Bridgeport - The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will host the first public hearing on the Draft Comprehensive Energy Strategy at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Bridgeport City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace.

Four additional public meetings will take place later in the month at other locations around the state.

The purpose is to solicit public input on the draft CES that was released on Oct. 5. This energy strategy is being developed as required by Public Act 11-80, which passed in June. The act requires that DEEP, in consultation with the Connecticut Energy Advisory Board, prepare a Comprehensive Energy Strategy for Connecticut every three years.

The draft plan analyzes the state’s current energy use. It identifies challenges and examines opportunities for meeting future needs in five areas: energy efficiency, industry, electricity, natural gas, and transportation. It proposes a series of recommendations which give state residents and businesses the power to choose from a wide array of energy options and guides the state on a path toward a cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy future.

Other meetings on the strategy will be:

• 6 p.m. Nov. 19, Room G-2, at Kennedy Mitchell Hall of Records, 200 Orange Street, New Haven.

• 9 a.m. Nov. 20 in the Phoenix Auditorium at DEEP’s offices, 79 Elm Street, Hartford.

• 6 p.m. Nov. 20, Room 106, at the University of Connecticut’s Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, 3107 Horsebarn Hill Road, Building 4 Annex, U-4210, Storrs.

• 6 p.m. Nov. 26 City Hall Auditorium, 140 Main Street - 2nd floor, Torrington.

DEEP has also scheduled a series of technical meetings at which the public may present oral testimony and ask DEEP staff and consultants questions about the analysis underlying the findings and recommendations in the Strategy. Technical Meetings will be held in Hearing Room 1, at DEEP’s New Britain Office, Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, on the following topics: transportation, 10:30 a.m. Nov. 14; electricity, 9 a.m. Nov. 15; natural gas, 9 a.m. Nov. 16; general (if needed), 9 a.m. Nov. 19; efficiency (buildings), 9 a.m. Nov. 27; efficiency (industry), 10:30 a.m. Nov. 28.

Written comments will be accepted on or before Dec. 14 by 4:30 p.m. and can be e-mailed to: Debra Morrell at debra.morrell@ct.gov or mailed to: Debra Morrell, DEEP, Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy, Ten Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051.

Comprehensive Energy Strategy documents can be found at: www.ct.gov/deep/energystrategy.