Connecticut’s Dependence on Imported Coal

In 2008, Connecticut imported all the coal used by its power plants, spending $130 million on these imports, a significant portion of which came from Indonesia. While coal accounts for only 14.4% of the state's electricity mix, the state spent $37 per person on imported coal in 2007, exceeding the $27 per person spent on electricity efficiency programs. To reduce this dependence, Connecticut has implemented energy efficiency resource standards and renewable electricity standards, requiring utilities to source at least 23% of in-state power demand from renewables by 2020. The document notes that land-based renewables could technically meet 37% of the state's 2008 electricity needs, and offshore wind resources in New England could potentially supply over 24 times the region's power requirements.

• In 2008, Connecticut imported 100% of the coal used by its power plants, resulting in $130 million leaving the state to pay for these imports, with more than half of the imports originating from Indonesia.
• Coal represented 14.4% of Connecticut's electricity source mix in 2008, which is among the lowest percentages of the states profiled in the underlying report.
• In 2007, Connecticut's per capita spending on imported coal ($37) was higher than its per capita investment in ratepayer-funded electricity efficiency programs ($27).
• Connecticut has established mandates for energy and resource efficiency, including a requirement for utilities to reduce demand by 4% by the end of 2010 and a requirement to supply at least 23% of in-state power demand from renewable resources by 2020.
• The state has significant untapped energy potential: land-based renewables (solar, bioenergy, and small-scale hydropower) could technically provide 37% of 2008 electricity needs, and New England's offshore wind resources could potentially supply more than 24 times the region's power needs.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2010). Connecticut’s Dependence on Imported Coal. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Connecticut.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Connecticut’s Dependence on Imported Coal. 2010. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Connecticut.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Connecticut’s Dependence on Imported Coal |date=May 2010 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Connecticut.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2010connecticuts, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Connecticut’s Dependence on Imported Coal}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2010}, month = may, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-Connecticut.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }