience by improving water quality and addressing 1146
	1356	+	flooding and drought through nature-based stormwater management 1147
	1357	+	and shoreline protection that uses nature-based approaches such as 1148
	1358	+	living shorelines, and (8) improving air quality and reducing urban heat 1149
	1359	+	island effects through urban forestry and increasing green spaces. 1150
	1360	+	(c) Not later than July 1, 2026, the commissioner shall post such 1151
	1361	+	nature-based solutions initiative program evaluation on the 1152
	1362	+	department's Internet web site for review and written comment. As part 1153
	1363	+	of that evaluation, the commissioner shall seek review and input from 1154
	1364	+	the Departments of Agriculture, Public Health, Housing , 1155
	1365	+	Transportation, the Insurance Department, the Connecticut Green Bank 1156
	1366	+	and the Office of Policy and Management. In addition, the 1157
	1367	+	commissioner shall host one listening session before such nature-based 1158
	1368	+	solutions initiative is so posted in order to seek public comment. 1159
	1369	+	Sec. 18. (Effective from passage) Not later than January 15, 2026, the 1160
	1370	+	chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall submit, in 1161
	1371	+	accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 1162
	1372	+	the results of a study to develop a solar canopy strategic plan and 1163
	1373	+	program design to the joint standing committee of the General 1164
	1374	+	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy and 1165
	1375	+	technology. The plan shall identify opportunities for solar canopies in 1166
	1376	+	the state and shall prioritize the development of solar canopies in 1167
	1377	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1378	+
	1379	+
	1380	+	LCO No. 4924 39 of 58
	1381	+
	1382	+	environmental justice communities, as defined in section 22a-20a of the 1168
	1383	+	general statutes. The plan shall include an examination of different ways 1169
	1384	+	to promote solar canopies, including at schools, government buildings 1170
	1385	+	and parking lots, and shall include recommendations for policies, 1171
	1386	+	programs or regulations to promote the construction of solar canopies 1172
	1387	+	in the state, consistent with the greenhouse gas reduction goals 1173
	1388	+	established in section 22a-200a of the general statutes, as amended by 1174
	1389	+	this act. 1175
	1390	+	Sec. 19. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Energy 1176
	1391	+	and Environmental Protection shall, in accordance with the provisions 1177
	1392	+	of section 11-4a of the general statutes, not later than February 1, 2026, 1178
	1393	+	submit to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 1179
	1394	+	cognizance of matters relating to the environment and energy and 1180
	1395	+	technology, a report with recommended regulations, policies and 1181
	1396	+	strategies that can significantly lower energy costs for families and 1182
	1397	+	businesses, increase community resilience to extreme weather events, 1183
	1398	+	including, but not limited to, flooding and extreme heat and contribute 1184
	1399	+	to the greenhouse gas emissions reductions required in section 22a-200a 1185
	1400	+	of the general statutes, as amended by this act. Such report may utilize 1186
	1401	+	modeling scenarios concerning greenhouse gas emissions. The 1187
	1402	+	commissioner may engage a consultant to assist in preparing the report 1188
	1403	+	or portions thereof. 1189
	1404	+	Sec. 20. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this 1190
	1405	+	section: 1191
	1406	+	(1) "Utility-scale renewable thermal energy network" means 1192
	1407	+	distribution infrastructure (A) established for the purpose of providing 1193
	1408	+	thermal energy for space heating and cooling, domestic hot water 1194
	1409	+	production, refrigeration, thermal energy storage or commercial and 1195
	1410	+	industrial processes requiring heating or cooling, and (B) effected 1196
	1411	+	through interconnections between one or more renewable thermal 1197
	1412	+	energy resources, which may be owned by multiple parties, and 1198
	1413	+	between these resources and heat pumps in multiple buildings owned 1199
	1414	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1415	+
	1416	+
	1417	+	LCO No. 4924 40 of 58
	1418	+
	1419	+	by multiple parties; and 1200
	1420	+	(2) "Renewable thermal energy" means (A) ambient heating or 1201
	1421	+	cooling provided, absorbed or stored by geothermal wells, boreholes or 1202
	1422	+	other noncombusting, non-fossil-fuel-consuming, nonnuclear thermal 1203
	1423	+	resources, or (B) thermal energy otherwise lost to the atmosphere or 1204
	1424	+	other environmental compartment as waste heat. 1205
	1425	+	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of title 16 of the general statutes, 1206
	1426	+	not later than twelve months after passage of this section, the Public 1207
	1427	+	Utilities Regulatory Authority shall initiate a proceeding to establish a 1208
	1428	+	program for development of utility-scale renewable thermal energy 1209
	1429	+	networks by gas companies, as defined in section 16-1 of the general 1210
	1430	+	statutes. In establishing said program, the authority shall develop 1211
	1431	+	parameters for such networks, procedures or filing proposals for such 1212
	1432	+	networks and a standardized data collection system enabling the 1213
	1433	+	authority and the public to track the status and performance of utility-1214
	1434	+	scale renewable thermal energy networks developed pursuant to this 1215
	1435	+	section. 1216
	1436	+	(c) The authority shall structure the utility-scale renewable thermal 1217
	1437	+	energy network program in the best interest of ratepayers of public 1218
	1438	+	service companies, as defined in section 16-1 of the general statutes. For 1219
	1439	+	purposes of this section, a determination of the best interest of 1220
	1440	+	ratepayers shall be based on an analysis of the reasonableness of the 1221
	1441	+	size, scope, scale and character of the project and related budget and the 1222
	1442	+	costs and benefits of the project, including, but not limited to: (1) 1223
	1443	+	Avoided long-term energy and infrastructure investments in extending 1224
	1444	+	or maintaining gas infrastructure; (2) the anticipated contribution of 1225
	1445	+	such projects to alleviation of seasonal strains on the state's natural gas 1226
	1446	+	supply and electric distribution system; (3) consumer protections and 1227
	1447	+	benefits for end users of the project; (4) adherence to best practices 1228
	1448	+	emerging from thermal energy network programs and project designs 1229
	1449	+	developed in other states or elsewhere in the state; (5) potential for 1230
	1450	+	accrual of capital and operational cost savings via interconnection with 1231
	1451	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1452	+
	1453	+
	1454	+	LCO No. 4924 41 of 58
	1455	+
	1456	+	other existing or future thermal energy networks; (6) improvements in 1232
	1457	+	air quality in the buildings and neighborhoods served by the project; 1233
	1458	+	and (7) reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to contribute to 1234
	1459	+	achieving the emissions reductions set forth in section 22a-200a of the 1235
	1460	+	general statutes, as amended by this act. The authority may approve a 1236
	1461	+	utility-scale renewable thermal energy network proposal that meets the 1237
	1462	+	parameters established under the program. 1238
	1463	+	(d) The authority shall create a pilot component of the utility-scale 1239
	1464	+	renewable thermal energy network program that requires each gas 1240
	1465	+	company to file with the authority, for its review and approval, 1241
	1466	+	proposals for not less than one and not more than two pilot projects for 1242
	1467	+	the development of utility-scale renewable thermal energy networks 1243
	1468	+	that meet the program parameters established in subsection (c) of this 1244
	1469	+	section. The authority shall review a proposal for a pilot project based 1245
	1470	+	on the program parameters and on the basis of the project's ability to 1246
	1471	+	provide insights into the potential for scaling up future deployment of 1247
	1472	+	thermal energy networks in Connecticut, for improving the 1248
	1473	+	performance of these networks, and for bringing down the cost of 1249
	1474	+	broader deployment of these networks. 1250
	1475	+	(e) The authority shall require projects submitted to the utility-scale 1251
	1476	+	renewable thermal energy network program for approval to include a 1252
	1477	+	proposed rate structure for thermal energy services supplied to network 1253
	1478	+	end users as well as consumer-protection plans for end users. The 1254
	1479	+	authority may approve the proposed rate structure if the projected 1255
	1480	+	heating and cooling costs for end users is not greater than the heating 1256
	1481	+	and cooling costs the end users would be projected to incur if they had 1257
	1482	+	not participated. 1258
	1483	+	(f) The authority shall approve the recovery of prudent costs incurred 1259
	1484	+	by a gas company for the development and construction of projects 1260
	1485	+	approved pursuant to the utility-scale renewable thermal energy 1261
	1486	+	program through a nonbypassable, fully reconciling component of gas 1262
	1487	+	rates for all customers of the gas company. 1263
	1488	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1489	+
	1490	+
	1491	+	LCO No. 4924 42 of 58
	1492	+
	1493	+	(g) A gas company may meet its obligation under subsection (b) of 1264
	1494	+	section 16-20 of the general statutes through a project approved by the 1265
	1495	+	authority pursuant to this section. 1266
	1496	+	(h) The authority shall ensure transparency and validity of the 1267
	1497	+	outcomes of the projects developed pursuant to this section through 1268
	1498	+	third-party evaluation of the data the authority collects through its 1269
	1499	+	standardized data collection requirement. 1270
	1500	+	(i) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a municipality from 1271
	1501	+	developing, owning or maintaining a utility-scale renewable thermal 1272
	1502	+	energy network. 1273
	1503	+	(j) As part of the utility-scale renewable thermal energy network 1274
	1504	+	program, the authority shall establish a working group on thermal 1275
	1505	+	energy networks, comprising representatives of the staffs of the 1276
	1506	+	authority, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the 1277
	1507	+	Connecticut Green Bank, the gas and electric companies and 1278
	1508	+	environmental nongovernmental organizations. 1279
	1509	+	(k) As part of the utility-scale renewable thermal energy network 1280
	1510	+	program, the authority shall, through the working group established 1281
	1511	+	under subsection (j) of this section, undertake a study or studies 1282
	1512	+	assessing the potential breadth of deployment of thermal energy 1283
	1513	+	networks in Connecticut. Said study shall address factors including, but 1284
	1514	+	not limited to: (1) Technical feasibility; (2) economic feasibility, taking 1285
	1515	+	into account the potential for: (A) Reduction in energy costs of the 1286
	1516	+	customer that is the off-taker of the system; (B) reduction in network 1287
	1517	+	capital costs as the scale of deployments increases; (C) reduction in 1288
	1518	+	capital and operating costs as thermal energy networks are 1289
	1519	+	interconnected; (D) avoided cost of expanding and maintaining portions 1290
	1520	+	of the gas-distribution system; (E) minimization of the cost of expanding 1291
	1521	+	the electricity-distribution system to facilitate increasing electrification 1292
	1522	+	of thermal loads; (F) reduction in per-kilowatt-hour cost of supplying 1293
	1523	+	electricity as more electricity is sold; (G) state and federal financial 1294
	1524	+	incentives available; (H) employing and advancing the skills of gas-1295
	1525	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1526	+
	1527	+
	1528	+	LCO No. 4924 43 of 58
	1529	+
	1530	+	utility workers; (I) providing the gas utility companies a business model 1296
	1531	+	not dependent on continued use of combustion of fossil fuels; and (J) 1297
	1532	+	improvement of air quality; (3) deployment strategies to maximize the 1298
	1533	+	scope, minimize the cost, and equitably allocate the cost of thermal 1299
	1534	+	energy networks, including systematic identification of significant 1300
	1535	+	sources of waste heat across the state; (4) considerations regarding: (A) 1301
	1536	+	Deployment in low and moderate-income communities, (B) deployment 1302
	1537	+	in environmental justice communities, (C) deployment in new 1303
	1538	+	residential and commercial construction versus deployment in 1304
	1539	+	retrofitting existing residential and commercial buildings; (D) 1305
	1540	+	deployment in urban versus rural communities, (E) deployment in areas 1306
	1541	+	with existing gas service versus areas without, and (F) ownership and 1307
	1542	+	business models; and (5) appropriate parameters for broader 1308
	1543	+	deployment in the near and medium term, including: site selection, 1309
	1544	+	network design, interactions with and impacts on the gas and electricity 1310
	1545	+	distribution systems, ratepayer protections, billing models, consumer 1311
	1546	+	protections, data collection, community engagement, and deployment 1312
	1547	+	in low-and moderate-income communities and environmental justice 1313
	1548	+	communities, as defined in section 22a-20a of the general statutes. 1314
	1549	+	Sec. 21. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) For the purposes of this 1315
	1550	+	section: 1316
	1551	+	(1) "Renewable thermal energy network" means distribution 1317
	1552	+	infrastructure (A) established for the purpose of providing thermal 1318
	1553	+	energy for space heating and cooling, domestic hot water production, 1319
	1554	+	refrigeration, thermal energy storage or commercial and industrial 1320
	1555	+	processes requiring heating or cooling, and (B) effected through 1321
	1556	+	interconnections between one or more renewable thermal energy 1322
	1557	+	resources, which may be owned by multiple parties, and between these 1323
	1558	+	resources and heat pumps in multiple buildings owned by multiple 1324
	1559	+	parties; and 1325
	1560	+	(2) "Renewable thermal energy" means (A) ambient heating or 1326
	1561	+	cooling provided, absorbed or stored by geothermal wells, boreholes or 1327
	1562	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1563	+
	1564	+
	1565	+	LCO No. 4924 44 of 58
	1566	+
	1567	+	other noncombusting, non-fossil-fuel-consuming, nonnuclear thermal 1328
	1568	+	resources, or (B) thermal energy otherwise lost to the atmosphere or 1329
	1569	+	other environmental compartment as waste heat. 1330
	1570	+	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of title 16 of the general statutes, 1331
	1571	+	each gas company, as defined in section 16-1 of the general statutes, shall 1332
	1572	+	develop an incentive program for renewable thermal energy networks 1333
	1573	+	to be owned by municipalities, a municipal utility, as defined in section 1334
	1574	+	12-265 of the general statutes, a municipal electric energy cooperative, 1335
	1575	+	as defined in section 7-233b of the general statutes, or an entity that has 1336
	1576	+	a contractual obligation to a municipality to construct, operate and 1337
	1577	+	maintain a renewable thermal network for the purpose of reducing 1338
	1578	+	natural gas and electric demand in the state. Such program shall provide 1339
	1579	+	an incentive payment to said entities to connect end use customers to 1340
	1580	+	the renewable thermal energy network. Such incentive payment shall be 1341
	1581	+	based on the projected natural gas and electric demand reduction of 1342
	1582	+	contractually obligated demand for a period of twenty years. The 1343
	1583	+	projected natural gas and electric demand reduction shall be based on 1344
	1584	+	the expected gas or electric demand that the renewable thermal loop is 1345
	1585	+	displacing. 1346
	1586	+	(c) A gas company shall design its renewable thermal energy network 1347
	1587	+	program in the best interest of ratepayers of public service companies, 1348
	1588	+	as defined in section 16-1 of the general statutes, and submit its program 1349
	1589	+	design for review and approval by the Public Utilities Regulatory 1350
	1590	+	Authority. For purposes of this section, a determination of the best 1351
	1591	+	interest of ratepayers shall be based on an analysis of the reasonableness 1352
	1592	+	of the size, scope, scale and character of the project and related budget 1353
	1593	+	and the costs and benefits of the project, including, but not limited to: 1354
	1594	+	(1) Avoided long-term energy and infrastructure investments in 1355
	1595	+	extending or maintaining gas infrastructure; (2) the anticipated 1356
	1596	+	contribution of such projects to alleviation of seasonal strains on the 1357
	1597	+	state's natural gas supply and electric distribution system; (3) consumer 1358
	1598	+	protections and benefits for end users of the project; (4) adherence to 1359
	1599	+	best practices emerging from thermal energy network programs and 1360
	1600	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1601	+
	1602	+
	1603	+	LCO No. 4924 45 of 58
	1604	+
	1605	+	project designs developed in other states or elsewhere in the state; (5) 1361
	1606	+	potential for accrual of capital and operational cost savings via 1362
	1607	+	interconnection with other existing or future thermal energy networks; 1363
	1608	+	(6) improvements in air quality in the buildings and neighborhood 1364
	1609	+	served by the project; and (7) reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to 1365
	1610	+	contribute to achieving the emissions reductions set forth in section 22a-1366
	1611	+	200a of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 1367
	1612	+	(d) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall ensure that the 1368
	1613	+	revenues required to fund such incentive payments made pursuant to 1369
	1614	+	this section are provided through a nonbypassable, fully reconciling 1370
	1615	+	component of gas rates for all customers of the gas company, which 1371
	1616	+	shall not exceed more than ____ million dollars in total for the program 1372
	1617	+	established under this section, provided that such revenues exceeding 1373
	1618	+	two million dollars required to fund such incentive payments shall be 1374
	1619	+	paid over a period of not less than two years. Such revenues shall only 1375
	1620	+	be collected from the gas customers of the company in whose service 1376
	1621	+	area are such renewable thermal energy networks or, as determined by 1377
	1622	+	the authority, the company in whose service area the renewable thermal 1378
	1623	+	energy network would be but for the existence of a municipal utility or 1379
	1624	+	municipal energy cooperative. 1380
	1625	+	(e) The owners of the renewable thermal energy network shall ensure 1381
	1626	+	transparency and validity of the outcomes of the networks developed 1382
	1627	+	pursuant to this section through submitting data to track the status and 1383
	1628	+	performance of said network, which data shall be submitted to the 1384
	1629	+	authority. 1385
	1630	+	Sec. 22. Section 16a-3j of the general statutes is repealed and the 1386
	1631	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1387
	1632	+	(a) In order to secure cost-effective resources to provide more reliable 1388
	1633	+	electric or gas service for the benefit of the state's electric or gas 1389
	1634	+	ratepayers and to meet the state's energy and environmental goals and 1390
	1635	+	policies established in the Integrated Resources Plan, pursuant to 1391
	1636	+	section 16a-3a, and the Comprehensive Energy Strategy, pursuant to 1392
	1637	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1638	+
	1639	+
	1640	+	LCO No. 4924 46 of 58
	1641	+
	1642	+	section 16a-3d, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 1393
	1643	+	Protection, in consultation with the procurement manager identified in 1394
	1644	+	subsection (l) of section 16-2, the Office of Consumer Counsel and the 1395
	1645	+	Attorney General, may, in coordination with other states in the control 1396
	1646	+	area of the regional independent system operator, as defined in section 1397
	1647	+	16-1, or on behalf of Connecticut alone, issue multiple solicitations for 1398
	1648	+	long-term contracts from providers of resources described in 1399
	1649	+	subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section. 1400
	1650	+	(b) In any solicitation for resources to reduce electric or gas demand 1401
	1651	+	and improve resiliency and electric or gas grid reliability in the state, 1402
	1652	+	issued pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner shall seek 1403
	1653	+	proposals for (1) active or passive demand response measures, 1404
	1654	+	including, but not limited to, energy efficiency, load management, and 1405
	1655	+	the state's conservation and load management programs, pursuant to 1406
	1656	+	section 16-245m; [, that are capable, either singly or through 1407
	1657	+	aggregation, of reducing electric demand by one megawatt or more;] 1408
	1658	+	and (2) Class I renewable energy sources and Class III sources, as 1409
	1659	+	defined in section 16-1, provided any such project proposal is for a 1410
	1660	+	facility that has a nameplate capacity rating of more than two megawatts 1411
	1661	+	and less than twenty megawatts. The commissioner may also seek 1412
	1662	+	proposals for energy storage systems, as defined in section 16-1, that are 1413
	1663	+	capable of storing up to twenty megawatts of energy. Proposals 1414
	1664	+	pursuant to this subsection shall not have a contract term exceeding 1415
	1665	+	twenty years. Each electric distribution company and gas company, as 1416
	1666	+	defined in section 16-1, shall, in consultation with the Energy 1417
	1667	+	Conservation Management Board established pursuant to section 16-1418
	1668	+	245m, assess whether the submission of a proposal for active and 1419
	1669	+	passive demand response measures is feasible pursuant to any 1420
	1670	+	solicitation issued pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, 1421
	1671	+	provided such proposal only includes electric or gas demand reductions 1422
	1672	+	that are in addition to existing and projected demand reductions 1423
	1673	+	obtained through the conservation and load management programs. 1424
	1674	+	(c) In any solicitation issued pursuant to this subsection, the 1425
	1675	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1676	+
	1677	+
	1678	+	LCO No. 4924 47 of 58
	1679	+
	1680	+	commissioner shall seek proposals from (1) Class I renewable energy 1426
	1681	+	sources, as defined in section 16-1, having a nameplate capacity rating 1427
	1682	+	of twenty megawatts or more, and any associated transmission; and (2) 1428
	1683	+	verifiable large-scale hydropower, as defined in section 16-1, and any 1429
	1684	+	associated transmission. The commissioner may also seek proposals for 1430
	1685	+	energy storage systems, as defined in section 16-1, having a nameplate 1431
	1686	+	capacity rating of twenty megawatts or more. Proposals under this 1432
	1687	+	subsection shall not have a contract term exceeding twenty years. In 1433
	1688	+	soliciting Class I renewable energy sources, and any associated 1434
	1689	+	transmission, pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner may, for the 1435
	1690	+	purpose of balancing such Class I energy deliveries and improving the 1436
	1691	+	economic viability of such proposals, also seek proposals for electricity 1437
	1692	+	and capacity from Class II renewable energy sources, as defined in 1438
	1693	+	section 16-1, and existing hydropower resources other than those 1439
	1694	+	described under section 16-1, provided such resources are 1440
	1695	+	interconnected to such associated transmission and are located in the 1441
	1696	+	control area of the regional independent system operator or imported 1442
	1697	+	into the control area of the regional independent system operator from 1443
	1698	+	resources located in an adjacent regional independent system operator's 1444
	1699	+	control area. 1445
	1700	+	(d) In any solicitation for natural gas resources issued pursuant to this 1446
	1701	+	subsection, the commissioner shall seek proposals for (1) interstate 1447
	1702	+	natural gas transportation capacity, (2) liquefied natural gas, (3) 1448
	1703	+	liquefied natural gas storage, and (4) natural gas storage, or a 1449
	1704	+	combination of any such resources, provided such proposals provide 1450
	1705	+	incremental capacity, gas, or storage that has a firm delivery capability 1451
	1706	+	to transport natural gas to natural gas-fired generating facilities located 1452
	1707	+	in the control area of the regional independent system operator. 1453
	1708	+	Proposals under this subsection shall not have a contract term exceeding 1454
	1709	+	a period of twenty years. 1455
	1710	+	(e) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in 1456
	1711	+	consultation with the procurement manager identified in subsection (l) 1457
	1712	+	of section 16-2, the Office of Consumer Counsel and the Attorney 1458
	1713	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1714	+
	1715	+
	1716	+	LCO No. 4924 48 of 58
	1717	+
	1718	+	General, shall evaluate project proposals received under any solicitation 1459
	1719	+	issued pursuant to subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section, based on 1460
	1720	+	factors including, but not limited to, (1) improvements to the reliability 1461
	1721	+	of the electric system, including during winter peak demand; (2) 1462
	1722	+	whether the benefits of the proposal outweigh the costs to ratepayers; 1463
	1723	+	(3) fuel diversity; (4) the extent to which the proposal contributes to 1464
	1724	+	meeting the requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and 1465
	1725	+	improve air quality in accordance with sections 16-245a, 22a-174 [,] and 1466
	1726	+	22a-200a, as amended by this act; (5) whether the proposal is in the best 1467
	1727	+	interest of ratepayers; and (6) whether the proposal is aligned with the 1468
	1728	+	policy goals outlined in the Integrated Resources Plan, pursuant to 1469
	1729	+	section 16a-3a, and the Comprehensive Energy Strategy, pursuant to 1470
	1730	+	section 16a-3d, including, but not limited to, environmental impacts. In 1471
	1731	+	conducting such evaluation, the commissioner may also consider the 1472
	1732	+	extent to which project proposals provide economic benefits for the 1473
	1733	+	state. In evaluating project proposals received under any solicitation 1474
	1734	+	issued pursuant to subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section, the 1475
	1735	+	commissioner shall compare the costs and benefits of such proposals 1476
	1736	+	relative to the expected or actual costs and benefits of other resources 1477
	1737	+	eligible to respond to the other procurements authorized pursuant to 1478
	1738	+	this section. 1479
	1739	+	(f) The commissioner may hire consultants with expertise in 1480
	1740	+	quantitative modeling of electric and gas markets, and physical gas and 1481
	1741	+	electric system modeling, as applicable, to assist in implementing this 1482
	1742	+	section, including, but not limited to, the evaluation of proposals 1483
	1743	+	submitted pursuant to this section. All reasonable costs, not exceeding 1484
	1744	+	one million five hundred thousand dollars, associated with the 1485
	1745	+	commissioner's solicitation and review of proposals pursuant to this 1486
	1746	+	section shall be recoverable through the nonbypassable federally 1487
	1747	+	mandated congestion charge, as defined in subsection (a) of section 16-1488
	1748	+	1. Such costs shall be recoverable even if the commissioner does not 1489
	1749	+	select any proposals pursuant to solicitations issued pursuant to this 1490
	1750	+	section. 1491
	1751	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1752	+
	1753	+
	1754	+	LCO No. 4924 49 of 58
	1755	+
	1756	+	(g) If the commissioner finds proposals received pursuant to this 1492
	1757	+	section to be in the best interest of [electric] ratepayers, in accordance 1493
	1758	+	with the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, the commissioner 1494
	1759	+	may select any such proposal or proposals, provided the total capacity 1495
	1760	+	of the resources selected under all solicitations issued pursuant to this 1496
	1761	+	section in the aggregate do not exceed three hundred seventy-five 1497
	1762	+	million cubic feet per day of natural gas capacity, or the equivalent 1498
	1763	+	megawatts of electricity, electric demand reduction or combination 1499
	1764	+	thereof. Any proposals selected pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of 1500
	1765	+	this section shall not, in the aggregate, exceed ten per cent of the load 1501
	1766	+	distributed by the state's electric distribution companies or ten per cent 1502
	1767	+	of the load distributed by the state's gas companies. The commissioner 1503
	1768	+	may, on behalf of all customers of electric distribution companies, direct 1504
	1769	+	the electric distribution companies to enter into long-term contracts for 1505
	1770	+	active or passive demand response measures that result in electric 1506
	1771	+	savings, electricity time-of-use shifts, electricity, electric capacity, 1507
	1772	+	environmental attributes, energy storage, interstate natural gas 1508
	1773	+	transportation capacity, liquefied natural gas, liquefied natural gas 1509
	1774	+	storage, and natural gas storage, or any combination thereof, from 1510
	1775	+	proposals submitted pursuant to this section, provided the benefits of 1511
	1776	+	such contracts to customers of electric distribution companies outweigh 1512
	1777	+	the costs to such companies' customers. The commissioner may, on 1513
	1778	+	behalf of all customers of gas companies, direct the gas companies to 1514
	1779	+	enter into long-term contracts for active or passive demand response 1515
	1780	+	measures that result in gas savings or time-of-use shifts from proposals 1516
	1781	+	submitted pursuant to this section, provided the benefits of such 1517
	1782	+	contracts to customers of gas companies outweigh the costs to such 1518
	1783	+	companies' customers. 1519
	1784	+	(h) Any agreement entered into pursuant to this section shall be 1520
	1785	+	subject to review and approval by the Public Utilities Regulatory 1521
	1786	+	Authority. The electric distribution company or gas company shall file 1522
	1787	+	an application for the approval of any such agreement with the 1523
	1788	+	authority. The authority shall approve such agreement if it is cost 1524
	1789	+	effective and in the best interest of electric or gas ratepayers. The 1525
	1790	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1791	+
	1792	+
	1793	+	LCO No. 4924 50 of 58
	1794	+
	1795	+	authority shall issue a decision not later than ninety days after such 1526
	1796	+	filing. If the authority does not issue a decision within ninety days after 1527
	1797	+	such filing, the agreement shall be deemed approved. Where an electric 1528
	1798	+	distribution company or gas company both apply for recovery of net 1529
	1799	+	costs of the same such agreement, the authority shall determine which 1530
	1800	+	net costs are attributable to each company. The net costs of any such 1531
	1801	+	agreement, including costs incurred by the electric distribution 1532
	1802	+	company or gas company under the agreement and reasonable costs 1533
	1803	+	incurred by the electric distribution company or gas company in 1534
	1804	+	connection with the agreement, shall be recovered on a timely basis 1535
	1805	+	through a fully reconciling component of electric rates or gas rates for 1536
	1806	+	all customers of the electric distribution company or gas company. Any 1537
	1807	+	net revenues from the sale of products purchased in accordance with 1538
	1808	+	long-term contracts entered into pursuant to this section shall be 1539
	1809	+	credited to customers through the same fully reconciling rate 1540
	1810	+	component for all customers of the contracting electric distribution 1541
	1811	+	company or gas company. For any contract for interstate natural gas 1542
	1812	+	transportation capacity, liquefied natural gas, liquefied natural gas 1543
	1813	+	storage or natural gas storage entered into pursuant to this section, the 1544
	1814	+	electric distribution company may contract with a gas supply manager 1545
	1815	+	to sell such interstate natural gas transportation capacity, liquefied 1546
	1816	+	natural gas, liquefied natural gas storage or natural gas storage, or a 1547
	1817	+	combination thereof, into the wholesale markets at the best available 1548
	1818	+	price in a manner that meets all applicable requirements pursuant to all 1549
	1819	+	applicable regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 1550
	1820	+	(i) Certificates issued by the New England Power Pool Generation 1551
	1821	+	Information System for any Class I renewable energy source or Class III 1552
	1822	+	source procured by an electric distribution company pursuant to this 1553
	1823	+	section may be: (1) Sold into the New England Power Pool Generation 1554
	1824	+	Information System renewable energy credit market to be used by any 1555
	1825	+	electric supplier or electric distribution company to meet the 1556
	1826	+	requirements of section 16-245a, so long as the revenues from such sale 1557
	1827	+	are credited to electric distribution company customers as described in 1558
	1828	+	this subsection; or (2) retained by the electric distribution company to 1559
	1829	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1830	+
	1831	+
	1832	+	LCO No. 4924 51 of 58
	1833	+
	1834	+	meet the requirements of section 16-245a. In considering whether to sell 1560
	1835	+	or retain such certificates the company shall select the option that is in 1561
	1836	+	the best interest of such company's ratepayers. 1562
	1837	+	Sec. 23. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 8-240a of the 1563
	1838	+	general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1564
	1839	+	thereof (Effective from passage): 1565
	1840	+	(a) As used in this section, [: 1566
	1841	+	(1) "Alliance district" has the same meaning as provided in section 10-1567
	1842	+	262u; 1568
	1843	+	(2) "Environmental justice community" has the same meaning as 1569
	1844	+	provided in section 22a-20a; and 1570
	1845	+	(3) "Low-income resident"] "low-income resident" means, after 1571
	1846	+	adjustments for family size, individuals or families whose income is not 1572
	1847	+	greater than [(A)] (1) sixty per cent of the state median income, [(B)] (2) 1573
	1848	+	eighty per cent of the area median income for the area in which the 1574
	1849	+	resident resides, as determined by the United States Department of 1575
	1850	+	Housing and Urban Development, or [(C)] (3) any other definition of 1576
	1851	+	"low-income resident" included in any program in the state that utilizes 1577
	1852	+	federal funding, as determined by the Commissioner of Energy and 1578
	1853	+	Environmental Protection. 1579
	1854	+	(b) There is established a revolving loan and grant fund to be known 1580
	1855	+	as the "Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and 1581
	1856	+	Grant Fund". The fund may be funded from the proceeds of bonds 1582
	1857	+	issued pursuant to section 8-240b or from any moneys available to the 1583
	1858	+	Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or from other 1584
	1859	+	sources. Investment earnings credited to the fund shall become part of 1585
	1860	+	the assets of the fund. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of 1586
	1861	+	any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the fund for the next fiscal 1587
	1862	+	year. Payments of principal or interest on a low interest loan made 1588
	1863	+	pursuant to this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer for deposit 1589
	1864	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1865	+
	1866	+
	1867	+	LCO No. 4924 52 of 58
	1868	+
	1869	+	in the Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving Loan and Grant 1590
	1870	+	Fund. The fund shall be used to make grants or low interest loans 1591
	1871	+	pursuant to this section to pay reasonable and necessary fees incurred 1592
	1872	+	in administering loans under this section. The Commissioner of Energy 1593
	1873	+	and Environmental Protection may enter into contracts with quasi-1594
	1874	+	public agencies or nonprofit corporations to provide for the 1595
	1875	+	administration of the Housing Environmental Improvement Revolving 1596
	1876	+	Loan and Grant Fund by such entity or entities, provided no grant or 1597
	1877	+	low interest loan shall be made from the fund without the authorization 1598
	1878	+	of the commissioner as provided in this section. 1599
	1879	+	(c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in 1600
	1880	+	collaboration with the Commissioner of Housing, shall establish a pilot 1601
	1881	+	program or programs to provide financing or grants from the fund 1602
	1882	+	established in subsection (b) of this section for retrofitting projects for 1603
	1883	+	single and multifamily residences located in environmental justice 1604
	1884	+	communities or alliance districts that (1) improve the energy efficiency 1605
	1885	+	of such residences, which may include, but need not be limited to, the 1606
	1886	+	installation of heat pumps, solar power generating systems, improved 1607
	1887	+	roofing, exterior doors and windows, improved insulation, air sealing, 1608
	1888	+	improved ventilation, appliance upgrades and any electric system or 1609
	1889	+	wiring upgrades necessary for such retrofit, (2) remediate health and 1610
	1890	+	safety concerns that are barriers to any such retrofit, including, but not 1611
	1891	+	limited to, mold, vermiculite, asbestos, lead and radon, [or] (3) add 1612
	1892	+	resilience measures to such residences, which may include, but need not 1613
	1893	+	be limited to, flood mitigation, (4) provide services to assist residents 1614
	1894	+	and building owners to access and implement the programs established 1615
	1895	+	pursuant to this section or other available state or federal programs that 1616
	1896	+	enable the implementation of energy efficiency retrofitting, or (5) 1617
	1897	+	replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment to 1618
	1898	+	residences impacted by extreme weather events. 1619
	1899	+	Sec. 24. Section 7-131d of the general statutes is repealed and the 1620
	1900	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1621
	1901	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1902	+
	1903	+
	1904	+	LCO No. 4924 53 of 58
	1905	+
	1906	+	(a) There is established the protected open space and watershed land 1622
	1907	+	acquisition grant program. The program shall provide grants to 1623
	1908	+	municipalities and nonprofit land conservation organizations to acquire 1624
	1909	+	land or permanent interests in land for open space and watershed 1625
	1910	+	protection and to water companies, as defined in section 25-32a, to 1626
	1911	+	acquire and protect land which is eligible to be classified as class I or 1627
	1912	+	class II land, as defined in section 25-37c, after acquisition. All lands or 1628
	1913	+	interests in land acquired under this program shall be preserved in 1629
	1914	+	perpetuity predominantly in their natural scenic and open condition for 1630
	1915	+	the protection of natural resources while allowing for recreation 1631
	1916	+	consistent with such protection and, for lands acquired by water 1632
	1917	+	companies, allowing for the improvements necessary for the protection 1633
	1918	+	or provision of potable water. 1634
	1919	+	(b) Grants may be made under the protected open space and 1635
	1920	+	watershed land acquisition grant program established under subsection 1636
	1921	+	(a) of this section or under the Charter Oak open space grant program 1637
	1922	+	established under section 7-131t to match funds for the purchase of land 1638
	1923	+	or permanent interests in land which purchase meets one of the 1639
	1924	+	following criteria: (1) Protects land identified as being especially 1640
	1925	+	valuable for recreation, forestry, fishing, conservation of wildlife or 1641
	1926	+	natural resources; (2) protects land which includes or contributes to a 1642
	1927	+	prime natural feature of the state's landscape, including, but not limited 1643
	1928	+	to, a shoreline, a river, its tributaries and watershed, an aquifer, 1644
	1929	+	mountainous territory, ridgelines, an inland or coastal wetland, a 1645
	1930	+	significant littoral or estuarine or aquatic site or other important 1646
	1931	+	geological feature; (3) protects habitat for native plant or animal species 1647
	1932	+	listed as threatened or endangered or of special concern, as defined in 1648
	1933	+	section 26-304; (4) protects a relatively undisturbed outstanding 1649
	1934	+	example of a native ecological community which is now uncommon; (5) 1650
	1935	+	enhances and conserves water quality of the state's lakes, rivers and 1651
	1936	+	coastal water; (6) preserves local agricultural heritage; or (7) in the case 1652
	1937	+	of grants to water companies, protects land which is eligible to be 1653
	1938	+	classified as class I land or class II land after acquisition. 1654
	1939	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1940	+
	1941	+
	1942	+	LCO No. 4924 54 of 58
	1943	+
	1944	+	(c) Grants may be made under the protected open space and 1655
	1945	+	watershed land acquisition grant program established under subsection 1656
	1946	+	(a) of this section for restoration or protection of natural features or 1657
	1947	+	habitats on open space already owned by a (1) distressed municipality, 1658
	1948	+	as defined in section 32-9p, (2) targeted investment community, as 1659
	1949	+	defined in section 32-222, (3) municipality, provided such open space is 1660
	1950	+	located in an environmental justice community, as defined in section 1661
	1951	+	22a-20a, or (4) nonprofit land conservation organization, provided such 1662
	1952	+	open space is located in a distressed municipality, targeted investment 1663
	1953	+	community or environmental justice community. Such restoration or 1664
	1954	+	protection may include, but need not be limited to, wetland, wildlife or 1665
	1955	+	plant habitat restoration or restoration of other sites to a more natural 1666
	1956	+	condition or replacement of vegetation. Such grants may also fund the 1667
	1957	+	development of urban agricultural sites on such open space for 1668
	1958	+	nonprofit or commercial use. The total amount of grants made pursuant 1669
	1959	+	to this subsection shall not exceed twenty per cent of the total amount 1670
	1960	+	of grants made pursuant to the open space and watershed land 1671
	1961	+	acquisition grant program in any fiscal year. 1672
	1962	+	(d) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no 1673
	1963	+	grant may be made under the protected open space and watershed land 1674
	1964	+	acquisition grant program established under subsection (a) of this 1675
	1965	+	section or under the Charter Oak open space grant program established 1676
	1966	+	under section 7-131t for: (A) Land to be used for commercial purposes 1677
	1967	+	or for recreational purposes requiring intensive development, 1678
	1968	+	including, but not limited to, golf courses, driving ranges, tennis courts, 1679
	1969	+	ballfields, swimming pools and uses by motorized vehicles other than 1680
	1970	+	vehicles needed by water companies to carry out their purposes, 1681
	1971	+	provided trails or pathways for pedestrians, motorized wheelchairs or 1682
	1972	+	nonmotorized vehicles shall not be considered intensive development; 1683
	1973	+	(B) land with environmental contamination over a significant portion of 1684
	1974	+	the property provided grants for land requiring remediation of 1685
	1975	+	environmental contamination may be made if remediation will be 1686
	1976	+	completed before acquisition of the land or any interest in the land and 1687
	1977	+	an environmental assessment approved by the Commissioner of Energy 1688
	1978	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	1979	+
	1980	+
	1981	+	LCO No. 4924 55 of 58
	1982	+
	1983	+	and Environmental Protection has been completed and no 1689
	1984	+	environmental use restriction applies to the land; (C) land which has 1690
	1985	+	already been committed for public use, except as provided in subsection 1691
	1986	+	(c) of section 7-131g; (D) development costs, including, but not limited 1692
	1987	+	to, construction of ballfields, tennis courts, parking lots or roadways; (E) 1693
	1988	+	land to be acquired by eminent domain; or (F) reimbursement of in-kind 1694
	1989	+	services or incidental expenses associated with the acquisition of land. 1695
	1990	+	This subsection shall not prohibit the continuation of agricultural 1696
	1991	+	activity, the activities of a water company for public water supply 1697
	1992	+	purposes or the selling of timber incidental to management of the land 1698
	1993	+	which management is in accordance with approved forest management 1699
	1994	+	practices provided any proceeds of such timber sales shall be used for 1700
	1995	+	management of the land. In the case of land acquired under this section 1701
	1996	+	which is designated as a state park, any fees charged by the state for use 1702
	1997	+	of such land shall be used by the state in accordance with the provisions 1703
	1998	+	of title 23. 1704
	1999	+	(2) Grants in a total amount not exceeding five per cent of the total 1705
	2000	+	amount of grants made pursuant to the open space and watershed land 1706
	2001	+	acquisition grant program in any fiscal year may be made to distressed 1707
	2002	+	municipalities, as defined in section 32-9p, targeted investment 1708
	2003	+	communities, as defined in section 32-222, nonprofit land conservation 1709
	2004	+	organizations and municipalities, for the purpose of reimbursement for 1710
	2005	+	in-kind services or incidental expenses associated with the acquisition 1711
	2006	+	of land, including, but not limited to, survey fees, appraisal costs and 1712
	2007	+	legal fees, provided such land is located in a distressed municipality, 1713
	2008	+	targeted investment community or environmental justice community, 1714
	2009	+	as defined in section 22a-20a. 1715
	2010	+	(e) Any municipality or group of contiguous municipalities may 1716
	2011	+	apply to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection for 1717
	2012	+	a grant-in-aid of a program established to preserve or restrict to 1718
	2013	+	conservation or recreation purposes the use of open space land. Such 1719
	2014	+	grant shall be used for the acquisition of land, or easements, interests or 1720
	2015	+	rights therein, or for the development of such land, or easements, 1721
	2016	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	2017	+
	2018	+
	2019	+	LCO No. 4924 56 of 58
	2020	+
	2021	+	interests or rights therein, for purposes set forth in this section, or both, 1722
	2022	+	in accordance with a plan of development adopted by the municipal 1723
	2023	+	planning commission of the municipality within which the land is 1724
	2024	+	located. Any application for a grant-in-aid relating to land located 1725
	2025	+	beyond the territorial limits of the applying municipality shall be subject 1726
	2026	+	to approval of the legislative body of the municipality within whose 1727
	2027	+	territorial limits the land is located. A municipality applying for aid 1728
	2028	+	under this section, may designate its conservation commission as its 1729
	2029	+	agent to make such application. 1730
	2030	+	(f) At closing, a permanent conservation easement, as defined in 1731
	2031	+	section 47-42, shall be executed for any property purchased with grant 1732
	2032	+	funds, which conservation easement shall provide that the property 1733
	2033	+	shall remain forever predominantly in its natural and open condition 1734
	2034	+	for the specific conservation, open space or water supply purposes for 1735
	2035	+	which it was acquired provided any improvements or changes to the 1736
	2036	+	property shall be supportive of such condition or purposes. The 1737
	2037	+	permanent conservation easement shall be in favor of the state acting 1738
	2038	+	through the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or 1739
	2039	+	his designee, which may be a municipality or a land conservation 1740
	2040	+	organization. In the case of land acquired for water supply protection, a 1741
	2041	+	water company may hold an easement in conjunction with the state or 1742
	2042	+	a nonprofit entity to protect the water supply. Such permanent 1743
	2043	+	conservation easement shall also include a requirement that the 1744
	2044	+	property be made available to the general public for appropriate 1745
	2045	+	recreational purposes, the maintenance of which recreational access 1746
	2046	+	shall be the responsibility of the grantee provided such access shall not 1747
	2047	+	be required for land which will be classified as class I or class II land by 1748
	2048	+	a water company if such access is inconsistent with the provision of pure 1749
	2049	+	drinking water to the public. An exception to the provision of public 1750
	2050	+	recreational access may be made at the discretion of the Commissioner 1751
	2051	+	of Energy and Environmental Protection when provision for public 1752
	2052	+	access would be unreasonably detrimental to the wildlife or plant 1753
	2053	+	habitat or other natural features of the property or, for land where 1754
	2054	+	development rights have been purchased, would be disruptive of 1755
	2055	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	2056	+
	2057	+
	2058	+	LCO No. 4924 57 of 58
	2059	+
	2060	+	agricultural activity occurring on the land. Any instrument conveying 1756
	2061	+	an interest in land less than fee which interest is purchased under this 1757
	2062	+	section shall provide for the permanent preservation of the land and 1758
	2063	+	public access consistent with the land's use or protection and with any 1759
	2064	+	restrictions prescribed by the Department of Public Health in order to 1760
	2065	+	protect a public drinking water source. 1761
	2066	+	(g) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this 1762
	2067	+	section, not more than ten per cent of the funds authorized for the open 1763
	2068	+	space and watershed land acquisition program may be allocated by the 1764
	2069	+	commissioner for the purpose of mitigating wildfire risks on properties 1765
	2070	+	acquired or protected through the program, including properties 1766
	2071	+	already protected by the program, through the management of 1767
	2072	+	vegetative fuel loads. 1768
	2073	+	(2) Not later than January 15, 2026, the commissioner shall establish 1769
	2074	+	criteria and guidelines for the allocation and use of funds under this 1770
	2075	+	subsection, ensuring that such funds are used efficiently and in 1771
	2076	+	alignment with the program's overarching goals of protecting open 1772
	2077	+	space and natural resources while reducing wildfire risk. 1773
1196	2078		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
1197	2079		sections:
1198	2080
1199	2081		Section 1 from passage New section
1200	2082		Sec. 2 from passage 22a-200a
1201	2083		Sec. 3 from passage 22a-200b
1202	2084		Sec. 4 from passage New section
1203		-	Sec. 5 ~~July 1,~~ ~~2025 32-7t(c)(3)~~
1204		-	Sec. 6 ~~from passage New section~~
	2085	+	Sec. 5 from passage New section
	2086	+	Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 32-7t(c)(3)
1205	2087		Sec. 7 from passage New section
1206		-	Sec. 8 from passage 31-3rr
1207		-	Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 10-283(b)
1208		-	Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 New section
1209		-	Sec. 11 from passage New section
1210		-	Sec. 12 from passage New section
1211		-	Sec. 13 from passage New section
1212		-	Sec. 14 from passage New section
	2088	+	Sec. 8 from passage New section
	2089	+	Sec. 9 from passage 31-3rr
	2090	+	Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 10-283(b)
	2091	+	Sec. 11 October 1, 2025 16a-48
	2092	+	Sec. 12 October 1, 2025 21a-86a(b)
	2093	+	Sec. 13 October 1, 2025 21a-86b
	2094	+	Committee Bill No. 5004
	2095	+
	2096	+
	2097	+	LCO No. 4924 58 of 58
	2098	+
	2099	+	Sec. 14 October 1, 2025 New section
1213	2100		Sec. 15 from passage New section
1214	2101		Sec. 16 from passage New section
1215	2102		Sec. 17 from passage New section
1216		-	Sec. 18 from passage ~~16a-3j~~
1217		-	Sec. 19 from passage ~~8-240a(a) to (e)~~
1218		-	Sec. 20 from passage ~~7-131d~~
	2103	+	Sec. 18 from passage New section
	2104	+	Sec. 19 from passage New section
	2105	+	Sec. 20 from passage New section
1219	2106		Sec. 21 from passage New section
1220		-
1221		-	ENV Joint Favorable Subst. Substitute Bill No. 5004
1222		-
1223		-
1224		-	LCO 34 of 34
	2107	+	Sec. 22 from passage 16a-3j
	2108	+	Sec. 23 from passage 8-240a(a) to (c)
	2109	+	Sec. 24 from passage 7-131d
	2110	+
	2111	+	Statement of Purpose:
	2112	+	To protect the state's environment while providing for the development
	2113	+	of renewable energy sources and related job sectors in a manner that
	2114	+	reduces costs connected with such protections and development.
	2115	+
	2116	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	2117	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	2118	+	underlined.]
	2119	+
	2120	+	Co-Sponsors: REP. RITTER, 1st Dist.; REP. ROJAS, 9th Dist.
	2121	+	REP. GRESKO, 121st Dist.; REP. BUMGARDNER, 41st Dist.
	2122	+	REP. REYES, 75th Dist.; REP. ARZENO, 151st Dist.
	2123	+	REP. GAUTHIER, 38th Dist.; REP. MARTINEZ, 22nd Dist.
	2124	+	REP. SHANNON, 117th Dist.; REP. BROWN M., 127th Dist.
	2125	+
	2126	+	H.B. 5004
1225	2127
1226	2128