Environment Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-236
AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF BACK-UP DIESEL GENERATORS FOR
Title: PURPOSES OF PEAK SHAVING.
Vote Date: 3/18/2022
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/7/2022
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
REP. MICHAEL A WINKLER, 56TH DIST.
REP. MARY M MUSHINSKY, 85TH DIST.R
THE REASON FOR THE BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to apply emission limits to installations of five megawatts or more of
diesel engines used for peak shaving to mitigate the adverse air quality impacts associated
with the use of high-emitting engines for peak shaving.
JOINT FAVORABLE SUBSTITUTE:
LCO 3665 Removed "emergencies" from the 500 hours of use limitation and made technical
corrections.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Commissioner Katie S. Dykes, Connecticut Energy and Environment & Protection
The proposed emission standards were adopted in the State of Delaware in 2012 and
represent the most environmentally protective standards currently in place in a jurisdiction.
They would not apply to the use of diesel engines in circumstances unrelated to peak
shaving. As drafted, this bill would only apply prospectively, to engines that are installed on
or after July 1, 2022. It would not apply to engines that have already been installed, or to
engines that have already been permitted by DEEP.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Lori Brown, Executive Director, Connecticut League of Conservation Voters
They support this legislation because data centers are one of the energy intensive building
types and we need to take steps to mitigate the energy and emissions impacts that these
facilities can cause.
Aundre Bumgardner, Groton Town Councilor
He suggests the language be amended to include environmental justice provisions that
protect air and water quality, preserve Native American sacred and ceremonial stone
landscapes, codify project labor agreement commitments, project financial disclosures, and
require robust environmental impact studies.
Ann Gadwah, Advocacy and Outreact Organizer Sierra Club Connecticut
They support the bill but also want to begin to phase out of the use of diesel generators
altogether in favor of cleaner renewable sources of energy.
Cary Lynch, Climate & Policy Manager, The Nature Conservancy
They support adopting stricter emission standards for diesel generators for peak shaving,
limiting use of such generators when environmental ozone conditions are not ideal and
limiting the annual total hours of operation. And support DEEP authority to adopt more
stringent requirements.
Jessie Stratton
Many old diesel generators that emit large quantities of Particulate Matter still exist and are
often pressed into service in emergencies. The old emission standards that apply to these
units became effective more than 20 years ago. The standard sited in this bill reduce PM
emissions by 90% as well as NOx emissions which are the precursor to ground level ozone.
This bill will better protect human and environmental health by preventing the use of dirtier
diesel generators for emergency and peak shaving use.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
Dana Bennett, First Selectman, Town of Griswold
She understands the intent of the bill to preserve the environment, emission limits are already
provided by the Federal Clean Air Act. This bill would hinder economic development in
municipalities by legislating more stringent standards in local towns in making the choices
that are appropriate for their communities.
Keith Brothers, Pesident, Connecticut State Building Trades Council
They have concerns that if this bill passes the data centers will not move to Connecticut and
that would mean the lose of the jobs those data centers would bring across Connecticut.
Mayor Keith Hedrick, City of Groton
Groton Utilities currently has a significant research and development industrial customer that
is evaluating a change in their power procurement approach, which will result in an
approximate thirty percent reduction in their carbon footprint. Making this change would
require emergency and peak shaving generation capabilities. This bill will likely harm this
customer's ability to move forward with the project.
Reported by: Judith Ganswindt Date: March 24, 2022
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