Personal Impact*

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Zero-Carbon Energy

   

 

 

The ratio of zero carbon electricity to total electricity generation in Connecticut has been generally declining.

 

On September 3, 2020, Governor Lamont issued Executive Order No. 3 that seeks to address climate change adaption and resiliency, and calls for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), in consultation with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), to “analyze pathways and recommended strategies for achieving a 100 percent zero carbon target for the electric sector by 2040”. Connecticut’s 2020 Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) did, in fact, analyze pathways and recommended strategies, as required by Executive Order 3. However, as depicted on the chart, the percentage of zero carbon electric generation** located in the state has decreased, while the percentage of carbon-based generation and total electric generation have increased.⁷¹ Achieving 100 percent zero carbon generation with intermittent renewable technologies will require a significant amount of energy storage and/or upgrades to the electric transmission system.

Zero Carbon Goal & Increasing Consumption

In 2020, Connecticut was estimated to be at approximately 64 percent of the target for 100 percent zero carbon generation, based on total electricity consumed in the state.⁷² The state recently procured approximately 710 megawatts (MW) of grid-scale solar capacity, 1,108 MW of offshore wind capacity, and the environmental attributes from the electric generation from Millstone.*** While these recent procurements will eventually increase the amount of zero-emission energy available for the state’s residents and businesses, it might still leave the state short of its 100 percent zero carbon target in 2040. The shortfall is more likely if one or more of the Millstone units are retired and/or the projected increases in electric demand for transportation (64,000 EVs by 2030) and thermal (80 GWH by 2030) are accurate.

_{Goal: There is an ambitious goal of 100 percent zero carbon for the electric sector by 2040. By statute, a minimum percentage of electricity, which is sold to Connecticut customers, must be generated from renewable energy sources. That minimum amount is 22.5 percent in 2021 and will escalate to 40 percent in 2030 (Class I).} 

_{Technical Notes: *Personal Impact indicators illustrate trends in behavior or practices that can be expected to influence the condition of tomorrow’s air, water, land and wildlife. **Zero carbon generation includes utility scale renewables and nuclear generation and it is not the same as Class I renewable sources. The chart does not include biogas, biomass, wood, municipal solid waste, and landfill gas as zero carbon. *** Includes all environmental attributes associated with the facility through 2029.}

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⁷¹ _{DOE, Energy Information Administration (EIA), Electricity Data Browser, Net Generation for Electric Power, (Connecticut - All Fuels); www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/#/topic/0?agg=2,0,1&fuel=vtvv&geo=008&sec=008&freq=A&start=2001&end=2020&ctype=linechart&ltype=pin&rtype=s&maptype=0&rse=0&pin=.}
⁷² _{DEEP, Bureau of Energy and Technology Policy; personal communication from M. Malmrose, March 7, 2022.}