CT HB06409

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

Commissioner must consider ratepayer interest, state solid waste management goals, economic and agricultural development, greenhouse gas emission reduction, facility standards compliance, and natural gas system benefits when selecting proposals.

Commissioner may direct gas companies to enter into gas purchase agreements with selected biogas suppliers for periods up to 20 years on behalf of all state gas company customers, subject to Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approval within 120 days.

Gas companies recover reasonable negotiation costs and net biogas supply costs through purchased gas adjustment clauses, with costs apportioned by company revenue; any net revenues from biogas sales are credited to customers through the same rate component.

Commissioner may retain consultants for proposal evaluation with all reasonable costs recoverable from gas customers, and disputes over approved contracts are resolved through the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority with appeal rights to Superior Court; act takes effect July 1, 2021.