Madison saves big bucks on energy bills

Updated control systems help make sensible choices, like not heating or cooling rooms that are not in use. CT Energy Efficiency Fund (funded through our electric bills) shelled half of the $68k installation, allowing the school to save $27k per year. That's an impressive 2.5 year pay-off.

Click here to read more from the New Haven Register's Alexandra Sanders.

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.

West Hartford energy plan

Major props to West Hartford's Clean Energy Task Force for compiling a comprehensive energy plan that will save the town hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.  Let this serve as a model for all of Connecticut's municipalities.

Click here for the plan

Click here for a Hartford Courant article

CT reduces solar rebate

As federal tax incentives for solar installations lose their $2k cap, the CT Clean Energy Fund is lowering its subsidy.  CCEF says this reduction in benefit is a response to the increased federal aid and is meant to maintain the same percentage of out-of-pocket expense for the applicant. New rebates are shown below.

Read the memo from CCEF (small pdf)

More fuel cell installations coming to CT

CT Clean Energy Fund has approved five new projects.

A 3.4 MW fuel cell/energy recovery generator project by FuelCell Energy in Bloomfield, Conn.
A 14.3 MW fuel cell/organic rankine cycle project by Bridgeport Fuel Cell Park, LLC in Bridgeport, Conn.
A 3.2 MW fuel cell/energy recovery generator project by FuelCell Energy in Trumbull, Conn.
A 3.2 MW fuel cell/energy recovery generator project by FuelCell Energy in Glastonbury, Conn.
A 3.2 MW fuel cell/ unfired gas turbine project by EPG Fuel Cell, LLC in Danbury, Conn.

Read more here.

Energy Policy Database

Here is a useful summary of Connecticut legislation regarding energy efficiency and emissions. For example, a tax incentive for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is outlined in House Bill 7432.

State of Energy

The CT Office of Policy and Management produces a bi-monthly energy information newsletter. Check out the latest here.

Live Solar Action

The Lee Company has installed a 308 KW Solar system in its Westbrook, CT facility. The coolest thing about this installation...you can watch real-time data!

Shortening the work week to reduce energy costs

Some municipalities are toying with the idea of a four-day work week, reducing building energy costs as well as commuting fuel.

Thule HQ goes solar

Roof rack manufacturer Thule is installing a roof rack of their own -- a 318 KW solar system on top of their Seymour, CT Headquarters. The system will provide about 26% of the facility's power and will be funded by $1.3 million from the CCEF. $4,000/KW is not so bad for a solar installation -- usually $5-10k -- but it's not really clear if this is the entirety of the funding.

Broadwater approved by FERC

The Broadwater LNG terminal floated past one of it's last remaining regulatory roadblocks yesterday. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission welcomed the project with open arms and rebuffed Connecticut officials who opposed it. Blumenthal threatened to sue. Approvals from the US Coast Guard and several NY state departments are pending. Let's hope the new NY governor has his mind on his job.

FERC press release
CT Governor Jodi Rell press release
NH Register article
Richard Blumenthal press release
New Haven Independent

Sunny Windsor Locks

There are many ways to generate electricity using the sun's energy. One common technique involves the use of photovoltaic (PV) panels -- these are a series of flat cells that use the sun's energy to directly generate electricity. Another technique is to heat up a working fluid to drive a turbine generator, using mechanical energy to spin magnets and create electricity. With both of these common applications, the problem of storing energy until it is needed adds significantly to the cost and complexity of the systems.

Hamilton Sundstrand has partnered with US Renewables Group in California to create an innovative plan for solar energy storage. They will heat molten salt to 1000F and use it to generate steam for a steam turbine. HS claims that the molten salt retains more heat over time than water or other commonly used fluids, thereby reducing energy loss and increasing overall efficiency.

Energy investment priorities

I typically try to keep things local here, but I thought this was a pretty interesting graph. Really puts our national priorities into perspective.

Chris Shays embarassed by his own opposition to Broadwater LNG terminal.

Christopher Shays remains opposed to the Broadwater LNG plant, but is being careful not to align himself too closely with certain justifications for the opposition. I suppose it's a little confusing, but really I think he's saying that he wants to make sure that people are opposed for the right reasons.

ConocoPhillips asks CT residents to speak up about energy

(Update 8/20/07) Due to hurricane activity in the Gulf of Mexico, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL 10/23/07. Click here for more info.

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ConocoPhillips is holding a series of community meetings across the US. New Haven's will be this coming Tuesday, Aug 21, at 7PM in the Omni Hotel.

From the ConocoPhillips website, "...the company will engage area residents and energy users, and local community and business leaders, to discuss energy solutions that are reliable, available and environmentally friendly. Local citizens are invited to ask questions and offer suggestions, while discussing supply/demand issues and energy alternatives with industry experts. "

New Haven's panel of speakers wilThe panel of speakers will include :

• Bob Ridge, ConocoPhillips’ vice president of health, safety and environment
• Sabrina Watkins, the energy company’s manager of environmental technology, ConocoPhillips
• Eric Brown, associate counsel for the Connecticut Business & Industry Association
• John A. Mengacci, undersecretary with the state Office of Policy & Management’s Energy Policy Unit
• Robert B. Wall, director of energy market initiatives for the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.

Don't forget to RSVP if you plan to attend. Click here to read some of ConocoPhillips' responses to selected questions from the community.