Rocky Hill, Conn., December 3, 2007 – Ridgefield has joined a growing list of municipalities in the state that have become “Connecticut Clean Energy Communities.” Ridgefield earned this designation by committing to the purchase of 20% clean energy by the year 2010, by signing up nearly 200 residents as clean energy customers, and by purchasing renewable energy certificates representing 3% of its electricity load for municipal buildings from Community Energy. As a result of this commitment to clean energy, Ridgefield has earned a $20,000 solar energy array to be installed on the municipal building of its choice.
Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi said, “In this era of environmental concern there is a vital need for government to take a leadership position. Ridgefield is proud to be designated a Connecticut Clean Energy Community and we will continue to do our part in supporting important environmental initiatives.”
Connecticut cities and towns can earn the “Connecticut Clean Energy Community” designation under the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program (CCEC), a partnership between the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) and SmartPower, by meeting three requirements: (1) committing to purchasing 20% clean energy by the year 2010, (2) having a threshold number of residents and small businesses sign up for the CTCleanEnergyOptionssm program, offered to customers of United Illuminating and CL&P, and (3) making a municipal clean energy purchase.
Governor M. Jodi Rell commented, “Connecticut is gaining significant momentum in the commitment to and adoption of clean energy. Ridgefield is one of 61 cities and towns across the state that have committed to purchasing clean energy and one of 23 municipalities to become Connecticut Clean Energy Communities. It is our hope that all 169 municipalities in the state will ultimately both commit to clean energy and become clean energy communities – actions that will benefit our residents for years to come.”
Ridgefield has taken a number of steps to meet the CCEC Program requirements and demonstrate its commitment to clean energy. In February 2007, Ridgefield committed to purchasing 20% clean energy by the year 2010. To date, it has signed up nearly 200 clean energy customers, and in late 2007, the town began purchasing renewable energy certificates representing 3% of its electricity load for municipal buildings from Community Energy. Additionally, the town received a $5,000 block grant from CCEF under the Community Innovations Grants Program that will help it raise public awareness of and support for clean energy.
The town is further demonstrating its leadership in clean energy by issuing a clean energy sign up challenge to six other towns in southwest Connecticut: Danbury, Newtown, Redding, Stamford, Weston and Westport. The town that signs up the greatest percentage increase of clean energy customers by Earth Day 2008, on April 22, 2008, is the victor.
“Ridgefield is not only raising awareness about clean energy within its own community but it is also reaching out to other communities in southwest Connecticut by issuing this clean energy sign up challenge,” said Lise Dondy, president, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. “We applaud this type of proactive effort because it will go a long way toward ensuring that many more cities and towns in Connecticut become Clean Energy Communities. Regardless of who wins the challenge, we all win through the steps taken by the communities to create a cleaner, more energy independent future.”
Because Ridgefield was successful in meeting the CCEC Program requirements, the town will now receive an “earned,” 2-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system which may be installed on a municipal building of its choice. As of October 31, 2007, the town had achieved a total of 197 clean energy sign ups representing more than 2.4% household participation. Ridgefield stands poised to earn 3 additional kilowatts of solar arrays for surpassing 200 sign up points and achieving 2.5% household participation.
The solar PV systems are provided by CCEF to qualifying cities and towns as an incentive for municipalities and their residents and small businesses to adopt clean energy. Once installed, the solar PV systems will reduce the municipalities’ energy costs by converting sunlight into electricity for municipal buildings and will serve as an educational tool for city and town residents. Ridgefield’s earned 2-kW PV system is valued at approximately $20,000. Municipalities may earn additional PV systems for every 100 local residents or small businesses that enroll in the CTCleanEnergyOptions program. To date, CCEF has provided or committed to provide a total of 137 kW of earned solar PV systems to 23 Connecticut cities and towns.
Jay Whelan, head of the Ridgefield Action Committee for the Environment (RACE), stated, “We are starting to see a tremendous uptake in the usage of clean energy here in Ridgefield. We have reached the tipping point and more and more residents are signing up daily.”
“The government, citizens and small businesses of Ridgefield are truly leading by example,” said Keri Enright, Connecticut State Director for SmartPower. “By completing the CCEF thresholds and achieving Clean Energy Community status, the town of Ridgefield is clearly demonstrating that clean energy is real, here and working. I commend Ridgefield for its vision and leadership.”
By supporting both the SmartPower 20% by 2010 clean energy campaign and the CTCleanEnergyOptions program, cities and towns are sending a strong signal that clean energy issues are important to all of us. Residents can find more information on the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program and other community-based clean energy initiatives at www.ctcleanenergy.com/communities, www.ctcleanenergyoptions.com or www.gocleanenergy.com.
About the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)
CCEF was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and is administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public organization. CCEF promotes the development and commercialization of clean energy technologies; the creation of clean energy supply; and the demand for electricity from clean, renewable sources in Connecticut in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state. CCEF’s funding comes from a surcharge on electric ratepayers’ utility bills. For more information on CCEF, please visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.
About Connecticut Innovations, Inc (CI)
Connecticut Innovations (CI) is a quasi-public organization dedicated to driving a vibrant, entrepreneurial, technology-based economy in Connecticut. CI stimulates high-tech growth by investing in: early-stage Connecticut technology companies; university/industry research collaborations; technology transfer; and, clean energy initiatives through the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. CI also fosters collaboration among government, business, non-profit and academic organizations to advance technology growth and promotes public policies consistent with CI’s mission. For more information on CI, please visit www.ctinnovations.com.
About SmartPower
SmartPower is a non-profit marketing organization dedicated to promoting clean energy and energy efficiency. SmartPower’s 20% by 2010 campaign encourages institutions, municipalities and individuals to make a commitment to obtain 20% of their electricity from clean sources by 2010. Please visit www.smartpower.org or www.gocleanenergy.com.
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