Hartford Business Journal

4 Hartford Business Journal • April 23, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com Briefs Developers pitch $1B N. Britain fuel-cell powered data center Developers proposing to build a fuel- cell powered data center on New Britain manufacturing properties owned by Stanley Black & Decker are hoping the second time's the charm. The developers, Energy & Innovation Park LLC (EIP), recently submitted a $1 billion proposal to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to build a 20-megawatt fuel- cell park and high-tech data center on the manufacturer's historic campus. Stanley supports the project, and Mayor Erin Stewart also submitted a letter of support in the bid. The project is expected to create 3,000 jobs over the next decade. The development team's previous bid in 2016 said the innovation park could include $500 million in capital investments from outside investors, however, those estimates only covered the construction cost of the data center, Mark Wick, a partner in the project, said. Wick said the $1-billion price tag includes all four project phases, including the value of data center IT equipment, as well as the potential for adding another 44 megawatts of on-site generation in later phases. Bill regulating insurer- hospital disputes advances House lawmakers unanimously approved a bill that seeks to further protect patients in the event of a contract fight between their insurer and care provider. The House approved the bill on a bipartisan basis by a 147-0-3 vote. The legislation requires hospitals and insurers to notify each other 90 days in advance of either deciding to end a network contractual arrangement, up from the current 60-day requirement. The parties would also have to continue to abide by the contract's reimbursement terms for 60 days after the non-renewal or termination. Unless both sides agree otherwise, the terms of any new contract reached would be retroactive to the end of the prior agreement. Insurers and hospitals would still be required to make a good faith effort to notify all impacted patients in advance of a contract's termination. Bertucci's files for bankruptcy, closes CT locations Massachusetts-based Bertucci's Italian restaurant has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, closed three Connecticut eateries and will try to sell the rest of the chain, according to company officials. A company spokesman said Bertucci's will close 15 of its 74 locations, including restaurants in Manchester, Southington and Orange. Bertucci's will maintain its locations in Avon, Darien, Glastonbury, Newington and Shelton, he said. The bankruptcy filing lists Right Lane Dough Acquisitions LLC as a potential buyer of the restaurant chain. Under the restructuring, Bertucci's will operate 59 restaurants on the East Coast from Virginia up to New Hampshire, the spokesman said. Sen. Murphy calls for Eversource investigation amid shutoff increase U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy is calling for an investigation into why New England's largest energy provider has doubled its nonpayment disconnections in just two years. Eversource Energy made 28,851 disconnections in 2015, 41,235 in 2016 and 52,298 in 2017, according to the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. The drastic increase has caught the attention of Murphy, who is asking the state's utility regulatory agency to investigate the service cuts and "scrutinize" Eversource's outreach for low-income customers. Murphy called the shutoffs "alarming," especially since Connecticut's economy has improved over recent years, he wrote in a letter to PURA. Eversource spokesman Mitch Gross said the utility disagrees with Murphy's assertions, adding that the company communicates with customers in Week in Review TOP STORY Bailout balances Bronin's budget as Hartford mayor quits gov.'s race H artford Mayor Luke Bronin's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year will balance with few cuts thanks to a major long-term financial commitment from the state and renegotiated union contracts. Bronin unveiled his fiscal year 2019 budget, which is his third as the city's chief executive. He also announced that he will not pursue the Democratic nomination for governor. Bronin's $567 million spending plan, which must get city council approval, contains no layoffs or one time revenue-raising maneuvers like asset sales or pension cost shifting, and no new borrowing. Hartford was facing a projected $63 million deficit in fiscal year 2019, but most of that was wiped out by an approximately $48 million debt assistance payment from the state — provided through its recently created Municipal Accountability Review Board. That assistance was part of a long-term bailout plan for the city, in which the state has agreed to pay off approximately $550 million in Hartford's general obligation debt over the next two to three decades. With interest, the amount could be higher. BY THE NUMBERS $14M The amount the state Bond Commission recently agreed to provide Infosys, an India-based IT company developing a new training and innovation hub in Hart - ford that will employ 1,000 people. 34% The percentage of Connecticut's bridges that are considered "struc- turally deficient," according to the Reason Foundation. $50,000 The amount of money up for grabs for innovators in a new venture competition sponsored by Connecticut Innovations and Stanley Black & Decker. 52,298 The number of customers who were disconnected from service by utility provider Eversource in 2017, as a result of bill nonpayment. TOP 5 MOST READ On HartfordBusiness.com • 1. Developers pitch $1B N. Britain fuel-cell powered data center • 2. Tesla wants to negotiate with auto dealers • 3. Pratt taps CT manufacturers for expanded engine repair supplier chain • 4. Sen. Murphy calls for Eversource investigation amid shutoff increase • 5. 14 more CT judgeship nominees STAY CONNECTED For breaking and daily Greater Hartford business news go to www.HartfordBusiness.com HBJ on Twitter: @HartfordBiz HBJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HartfordBiz HBJ on Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/company/ the-Hartford-Business-Journal Daily e-newsletters: HBJ Today, CT Morning Blend www.HartfordBusiness.com/ subscribe Weekly e-newsletters: CT Health Care Weekly www.HartfordBusiness.com/ subscribe U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy Mayor Luke Bronin said Hartford's budget will likely be balanced next year thanks to the state's bailout. PHOTO | HBJ FILE

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