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Politics & Government

A Plan for Clean Energy

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund unveiled its latest comprehensive plan to Westport this week.

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund held its second of three public hearings in Westport this week to unveil a new draft plan designed to "promote, develop and invest in clean energy sources for Connecticut."

Fund President Lise Dondy, Board of Directors Chairman Norma Glover, and board members Kevin Hennessy and Robert Maddox attended the meeting held in Westport Town Hall to answer questions and solicit input from residents on the fund's 2011-2012 Comprehensive Plan.

The plan offers strategies to respond to the state's energy environment by adapting existing programs and/or implementing new ones to meet ratepayers' and the state's renewable energy needs. Some of the strategies include encouraging financing of renewable energy projects to increase the supply of renewable energy, investing in early-stage renewable energy technologies that employ advanced energy methods and engaging communities in clean energy options by providing various incentives.

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Currently, the plan budget is  $77.5 million, which is roughly $43 million less then the previous budget for fiscal years 2009 and 2010, Dondy said.

"The difference is due to the change in utility revenues," Dondy added. "The amount has gone down due to the recession."  The CCEF receives its funds mostly through ratepayers from Connecticut Light and Power and United Illumination. The current rate is one mill per kilowatt-hour, or roughly 70 cents for each household per hour.

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The new comprehensive plan recognizes immediate cost challenges to achieve its goals and anticipates future programs through funding from various sources and community partnerships. One of the strategies presented to help with the costs is the proposed revolving loan fund, which would leverage private and federal dollars to fund clean energy projects.

Another strategy of the plan is to enhance the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program, which provide incentives to towns that meet energy requirements by the end of the fiscal year. As part of the program, communities can earn clean energy systems for schools and municipal buildings by committing to the call of "20% by 2010." The campaign is a challenge to cities and towns to obtain at least 20 percent of the electricity for all municipal facilities from clean renewable energy sources by the end of this year. In order to qualify as a Clean Energy Community, a municipality must have made a voluntary clean energy purchase of 5 percent in 2008, 9 percent in 2009 and 13 percent in 2010.

To date, 99 municipalities have committed to clean energy, including Westport, according to the plan.

Westport stands as one of its "most active municipalities," according to the CCEF's website, www.ctcleanenergy.com, with the installation of a 23.12-kilowatt Photovoltaic system on the roof of the Westport Fire Headquarters in 2007 and an 8.64-kilowatt Photovolatic system on the Westport Country Playhouse in 2005.  Westport joined the "20% by 2010" campaign in 2005, and is currently recognized as a Clean Energy Community.  It has been awarded 8-kilowatts of free solar PV energy.

To enhance this existing program, the fund intends to launch a "Communities Blog" as a forum to convey news and information to municipalities, host regional workshops and seek speaking opportunities to educate participating and non-participating communities. The fund also plans to develop a Clean Energy Communities decal to raise awareness and reinforce connections of town governments, businesses, schools, and other local supporters of clean energy. This strategy also allows the fund to host an annual awards event to recognize exceptional clean energy achievements in communities and partner with community organizations to raise the visibility of the program.

All input provided by the public in regard to each incentive program will be included in the final draft of the comprehensive plan, Dondy said.

"Afterwards, we return to the Board of Directors and adapt a budget and compensation plan.  Then it is sent to the Department of Public Utility Control for a hearing," she added.

For those interested in seeing the draft plan, click here.

The last of the three hearings ended on Wednesday in Hartford. Those who could not attend the hearings are invited to send written comments about the plan by e-mail or mail through July 14 to:

Attn. Loyola French at comprehensiveplan@ctcleanenergy.com or

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund

200 Corporate Place, 3rd Floor

Rocky Hill, CT, 06067

All comments submitted to the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund will be made part of the public record and may be placed on the fund's website for public viewing.  A summary of all written comments with a response will be attached as an Appendix to the comprehensive plan.

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