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New Laws from Special Session

With food insecurity on the rise and changes to programs like SNAP, some Connecticut lawmakers are making a renewed push to pass legislation during the 2026 session that would guarantee universal meals for students across the state, regardless of their school district. Currently, students have access to a mix of free, reduced price and paid meals, depending on household income, with some districts opting to provide free meals to all children.

Here’s what you need to know about universal school meals in Connecticut and why it may come up in next year’s legislative session.

Who is eligible for free school meals in Connecticut?

There are three ways student meals work in Connecticut schools.

First, there are students who get free meals — meaning breakfast and lunch. A family of four qualifies if they make less than $41,795 before taxes for the 2025-26 school year.

There are also students whose families pay a reduced fee for school meals. Again for a family of four, these families must make less than $59,478 before taxes.

And there are students whose families pay full price because their income exceeds the limits for free or reduced price meals. Lunch for these students typically costs between $3 and $4.50 depending on the school district.

Under the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP, if more than 25% of a school’s population qualifies for free meals, then the school can choose to serve all students free breakfast and lunch. The school can then be reimbursed with federal funds, at a rate of 1.6. That means, if 40% of students at the school qualify for free meals, the school will be reimbursed for 1.6 times that amount, or 64%. The school will then have to find funds within its budget for the other 36% of the student population’s meals. Some districts have a high enough percentage of students who qualify that they do not have to contribute any additional funds.

There are also a handful of districts that provide universal breakfast, but not lunch.

How many Connecticut districts offer free meals to students?

Currently, 63 districts participate, but at 12 of those districts the program is only available at some of the schools. That’s out of a total of 202 school districts in the state.

My district used to offer universal meals but doesn’t anymore. Why?

In 2023, the FDA changed the CEP provision so that schools with 25% of students qualifying for free meals could opt-in to provide universal meals. Previously, the threshold was set at 40%. Some Connecticut school districts that fell within that 25% to 40% range decided to opt-in, but later determined the program was too expensive to continue and chose to opt back out.

What kind of food do students receive as part of universal meals in Connecticut?

There is no universal menu that school districts must follow in Connecticut, so different districts contract with different vendors. But all student lunches must include five components: a dairy, protein, starch, vegetable and fruit.

Why do lawmakers and advocates want to provide universal meals in Connecticut, even in wealthy districts?

Food insecurity is hitting Connecticut residents hard. Disruptions to programs like SNAP caused by the government shutdown and populations being shut out of the program altogether have renewed calls for the state to do what it can to ensure that children are fed. The One Big Beautiful Bill act excludes certain groups from SNAP benefits, including refugees and asylum seekers from access to SNAP benefits as well as some young adults, veterans and people experiencing homelessness.

But even before those restrictions were put in place, lawmakers in Connecticut have advocated for universal school meals for a number of reasons.

While some school districts in Connecticut may have a low percentage of students who quality for free meals, lawmakers and advocates say that making such meals universal has a number of benefits. First, when meals are available at no cost, participation in these programs go up.

“It changes the culture of the school meal program,” said Marlene Schwartz, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health at the University of Connecticut. “It doesn’t become just a program seen as something low-income kids participate in, it becomes something everybody does,” reducing stigma and ensuring that kids who are hungry are fed. Children with full bellies, advocates say, are able to focus on learning.

Making such a program universal would also cut out the cost and time of the paperwork associated with parsing what meals are available to which students. That would allow directors of food programs to focus their time and energy on getting the best quality food to their students. Feeding more kids would also give smaller districts greater purchasing power to make bulk deals with vendors.

In Connecticut, the high cost of living also means that there are many families who do not currently qualify for free meals, but who are struggling with the cost of groceries and would greatly benefit, according to Schwartz.

“The gap between the amount you can make to no longer qualify and amount of money you need to take care of a family of four in Connecticut is many thousands of dollars, and in that gap are a lot of people who need help and aren’t getting it,” she said. Because low- income families qualify for free lunch, Schwartz said that most people assume that all kids who need free meals get them. “No, they don’t!” she said. “They don’t!”

How would Connecticut fund universal meals?

That remains to be seen, but one of the proposals on the table is a tax on sugary drinks. Schwartz, for one, is in favor of this idea.

“I thought that was the most brilliant idea I had ever heard,” she said. “A public health home run.” Because drinks like soda are linked with negative health outcomes, cities across the U.S. have used such taxes as a method to fight obesity and diabetes while simultaneously raising money for quality of life improvements for their citizens.

Philadelphia, for example, taxes such drinks at 1.5 cents per ounce and has used those funds to pay for a free preschool program, among other initiatives.

Original article found on CT Mirror

December 2, 2025 in CFA News

36K in CT Still at Risk from New SNAP Regs

The end of the government shutdown meant food stamp benefits were restored for millions across the U.S., but about 36,000 Connecticut residents are still at risk of losing access to food assistance due to new eligibility requirements outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Advocates worry the change will mean more families will go hungry, and health officials warn of the dangers of malnutrition and food insecurity. The people affected represent about 10% of the state’s residents who receive benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Some organizations are asking state lawmakers to set up ongoing aid for people affected by the policy shift who will no longer qualify for SNAP under the new law.

“When you’ve got a family who are looking at a budget that doesn’t work — their income doesn’t balance with their expenses — they start saying, ‘What can we squeeze?’ Rent is what it is, you have no power to negotiate health insurance premiums, the cost of gas is what it is. One area where families have some flexibility to squeeze a budget down is food,” said Lisa Tepper Bates, president and CEO of the United Way of Connecticut.

“They’re going to look for the cheapest options. They don’t have the luxury to look for the most nutritious food for their kids. They look for the cheapest volume of food for the dollar, and that is going to breed all sorts of problems.”

The cuts to food assistance in H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will directly affect about 36,000 immigrants, young adults, veterans and people experiencing homelessness due to new, stricter work requirements for SNAP benefits or other changes. They are expected to lose coverage between Dec. 1 and March 31.

“We’re going to have a whole lot of people who don’t have access to the food they need to stay healthy,” said Sara Parker McKernan, policy advocate for New Haven Legal Assistance. “People are going to eat as frugally as they can, which means a lot of really inexpensive foods that they’re able to buy because they don’t have the advantage of SNAP anymore.”

A call for action

With many poised to lose benefits, advocates are asking elected officials to create a state-funded food assistance program to fill the gap.

Since at least the 1990s, Connecticut had a state-financed food stamp program for legal immigrants who otherwise would have been eligible for the federal program but were excluded by welfare reform legislation in 1996. The legislature in August 2016 directed the state Department of Social Services to stop adding people to the program, though the initiative was funded through 2017, officials with DSS said.

In September, representatives with Greater Hartford Legal Aid, New Haven Legal Assistance and Connecticut Legal Services sent a letter to Gov. Ned Lamont and Democratic legislative leaders asking them to, among other things, establish a state-funded food assistance program for previously eligible legal immigrants and others who may lose SNAP benefits.

“We urge you to address the imminent harm to low-income CT residents that cuts to SNAP in H.R. 1 are poised to inflict. Our low-income clients depend on SNAP benefits to feed themselves and their families and depend on information and resources provided by DSS to access those benefits,” six people with those organizations wrote.

They asked that the issue be addressed in a special session that was held earlier this month, though lawmakers declined to do so. In recent interviews, advocates urged legislators to make it a priority in the regular session that begins in February.

“There is history of [a state-financed program], and we would like to see that again — a new program that essentially picks up all the folks who are no longer eligible for exemptions,” McKernan said. “We’re talking about folks who have been physical laborers their entire life, and all of a sudden, they’re getting to the stage where their bodies are giving out and they can no longer compete with younger workers. We’re talking about folks who have raised their kids or grandkids and now have an empty house and no work history. They may have kids over the age of 14, but they can’t act in that caretaker role and get SNAP.

“There are a lot of reasons why people can’t compete in the job market, and for those who are competing, the work requirements are going to be difficult, because they may have no control over their schedules or the amount of money they’re going to be making.”

H.R. 1 imposes a work requirement on adults 55 through 64 and parents with children 14 and older for the first time. It removes exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness and young people who recently aged out of foster care — exemptions that were added in bipartisan legislation in 2023, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities. Recipients must now document 20 hours of work per week, participate in a narrow set of work activities or prove they qualify for another exemption.

The bill also ends eligibility for many immigrants living lawfully in the U.S. who have been granted humanitarian protection by the federal government, including refugees, people granted asylum and certain survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking.

Sen. Matthew Lesser, a Democrat from Middletown who is co-chair of the Human Services Committee, said he and his colleagues are interested in exploring a state-funded food assistance program. Launching such an initiative would require money and software upgrades to run it, he said.

“At a time when the federal government is increasingly an unreliable partner, it’s important that we maintain the capacity to feed the residents of this state,” Lesser said. “Every week we find out new critical problems with changes in federal policy that are really hammering low-income people, and we have to figure out what the priorities are. I would argue that food, shelter and health care are all key priorities, food probably first among them.”

House Speaker Matthew Ritter, D-Hartford, pointed to a $500 million emergency fund authorized during the special session this month as one way to help residents losing access to SNAP.

“This is an example of what the fund could be used for,” he said. “Obviously, the governor has a lot of discretion, and we have to vote on it. If the governor were to come to us and say, ‘I’d like to help out these folks who are getting kicked off SNAP,’ I would support that.”

Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney, D-New Haven, added: “I would support anything that helps us fill in some of the federal cuts, especially regarding food assistance. … To the extent that there are still gaps and problems with access to needed food, I would certainly be supportive if the governor proposes using some of the money set up in that $500 million fund.”

But Ritter warned that funding the program long-term could be too costly.

“The cuts to H.R. 1, if unchanged, by 2028 are billions of dollars, and the state does not have the ability to cover that. No state will,” he said. “But in the short term, while we see what happens in Washington, we have a fund set up to try to help people through that year.”

A spokesman for Lamont said the governor is still reviewing how to use money in the emergency fund.

“The administration is reviewing how best to utilize the $500 million reserve,” the spokesman, Rob Blanchard, said. “We will be announcing actions in the near future.”

Tong, 21 other attorneys general sue over SNAP eligibility guidance

Attorney General William Tong announced Wednesday that he and 21 other attorneys general are suing the federal government, seeking to block new guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that deems some immigrants ineligible for food assistance even after they become permanent residents.

In October, the USDA issued new guidance to state agencies describing changes to SNAP eligibility under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Tong said the memo incorrectly asserted that all individuals who entered the country through certain pathways — including refugees, asylum recipients and others — would remain permanently ineligible for SNAP, even after obtaining green cards and becoming lawful permanent residents. The attorneys general argue the guidance contradicts federal law and could impose large financial penalties on states.

“The Trump Administration cannot help themselves. They are messing with SNAP benefits again. This time they are inventing their own rules to permanently ban legal immigrants — green card holders — from ever receiving food stamps,” Tong said in a statement. “There is zero basis in the law for this cruel move, and we’re suing to stop them

Nutrition experts share dangers of malnutrition, food insecurity

As many families brace for the loss of assistance, nutrition experts and health officials warn of malnutrition concerns and the mental health effects of food insecurity.

When people tighten their budgets, they often go without meat and fresh fruit and vegetables. Many cut down on the number of items they purchase or buy more highly processed foods that are shelf stable and last longer, experts said.

That can lead to iron deficiency, fatigue, unintentional weight loss, thinning of the bones, weakness, hair loss and brittle nails, among other symptoms. In children, it can cause developmental delays, trouble concentrating and behavioral problems.

“Malnutrition is always associated with increased health risks,” said Lora Silver, a registered dietician with Yale New Haven Health. “It’s often associated with an inflammatory state or inflammatory activity.

“We have really clear evidence that malnutrition leads to an increased risk of infections. It impairs our immune function. It also puts us at risk for loss of lean muscle mass, and there’s a host of consequences to that, because it impacts our strength, balance and our ability to avoid falls.”

Some families might lean toward purchasing foods that are calorie-dense to maintain their caloric intake but that aren’t nutrient-dense, experts said. That can lead to conditions like obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

“When I was working full-time running a shelter for families experiencing homelessness, this is the part of their budget where they were looking to spend as little as possible so they could maximize what they had for rent,” Tepper Bates said. “What that meant was often, for a family with two small kids, they’re buying a 10-pound bag of white rice and five pounds of the cheapest hamburger meat they can find, and that’s going to be the basis of their food for the week. That is simply not adequate nutrition.”

Health officials say they encourage people to look toward plant-based protein sources, such as beans, legumes and tofu, that might be less costly, and frozen and canned fruits and vegetables, particularly those with less additives.

“I don’t ever tell people they shouldn’t be eating canned vegetables, because if that’s what they can afford, canned vegetables are better than no vegetables,” said Diane Bussolini, a registered dietician with Trinity Health of New England. “Frozen and canned are absolutely fine.

“Also, [I recommend] buying fruits that are in season. So right now, that’s not watermelon, peaches or cherries. It’s spending food dollars on things like apples and pears and mandarins that are in season and lower costs.”

Stress and anxiety often accompany food insecurity, health officials said, and while adults may be managing the money and purchases, children also feel the effects.

“We know that children are more aware of what’s going on in their house than sometimes parents realize. Kids recognize they don’t have enough food, or that parents are stressed out,” said Dr. Jody Terranova, a pediatrician and former president of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “There are some increased awareness and distress in children, some increase in anxiety, and in older children, there’s an increase in depression and suicidal symptoms that has been associated with food insufficiency.”

Representatives of the Connecticut Chapter of AAP issued a statement this month saying maintaining access to SNAP benefits is “critical” for the health and well-being of the state’s children.

“We urge the state of Connecticut to protect all children by prioritizing and ensuring access to essential services — starting with maintaining the food services they need to survive and thrive in school and at home,” they wrote. “Food is essential for health. Regardless of … H.R. 1 provisions, we have a duty to ensure continued access to SNAP.”

Health officials also called for more awareness of the mental health consequences of food insecurity.

“We see news reports on the prevalence of reliance on SNAP, or the prevalence of certain budget cuts and the price of food going up,” Silver said. “I wish we were talking more about some way of measuring worry and anxiety, because there are real health impacts to that, and I think adults and children experience that alike.”

Original article found on CT Mirror.

December 2, 2025 in Member News

Governor Lamont Announces 2026 Re‑election Run

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday he will run for a third term in office, capping years of speculation surrounding the governor’s intentions for reelection. 

“Susan and I are ready to go, absolutely,” Lamont said during an event about affordable housing, referring to Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz. “We’ll have more details on that next week. I didn’t want you to have to ask me that any longer.”

Lamont’s candidate registration form was filed with the State Elections Enforcement Commission on Friday afternoon.

In July, Josh Elliott, a Democratic state representative for the 88th District of Hamden, announced his run for governor.

“We are in a moment where the perma-crisis manufactured by Donald Trump requires leadership from a governor who knows the stakes and will not compromise in the face of rising authoritarianism,” Elliott said. “That’s never been Ned Lamont.”

Republican State. Sen. Ryan Fazio declared himself a candidate for governor in next year’s election.

“Governor Lamont’s first eight years in office have seen Connecticut’s electricity rates rise to the third highest in the nation, and our economic growth plummet to fourth worst in the country,” Fazio said. “Families are struggling to make ends meet, while people and jobs are leaving our state. The results speak for themselves; two terms are more than enough. I am running for Governor to make our state more affordable, safe and create opportunities for all.”

Erin Stewart, the mayor of New Britain, is actively exploring a run for governor.

Connecticut has no term limits on its highest office.

Original article found on WTNH

December 2, 2025 in Legislative News

Connecticut’s $121M Quantum Leap

Connecticut is stepping up its commitment to investing in quantum technology.

The Lamont administration announced it’s pledging up to $121 million dollars to expand quantum infrastructure, workforce, and research capacity.

“This is a Silicon Valley-like moment,” Department of Economic and Community Development commissioner Daniel O’Keefe said announcing the investment Nov. 21 at Yale University.

“The time to prepare our state, to lay the groundwork for our future and to prepare our workforce is now.

“And I believe Connecticut is uniquely positioned to lead.”

‘In our DNA’

Gov. Ned Lamont said the state funds will strengthen Connecticut’s long-standing reputation as a leader in innovation.  

“Connecticut has always been the most innovative state in the country,” Lamont said. “This is in our DNA.”

“Through quantum innovation, Connecticut has an opportunity to enhance that legacy and lead in emerging fields like cybersecurity, drug discovery, and advanced computing.”

The investment will support QuantumCT, a nonprofit partnership led by Yale University and the University of Connecticut.

QuantumCT’s mission is to drive regional innovation and economic growth through the adoption of quantum technologies.

The organization—which includes public and private partners such as CBIA—is in the final stages of a National Science Foundation competition with awards of up to $160 million.

Quantum Infrastructure

The $121 million state investment includes $50 million to expand the Connecticut’s quantum infrastructure.

That includes the launch of the QuantumCT incubator in New Haven—a first-of-its-kind fully functional deep-tech hub on Yale’s campus in New Haven.

That funding complements a recently announced $10 million from the state’s Innovation Clusters Program.

“By building an incubator alongside advanced prototyping and engineering facilities, we are giving startups and industry the ability to design, validate, and iterate new quantum technologies in real time,” said QuantumCT president and CEO Albert Green.

“The QuantumCT incubator will position Connecticut as a destination for deep tech experimentation and breakthrough development.”

If Connecticut wins the NSF competition, the state will provide an additional $60 million in funding.

Investing in the Future

State officials said quantum technology is key to Connecticut’s economic future and workforce.

“If you look at our core industries, things like advanced manufacturing in support our national defense, things like cryptography, if you look at things like financial technology, if you look at insurance technologies, if you look at health care, biotech, the emergence of quantum will accelerate innovation in every single one of those industries,” O’Keefe said.  

Both UConn and Yale have ramped up quantum initiatives in recent years, investing in new facilities, laboratories, and research capabilities.

“The future of Connecticut’s workforce depends heavily on our ability to embrace quantum by maximizing our research capacity and teaching important skillsets to students and workers of all ages,” said UConn interim provost Pamir Alpay.

“By building shared infrastructure and training the next generation of innovators, we can ensure that quantum technologies take root and grow here in New Haven and throughout Connecticut,” Yale University vice provost for research Michael Crair said.

The Full Article can be found at CBIA

December 2, 2025 in Community News

Connecticut Cracks Down on Bottle Redemption Fraud

Gov. Ned Lamont signed a bill last month intending to prevent hordes of out-of-state traffickers from making an extra nickel in Connecticut by collecting a 10-cent refund on cans and bottles that required only a 5-cent deposit in their state.

But there is no hard evidence that such widespread fraud is happening.

In the last quarter of 2024, the bottle return rate in Connecticut reached 77%, the highest it’s ever been.

But instead of viewing the increased redemption as a consumer response to the 10-cent deposit introduced last year, lawmakers who supported the legislation blamed out-of-state returns, which are illegal.

Sen. Rick Lopes, D-New Britain, told The Connecticut Mirror that the new legislation is “trying to target the people who have a box truck that are coming in from out of state.”

However, there is no record of how many out-of-state bottles are redeemed in Connecticut. Most distributors do not differentiate their bottles by state, meaning there is no way to tell which bottles were sold in Connecticut and which ones were not.

Bob Hanna, owner of Three Veterans redemption center in New Milford, believes that the problem of fraudulent returns is only solvable with technology. Brands that are both a manufacturer and distributor, such as Poland Spring, have taken to placing a red box around the barcodes of bottles they sell in non-redeemable states. If a customer attempts to feed one of these bottles into a redemption machine, it gets spat out. 

“There could be a solution to identify these products through barcodes,” says Hanna. “But distributors don’t have power with the manufacturers.”

Since he opened last year, Hanna estimates he’s turned away about 40 out-of-state returners, compared to his 850 regulars.

“The word’s gotten out — you’re not going to get by us,” he said.

Hanna requires his customers to provide proof of Connecticut residency and gives car stickers to his regulars. But still, residency is only a proxy for knowing whether the bottles themselves were purchased in Connecticut. 

The legislation limits individuals to redeeming 5,000 bottles a day and requires redemption centers to record the name, driver’s license and license plate of anyone returning over 2,500 bottles. It also allocates $2 million from the General Fund towards bottle redemption law enforcement. 

Hanna has customers who return bottles that they did not purchase themselves. A Boy Scouts troop, for example, brought in 13,000 after a clean-up project. Some patrons regularly return cans they fish out of the trash after local baseball games.

“Just because you don’t need the dime, or I don’t need the dime, I save all mine, and I don’t necessarily need it, but why am I going to give it to the state? Why am I going to give it to the distributors?”

When Connecticut bottles are not redeemed, the 10-cent deposit is shared among distributors and the state. In fiscal year 2023-2024, the state made over $42 million in revenue from unclaimed bottle deposits.

“I just believe [the new legislation] is a money grab for not only the state but for distributors,” Hanna said. 

There is no public data on where bottles are being redeemed; DEEP considers this information proprietary.

Disclosure of returns is up to the beverage distributors. In testimony in support of SB 1115, Coca-Cola Beverage Northeast said that its Q4 2024 redemption rate in border areas was 83%, compared to 61% in the middle of Connecticut, and that this was evidence of fraud, despite the lack of data regarding bottle origins.

Wayne Pesce, President of CT Food Association, draws his conclusion from images and videos he’s seen from grocery stores, such as a man unloading an SUV full of bottle bags, and cars in a parking lot with out-of-state license plates. 

“We are trying to limit fraudulent volume because our customers can’t get into our stores when someone comes back with 500 containers and Mrs. Johnson can’t get in with her 50,” he said.

On a recent weekday afternoon, the redemption room at the Big Y supermarket in Westport was empty. Store managers said they have not had problems with large volumes of bottle returns, and they have not heard of problems at any other Big Ys.

Even though redemption rooms in grocery stores are small, they take up valuable space. Groceries would rather sell mulch, winter salt, or literally anything else more profitable than the 2.5¢ per malt beverage, 3.5¢ for soft drink handling fee they receive for every bottle they process.

“There’s no profit incentive for a retailer in the state of Connecticut to redeem bottles and cans. Zero,” says Pesce. 

“We’re paying our associates $20 an hour, and our bottle rooms are open for the hours of the store,” says Pesce. “We’ve got to keep them clean, and we’ve got to pay labor to do it.” 

Meanwhile, redemption centers like Three Veterans LLC in New Milford have worked to make a profit since the raise to 10¢. Hanna estimates they process 15,000 bottles each day they are open. They allow their customers to drop off bottle bags for their workers to process.

“They get some time back, that’s all we can offer them,” he said. 

Redemption center owners are skeptical that the new teeth in the law will catch the amount of fraud others are so certain is there.

“It’s just like the guy who can walk up through a soda machine, kick it three times and hit the return button and get a soda for free,” says Hanna.

Original article found on CT Mirror

September 3, 2025 in CFA News

Boosting CT Economy Through Utility Partnerships

Connecticut has much to be proud of in the most recent CNBC “2025 Best States for Business” rankings, which have been rightfully promoted by the likes of Gov. Ned Lamont and state Sen. Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, as the state achieved high marks for critical metrics including quality of life and its cultivation of a skilled workforce. However, when it comes to the state’s overall economy and infrastructure needed to support it, it’s clear that Connecticut has room to grow and further collaborate with the private sector to make the state even more attractive to prospective companies and provide groundwork for future job growth.

The good news? Connecticut has a reliable grid thanks to decades of consistent investment and partnership at the federal, state, and local levels. If we can build on those examples of collaboration and make the investments necessary for modern power needs, we can unleash economic activity and show the world what makes our state a leader.

Development and electric demand: A clear link

Economic development and increased electric demand growth have always gone hand-in-hand, and if we want to continue to spur economic activity in Connecticut, we must have a modern electric grid with sufficient headroom to proactively accommodate the growth in demand that comes with booming commercial and industrial sectors. If you look at states such as Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia — which were all named among CNBC’s top-10 best states for business — they are experiencing exponential electric demand growth primarily driven by a combination of data center development and economic expansion. All three states also have another key ingredient that gives them a competitive advantage in the eyes of new businesses: collaborative regulatory paradigms that support such strategic utility investments, which is essential for enabling economic development.

The proof is in the projections. Here’s a closer look at how these states are actively preparing to accommodate soaring electric demand from data centers and new businesses:   

  • Georgia Power projects an 8,200 megawatt increase in electric demand by 2031. The utility’s 10-year modernization plan includes improvements across more than 1,000 miles of transmission lines, expanding solar, storage, and investing in nuclear, natural gas, coal, and hydropower to help meet the surge.
  • In Virginia, electric demand from data centers alone is projected to exceed 7,000 Megawatts by 2032. Dominion Energy is partnering with other regional utilities to build $4.6 billion in transmission infrastructure that will help support the spike in demand as the state explores other diversified energy strategies.
  • North Carolina utilities are focusing on transmission upgrades and new distributed energy resources to support economic development and maintain reliability as the state anticipates a 12% rise in electric demand by 2038.

These demand growth projections are like adding the entire state of Connecticut’s demand and then some to their respective states’ current peak electric demands. In Connecticut, ISO-NE is projecting a 590 Megawatt increase in demand growth over the next 10 years, substantially lagging behind the electric demand growth projections seen in the states where commercial and industrial growth is booming. A collaborative and constructive regulatory environment can and will help flip the script — one that is focused on pro-growth policies that can help attract more companies by accelerating the infrastructure expansion needed to support them.

 

How Conn. can catch up

While we’ve taken steps toward grid modernization, the pace must quicken if we want to compete nationally for new businesses and jobs — especially given the length of time it takes to engineer, permit, procure and construct electric grid infrastructure at scale. Though Connecticut may be small when it comes to square mileage, the opportunities are massive when it comes to private development and siting. If the state were to take a strategic, collaborative approach to address future economic and utility needs, it can unlock a host of economic activity which will drive up property tax revenues, grow jobs in manufacturing and high-tech sectors, while also improving utility reliability and resilience in these areas – bringing direct benefits to Connecticut residents.

Massachusetts, which ranked among CNBC’s top-20 best states for business, is already taking this approach. The commonwealth is leading the way with its grid planning process, which features an additional layer of transparency and engagement through its Grid Modernization Advisory Council (GMAC) — a layer that is visibly missing in Connecticut and one the state could significantly benefit from. This collaborative working group brings multiple stakeholders to the table to strategically plan future grid enhancements to meet the Commonwealth’s policy objectives, where no individual contributor is viewed as more of a friend or foe, but instead an important voice which must be heard to reach shared goals of sustainable growth and opportunity. The GMAC provides state regulators in Massachusetts with deep insights, perspectives, and specific recommendations on how to modernize and upgrade the electric grid efficiently and cost-effectively at scale, and regulators consider that input in their final decisions on any future investments. Connecticut continues to lack a comprehensive energy policy, which is imperative for utilities to develop specific grid plans by specific time frames that are backed by legislative mandates. Having a dedicated body focused on stakeholder engagement and transparency that clearly connect policy objectives to grid plans, has allowed Massachusetts to take strategic action toward reaching its electrification goals and has helped position the state as a leader in economic development in New England — and Connecticut could learn valuable lessons from this approach.

A path forward for smart development

We don’t have to look far to find a roadmap. States that embrace regulatory clarity, strong collaboration and infrastructure investment are thriving. It’s time Connecticut joins them.

Let’s build on our strengths and remove the barriers standing in the way of investment. If we bring our regulators, policymakers, and utilities to the same table — with the same goal — we can make Connecticut a beacon of innovation, resilience, and opportunity for generations to come.

Digaunto Chatterjee is Eversource’s senior vice president of engineering.

The Full Article can be found at MSN

September 3, 2025 in Community News

Lamont Expected to Run Again

When the Labor Day weekend of 2026 signals the traditional start of the fall political season, the race for governor will become clear. But a full year away, that race is already taking shape.

While Gov. Ned Lamont currently says he’s still pondering a third, four-year term, political observers say he’ll certainly run again. They say that his engagement and energy, with daily public events organized by his office, such as ceremonial bill signings for legislation actually signed weeks earlier, are sure indicators. Lamont has signaled as much.

“If Lamont were to run, it’s his election to lose because of the power of the incumbency,” said Gayle Alberda, political science professor at Fairfield University. “The perks are his achievements and record. He has a built-in infrastructure, credibility and prestige, plus high levels of name recognition before even engaging again with voters.”

“Everything is lined up for him for a third term,” said Gary L. Rose, a scholar in-residence at Sacred Heart University.

Recently returned from his summer home on a Maine island that’s been a family property since 1917, a reporter tried to finally get a straight answer. “You’ve been off two weeks, you gonna tell us something now?” the reporter asked in New London last week.

“Nope,” Lamont replied. “Soon. I think we’re making good progress in this state, and I love what we’re doing. I’m inclined to do it, but I’m just trying to put it off a little bit longer.”

One of the top-six governors in approval ratings, according to a recent nationwide poll, Lamont has a big advantage over state Rep. Josh Elliott of Hamden, who is challenging the governor from the left. Elliott is hoping to capture the kind of political lightning in a bottle that Lamont himself grabbed in 2006: a primary victory over then-U.S. Senate Joe Lieberman, who went on that fall to keep his seat, running as an independent.

On the Republican side, the outgoing Westport First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, Timothy Wilcox of Norwich and fourth-year state Sen. Ryan Fazio have declared their candidacies. Outgoing New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart is also expected to join the fray, eventually turning her exploratory campaign into a candidate committee.

Republican State Central Committee Chairman Ben Proto said that the state’s public financing system should make the eventual GOP nominee competitive with Lamont, a multi-millionaire who does not take a state salary and paid for his 2018 and 2022 campaigns – more than $40 million – from his own pocket. In 2022, he claimed $54 million in income, mostly from investments.

“This is a guy who makes a million dollars a week if he doesn’t get out of bed,” Proto said of the governor. Any general election expenditures over $15 million per candidates is probably not needed, he said. “At some point you reach a diminishing return on the amount of money you spend. You get to run a few more ads.” 

Statewide voter registration includes 488,041 Republicans, 822,499 Democrats and 957,782 unaffiliated voters.

How the race, especially on the Republican side, is anyone’s guess. A spring GOP convention would lead to an endorsement, but it’s possible a summer primary could follow. Two years ago, despite former state House Minority Leader Themis Klarides winning the nomination to run for U.S. Senate against Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Leora Levy defeated her in a primary following an endorsement phone call from Donald Trump. 

Touting an in-house poll that shows Stewart within striking distance of Lamont, Morgan Wilson, senior advisor to Stewart’s exploratory committee, recently said that the survey of 400 GOP voters indicate support for a nominee “from outside Fairfield County with a proven history” of winning elections.

“It’s time for a new generation of proven leadership, not one defined by personal finances or Hartford insider ties,” Wilson said in a statement.

Fazio, in a Friday statement, said that during the two weeks he’s been on the campaign trail, he’s gotten positive feedback. “One thing is clear: Connecticut voters are ready for positive change,” he said. “They’re ready for lower electric bills, lower taxes, and law and order – that’s the exact message we are bringing across our state.”

Rose, a longtime SHU politics professor, said that the poll released by the Stewart campaign occurred within days of Fazio jumping into the campaign. “I don’t doubt that she’s the leading Republican, but Ryan has a good chance of closing the gap, particularly among conservative Republicans,” said Rose.

“Those August primaries have low turnouts,” Rose said. “Any poll showing she’s ahead is very premature. Ryan is definitely right of center and I think he’s a viable candidate, particularly among conservatives. Erin has a reputation of working across the aisle, but I am not sure if that’s what conservatives want at this moment.”

Nearly four years ago, Lamont waited until the second week of November to announce plans to run for a second term. He recently hosted several of the state’s big-city mayors at the Governor’s Residence in Hartford. But after seven years in office, progressive Democrats in the legislature are eager for higher taxes on the state’s wealthiest to fund social programs at a time when they – and other federal funding streams – are being threatened by the Trump administration.

Rose said Friday that when Luke Bronin, the former Hartford mayor, recently announced a potential primary challenge to 1st District U.S. Rep. John Larson, it was a solid tip that Lamont was running for a third term.

“I think in Lamont’s case, he’s very popular, his approval ratings are strong” Rose said. “Obviously he has a war chest that’s a bottomless pit. Plus, there’s a bipartisan chord he has struck with the public. A number of Republicans in the business community appreciate him. He’s not ideological. He’s a centrist. He can certainly talk about the state budget surpluses.”

“Even though the laws are enacted by the General Assembly, the governor is the person we blame or reward,” said Alberda, of Fairfield University. Pitfalls for incumbents include economic down turns and large scandals. In 2004, then-Gov. John Rowland resigned under pressure, when the state Supreme Court ruled that he had to testify before a state House Committee of Inquiry that looked into the awarding of lucrative state contracts and tax breaks. He wasn’t halfway through his third term. By the end of that year, Rowland pleaded guilty to federal felonies. He was recently pardoned by Trump.

While Lamont’s signature bill this year might be the $300 million child case endowment fund, his veto of a controversial affordable housing bill that his staff helped negotiate with legislative leaders, earned Lamont some animosity and it seems less likely that a special legislative session will be called on the issue for September.

Without an early fall housing initiative with fellow Democrats, Lamont could further delay announcing a reelection campaign until the tension subsides.

Elliott on Friday chided Lamont for not joining most Democratic governors who signed a Thursday letter sent to Trump, asking that he back away from possibly sending National Guard troops into their states. 

“There are two trains of thought, generally about dealing with the fed government right now,” Elliott said in a phone interview. “You don’t get caught in the president’s cross hairs or you everything fight tooth and nail. Both sides come at this from trying to protect our people. With three-and-a-half years left in his term, if we do not fight, we will not be OK. The worst thing we can do is try to weather the storms.”

On June 8, Lamont joined in a statement from the Democratic Governors Association condemning Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles. Two days later, he joined Attorney General William Tong in criticizing the action. 

Staff writers Alex Putterman and Paul Hughes contributed to this report.

Original article found on MSN

September 3, 2025 in Legislative News

Another Spectacular Bozzuto’s Big B Expo

Greetings all and I hope you have been enjoying the blistering heat filled days of summer we have been enjoying. Let’s get right to it.

The Bozzuto’s Big B Expo and vendor golf outing was held at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT at the beginning of August. The three-day extravaganza kicked off with the vendor golf outing at the Lake of the Isles courses in nearby Ledyard. Once again, Chris Griffin and Pam Carstens put together a stellar outing that was top notch and left the many participants smiling. Perfect weather conditions greeted nearly 300 golfers on the two premier courses and the day was capped off by another record setting performance by town crier and fast talker exceptional, Steve Heggelke. More than 1,200 raffle prizes were given away to those whose support the Bozzuto’s Hometown Foundation with a donation to the non-profit charitable organization. Steve has called out and distributed the staggering number of prizes (with coordinated efforts from the many Bozzuto’s associates) in previous years in under 10 minutes.

This year he shattered that time by going through the allotment of gifts in six minutes that even John “Motormouth” Moschitta would have been proud of. You genuinely have to experience it to believe it. During the post-golf festivities, Steve also touched on the tragic passing of Jeff King, Bozzuto’s VP-center store. Jeff’s family was in attendance for the outing and as Steve spoke there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Jeff’s sudden passing had a profound impact on everyone who had the honor of knowing him and Steve mentioned that some friends and colleagues of Jeff’s had started a Go Fund Me page to help fulfill Jeff’s wish to support his children and grandchildren. Steve told the audience, that throughout his life, Jeff’s greatest priority was his family. He worked tirelessly not just for today, but for their future. One of Jeff’s personal dreams was to help his children so they would not be burdened by student loan debt, and to help put his grandchildren through college. Therefore, the campaign was created by those who loved and worked alongside Jeff to honor that dream. Any donation will be used to help pay off student loans for Jeff’s children as well as build a college savings fund for his grandchildren.

Donations are personal gifts given out of kindness and 100 percent of the funds will go directly to Jeff’s family to fulfill his educational legacy. As someone mentioned to me as we were leaving, he was going to donate to help carry forward the love, dedication, and values that defined Jeff’s life.

Well stated, and great use of a Go Fund Me.

Nice to hear that a winning $1 million Powerball ticket sold in at a Hannaford Supermarket in Rochester, NH has inspired the ADUSA grocer to give back to its community. Hannaford will donate its $10,000 commission from selling the winning ticket to three local nonprofit organizations that are focused on increasing access to critical resources for individuals and families in the community.

“It’s always exciting to see one of our customers experience such good fortune, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by paying it forward to our community,” said Jean-Marie Beauchemin, director of operations for Hannaford Supermarkets. “We hope this donation will further the efforts of these critical community organizations to increase access to critical resources for our neighbors.”

Hannaford and the New Hampshire Lottery recently welcomed the three community organizations to the Rochester store for a celebratory check presentation. The local nonprofits receiving donations were: the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, which reduces barriers to help improve the economic stability and well-being of the community through education, advocacy and partnerships; the SHARE Fund, which increases access to critical resources such as housing, food, clothing, diapers, and emergency financial support for neighbors in need; and the SOS Recovery Community Organization, which supports individuals affected by substance use with peer-based solutions and advocacy. It wasn’t the first time a Hannaford store has hit it big in the lottery. A St. Albans, VT store hit a winner back in September 2024 and similarly donated the $50,000 commission to local nonprofits in its local community. Great idea and great job Hannaford!!

Wayne Pesce, Connecticut Food Association (CFA) president tells us that all the nominees are set for the 2025 Food Industry Champions Celebration to be held on October 30 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. The big gala will fete Amanda Cunningham of Price Chopper/Market 32, Christian D’Amour of  Big Y World Class Market, Doreen Spencer of Adams Hometown Markets, Michael Trocchio of Stop & Shop, and Frank Amici of Garafalo Markets. This event is always a sellout as it is the CFA’s main soiree of the year. Discounted hotel room rates are available on a first come, first serve basis. For more information call the CFA 860.216.4055 or email them at ctfood@ctfoodassociation.org.

And while we are addressing the state associations, The Food Industry Alliance (FIA) will hold its 28th annual gala at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, NY. FIA president a CEO Mike Durant tells us that the event will once again bring together industry leaders representing the full spectrum of the New York food industry, from retail, chains, and wholesalers to brokers, suppliers, and manufacturers. A keynote speech, industry panel discussions, the FIA Annual Awards presentations, and an extended lavish cocktail hour always seem to add up to a stellar evening. I know I’m starting to show a little gray in my temples when I admit that I was at the inaugural “Red Carpet Gala” at the Rye Town Hilton in Rye Brook, NY.

Former association president (which was formerly known as the New York State Food Merchants Association) Jim Rogers started up the gala and boy was it THE event to be at for a good several years run. There are always some ebbs and flows to all events over the course of time, but Mike Durant and his team of Laura Mastrianni and Maura Callahan, along with the current board members, have ensured that the FIA Gala in its current format is still very much a viable and desired industry event. If you are interested in attending or want more information or ticket pricing, contact the Food Industry Alliance of New York State, Inc. at 518.434.1900 or email Laura Mastrianni at Laura@fiany.com.

Well, as you saw on the front page of this edition of Food Trade News, our longtime P\publisher and leader Jeff Metzger has sold Best-Met Publishing Company to Alex Wissel. We are just a couple of weeks into the transition and all has been going very smoothly. You won’t really see a major change in the coverage that we give you, especially since Jeff will be sticking around for some time and will still be involved in the business. So, instead of any big goodbyes right now, I’ll hold off and get back to you around the holidays and give you an update. But a big congratulations to both Jeff and Alex!

I hope you all enjoy these last few weeks of the summer and as always you can reach me at 201.250.2217 or kevin@foodtradenews.com.

Original article found on Food Trade News.

September 3, 2025 in Member News

Fairfield Chamber Honors Cingari Family Markets

Cingari Family Markets, a fourth-generation family-owned and -operated Connecticut-based supermarket company, was named “Business of the Year” by the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce on June 26 at the 79th Annual Member Recognition and Awards Dinner.

Tom Cingari Jr., VP of produce, floral and e-commerce, accepted the award at Bridgeport’s Black Rock Yacht Club.

The chamber’s “Business of the Year” Award celebrates a company that has demonstrated exceptional growth, strong community leadership and a positive economic impact.

Over its nearly century‑long history, Cingari Family Markets has expanded to include 10 ShopRite stores and two Cingari Family Markets across southwestern Connecticut.

The family has invested in store renovations, expanded local hiring and training programs and contributed more than $5 million through the Cingari Family Foundation to support area schools, food pantries and healthcare institutions.

“This recognition reflects the efforts of our entire team,” said Thomas Cingari Sr., president and CEO of Cingari Family Markets.

“Our associates’ dedication to quality, innovation and service is what truly sets us apart. We sincerely appreciate the chamber’s acknowledgement and are grateful to the Fairfield community for supporting our family business.”

About Cingari Family Markets

Based in Stamford, Cingari Family Markets is known for its selection of fresh, locally-sourced and homemade prepared meals, along with a curated range of pantry items.

The company is committed to enhancing the local shopping experience, supporting sustainable practices and giving back to communities. It has been recognized as a 2024 Top Connecticut Workplace by Hearst CT Media.

Original article found on The Shelby Report.

July 24, 2025 in Member News

Wegmans Moves Into CT

The wait is over – the long-anticipated opening of Wegmans’ first Connecticut location happened on Wednesday! The family-owned regional supermarket has planted its roots in Norwalk.

The location is right off of Route 1. It’s exactly what Wegmans employees said they were looking for. The building sits at 92,000 square feet.

Inside, the store is filled with fresh produce, pre-prepped meals and 500 employees who will be delivering customer service the company is nationally known for.

Originating in the 1900s in Rochester, New York, Wegmans has more than 100 locations on the East Coast with a new one opening in Maryland last month.

While they’ve been hiring for their Norwalk store for the last year, there is still one position open for a main cook listed on the company’s website.

The new store also sits less than four miles away from Connecticut’s own Stew Leonard’s.

For consumers, the competition could help.

“If you’re a CT consumer, this is good news in terms of shopping choices, but also in terms of competitive pricing,” said Wayne Pesce, of the CT Food Association.

The store opened to customers at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Regular store hours will begin on Thursday where the store will be open from 6 a.m. until midnight all week.

The store is located at 675 Connecticut Ave. in Norwalk.

The Full Article can be found at NBC-CT

July 24, 2025 in Community News