Politics
Speaker Donovan testifies in support of green jobs bill
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Mar 9, 2010 - 6:58 PM

Calling green jobs "the jobs of the future," Speaker Christopher G.
Donovan (D-Meriden) today urged passage of HB 5465, An Act Concerning
the Development of Green Jobs, in testimony before the General
Assembly's Energy and Technology Committee.

"Connecticut is well-positioned to develop a thriving economy in which
green jobs and affordable energy play a central role," Speaker Donovan
said, "In order to put Connecticut back to work, we must position
ourselves on the cutting edge of this emerging field."

Speaker Donovan said the availability of federal funding, evolving
technological and certification standards, existing training programs in the state, and a highly trained manufacturing base that could transition to building fuel cells and solar panels give Connecticut a competitive edge in the development and conservation of green jobs.

Earlier this year, Speaker Donovan convened a green jobs panel to review current efforts in Connecticut related to green jobs and to make
recommendations for potential legislative action. Many of those
recommendations, he said, are contained in HB 5465.

Speaker Donovan added that Connecticut "must be sure to maintain current funding levels for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

Governor Rell's recent proposals to sweep or securitize millions of
dollars in funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects
cast the future of these programs into doubt; moreover, it had a
profound and unsettling effect upon the industry that is critical to
growing Connecticut's green economy."

He also said the state must work to "implement innovative financing
mechanisms that will make capital readily available at low-interest
rates and maximize our ability to access and utilize federal funding for green-collar initiatives."

In his testimony, Speaker Donovan also expressed support for electric
rate relief. "In the face of the highest electricity rates in the
continental United States, Connecticut ratepayers and businesses are in
dire need of action on their behalf. By bringing our electric rate
system into closer alignment with proven rate-relief best practices from other states, we can take significant steps forward in easing the burden on the individual ratepayer, making Connecticut attractive to
businesses, and growing the economy as a whole."

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