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Progressive Action Roundtable: A forum for progressive groups in the Greater New Haven Area where actions and ideas may be publicized so that others are aware of peace, health, justice, energy, environmental and other issues for the common good.

Posts Tagged Connecticut

Bill To Lower Electric Rates, Promote Renewable Energy Gains Support

Apr 1

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Fight the Hike | 1 Comment

By Frank Panzarella, Fight the Hike

Senate Bill 1 encompasses Gov. Malloy’s plan to merge the Dept. of Environmental Protection and the Dept. of Public Utility Control. This single agency, Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), will oversee issues of the environment and energy.

The goals of DEEP are: 

  1. Reducing utility rates;
  2. Providing for a reliable and safe energy supply;
  3. Increasing the use of clean energy in Connecticut; and
  4. Creating jobs in clean-energy industries.

The Energy and Technology Committee of the Legislature voted S.B. 1 out of committee. It is a comprehensive energy bill that encompasses many suggestions from Fight the Hike.

DEEP, and not the electric companies, will control the Energy Conservation Loan Fund, the Clean Energy Fund and the Energy Efficiency Fund. DEEP will also have responsibility for creating energy reports – the electric companies previously wrote these.

The bill is a positive step to take control away from the electric companies. As corporations, they are accountable to their shareholders. DEEP, as a government body, is accountable to the people of Connecticut. This presents a greater opportunity for accountability, oversight and transparency over the energy industry.

There are specific provisions in the bill for discounted rates, renewable energy projects, more solar development in CT, jobs in clean energy and efficiency programs for lower-income people as well as specific programs to bring renewable energy to distressed communities.

Another important bill for ratepayers is S.B. 1176 which calls for a tax on power plants to produce revenue that will be used to lower rates, eliminate the CTA charge on our bills and balance the state budget. We urge PAR readers to call or e-mail their legislators in support of these bills.

At our last Fight the Hike meeting, it was proposed that we call Sen. Blumenthal, Sen. Lieberman and Rep. DeLauro to demand that all current nuclear power plants be shut down permanently, and that the government bring renewable energy to the fore. “Remind them that the technology is ready, it’s the political will that’s lacking,” said Fight the Hike member Mary Johnson. The suffering in Japan due to the earthquake and tsunami is compounded by the spread of radiation from the damaged nuclear reactors. We need to shut reactors down before there are any more nuclear disasters.

Fight the Hike meets the third Thursday of each month at

7 p.m., NH City Hall, 165 Church St., 2nd floor meeting room 3. Our next meeting will be on April 21. For info call (203) 562-2798 or e-mail paulapanzarella@yahoo.com.

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Wheel-A-Thon fundraiser seeks volunteers, teams and sponsors

Aug 31

Posted by Progressive Action Roundtable in Events | No Comments

by Christopher Zurcher, for CDR

The Center for Disability Rights 2010 Wheel-A-Thon to Benefit Young People with Disabilities is a fundraising and community awareness campaign to benefit the youth programs and activities of the CDR and its partners. It takes place from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun., Sept. 19, at the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock St., West Haven.

All money raised goes to support:

  • College scholarships for students with disabilities;
  • Advocacy with students to improve their education;
  • Communication access services for youth with hearing loss involved in peer support programs;
  • Facilitation services for youth groups; and
  • CDR youth transition services.

The top fundraising team last year raised $2,600. The minimum team registration is $200 and the minimum individual registration fee is $25. There are various levels of sponsorship outlined on the website at www.wheel-a-thon.org.

“The Wheel-A-Thon is the only source of funding for the Center for Disability Rights programs for young people with disabilities,” according to CDR Executive Director Marc Anthony Gallucci.

In addition to challenging members of the community to navigate around obstacles and barriers faced by over 240,000 Connecticut people with disabilities every day, the Wheel-A-Thon is a fun, important and eye-opening event for able-bodied people and people in wheelchairs.

Participants navigate their way through an easy course past Savin Rock on West Haven Beach, across Ocean Avenue, and back to the Savin Rock Conference Center, which takes about 45 minutes.

Participants receive a t-shirt and other items donated by sponsors and local businesses. Participants and sponsors also receive recognition in various media, an increased awareness of the difficulties faced every day by wheelchair-bound individuals in our community, and an overall feeling of having done something good for the community.

An awards luncheon after the event recognizes key individuals, sponsors, and top fundraising teams.

Founded in 1988, CDR promotes empowerment and self-reliance for people with disabilities in Connecticut.

For more information about participating, becoming a sponsor or to download a brochure, visit www.wheel-a-thon.org.  For more information about the Center for Disability Rights, visit www.centerfordisabilityrights-ct.org, or call (203) 934-7077.

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