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Esty was appointed by Malloy in March 2011 to head what was then the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. He continued in his position when the department's role and responsibilities expanded.
Esty will return to Yale University, which granted him a three-year leave of absence to assume the role of DEEP commissioner. He is married to U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District.
“As the first commissioner of a state agency that took on expanded responsibilities, Dan Esty led the way in integrating and reinvigorating our approach to environmental regulation and energy policy and building a strong foundation for 21st-century action,” Malloy said in a statement.
“During the three years he served as commissioner, innovative and breakthrough programs were put in place to successfully address long-standing environmental and energy challenges. In addition, steps were taken to lighten the burden of electricity costs, an issue that has created real problems for our families and businesses."
In a letter to the governor, Esty outlined some of the accomplishments DEEP achieved during his three-year tenure, which include: managing increased investments in state parks infrastructure, wastewater treatment projects, and brown fields redevelopment; continuing promotion of land conservation and open space acquisition despite tight budgets; and delivering the state’s first Comprehensive Energy Strategy.
“I am proud of all we’ve accomplished on the environmental and energy fronts with the hard work of a skilled and dedicated agency staff and the active support, engagement and guidance of Governor Malloy,” Esty said in a statement. “In sum, our efforts have made Connecticut a national leader when it comes to innovative approaches to both environmental regulation and energy policy.”
Esty is the Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy, with appointments at both the Yale Law School and the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. He is also the Director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy as well as the Center for Business and the Environment at Yale.
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