Bill Summary: HB 5350 - Natural Gas Infrastructure

• Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may solicit proposals from anaerobic digestion facilities to supply biogas for injection into Connecticut's natural gas distribution system, limited to facilities processing no more than 300,000 tons of organic waste annually.

• Gas companies directed to enter into biogas purchase agreements for up to 20 years with selected suppliers; agreements subject to Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approval within 120 days; costs recovered through purchased gas adjustment clause.

• Public Utilities Regulatory Authority required to reopen dockets by January 1, 2021 to evaluate accelerating gas company repair and replacement schedules for aging infrastructure to reduce methane emissions.

• Construction contractors performing gas infrastructure replacement work must pay prevailing wage rates per Connecticut law, effective after each gas company's first rate case following July 1, 2021; gas companies must report on wage impacts within 15 months.

• Removes interstate natural gas transportation capacity from electric distribution company procurement solicitations; retains liquefied natural gas, storage, and related resources with maximum aggregate capacity of 375 million cubic feet per day.