More biodiesel coming to New Haven port

Innovation Fuels has plans to expand distribution operations into New Haven. The New Jersey-based company hopes to move about 12 million gallons per year through New Haven's port. The fuel will then be distributed throughout the region via rail and truck.

In tandem with the recent news that Greenleaf Buiofuels is building a production facility in the same neighborhood, New Haven is shaping up to be a regional epicenter for the renewable fuel.

Click here for a previous post on Greenleaf's production plans

Click here and here for more info on Innovation Fuel's distribution plans

Stimulus $$ for CT energy projects

$25 million is available for energy and conservation projects in CT. $15 million in grants directly through the DOE and another $10 million to be distributed by the state. Luther Turmelle reports here.

Mass give go-ahead to Cape Wind project

454 MW of clean, renewable energy coming to a grid near you. This will be the first offshore wind farm in the United States and one of the largest in the world (though larger ones are on the drawing board). Way to go Mass!

Links:

EERE release

Press release from Mass Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

List of offshore wind farms on wikipedia

Cape Wind (developer's website)

Last day to support CT Solar bill

Today is the day to call your rep and ask him or her to support bill SB6635. Among other things, the effort would help use solar to reduce summer peak loads. While widespread solar power usage might still be a relatively small portion of regional generation, solar works best in the blaring hot days where peak consumption threatens blackouts. The price of electricity on the pot market shoots up thousands of percent on these days, making solar generation a dollar-smart investment. Even UI is supporting the bill.

Advocates hoping for Senate OK of solar power bill (New Haven Register)
Click here to contact your Senator (via Clean Water Action)

More details from Roger Smith of Clean Water Action:

This bill provides stable funding for residential solar installations- no longer will households compete with large and expensive commercial solar installations for scarce funds

Without this bill there is no more commercial solar program for the foreseeable future in CT- that means no new solar systems on schools, town buildings, churches and businesses, and solar companies moving to states like MA and NJ with solar programs.

In addition to funding for solar on buildings, the bill allows for large freestanding solar installations on under-utilized lands like brownfields, landfills, parking lots, etc which aren't viable under current law.