Opinion: In face of volatile oil prices, it’s time for CT to take charge of our energy

The last few weeks have illustrated the volatility of an energy system rooted in oil. Gas prices skyrocketed overnight, and I’m sure we’re all biting our nails waiting to see what our utility bills will look like at the end of the month. In our current fossil-fuel based system, the reality is that Connecticut residents have little control over our energy bills.

The solution is not just to turn down our thermostats and drive less. It’s time to take control of our own energy and harness the stabilizing power of renewables.

Five years ago, we reached a turning point where producing power from the sun became cheaper than producing energy from fossil fuels. Solar energy is now one of the cheapest forms of power on the planet, and already it is lowering costs, creating new jobs, and protecting public health from fossil fuel pollution. And its prices are not controlled by geopolitics. The enormous potential of renewable energy is poised to transform our energy system with abundant, clean, and de-centralized energy for all.

Devices used in other countries to lower electric bills may soon be OKed in CT

A path forward for Connecticut

This is the time for Connecticut to remove barriers and increase access to renewables. There is a bill currently moving through the Connecticut State Legislature that would do just that, allowing residents to take charge of their own power. HB 5340, An Act Concerning Renewable Power Generation, would allow plug-in solar, which are small, easy-to-install solar panels for renters, apartment dwellers, and others who can’t install larger scale rooftop solar. Plug-in solar units are affordable, portable, and don’t require permits and expensive installation like their rooftop counterparts.

The bill takes a step further in expanding solar access across the state by establishing a pilot program to bring solar to low-income and overburdened communities. These communities are often the most exposed to fossil fuel pollution and stand to benefit greatly from cleaner power generation.

Larger scale solar projects are also an important piece of transitioning our energy system. HB 5340 extends Connecticut’s residential, commercial, and shared solar programs that are currently set to expire in 2028. Together, these programs together have supported 795 MW of clean energy, replacing expensive fossil fuel and helping to lower energy supply costs for all customers. The bill also plans for the development of agrivoltaics, or solar that co-exists with agriculture, paving the way for a green Connecticut that prioritizes the clean, local production of both food and power.

Thanks to the technological advancements that have rapidly lowered the price of renewable energy, we no longer have to be beholden to a volatile, oil-driven energy market. Imagine a future where Connecticut residents don’t have to fear opening their energy bills at the end of the month; where they can rest easy knowing their power is local, clean, and separate from the unpredictability of global oil prices. That future can start today.

Killian Duborg is Connecticut communications specialist for Save the Sound.