In January, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Katie Scharf Dykes joined Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development at the signing of Executive Order 26-1, designed to improve state licensing, certification, and permitting. The EO sets up a process to refund the application fees of residents and businesses if their applications are not processed by certain, prescribed deadlines. The order also implements a review of existing digital services that residents and businesses use to apply, and directs state agencies to determine which processes could benefit from additional technological resources, including online applications.
Already, DEEP reports significant strides on permitting. Every year, DEEP receives more than 2,000 permit applications for more than 125 different permit types, spanning energy, water, air, waste, natural resources, and more. To ensure predictability and transparency, the agency has established and published review timelines for all permit types and is actively tracking and reporting its progress every quarter.
DEEP attributes the improvements to clearer timelines, better forecasting for applicants, and a permitting system that is continuously getting faster, more predictable, and more transparent. The agency is also prioritizing modern technology and easier online applications, ensuring that its processes meet the needs of applicants.
