Connecticut Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection
| Connecticut Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $220,000 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $93,231,529 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | General Statutes of Connecticut, 22a-439-2 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
Connecticut Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection
Katie Scharf Dykes | |
| Other Connecticut Executive Offices | |
| Governor•Lieutenant Governor•Secretary of State•Attorney General•Treasurer•Comptroller•Commissioner of Education•Agriculture Commissioner•Insurance Commissioner•Energy & Environmental Protection Commissioner•Labor Commissioner•Public Utilities Regulatory Authority | |
The Connecticut Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection is a state executive position in the Connecticut state government. The commissioner oversees the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which seeks to protect the state's environment through regulation and conservation efforts. The commissioner is a nonpartisan appointee of the governor.[1]
Current officeholder
The current commissioner is Katie Scharf Dykes. Gov. Ned Lamont (D) appointed Dykes in December 2018. The Connecticut General Assembly confirmed her appointment on February 20, 2019.[2]
Authority
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection is established by state law.[3]
General Statutes of Connecticut, 22a-439-2
|
(a) There shall be a Department of Environmental Protection which shall have jurisdiction over all matters relating to the preservation and protection of the air, water and other natural resources of the state. Said department shall be under the direction of a Commissioner of Environmental Protection |
Qualifications
The environmental protection commissioner, like all state appointive officers, must be "qualified by training and experience for the duties of his office." There are no other specific requirements for the office.[4]
General Statutes of Connecticut, 4-46-8
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Each department head shall be qualified by training and experience for the duties of his office. |
Appointments
In Connecticut, environmental protection commissioners are appointed by the governor subject to confirmation by the legislature. The commissioner serves at the governor's pleasure for four-year terms beginning on the first day of March in the year of the appointment.[5]
General Statutes of Connecticut, 4-46-6
|
the Governor shall, with the advice and consent of either house of the General Assembly, appoint each department head in the manner prescribed by section 4-7 and section 4-8, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor but no longer than four years from the first day of March in the year of his appointment, unless reappointed under the provisions of said sections. |
Term limits
There are no term limits associated with the office of environmental protection commissioner.
Vacancies
As with all state appointive offices, vacancies in the office of environmental protection commissioner are filled by the governor and approved by a majority vote in both houses of the state legislature. If a vacancy occurs while the legislature is not in session, the governor may appoint a replacement to serve until the sixth Wednesday of the next legislative session.[6]
Duties
- See Energy policy in Connecticut for information on the state's energy portfolio and goals.
The commissioner is the chief executive of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, which monitors and regulates the state's natural resources and seeks to protect the health of its environment. The department oversees use of Connecticut's marine fisheries, wildlife and forests, and establishes permits, licenses, and fees for their use. It also manages state parks, monitors pollution, and performs research related to the state's natural resources or environment. In addition to its regulatory studies, the department is responsible for surveying land and manages a land portfolio which it leases to citizens for various uses.[7]
Divisions
As of January 13, 2021, divisions within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection included:[8]
- Bureau of Central Services
- Bureau of Natural Resources
- Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
- Bureau of Air Management
- Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance
- Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse
- Bureau of Energy and Technology
- Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
State budget
- See also: Connecticut state budget and finances
The budget for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in the 2025 Fiscal Year was $93,231,529.[9]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The commissioner's salary is determined by law.
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $220,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $175,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $139,050 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $139,050 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $139,050 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $155,767 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary of $150,720 according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $150,720 according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner received a salary of $134,093. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.[20]
2012
In 2012, the commissioner was paid an estimated $134,093. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.
Historical officeholders
There have been 13 Connecticut commissioners of energy and environmental protection since 1971.[2]
| List of officeholders from 1971-Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | |||
| 1 | Dan W. Lufkin | October 1, 1971 - July 1, 1972 | |||
| 2 | Douglas M. Costle | July 1, 1973-1974 | |||
| 3 | Joseph N. Gill | 1974-1976 | |||
| 4 | Stanley J. Pac | 1976-1986 | |||
| 5 | Leslie Carothers | 1986-1990 | |||
| 6 | Timothy R.E. Keeney | 1990-1994 | |||
| 7 | Sidney J. Holbrook | 1994-1997 | |||
| 8 | Arthur J. Rocque, Jr. | 1997-2004 | |||
| 9 | Regina McCarthy | December 10, 2004-August 2009 | |||
| 10 | Amey W. Marrella | September 2009-2011 | |||
| 11 | Daniel Esty | 2011-2014 | |||
| 12 | Robert Klee | 2014-2018 | |||
| 13 | Katie Scharf Dykes | 2019-present | |||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Connecticut Commissioner Energy Environment Protection. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact info
Mailing address:
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: (860) 424-3000
See also
| Connecticut | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, "About Us," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, "DEEP Commissioners," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ General Statutes of Connecticut, "22a-439-2," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ General Statutes of Connecticut, "4-46-8," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ General Statutes of Connecticut, "4-46-6," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ General Statutes of Connecticut, "4-46-7," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, "About DEEP," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, "Organizational Charts," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, "2024-2025 Biennial Budget," accessed January 16, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed February 2, 2014
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