CT DEEP Commissioner Pledges A More Streamlined Agency

CROMWELL, CT — Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection commissioner Katie Dykes this week pledged to make the agency more streamlined when it comes to business.

Speaking at a conference Thursday, she presented state business leaders and environmental professionals with a set of short-term, high-impact agency goals aimed at "providing greater predictability, efficiency, and transparency for environmental permitting and regulatory processes."

Dykes presented the goals at the 2019 Connecticut Business and Industry Association Energy and Environmental Conference.

"A clean and healthy environment is a competitive advantage for the State of Connecticut, and the foundation of a thriving economy," Dykes said. "To meet our mission, maintain service levels, and communicate effectively with stakeholders, we must evolve many of our processes. These bold but attainable steps that will benefit our work and make it easier for businesses to do the right things for the environment."

Among the top priorities, Dykes said, is making permitting timeframes more predictable, moving processes online, improving customer service, and increasing "stakeholder participation in the DEEP's process improvement efforts."

The agency must also prepare for increasing retirements over the next three years, she said.

The DEEP will provide follow-up progress reports on meeting the goals over the next 18 months, she said.

The initiative, termed 20BY20 for 20 goals to be achieved between this week and and Dec. 31, 2020, presents 16 goals and invites the public and the business community to submit suggestions for the remaining four.

Dykes said, "20BY20 is part of Governor Lamont’s push to make state government a partner in growing the state’s economy, while at the same time reflecting his commitment to maintaining strong environmental standards."

Suggestions may be submitted by email to 20BY20@ct.gov.

To view the presentation and for future updates on progress in meeting the goals, visit www.ct.gov/DEEP/20BY20