Earlier in the Spring, the DOT had modified the off-ramp in an effort to alleviate the problems caused by the prior design, which led to numerous rear-end type motor vehicle accidents.  However, in configuring a new design, the radius was too tight for motorists making right hand turns, thereby forcing them into oncoming traffic on White Plains Road to complete the turn.  In addition, the DOT will also be installing signage and plantings in an effort to increase safety and aesthetics in the area.

Representative Rowe remarked, “It is unfortunate that in attempting to solve one problem, the DOT created another one, but I am very pleased that what was a dangerous situation will be corrected in the coming days.”

“Safety needs to be a foremost concern, and the area simply was not safe with the new design.  Needless to say, we are happy with the new and safer plans.”  Representative Hwang remarked.

The measure was ushered through the State House of Representatives with an amendment offered by Representative Rowe and co-sponsored by Rep. Hwang and Senator Musto. The measure then passed the Senate and was signed by Governor Rell on June 11. The legislation was passed in an effort to assist FuelCell in the process of attempting to locate their proposed natural gas energy facility at another location thus preventing the proposed Nichols neighborhood site from being developed.

“This represents significant cooperation between state government, the residents of the Nichols neighborhood and FuelCell,” said Rep. Rowe. “I am very pleased that Governor Rell has signed this measure into law which will streamline the application process for FuelCell, and more importantly, allow for a timely change in the proposed facility by FuelCell out of the Nichols neighborhood.”

“We appreciate Governor Rell’s concern for this neighborhood and her hands-on approach to this problem,” said Rep. Hwang. “The passage of bill 201 is a positive culmination of the tireless and bipartisan efforts of community and legislative leaders. Our success has shown that we can all contribute to making a difference in government. I am proud and honored to be a part of that team effort for Trumbull.”

“Ultimately, everyone—from the community and local lawmakers to the governor and FuelCell Energy itself—recognized that this was not the right place for this plant to be built,” said Senator Musto. “I’m proud of the great grassroots effort that deserves all the credit for bringing us to where we are today. I’m thankful to Governor Rell for being a partner and assisting us in our effort. And I’m also grateful to the company for taking the community into consideration and, in a time when many companies are struggling, for doing what was right for Trumbull.”

The act permits a request for modification of a purchase agreement for electricity from a fuel cell project with a generating capacity of up to five megawatts that is located within 50 feet of a natural gas transmission facility operating at pressures above 150 pounds.

The project administrator can request a change allowing the project to move to another location and adjust the contract’s pricing provision to account for a change attributable to the move. The State Department of Public Utility Control has 30 days after receiving such a request to open a docket to review it, and may approve it within 120 days.

Under the act, factors affecting a modification are limited to location, contract pricing, and the schedule attributable to the relocation. An electric company cannot cancel an agreement or deem it out of compliance until the modification is approved.

Representatives T.R. Rowe (R-Trumbull) and Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield)) both hailed the passage of critical legislation in the House of Representatives today which requires the Siting Council to take public concerns into consideration when evaluating applications such as the one currently pending for a Fuel Cell Power Plant in the Nichols neighborhood in Trumbull.

The measure passed as “House Amendment A” on HB 5213, An Act Concerning the Siting Council. The legislation stems from neighborhood concerns about a proposal to place a 3.4 megawatt, natural gas-fueled electric generation plant in a highly residential neighborhood in the Nichols portion of Trumbull. The plant would be within close proximity to three schools and, under current rules, the Siting Council is only required to consider environmental impact in its decisions. Additionally, the council is not required to hold public hearings in affected communities.

Last month dozens of Trumbull residents wearing red and white “Fragile: Handle with Care” stickers boarded a bus and traveled to the State Capitol to testify before a legislative committee in favor of legislation that would change the way the Connecticut Siting Council makes decisions about where they will allow the construction of potentially dangerous power generators. Representatives Rowe and Hwang testified along with State Senator Anthony Musto (D-Trumbull) in favor of the legislation.

“I am very thankful for the support the full House has given to this legislation,” said Representative Rowe. “The concerns of those members of a community that would have to live with the effects of a natural gas-based power plant being in their neighborhood must be heard. We have one week left in the legislative session. I am hopeful the bill passes the Senate quickly and goes to the Governor for her signature.”

“This kind of bill is long overdue and will have a positive effect not only for the Nichols neighborhood, but communities around the state,” said Representative Hwang. “I appreciate the support the full House gave in passing this bill. It will be difficult, but we must find a proper way to balance the needs of the community with increased needs for power generation.”

The measure now heads to the State Senate for action there. The 2010 regular legislative session adjourns on May 5.

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“Honestly, we should have been here months ago,” said Representative Rowe. “Since last fall we have seen repeated tax increase proposals from the majority in the legislature. Only nineteen days ago they were looking to increase taxes by $500 million. House Republicans have consistently opposed these tax increases and today we have a package that closes the deficit and does not increase taxes.”

“Had we not dug our heels in and fought these tax increases, Connecticut residents would be picking up a higher tab for government tonight,” said Representative Hwang. “The majority have attempted to increase taxes on income, hospitals, electric bills and estates just to name a few, only to meet opposition. Reaching this agreement on a bipartisan level is important, but the real work begins tomorrow as we look to address the rest of the budget picture.”

Both legislators noted that the General Assembly still needs to close a $700 million budget deficit that begins in FY 2011, and that the legislature must finish that work by the adjournment of the session on May 5th.

 “This work should not be left to the next governor and legislature,” said Hwang. “We were all elected to finish this task, no matter how difficult, before this session adjourns. I know that we stand ready to tackle next year’s deficit before session’s end.”

“We can close next year’s budget deficit without tax increases as well,” said Rowe. “Increasing taxes will only hurt the residents of this state that are attempting to recover from this economic crisis, and it does nothing to help. Last September the legislature raised taxes on everyone by $1.2 billion and we still have a $700 million deficit. We can close that deficit with targeted spending cuts, and increased efficiency in government functions.”

The Foundation set April 27 as Connecticut’s “Tax Freedom Day®”, or the day of the year that state residents on average have worked enough to pay their annual tax obligations. The average Tax Freedom Day for all U.S. states is April 9th.

“To think that people in Connecticut have to work for nearly four months out of the year just to pay for government is truly outrageous,” said Rep. Rowe. “Compounding that outrage is that many in the legislature are currently advocating increasing that tax burden to close a massive budget gap because they refuse to meaningfully cut profligate spending, even under the duress of an economic crisis.”

Rowe noted that the high tax burden not only hurts state residents while they try to recover from the recession, but limits the prospects of a successful recovery in Connecticut.

“The best help the government can give the people of Connecticut is targeted tax relief along with cuts in spending,” he said. “In Connecticut, our legislative leaders don’t see it that way. They think we aren’t paying enough to keep government going. This policy keeps citizens from recovering and keeps businesses from relocating here or remaining here. Our state government needs to profoundly change the way it runs. The longer we wait, the more painful it will ultimately be to our citizens.”

To see the report visit www.taxfoundation.org.

In their ongoing efforts to build a coalition of support for legislation stemming from the Trumbull controversy that would require a public hearing in all Siting Council decisions, the delegation invited Senator Jonathan Harris (D-West Hartford) to tour the proposed site, which is located in a highly residential area.

“Common sense dictates that energy plants with untested technology that are proposed to be located in densely populated neighborhoods deserve more than the usual level of review,” Senator Harris said. “Public health and safety always come first, and my trip to Trumbull only reinforced that belief. The proposed change requiring a public hearing on such projects would increase public knowledge, increase public safety, and strike the proper balance between responsible development and responsible, responsive government.”

“Private residences, a high school, churches, an herb farm—these are just a few of the things in direct proximity to the site where they want to build this power plant,” said Senator Musto. “Words are fine, but we know a picture is worth a thousand words. It was important to the neighborhood, to me and to the whole delegation that the pictures make their way to Hartford, so I’m extremely grateful to Senator Harris as chair of the Public Health Committee for accepting our invitation and coming to Trumbull this weekend.”

“It was gracious of Senator Harris to spend time with the residents and tour the site. He will be a valuable ally as we marshal as many forces together as possible to stop this power plant,” said Representative Rowe.

“The idea of balancing our state need for energy and power generation plants against public safety and neighborhood preservation is an important one, and one that will be repeated throughout towns within Connecticut,” said Representative Hwang. “We need to ensure the rights of communities and citizens are recognized and protected as we evaluate locations for energy and power generation.”

Earlier this month, a busload of Trumbull residents travelled to the State Capitol to testify in favor of the proposed legislation. The proposed plant would be within a stone’s throw of houses and in close proximity

to a high school. Under current rules, the Siting Council is only required to consider environmental impact in its decisions and is not required to hold public hearings in effected communities.

The legislation—House Bill 5213, An Act Concerning the Siting Council— was recently approved unanimously by the General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee and now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

The 2010 regular legislative session adjourns on May 5.

The legislation, Raised Bill 5245, An Act Establishing a Task Force to Study the Privatization of Group Homes, would include in the study a comparison of group homes that are operated by non-profit private providers licensed by the Department of Developmental Services. It would examine resident population, staffing levels, levels of care, operating costs, as well as the impacts of state labor contracts on costs.

The legislation could assist organizations like St. Vincent’s Hospital and the Kennedy Center by allowing equal access to funds. Both Representatives noted that there are significant savings to be had through the privatization of group homes.

“According to a 2005 Report of Auditors of Public Accounts, the cost of care per person is $131,898 in public sector versus $29,081 in private sector,” said Rep. Rowe. “The non-profits do a magnificent job of providing for those with special needs and disabilities at a fraction of the cost. The state could save hundreds of millions of dollars by shifting over to the non-profits.”

“Our first consideration is to emphasize the task force is necessary to study the possible fiscal and operational efficiencies of critical governmental social services,” said Rep. Hwang. “–We need an apples-to-apples comparison to fully understand those differences and to ascertain if they are necessary. We owe it to the people who use those services, to the taxpayers of this state. We in government need to, and indeed are forced to do more with less money.”

Dr. James McCreath, President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Vincent’s Hospital said “The creation of a task force to study the privatization of group homes is reasonable given the State’s fiscal crisis. Every option should be explored.”

“The fiscal challenges presently confronting the State of Connecticut require our state government to seek the most cost effective means of providing quality services to individuals with disabilities,” said Martin D. Schwartz, President and CEO of the Kennedy Center. “I am pleased that the state Department of Developmental Services has already initiated the privatization of 17 state run group homes at an estimated savings of $5 million dollars and I strongly endorse the establishment of a task force to study the further privatization of group homes. I am confident that the study and recommendations of the task force will result in considerable savings to the state while ensuring the maintenance of the highest quality of services for our citizens with Intellectual Disabilities.”

“On behalf of St. Vincent’s Special Needs Center and the many not-for profits in the State of Connecticut who care for the needs of people of all ages with physical, medical and cognitive disabilities, I want to acknowledge Senators John McKinney and Anthony Musto and State Representatives T.R. Rowe and Tony Hwang for their initiative, courage and support of these important legislation to benefit and support local non-profits,” said Raymond Baldwin, Jr., President and CEO of St. Vincent’s Hospital Special Needs. “This bill will not only allow all of us to continue our very worthwhile and necessary mission but will, in the process, save the State of Connecticut hundreds of millions of dollars at a time when the State could desperately use it. Their efforts embody what true ‘public service’ is all about and we are grateful to them.”

The measure will now move to the floor of the House of Representatives for action there. this session of the Connecticut General Assembly adjourns midnight on Wednesday, May 5th.

In the video below Rep. Rowe testifies before the Human Services Committee on HB 5245.