NORWALK — The Connecticut Department of Transportation has received no shortage of local input on its environmental impact report for the Walk Bridge replacement project.
The Norwalk Corporation Counsel detailed the local concerns about the forthcoming bridge replacement in an 18-page letter to DOT Commissioner James P. Redeker.
Corporation Counsel Mario F. Coppola has asked state transportation officials to study the project further before moving forward with the next steps in the review process.
“While the City understands the importance of this project, its significance should not overshadow the magnitude of the temporary and permanent impacts and losses,” wrote Coppola, head of the city’s law department. “Given the multi-year construction window and all the projects proposed, the City will bear the burden of the impacts disproportionately.”
Coppola said the DOT must fully explore and vet with the city mitigation measure to reduce the project’s impacts on residents, businesses and other stakeholders.
The attorney identified a number of issues, including marine traffic, vehicular traffic and parking, land acquisitions, and the impacts to city’s economy, parks, water quality and aquatic life.
Coppola included in his correspondence exhibits representing the written input of city elected officials, boards and commissions as well as local organizations such as The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.
Aquarium President and CEO Brian L. Davis, while understanding “the need to update and improve Connecticut’s railroad transportation infrastructure,” identified numerous concerns for the aquarium.
“Several animal exhibits lie within 40 feet of one of the largest construction cranes scheduled to be used at the site,” wrote Davis in his letter to the DOT. “This includes the Aquarium’s meerkat exhibit, dragons (reptile) exhibit and a 30,000-gallon Long Island Sound Exhibit.”
Friday, Dec. 9, marked the deadline for residents, businesses, and elected and appointed officials to comment on the DOT’s and Federal Transit Administration’s impact report for the estimated $1 billion bridge replacement project, which is slated to begin in mid-2018. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Berlin station coming down
BERLIN — The Berlin Train Station, a landmark in town for more than a century, was being taken apart brick by brick Wednesday after a fire all but destroyed the building last week.
The building was deemed unsalvageable and will have to be razed, said state Department of Transportation spokesman Kevin Nursick. “We will preserve what we can. There are definitely pieces that are worth saving,” Nursick said.
More than four dozen local firefighters battled the early morning blaze on Dec. 21. The building, constructed in 1900, was being restored for use as a museum next to the new train station, nearly complete next door. The complex is to be part of a larger Amtrak renovation project. The local Fire Marshal’s Office is still investigating what sparked the fire, which could be seen for miles.
Crews from Manafort construction hired by the DOT to take the structure down could be seen Wednesday morning painstakingly removing bricks from the top of the building a few at a time.
The goal is to salvage items such as the cast iron radiators and anything else that may be of architectural value before what’s left of the building is knocked down, Nursick said.
The fire wiped out just about every piece of wood that was within the building, including the roof, leaving only four brick walls and a chimney.
“The structural engineers have accessed what’s left and have determined that the walls are not stable or salvageable,” Nursick said. “It is recommended that the structure be taken down to the foundation.”
The building and the land was owned by Amtrak but leased to the DOT which was overseeing the renovation project. The lease no longer applies but Manafort, which has been hired by the state, will be doing the demolition, Nursick said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
2017 brings hope of development across the region
With 2016 in the books as a banner year for the announcement of major development projects locally, the new year will tell whether any of them finally gets off the ground.
But developers and economic development officials say they see no reason why the good news of major plans at the former Norwich Hospital property in Preston, at Fort Trumbull in New London and at the Perkins Farm and Mystic Harbor Landing sites in Mystic can’t approach fruition in the coming year.
“It seems like they are all coming to a head at once,” said Tony Silvestri, manager for the New London Harbour Towers and City Flats developments who is proposing a new condominium project on Howard Street in New London.
The economic optimism is being spurred by hiring at Electric Boat — about 14,000 new and replacement employees for retiring workers over the next dozen years — and the Mohegan Tribe's plans to purchase and develop the former Norwich Hospital property, which could create between 200 and 700 permanent positions.
"Contracts secured literally for decades gives people a little more confidence," Peter Davis said of the defense contracts secured by the submarine maker.
Davis is the executive director of the Renaissance City Development Corp., overseer of plans in the Fort Trumbull area, where a Massachusetts-based developer says he is interested in building a $15 million hotel and conference center on a long-vacant waterfront parcel.
He said Yale-New Haven Health System affiliating with Lawrence + Memorial Hospital also could have a big impact, as could the newly constituted Connecticut Port Authority's plans for boosting shipping traffic to New London's State Pier.
"Any tick up in median income is going to be a positive thing for the area," Davis added.
Sean Nugent, interim executive director at the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region, said the economic cloud over the region probably started lifting even before the Mohegan Tribe announced its planned acquisition of the former Norwich Hospital property for its Preston Riverwalk development. But the huge project, whose specifics are expected to be unveiled early this year, didn't hurt, he said, as others stepped forward with their own plans.
"It created a positive buzz," he said.
The project's overall economic infusion was expected to be double the $600 million development price tag, according to University of Connecticut economist Steve Lanza, thanks to the addition of new retail, housing, recreation and lodging amenities.
Officials have said the region hasn't seen a similar size investment since the Mohegan and Mashantucket tribes developed local casinos more than two decades ago. Nugent said both the proposed Coast Guard Museum in New London and the Preston Riverwalk will serve as catalysts for further development. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Plainfield critical of idea to use its water for Killingly energy plant
PLAINFIELD - An idea to lay a new pipeline into a Plainfield-fed well field to help run a proposed Killingly energy plant is being met with skepticism by Plainfield officials.
The Florida-based NTE company has applied for permits to build and operate a 550-megawatt electric generating facility on Lake Road in Dayville, a project developers said will require the use of between 50,000 to 100,000 gallons of water daily and possibly as much as 400,000 gallons if natural gas supplies run short and the plant is required to burn oil.
While developers and Connecticut Water Co. officials have said they can tap into Killingly water sources - after a new section of pipe is installed - to meet the new demand, the project could require running a connection between the plant and Plainfield's water supply.
In order to meet those margins, the company could tap into a system of wells that feed Plainfield, a scenario Plainfield officials find unattractive.
"I've previously talked to Connecticut Water about the overall volume of water here in town," First Selectman Paul Sweet said. "There is a surplus, but, to me, the water we have here is a precious commodity. And we have really good water."
The Plainfield Division Wellfield, though located in Killingly near the Plainfield town line, is not connected to any of the well fields that serve Killingly. It is overseen by the Crystal Water Company, a subsidiary of Connecticut Water.
Sweet said since the wells the water would be drawn from are privately owned, the town has no official say on the issue. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
New Parking Garage Proposed Near Old G. Fox Building
The owner of a decaying downtown parking garage has proposed a new redevelopment plan, a move that could add hundreds of parking spaces in a city struggling to sort out it parking needs.
LAZ Parking now aims to demolish the 800-space parking garage — closed for two years after concerns were raised about its deterioration — and long-vacant office space that make up One Talcott Plaza, now an eyesore at the corner of Main and Talcott streets.
The structure would be replaced in phases, first with a new, 600-space parking garage, estimated to cost $30 million. In the future, the garage could be topped with apartments, offices, shops and restaurants facing toward Main Street.
"This is a vital piece of property for downtown," Alan Lazowski, chief executive of LAZ, said. "We're not giving up on a project for this property."
Since taking ownership in 2011, LAZ has been unable to redevelop the property. In 2013, LAZ unsuccessfully sought to bring the new University of Connecticut downtown campus to the site. Last year, LAZ approached the city about partnering on a renovation that would move city workers into the office space and LAZ would refurbish the garage. One Talcott Plaza, once on the northern fringe of downtown, is now near a major center of building activity in the city, including a new major league baseball stadium and the conversion of the top floors of the Radisson into apartments.
The complex also stands adjacent to I-84, which is expected to undergo a major replacement in the next decade.
For the new garage proposal to advance, some public funding would be needed, Lazowski said.
The new parking garage would be built into the sharply sloping topography along Talcott Street as it drops off between Main and Market streets. A parking deck — essentially the top of the garage — would be created on Main Street, a platform for future development by another developer.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin recently told the CRDA's board that a new garage at One Talcott Plaza could aid owners of nearby office towers such as 20 Church Street and 280 Trumbull Street in attracting new tenants. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Plan to replace bridge on Guilford’s Route 146 to be aired
GUILFORD >> After a proposal to replace a Route 146 culvert with an elevated bridge sparked worries about emergency response times, a neighboring town is slated to lend a helping hand to alleviate any concerns.
The state Department of Transportation is considering building a new multi-span bridge near the Route 146 “crabbing hole” to eliminate current flooding issues, said Louis Bacho, the state DOT’s transportation supervising engineer. Construction on the project could start as early as fall 2018, and is estimated to come with a $14 million price tag, Bacho said.Construction could be completed two ways: The state DOT could close one lane of traffic, to give workers 400 days to complete construction, or the roadway could be shut down entirely and a detour route could be established.“That (shutdown option) shaves off about a year of construction, 200 days,” Bacho said. “That’s the option we want to bring to the public.” While closing the road entirely may cut costs and save time, local leaders have expressed concerns over the consequences the closure may have on first responders. First Selectman Joseph Mazza previously stated that his primary concern was that the detour route would be too long to accommodate emergency vehicles getting to calls in a timely manner. To combat this, the town initially submitted plans to build a temporary substation on the west side of Route 146, which would have been paid for by the state DOT. Now the state agency is considering renting a bay from the Branford Fire Department’s Stony Creek Fire-Rescue Company 5, on School Street. Through this plan, the Guilford Fire Department would be able to station one fire truck and two to three crew members throughout the duration of construction, Bacho said. While costs have yet to be finalized, Bacho said this measure would be less expensive than building a temporary substation. Any costs associated with renting a bay from Branford’s Fire Department would be absorbed by the state DOT, Bacho said. The state’s bridges are inspected every two years, Bacho said. When a bridge receives a poor rating, it is put under consideration to be replaced or rehabilitated. The state first considered replacing the Route 146 structure years ago to eliminate flooding issues. Through this project, the roadway will be elevated 60 feet and the existing culvert will be replaced with a three-span structure, Bacho said. Before the project is given the green light, the state DOT will hold a public informational meeting to receive input from Guilford residents. “People should hear DOT out and bring their concerns to them. At the end of that public hearing, we have to decide as a community whether this is something that is workable for us and go from there,” state Rep. Sean Scanlon previously told the Register. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Supreme Court upholds Connecticut’s energy strategy
The state Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a legal challenge by oil dealers to a comprehensive energy strategy Connecticut adopted in 2013 to encourage a greater reliance on natural gas by residential and commercial customers.
In a 4-1 decision, the court upheld a trial court’s dismissal of a claim by the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association, which represents nearly 600 sellers of heating oil and gasoline, that the strategy should have been subjected to an environmental review
“We’re pleased with the court decision and that our approach to energy strategy was upheld,” said Dennis Schain, a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Chris Herb, the executive director of the marketing association, said he viewed the decision as narrowly drawn: Since the department was establishing a strategy, not doing actual construction, there is no need for an environmental review.
“In my mind, they won on a technicality,” Herb said.
Herb said one result of the strategy was the conversions of 40,000 homes and businesses from oil heat to natural gas, requiring the installation of gas lines into new service areas. The potential environmental impact of that work should have been studied, he said.
“The good news is that all the circumstances under which the plan was developed have changed,” he said.
The original strategy adopted three years ago put considerable focus on natural gas, then far cheaper than oil, as a cleaner bridge fuel to renewable energy options down the road. It called for conversions from oil to gas for heating, and it stressed the need to expand natural gas pipeline capacities to carry the large amount of fracked gas that was available so that power plants could switch from oil or coal to natural gas and new natural gas plants could be built.
Three years later, as state officials update the CES as required by law, they face question about how to regroup in light of dramatically changed energy, environmental and political landscapes.
[See: CT works on new energy strategy as old one misses the mark]
The price of oil has dropped, making it more competitive with natural gas and slowing the demand for conversions. And two of five natural gas pipeline projects and competitive bidding for more were scuttled, leaving gas supplies in New England as constrained as ever.
Herb said his members will ask legislators, who return to Hartford for the opening of the 2017 session on Wednesday, for legislative changes that reflect those realities. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Connecticut fuel cell industry looks to expand, despite setbacks
Connecticut’s fuel cell industry has the potential to grow despite some recent setbacks the sector has received, according to the chairman of a group that supports the hydrogen and fuel cell industry through education and outreach.
Joel Rinebold, chairman of Northeast Electrochemical Energy Storage Cluster, said the sector can continue to grow despite the setbacks, albeit at a slower pace, He is also the director of energy at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology,The two setbacks, according to Rinebold were:• A failure to renew fuel-cell tax credits at the federal level. A decision by Connecticut and Massachusetts officials not to reject a bid by a Beacon Falls fuel cell farm for inclusion in multi-renewable energy procurement. “We still see the industry moving forward,” Rinebold said. “But it’s going to be considerably more difficult.” The 30 percent investment tax credit for qualified fuel cell projects “provides substantial cash flow” for companies like Danbury-based FuelCell Energy, Rinebold said. The company, which has a factory in Torrington, is also involved in the Beacon Falls project. The setbacks the industry suffered prompted FuelCell Energy to announce in early December that the company was laying off 96 employees. Although it remains uncertain whether the incoming Trump administration will renew the fuel cell industry’s tax credits, Rinebold said the president-elect’s campaign included a major focus on domestic energy sources and creating manufacturing jobs around the country “This is an industry that Trump should like,” he said.
Connecticut firms currently account for more than half of the fuel cell production in the northeastern United States, according to Global Market Insights, a global market research and consulting firm specializing in industry trends. Rinebold said that Connecticut is “generally supportive” of fuel cell power and the Connecticut companies that either produce them or serve the industry’s needs.“They recognize the value proposition of what we do,” he said. “But in this particular instance they did not select the home industry.”The industry employs about 3,000 people in the state and generates $600 million a year in revenues. In addition to FuelCell Energy, another one of the industry’s major players in Connecticut is Doosan Energy, a South Korean company that has a presence in South Windsor. Dennis Schain, a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said any suggestion that fuel cells should have been included in the multi-state renewable energy procurement effort doesn’t fully understand the goals of the effort.“The selection process was heavily weighted on the cost of the project,” Schain said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Massachusetts Deal Removes Hurdle To Gas Pipeline Into Connecticut
A $640,000 negotiated settlement between a pipeline company and Massachusetts removes what appears to be one of the last roadblocks to an expansion project designed to bring more natural gas into Connecticut.
Massachusetts officials and representatives of Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. this week announced a tentative agreement to settle a dispute over a plan to run a new gas pipeline through Otis State Forest in Sandisfield, Mass.
The proposed settlement still needs Massachusetts state court approval, and a hearing is scheduled for Feb. 6 in Berkshire Superior Court.
Tennessee Gas Pipeline is a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, a major energy infrastructure corporation that last year dropped its plans for a separate, $3 billion gas line project through Massachusetts, New Hampshire and into Connecticut.
That huge project had drawn massive opposition from environmentalists, local activists and some officials in all three states, and Kinder Morgan officials said they halted the project because of uncertainty over plans to charge Massachusetts electricity ratepayers for the costs of the pipeline.
Court and administrative rulings in Massachusetts and New Hampshire effectively killed proposals to charge ratepayers in those states for the pipeline's costs. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration, which has been pushing natural gas as a cleaner, less expensive alternative to oil, withdrew consideration of major gas pipelines as a result of those decisions in other states. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
The complex also stands adjacent to I-84, which is expected to undergo a major replacement in the next decade.
For the new garage proposal to advance, some public funding would be needed, Lazowski said.
The new parking garage would be built into the sharply sloping topography along Talcott Street as it drops off between Main and Market streets. A parking deck — essentially the top of the garage — would be created on Main Street, a platform for future development by another developer.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin recently told the CRDA's board that a new garage at One Talcott Plaza could aid owners of nearby office towers such as 20 Church Street and 280 Trumbull Street in attracting new tenants. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Plan to replace bridge on Guilford’s Route 146 to be aired
GUILFORD >> After a proposal to replace a Route 146 culvert with an elevated bridge sparked worries about emergency response times, a neighboring town is slated to lend a helping hand to alleviate any concerns.
The state Department of Transportation is considering building a new multi-span bridge near the Route 146 “crabbing hole” to eliminate current flooding issues, said Louis Bacho, the state DOT’s transportation supervising engineer. Construction on the project could start as early as fall 2018, and is estimated to come with a $14 million price tag, Bacho said.Construction could be completed two ways: The state DOT could close one lane of traffic, to give workers 400 days to complete construction, or the roadway could be shut down entirely and a detour route could be established.“That (shutdown option) shaves off about a year of construction, 200 days,” Bacho said. “That’s the option we want to bring to the public.” While closing the road entirely may cut costs and save time, local leaders have expressed concerns over the consequences the closure may have on first responders. First Selectman Joseph Mazza previously stated that his primary concern was that the detour route would be too long to accommodate emergency vehicles getting to calls in a timely manner. To combat this, the town initially submitted plans to build a temporary substation on the west side of Route 146, which would have been paid for by the state DOT. Now the state agency is considering renting a bay from the Branford Fire Department’s Stony Creek Fire-Rescue Company 5, on School Street. Through this plan, the Guilford Fire Department would be able to station one fire truck and two to three crew members throughout the duration of construction, Bacho said. While costs have yet to be finalized, Bacho said this measure would be less expensive than building a temporary substation. Any costs associated with renting a bay from Branford’s Fire Department would be absorbed by the state DOT, Bacho said. The state’s bridges are inspected every two years, Bacho said. When a bridge receives a poor rating, it is put under consideration to be replaced or rehabilitated. The state first considered replacing the Route 146 structure years ago to eliminate flooding issues. Through this project, the roadway will be elevated 60 feet and the existing culvert will be replaced with a three-span structure, Bacho said. Before the project is given the green light, the state DOT will hold a public informational meeting to receive input from Guilford residents. “People should hear DOT out and bring their concerns to them. At the end of that public hearing, we have to decide as a community whether this is something that is workable for us and go from there,” state Rep. Sean Scanlon previously told the Register. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Supreme Court upholds Connecticut’s energy strategy
The state Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a legal challenge by oil dealers to a comprehensive energy strategy Connecticut adopted in 2013 to encourage a greater reliance on natural gas by residential and commercial customers.
In a 4-1 decision, the court upheld a trial court’s dismissal of a claim by the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association, which represents nearly 600 sellers of heating oil and gasoline, that the strategy should have been subjected to an environmental review
“We’re pleased with the court decision and that our approach to energy strategy was upheld,” said Dennis Schain, a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Chris Herb, the executive director of the marketing association, said he viewed the decision as narrowly drawn: Since the department was establishing a strategy, not doing actual construction, there is no need for an environmental review.
“In my mind, they won on a technicality,” Herb said.
Herb said one result of the strategy was the conversions of 40,000 homes and businesses from oil heat to natural gas, requiring the installation of gas lines into new service areas. The potential environmental impact of that work should have been studied, he said.
“The good news is that all the circumstances under which the plan was developed have changed,” he said.
The original strategy adopted three years ago put considerable focus on natural gas, then far cheaper than oil, as a cleaner bridge fuel to renewable energy options down the road. It called for conversions from oil to gas for heating, and it stressed the need to expand natural gas pipeline capacities to carry the large amount of fracked gas that was available so that power plants could switch from oil or coal to natural gas and new natural gas plants could be built.
Three years later, as state officials update the CES as required by law, they face question about how to regroup in light of dramatically changed energy, environmental and political landscapes.
[See: CT works on new energy strategy as old one misses the mark]
The price of oil has dropped, making it more competitive with natural gas and slowing the demand for conversions. And two of five natural gas pipeline projects and competitive bidding for more were scuttled, leaving gas supplies in New England as constrained as ever.
Herb said his members will ask legislators, who return to Hartford for the opening of the 2017 session on Wednesday, for legislative changes that reflect those realities. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Connecticut fuel cell industry looks to expand, despite setbacks
Connecticut’s fuel cell industry has the potential to grow despite some recent setbacks the sector has received, according to the chairman of a group that supports the hydrogen and fuel cell industry through education and outreach.
Joel Rinebold, chairman of Northeast Electrochemical Energy Storage Cluster, said the sector can continue to grow despite the setbacks, albeit at a slower pace, He is also the director of energy at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology,The two setbacks, according to Rinebold were:• A failure to renew fuel-cell tax credits at the federal level. A decision by Connecticut and Massachusetts officials not to reject a bid by a Beacon Falls fuel cell farm for inclusion in multi-renewable energy procurement. “We still see the industry moving forward,” Rinebold said. “But it’s going to be considerably more difficult.” The 30 percent investment tax credit for qualified fuel cell projects “provides substantial cash flow” for companies like Danbury-based FuelCell Energy, Rinebold said. The company, which has a factory in Torrington, is also involved in the Beacon Falls project. The setbacks the industry suffered prompted FuelCell Energy to announce in early December that the company was laying off 96 employees. Although it remains uncertain whether the incoming Trump administration will renew the fuel cell industry’s tax credits, Rinebold said the president-elect’s campaign included a major focus on domestic energy sources and creating manufacturing jobs around the country “This is an industry that Trump should like,” he said.
Connecticut firms currently account for more than half of the fuel cell production in the northeastern United States, according to Global Market Insights, a global market research and consulting firm specializing in industry trends. Rinebold said that Connecticut is “generally supportive” of fuel cell power and the Connecticut companies that either produce them or serve the industry’s needs.“They recognize the value proposition of what we do,” he said. “But in this particular instance they did not select the home industry.”The industry employs about 3,000 people in the state and generates $600 million a year in revenues. In addition to FuelCell Energy, another one of the industry’s major players in Connecticut is Doosan Energy, a South Korean company that has a presence in South Windsor. Dennis Schain, a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said any suggestion that fuel cells should have been included in the multi-state renewable energy procurement effort doesn’t fully understand the goals of the effort.“The selection process was heavily weighted on the cost of the project,” Schain said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Massachusetts Deal Removes Hurdle To Gas Pipeline Into Connecticut
A $640,000 negotiated settlement between a pipeline company and Massachusetts removes what appears to be one of the last roadblocks to an expansion project designed to bring more natural gas into Connecticut.
Massachusetts officials and representatives of Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. this week announced a tentative agreement to settle a dispute over a plan to run a new gas pipeline through Otis State Forest in Sandisfield, Mass.
The project, known as the "Connecticut Expansion," involves about 14 miles of new or expanded pipelines in portions of New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, including an 8.2 mile section through Suffield and East Granby.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the Connecticut Expansion project last March. According to the FERC ruling, the estimated cost of the project is $85.7 million, and company officials have said they have agreements to sell the additional gas to the Eversource subsidiary, Yankee Gas, Avangrid's Connecticut Natural Gas, and Southern Connecticut Gas. Co. Pipeline officials have agreed to pay $580,000 to compensate the state for the expansion of the pipeline through Otis State Forest, plus additional payments for pipeline easements and improvements to the state forest. Opposition from environmentalists and some Massachusetts lawmakers triggered a nine-month battle over the pipeline plan.The proposed settlement still needs Massachusetts state court approval, and a hearing is scheduled for Feb. 6 in Berkshire Superior Court.
Tennessee Gas Pipeline is a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, a major energy infrastructure corporation that last year dropped its plans for a separate, $3 billion gas line project through Massachusetts, New Hampshire and into Connecticut.
That huge project had drawn massive opposition from environmentalists, local activists and some officials in all three states, and Kinder Morgan officials said they halted the project because of uncertainty over plans to charge Massachusetts electricity ratepayers for the costs of the pipeline.
Court and administrative rulings in Massachusetts and New Hampshire effectively killed proposals to charge ratepayers in those states for the pipeline's costs. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration, which has been pushing natural gas as a cleaner, less expensive alternative to oil, withdrew consideration of major gas pipelines as a result of those decisions in other states. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE