Cities and towns can join the charge toward energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy through the Clean Energy Communities program. By following three easy steps, your community can demonstrate its leadership and can qualify for renewable energy systems and ”Bright Idea Grants” for energy-saving projects.
Clean Energy Communities
Becoming a Clean Energy Community is as Easy as 1-2-3
Clean Energy Communities
Your community can come together to support energy efficiency and renewable energy, creating a cleaner future today and for generations to come. Jointly offered by the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, the Clean Energy Communities program offers three simple steps to help community leaders, households, and local businesses work together to set clean energy goals and be rewarded for their achievements.
The three steps your town or city can take to become a Clean Energy Community are:
- Commit to the “Clean Energy Communities Municipal Pledge” to save energy in municipal buildings and voluntarily purchase renewable energy;
- Fulfill the Clean Energy Communities Municipal Pledge by taking actions to save energy and to purchase renewable energy voluntarily; and
- Earn energy efficiency and renewable energy points that can be redeemed for clean energy systems and grants for energy-saving projects.
Couldn’t attend the January 24, 2013 Regional Forum at Middlesex Community College? Click here to access all the presentations.
Step 1 – Commit to the “Clean Energy Communities Municipal Pledge”
Your community takes the first step toward becoming a Clean Energy Community by committing to the “Clean Energy Communities Municipal Pledge” to save energy in municipal buildings and voluntarily purchase renewable energy.
The Pledge must be signed by your town’s mayor, first selectman, or town manager and can be downloaded here. Once completed, it should be sent to communities@ctcleanenergy.com.
By signing the Pledge, your community demonstrates its support for energy efficiency and renewable energy by committing to:
- Reduce municipal building energy consumption by 20% by 2018, according to the following schedule:
- July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013: 5% Reduction
- July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014: 8% Reduction
- July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015: 11% Reduction
- July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016: 14% Reduction
- July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017: 17% Reduction
- July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018: 20% Reduction
- Purchase voluntarily 20% of municipal building electricity from clean, renewable sources by 2018, according to the following schedule:
- July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013: 15% Purchase
- July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014: 16% Purchase
- July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015: 17% Purchase
- July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016: 18% Purchase
- July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017: 19% Purchase
- July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018: 20% Purchase
Visit the Online Dashboard
Be sure to visit the online dashboard to check on your community’s progress toward becoming a Clean Energy Community: If your town or city has not yet taken steps toward becoming a Clean Energy Community, contact your mayor, first selectman, town manager, or local clean energy task force to let them know about the program. If your town or city is already participating, get in touch with the local clean energy contact listed on your community’s page to find out how you can get involved.
Step 2 – Fulfill the Clean Energy Communities Municipal Pledge
After signing the Pledge (see Step 1), your community takes the next step toward becoming a Clean Energy Community by fulfilling the Pledge’s goals of saving energy in municipal buildings and voluntarily purchasing renewable energy.
Save Energy in Municipal Buildings
To demonstrate its commitment to energy efficiency, your city or town must save energy in municipal buildings and document its savings according to the schedule outlined in the Pledge.
The first step in this process involves creating a Municipal Action Plan (MAP) describing how your community plans to save energy and purchase renewable energy. In order to create this plan, your city or town must measure municipal building energy use and compare it to a baseline year. This process is called “benchmarking.”
A free Benchmarking Starter Kit and free benchmarking software are available through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Clean Energy Communities team also provides free technical assistance and periodic trainings on benchmarking and can provide guidelines for setting energy reduction goals.
The benchmarking process requires the selection of a baseline year. The Clean Energy Communities program allows one of the following years to be used:
- Baseline Year 1: July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009
- Baseline Year 2: July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010
- Baseline Year 3: July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011
- Baseline Year 4: July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012
Beginning July 1, 2015, communities must demonstrate that they are meeting the Pledge’s energy-saving goals in order to earn incentives for clean energy systems and ”Bright Idea Grants.”
Voluntarily Purchase Renewable Energy
To become a Clean Energy Community, your city or town should make qualifying renewable energy purchases according to the schedule outlined in the Pledge. These purchases are in addition to mandatory clean energy requirements under the Renewable Portfolio Standard or "RPS” for Connecticut’s electric utilities.
To get started, your community should:
- Determine its total annual electricity usage for all municipal facilities including schools and street lights. (The most recent Fiscal Year, Calendar Year, or other recent 12-month period can be used).
- Multiply this total annual amount by the renewable energy purchase requirements outlined in the Clean Energy Communities Municipal Pledge.
- Voluntarily purchase renewable energy by:
- Participating in the CTCleanEnergyOptions program
It is recommended that you call both of the independent companies selected for this program to schedule a presentation and learn more about available incentive plans.
- Purchasing “Green-e certified” Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from a renewable energy supplier, such as Community Energy or 3Degrees.
This option provides your community the flexibility to consider the quantity, technology, location and price of your desired renewable energy product. Click here for more information on renewable energy suppliers.
- Installing a clean energy system at a municipal facility.
For an installation to qualify, the RECs must be quantifiable and must not be held by a third party (i.e. retired). You are also allowed to count the RECs associated with systems earned through this program (provided that the RECs are retained and not sold).
- Pursuing any combination of the above options.
Visit the Online Dashboard
Be sure to visit the online dashboard to check on your community’s progress toward becoming a Clean Energy Community. If your town or city has not yet taken steps toward becoming a Clean Energy Community, contact your mayor, first selectman, town manager, or local clean energy task force to let them know about the program. If your town or city is already participating, get in touch with the local clean energy contact listed on your community’s page to find out how you can get involved.
Step 3 – Earn Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Points for Rewards
Communities that have committed to the “Clean Energy Communities Municipal Pledge” and have fulfilled the Pledge’s requirements can earn energy efficiency and renewable energy points that can be redeemed for clean energy systems and ”Bright Idea Grants” for energy-saving projects.
Earn Energy Efficiency Points for “Bright Idea Grants”
Once qualified as a Clean Energy Community, your town or city can earn energy efficiency points that can be redeemed for “Bright Idea Grants” for energy-saving projects.
To qualify for a Bright Ideas Grant, your city or town must earn 100 energy efficiency points by participating in Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund programs. Grants range in size from $5,000 to $15,000 and can be used toward energy-saving projects in your community. Click here for an overview of the Bright Idea Grant (PDF).
Energy efficiency points are rewarded for the following activities:
| Points | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6 | Awarded for every 1% of households that participate in the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund’s residential programs: the Home Energy Solutions program, the Home Energy Solutions Income-Eligible program, the Residential New Construction program, and the Home Energy Solutions Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program. Participation is retroactive back to January 1, 2010. |
| 8 | Awarded for every 1% of households who redeem rebates for energy-efficient technologies. Participation is retroactive back to January 1, 2010. |
| 4 | Awarded for every 1% of commercial or municipal entities who participate in a Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund business or municipal program, such as the Small Business Energy Advantage program or the Energy Opportunities program. Participation is retroactive back to January 1, 2010. |
| 1-10 | Awarded for special project points for communities that host or promote a special energy conservation program or energy-saving project project must be initiated after January 1, 2012. |
Earn Renewable Energy Points for Clean Energy Systems
Once qualified as a Clean Energy Community, your town or city can earn renewable energy points that can be redeemed for clean energy systems. Your community can receive a 1 kilowatt (kW) clean energy system by earning one of the following:
- 100 renewable points in your community;
- 100 renewable energy points in your regional school district (RSD).
Any town within the RSD that commits to the Pledge and makes a minimum clean, renewable energy purchase may pool its points with another town or towns in the same RSD.
- Renewable energy points equivalent to 10% of the households in your community (if your town has less than 1,000 households).
Renewable energy points are rewarded for the following activities:
| Points | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1 | Awarded for each sign-up to CTCleanEnergyOptions program within your community, regardless of whether a customer signs up at the 50% or 100% level (includes signups for Community Energy, 3 Degrees and Sterling Planet). |
| 10 | Awarded for each 100MWh of clean energy purchased by a local commercial and industrial customer through the CTCleanEnergyOptions program. |
| 3 | Awarded for each clean energy system within your community funded by the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (excluding systems earned through this program); all documentable, self-funded Class I renewable energy systems; and all documentable, self-funded Solar Hot Water and Geothermal systems installed during or after 2010. Communities with fewer than 1,000 households shall earn: 3 points x (the number of households/1,000). |
| 1 | Awarded for each 20MWh of clean energy purchased by a local commercial and industrial customer (excluding municipalities) through a Green-e Certified REC purchase of 10GWh or less. 20 MWh = 1 point; 100 MWh = 5 points; 1,000 MWh = 50 points, etc. |
| 1 | Awarded for each 200MWh of clean energy purchased by a local commercial and industrial customer (excluding municipalities) through a Green-e Certified REC purchase in excess of 10GWh. A 30 GWh purchase would earn 600 points: 500 points for the first 10 GWh at a rate of 1 point for every 20 MWh (or every 0.02GWh); and 100 points for the next 20 GWh at a rate of 1 point for every 200 MWh (or every 0.2GWh). |
Earn Bonus Renewable Energy Rewards
Your community can earn bonus renewable energy rewards by achieving special milestones or taking actions to accelerate renewable energy adoption. In order for your city or town to qualify, it must already qualify as a Clean Energy Community.
Bonus renewable energy rewards are available for the following activities:
| Bonus Rewards | Activity |
|---|---|
| BONUS 1kW solar PV or other clean energy technology installation | CTCleanEnergyOptions Household Penetration Rate Achievement Award Awarded to every city or town that achieves an incremental CTCleanEnergyOptions household penetration rate of 5.0%. Towns that have earned an achievement reward based on 2.5% penetration must achieve an additional 5% penetration to qualify again under this category. Towns that qualify by achieving penetration rates equivalent to 10% of the households in a community can now earn a bonus 1 kW for achieving 15% household penetration. These towns can continue to earn bonus kW of solar PV for each 10% increase in household participation above 15%. |
| BONUS 1kW solar PV or other clean energy technology installation | EPA Green Power Communities Achievement Award Awarded to every city or town that achieves status as an Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Community, according to the following targets:
|
| BONUS 1kW solar PV or other clean energy technology installation | Voluntary Clean Energy Purchase of 50% Achievement Award Awarded to every city or town that voluntarily purchases 50% or more of its municipal facility energy from clean energy sources will receive an additional 1 kW installation of solar PV or other clean energy technology. To qualify for this reward, a town must contract to purchase at least 1 GWh of clean energy for a minimum of five years. |
| BONUS 2kW solar PV or other clean energy technology installation | Voluntary Clean Energy Purchase of 75% Achievement Award Awarded to every city or town that voluntarily purchases 75% or more of its municipal facility energy from clean energy sources will receive an additional 2 kW installation of solar PV or other clean energy technology (inclusive of the 1 kW earned for the 50% purchase). To qualify for this reward, a town must contract to purchase at least 1 GWh of clean energy for a minimum of five years. |
| BONUS 3kW solar PV or other clean energy technology installation | Voluntary Clean Energy Purchase of 100% Achievement Award Awarded to every city or town that voluntarily purchases 100% of its municipal facility energy from clean energy sources will receive an additional 3 kW installation of solar PV or other clean energy technology (inclusive of the 2 kW earned for the 75% purchase). To qualify for this reward, a town must contract to purchase at least 1 GWh of clean energy for a minimum of five years. |
| BONUS 5kW solar PV or other clean energy technology installation | 2,000 Renewable Energy Points Achievement Award Awarded to the first town to reach 2,000 total renewable points. For purposes of calculating points for this bonus reward, not more than 50% of the town’s total points can come from clean energy purchases by a commercial or industrial customer. |
| BONUS 5kW solar PV or other clean energy technology installation energy technology | 3,000 Renewable Energy Points Achievement Award Awarded to the first town to reach 3,000 total renewable points. For purposes of calculating points for this bonus reward, not more than 50% of the town’s total points can come from clean energy purchases by a commercial or industrial customer. |
| BONUS 5kW solar PV or other clean energy technology installation | 4,000 Renewable Energy Points Achievement Award Awarded to the first town to reach 4,000 total renewable points. For purposes of calculating points for this bonus reward, not more than 50% of the town’s total points can come from clean energy purchases by a commercial or industrial customer. |
| BONUS 5kW solar PV or other clean energy technology installation | CTCleanEnergyOptions 30% Household Penetration Rate Achievement Award Awarded to the first town to reach the 30% household penetration rate for the CTCleanEnergyOptions program. Awarded to Cornwall Connecticut. |
| BONUS 5kW solar PV or other clean energy technology installation | CTCleanEnergyOptions 50% Household Penetration Rate Achievement Award Awarded to the first town to reach the 50% household penetration rate for the CTCleanEnergyOptions program. |
| BONUS 5kW solar PV or other clean energy technology installation | CTCleanEnergyOptions 70% Household Penetration Rate Achievement Award Awarded to the first town to reach the 70% household penetration rate for the CTCleanEnergyOptions program. |
Visit the Online Dashboard
Be sure to visit the online dashboard to check on your community’s progress toward becoming a Clean Energy Community. If your town or city has not yet taken steps toward becoming a Clean Energy Community, contact your mayor, first selectman, town manager, or local clean energy task force to let them know about the program. If your town or city is already participating, get in touch with the local clean energy contact listed on your community’s page to find out how you can get involved.