Save the CT Clean Energy Fund

The legislature is planning to take money you pay for clean energy and apply it to the general fund. Please read the press release below and consider turning out for the public hearing on March 22.

Contact: Emily Smith,

Managing Director, External Relations

Connecticut Innovations

Phone: (860) 257-2337

Website: www.ctinnovations.com

On Monday March 22, 2010 the legislature’s Finance, Revenue & Bonding Committee is holding a public hearing on S.B. 484 An Act Concerning the Governor’s Revenue Plan. This bill will “securitize” the revenue stream of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund for a 10-year period diverting funding intended to support development of renewable energy projects in Connecticut to the general fund. This proposed raid on the CCEF will have dire consequences on the continued growth and development of clean energy efforts across the State of Connecticut.

Information about the public hearing is below:

FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING COMMITTEE

MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2010

The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday, March 22, 2010 from 10: 00 A. M. to 3: 00 P. M. in Room 2E of the LOB. Please submit 75 copies of written testimony one hour prior to the start of the hearing to Committee staff in Room 3700 of the LOB. Testimony not submitted prior to the start of the hearing will not be distributed. Sign-up for the hearing will begin at 8: 30 A. M. in the Atrium next to the up escalator. All sign up will be done by a lottery system. Each person wishing to testify should be in line prior to sign up at 8: 30 A. M. At the time of sign up you will draw a number and your name will be placed on the list next to the corresponding number on the sign up sheet. The lottery will conclude at 9: 45 A. M. and all other speakers should report to Room 3700 of the LOB where your name will be placed at the end of the list. The first hour of the hearing is reserved for Invited Speakers. The public portion will begin at approximately 11: 00 A. M. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes of testimony. Unofficial sign-up sheets have no standing with the Committee.

If you are unable to attend the public hearing you should still contact members of the Finance, Revenue & Bonding committee to voice your opposition to this proposal. A list of committee members and their e-mail addresses may be found here.

Raiding this fund is backdoor way to tax electric ratepayers - the CCEF is funded through a small surcharge on every CL&P and UI electric ratepayer’s bill. Ratepayer funding goes to support CCEF programs and initiatives that benefit Connecticut. Using this funding for purposes other than clean energy turns it into a tax on certain ratepayers. Not fair!

Ratepayer funding is used for programs and initiatives that create “green jobs” - The programs and initiatives of the CCEF have resulted in significant growth of the “green” economy across Connecticut. Its solar programs have grown an in-state solar installation industry that now boasts over 50 solar installation companies. The fuel cell industry includes over 1200 highly-skilled employees with the potential for rapid growth as fuel cell projects continue to grow in number and size. Large scale clean energy projects under the Project 150 program will create hundreds of good construction jobs. Green jobs are the jobs of the future. The Federal government is increasing commitments to green jobs by funding new clean energy projects across the country. Connecticut must invest in the future, not steal from it.

Clean energy is good for Connecticut – CCEF has put Connecticut on the map as a national leader in promoting clean energy. Its mission and goals help improve the quality of life for all Connecticut residents by creating jobs, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, reducing greenhouse gases, improving the environment and improving public health. CCEF programs support clean energy projects at businesses, non-profits, public facilities and residences. Ratepayer funding must continue to support clean energy initiatives so that Connecticut can maintain its position as a national leader in promoting clean energy.

Raiding the CCEF puts millions of federal stimulus package dollars at risk - CCEF has worked hard to create a renewable energy industry and support clean energy projects across Connecticut. It has created strong programs and has staff in place to quickly deploy any federal dollars targeted for clean, renewable energy projects. Raiding the Fund would put an end to CCEF’s successful programs making it impossible for the state to take advantage of these federal dollars.

Link to CCEF “Talking Points/Impact Statement” www.ctcleanenergy.com/impact

Thank you for your continued support of the CCEF,

Norma Glover

Chair

CCEF Board

More residents choosing alternative electric providers

20% of CT electric customers have now chosen an alternative provider for generation. you, too, can choose a better rate from this list. Read more about the trend in the article in the New Haven Register.

There has been some discussion about "re-regulating" the electric market in CT. Opponents claim that this would remove our right to choose alternatives (which is true) and further point out that the utility generation rates are higher than the alternatives. However, this does not necessarily mean that everyone's rates will go up if we eliminate the competitive market. States that have maintained the regulated monopolies have significantly lower overall rates than states like CT who have competitive markets. So your alternative provider might be saving you a penny or two over UI, but your rate is still 3 cents too high compared to the rest of the country.

The reasons for this are not 100% clear. Some may argue that we are now susceptible to market manipulation by the generation companies. Also, we now have an additional middle-man who serves as a broker between you and the generation companies. Regardless, re-regulating the market seems like an extremely difficult task. The utilities would have to buy back all the power plants that they sold off in the 90s. With only one buyer, how would they determine a fair price?

DPUC approves CL&P and UI rate changes

CL&P residential customers: -5.2%

CL&P small/med business: -4.6%

CL&P big industrial: +10.2%

UI customers: 0%

UI says increases in distribution charges are offset by corresponding decreases in generation charges.

More info in this story by Luther Turmelle.

All CT electric customers can select other options for the generation portion of the bill. Click here for a current list of providers and rates. The list also shows what portion of your energy comes from renewable sources (up to 100%).

PSEG makes nice with New Haven for new peaking plant

PSEG is planning to install three 40MW natural gas-fired "peaking" plants on their existing site in New Haven's East Shore neighborhood. After a series of negotiations with community groups, they have agreed to a plan that promises to reduce net emissions in the area. This includes a half-million dollar program to retrofit city trucks with particulate filters. PSEG has also promised to reduce output from the much larger and dirtier oil plant (formerly one of the sooty six) for a net reduction while the peaking plants are running.

Click here for a more detailed summary of the project.

According to a joint press release:

The final agreement, reached after three months of negotiation, will supply the state grid with sufficient power while creating a net reduction in air pollution. Terms of the agreement include the existing, older diesel-powered New Haven Harbor Station using more natural gas instead of diesel to produce power, reducing plant idling time from 14 hours to 12 hours, and contributing $500,000 to the new East Shore Air Quality Account – a fund to be used to further reduce pollution in the area through initiatives such as retrofitting garbage trucks with particulate filters. These reductions will more than offset emissions from the new peaking plants that are being built.

Click here for the press release (via www.newhavenindependent.org)

87% of CT is paying too much for electricity

It's been more than a decade since deregulation gave Connecticut electricity customers the right to choose an electricity provider. For many of those years, there was little or no choice but now, with utility rates in the stratosphere, there are many alternatives with lower rates. You can even get a 100% renewable energy option for LESS than the utility's standard rate.

Click here to see all the choices you have. To see your monthly savings, look at the total kWh on your bill and enter that number in the field near the top that says "Estimated monthly svings are based on...".

Most of these allow you to sign up on line. Be careful as some have contracts with cancellation fees. Also, some are variable rates, so you may want to keep up to date with the going rates and be ready to switch.

See CT Energy Info for more information and a list of top 10 misunderstanding regarding choosing an electric supplier.

Clearing up facts on CFLs

Please read my letter to the editor, published in the New Haven Register. Because there were a few editing snafus in the print version, I am posting the original below.

Here is editorial that I was respnding to.

Here is the published letter.

Dear Editor

I am responding to the New Haven Register's recent Editorial about energy efficiency legislation and light bulb technology. Take what side you will on the legislation, but please get the facts straight. First, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) cost less than incandescents -- both at the counter and on your electric bill. A CFL is rated to last about eight times longer than an incandescent in the same application. For equivalent life, incandescent bulbs will total $.25x8=$2 at the counter. That's twice as expensive as the $1 CFLs I recently purchased. More significantly, efficient CFLs offer much higher savings through an immediate reductions on your electricity bill. At today's electric rates, each 60W bulb replaced with an equivalent CFL can save more than $70 over the life of the bulb.

The claim that CFLs emit less light is simply not true. Light output, measured in "lumens", can be found right on the package. Just select an output to meet your needs. You will find ratings to match equivalent incandescents. If you like the yellow color of incandescents, try a "soft white" CFL and/or use an appropriate lampshade. There have been improvements in this area so give it another go if you have been turned off in the past.

Most importantly, the notion that any incandescent can possibly compete with a CFL in terms of efficiency is laughable. An incandescent bulb is a resistance heater that sheds a little light in the process: for every 10 Watts of electricity in, 9 are shed as heat and 1 converted to visible light. The Phillips bulb referenced in your article has gained a respectable 30 percent in efficiency over a standard bulb. However, a typical CFL is 700 percent more efficient than an incandescent (10W input = 7W light + 3W heat). Is there really any contest here?

If you oppose CFL legislation because you don't like being told what to buy then so be it. But please don't throw money down the toilet because of myths and misinformation.

Power To The People

Don't miss Luther Turmelle's excellent energy blog.

Power To The People