Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

2. Notice of Scoping for Capitol Area System (CAS) Central Plant Upgrades (Revised)

Address: 490 Capitol Ave

Municipality: Hartford

Project Description: The Capitol Area System (CAS) central plant, formerly the Capital District Energy Center Cogeneration Associates (CDECCA) plant, was originally constructed in 1988 as a privately-owned and operated natural gas fired powerplant used to provide peaking energy to the ISO New England power market and to provide hot and chilled water to the CAS thermal loop. The CAS loop circulates hot and chilled water produced by the central plant through a three-mile network of underground pipes to provide heating and cooling for the fifteen (15) state, private, and non-profit facilities currently connected to the loop.

Historically, the state contracted with CDECCA to supply hot and chilled water from their facility to serve the CAS thermal loop. In 2019, in response to escalating costs, the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) conducted a study to evaluate economically feasible options for the continued operation of the thermal loop and its corresponding central plant operations that included maintaining the current arrangement with CDECCA, the state purchasing and renovating the existing facility, and the state building a new thermal energy facility.  

Based on that study, it was determined that the option to purchase and renovate the existing facility was the most feasible option and would also allow the state to undertake upgrades and improvement to assist in meeting the goals identified in the Governor’s Executive Order (EO) # 1 and # 21-3. In 2021, the power generation function of the central plant was decommissioned, and the state purchased the facility in 2022 to continue to provide hot and chilled water to the facilities on the CAS thermal loop.

DAS is in the process of conducting a CAS Decarbonization Study to define, develop, and assess options for upgrading the CAS operations, including an evaluation of both supply and demand side options, and is seeking public comment. DAS is not seeking to restore the facility as power generating station. 

Supply side options currently being considered include: 

  1. Hybrid of Heat pumps and electric boilers;

  2. 100% electric boilers;

  3. 100% heat pumps (ground source or air source);

  4. Hybrid of Heat pumps & Natural Gas Condensing boilers that are capable of transitioning to cleaner fuels;

  5. 100% Natural Gas Condensing boilers capable of transitioning to cleaner fuels;

  6. Other

Demand side options currently being considered include:

  1. Reduce loads via energy efficiency at public and private facilities and reduce heating supply temperature;

  2. Reduce loads via energy efficiency at public facilities and keep heating supply temperature as is;

  3. Maintain existing status quo. 

 

Project Map: Click here to view a map of the project area.

 

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: Friday, July 7, 2023.

 

NEW Public Scoping Meeting: There will be a VIRTUAL Public Scoping Meeting on Tuesday, June 27 beginning at 6:00pm.

 

To join the meeting via Microsoft Teams, use your computer or mobile device and Click here to join the meeting or copy and paste the following into your internet browser: 

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MmI5MDM1ZDYtMDAzYy00Y2I0LWE2NzQtMjNjZjE2YjVmZDMz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22118b7cfa-a3dd-48b9-b026-31ff69bb738b%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%229a87575c-8c9e-498d-b301-28aa645a1ae4%22%7d 

 

Meeting ID: 295 495 220 249

Passcode:    ztn8EL

 

Persons with limited internet access may join by phone (audio only), by dialing 1-860-840-2075 and entering the Phone Conference ID: 364 653 974# when prompted.

 

A digital copy of the presentation will be made available after the meeting. Requests for hardcopies of meeting materials may be made by emailing matthew.pafford@ct.gov.

 

Written comments and/or questions should be sent to:

Name: Matthew Pafford

Agency: Department of Administrative Services

Address:450 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT 06103

E-Mail: matthew.pafford@ct.gov


Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to DAS through the FOI Records Request Portal or call the Commissioner's Office staff at 860-713-5100.

What Happens Next: The sponsoring agency will make a determination whether to proceed with preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) or that the project does not require the preparation of an EIE under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA). A Post-Scoping Notice of its decision will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.