Malloy Talks Natural Gas at Amity High School

The gas is on in Woodbridge this winter, and Governor Dannel Malloy was on hand at Amity High School Monday to press a case for natural gas -- and other forms of alternative energy -- in the rest of Connecticut. Malloy joined DEEP Commissioner Daniel Esty, Woodbridge First Selectman Edward Maum Sheehy, Amity Board of Education chairman William Blake and Principal Charles Britton to talk to students about natural gas -- the emerging alternative energy source that some, including state energy officials, say could prove a financial boon and environmentally preferable to oil and coal.

"Economically, if our state is to compete with 49 other states and the rest of the world, we have to access lower-cost energy," said Malloy. (See above for more from Malloy's statements.) After statements, he took questions from Amity students.

Parts of the town of Woodbridge -- including Amity High School, Town Hall and other government buildings -- converted to natural gas this year after partnering with Southern Connecticut Gas. The conversion could save the town hundreds of thousands of dollars without costing taxpayers, officials previously told Patch.

Sheehy said 30 houses also decided to go on the grid, with 50 others eligible, and potentially more in the future.

"A number of Woodbridge residents have contacted me and said, 'What about extending this line further?' The Southern Connecticut Gas Company's taking that under advisement, and I'm sure they're going to extend the line … How much further, when, those are things we're going to have to talk about."

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