Boucher: Protect Open Space in Redding

State Senator Toni Boucher (R-26th) says the upcoming merger between Northeast Utilities (NU) and NSTAR raises the question of whether NU’s stewardship of nearly 9,500 acres of conservation land will be changed.

In a letter released today, Sen. Toni Boucher is urging the state’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to renew a vital agreement contained within an NU memorandum of understanding with local communities.

“The land under NU’s stewardship includes some of the most precious open space in Connecticut. This land is an important natural resource, enriching both our environment and the lives of many Connecticut residents who use it for recreation,” Boucher said.

Currently, nearly 375 parcels of land in Bethel and Redding owned by NU are included in the Memorandum of Understanding that guarantees the protection of the land and allows it to be purchased by municipalities for recreational use.

“Conservation groups have expressed concern that the merger between NU and NSTAR may threaten this agreement, leaving the land open to potentially harmful development,” Boucher said.

In Boucher’s letter she writes: I appreciate the difficult role that PURA plays in regulating our utilities in a way that benefits both their interests and the interests of the people of Connecticut. I strongly urge PURA to give serious attention to the concerns of our residents and conservationists, and hope that this vital agreement will be renewed.

Senator Boucher represents the 26th district towns of Bethel, Redding, Ridgefield, Wilton, Weston, Westport, and New Canaan.