Rocky Hill, Conn., June 26, 2008 – Today it was announced that the town of Easton, Connecticut, has joined a growing list of municipalities in the state that have become “Connecticut Clean Energy Communities.” Easton earned this designation by successfully completing the three required benchmarks, including:
• Committing to the purchase of 20% clean energy by the year 2010.
• Signing up 100 or more of the town’s households and businesses as clean energy customers through the CTCleanEnergyOptionssm program. (As of April 30, Easton had signed up 111.)
• Making a municipal clean energy purchase. (Easton has purchased 5% clean energy for its municipal buildings.)
As a result of its commitment to clean energy, Easton has earned a 3-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) array valued at approximately $30,000 from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.
First Selectman Thomas A. Herrmann said, "Our town is delighted to be part of a growing group of Connecticut towns and cities that are making a tangible commitment to clean energy. We all need to do our part, and with this program both the town government and our residents have taken important steps to support renewable energy and energy efficiency. We are really looking forward to the installation of the solar array – both to celebrate the progress we've made so far and also to build even greater awareness about clean energy among our children and all our residents."
In addition to becoming a Connecticut Clean Energy Community (CCEC), Easton has taken other steps to demonstrate its commitment to clean energy. In 2007, the town received a $5,000 grant from CCEF through its Community Innovations Grants Program to undertake local grassroots initiatives to raise public awareness of and support for clean energy. To date, Easton has used this funding to support two local projects. One of the projects involved distributing energy-efficient light bulbs to town residents during a drive to secure signups under CTCleanEnergyOptions. Through another project, an Easton Middle School student group, calling itself the “Gang Green,” is helping educate residents about the benefits of clean energy and recycling.
Lise Dondy, president of CCEF, said, “Connecticut is gaining significant momentum in the commitment to and adoption of clean energy – and our communities have been strong supporters, proactively pushing for clean, renewable energy. Easton is one of 80 cities and towns in Connecticut that have committed to purchasing clean energy and one of 34 municipalities to become a Connecticut Clean Energy Community.” Dondy added, “By supporting clean energy, the Easton community has avoided nearly 450 tons of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to saving more than 46,000 gallons of gas or planting nearly 340 acres of trees. The actions of Easton and other participating communities will benefit Connecticut ratepayers for years to come.”
CCEF provides solar PV systems to Connecticut Clean Energy Communities as an incentive for municipalities and their residents and small businesses to adopt clean energy. When municipalities are successful in meeting the CCEC Program requirements, they qualify to receive an “earned” solar array from CCEF. Communities located in Southwest Connecticut, a grid-congested region, qualify for 2-kW systems. Communities with CTCleanEnergyOptions participation levels exceeding 2.5% of households may earn a bonus kilowatt for their arrays. Municipalities may also earn additional kilowatts for every additional 100 local residents or small businesses that enroll in the CTCleanEnergyOptions program.
Municipalities may place their solar PV system on a municipal building that has been deemed acceptable as an installation site by both a solar PV consultant and CCEF. Once installed, the system reduces the municipality’s energy costs by converting sunlight into electricity at that facility and serves as an educational tool for residents. To date, CCEF has provided or committed to provide a total of 174 kW of earned solar PV systems to 34 Connecticut cities and towns.
Cathy Alfandre, chair of Easton’s Clean Energy Task Force, commented, “The members of the Task Force and I are inspired by all of the Easton residents who have signed up for clean energy and made a personal commitment to do something about global warming and all the energy challenges we face. Earning this solar panel is not only great for Easton, it’s also proof that we can make a difference if we join together.”
By participating in the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program, cities and towns are sending a strong signal that clean energy is 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.
About the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)
CCEF was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and is funded by the electric ratepayers. CCEF’s mission is to promote, develop and invest in clean energy sources for the benefit of Connecticut’s ratepayers in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state. CCEF is administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public authority. For more information on CCEF, please visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.
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