CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL;

CONNECTICUT SITING COUNCIL;

Connecticut laws/regulations;

You asked for information on the genesis of the Connecticut Siting Council and how other states address utility facility siting issues. We have enclosed OLR Reports 2002-R-0692 and 2001-R-0302, which address the latter issue.

GENESIS OF THE SITING COUNCIL

The Siting Council was established in response to recommendations of a committee established by P. A. 644 of 1969. The committee consisted of the chairs of the Public Utilities Committee, two legislative appointees, and seven members appointed by the governor. It was required to conduct a comprehensive study of power plant siting requirements for the state and the impact of power plant siting on the shoreline. The legislation was prompted, in part, by proposals to build a nuclear power plant on Cockenoe Island in Long Island Sound and several other controversial electric facilities. The legislation also barred the Department of Public Utility Control from approving the construction of any power plant on any island in the Sound until July 1, 1971.

The committee met over the next 18 months and consulted with the state’s utilities and state and federal agencies in developing its recommendations. It reviewed utility facility siting legislation in California, New York, and several other states.

The committee’s recommendations formed the basis of SB 1458 in 1971. Among the individuals who testified at the Environment Committee’s hearing on the bill was Sen. Gunther, who served on the study committee. Sen. Gunther argued that the siting of power plants and transmission lines should take into account environmental, aesthetic, and recreational values of the state’s residents, as well as economic considerations. He also asserted that existing state agencies had limited jurisdiction over utility facility siting. Representatives of several environmental organizations spoke in favor of the bill, while a representative of Connecticut Light & Power argued that it would jeopardize electric reliability. Similar arguments were made in the floor debate in the House and Senate. The bill, with several amendments, was adopted as PA 575 of 1971 and codified as CGS Sec. 16-50i et seq.

The council’s jurisdiction originally was limited to electric power plants, transmission lines, and substations and it was originally called the Power Facility Evaluation Council. The council’s jurisdiction was later expanded to include gas pipelines, telecommunications towers, and certain other facilities. The agency was renamed the Siting Council in 1981.

Further information about the Siting Council is available on its Website, http: //www. ct. gov/csc/site/default. asp.

KM: ro