House Republican Press Release

October 12, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Rep. DelGobbo Named Legislator of the Year

State Rep. Kevin M. DelGobbo, R-70, Naugatuck, ranking member of the legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee, and State Rep. Steve Fontana, D-87, North Haven, are the recipients of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Council’s Legislator of the Year Award.

The two legislators were honored for their “commitment and leadership on the importance of energy conservation in the state of Connecticut.”

Both lawmakers led the efforts during this past legislative session to restore funds to the state’s energy conservation program, which helps businesses and residents to become more energy efficient and save money on their utility bills.

Rep. DelGobbo also had been a leading opponent of the legislature’s raids on utility rate payers’ funds which have been collected for this energy conservation program. The legislature in past years had taken funds from rate payer funded programs to balance the state General Fund budget.

“I always felt this was absolutely outrageous, both in principle for taking rate payers’ funds, but also because these conservation programs were vital to helping businesses and homeowners be more energy efficient and save money,” said Rep. DelGobbo.

Rep. DelGobbo said, “Critical programs to improve energy infrastructure and create new electric generation projects are finally moving forward. While energy conservation is not the whole solution to our energy needs, it is an important part of our energy future.”