Renewable Energy

BETP has launched the ezFile case management system. To use the ezFile system, first-time users must create a user account. Please visit BETP’s DEEP Energy Filing – New EZFile System page for more information on how to register, log-In, and create a subscriber agreement. The term "renewable energy" generally refers to electricity supplied from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, geothermal, hydropower, and various forms of biomass. These energy sources are considered renewable sources because they are continuously replenished on Earth. Renewable Energy is a clean source of energy that can replenish itself for thousands of years to come. Fossil fuels on the other hand are finite, create harmful greenhouse gases and other emissions, and can require dependency on countries outside of the United States. Renewable Energy is important to lower our carbon footprint, lessen our dependency, and also helps to create jobs within the U.S.

For more information on renewable energy technologies, please visit Energy Basics: Renewable Energy on Energize Connecticut. For information on thermal forms of renewable energy, visit DEEP's Renewable Thermal Energy webpage. 

Connecticut's Renewable Energy Development Initiatives

Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)

A renewable portfolio standard (RPS) is a state policy that requires electricity providers to obtain a minimum percentage of their power from renewable energy resources by a certain date.

Renewable Energy Procurements

2019 Offshore Wind Procurement - On December 5, 2019 the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced its selection for the procurement of 804 MW of offshore wind power from Park City Wind Project, which will provide the equivalent of 14% of Connecticut's electricity supply.

Affordable and Reliable Electricity Procurement - Public Act 15-107, An Act Concerning Affordable and Reliable Energy, which authorizes the Commissioner of DEEP, in consultation with the state’s procurement manager, the Office of Consumer Counsel, and the Attorney General, to issue multiple solicitations—either alone or in coordination with other New England states—for long-term contracts from providers of resources that can provide Connecticut’s reasonable share of the investments New England needs to address the gas infrastructure challenge.

Shared Clean Energy

Shared Clean Energy Facility (SCEF) – An Act Concerning Connecticut’s Energy Future, under Public Act 18-50 Section 7(c), that directs the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to develop program requirements and tariff proposals for statewide shared clean energy facility (SCEF) program.

Shared Clean Energy Facility Pilot Program (SCEF) – The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with Eversource Energy and The United Illuminating Company established the SCEF Pilot Program as a two-year initiative to support the development of SCEFs in Connecticut.

Related Initiatives and Programs

Draft 2024 Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap – Pursuant to Public Act No. 23-156, DEEP released a Draft 2024 Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap for public comment on July 24, 2024. The Draft Roadmap articulates Connecticut’s aspirations for clean hydrogen's integration into its energy landscape, outlining its potential contributions to decarbonization, economic growth, and environmental justice. It also encourages the use of hydrogen produced from renewable energy, identifies the target technologies and their associated volumes over time to scale Connecticut’s hydrogen economy, and identifies benefits and risks associated with hydrogen and tactics to address the identified risks. Additionally, the Draft Roadmap recommends policies, programs, and pilot projects to support clean hydrogen development and deployment in alignment with state goals.

DEEP held a public meeting on July 29, 2024, to present and discuss the main findings of the Draft 2024 Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap. An open-floor discussion session with hydrogen stakeholders followed the roadmap presentation. This was a hybrid meeting; attendees participated in-person and via Zoom.

DEEP invites stakeholders to provide written comments on the Draft Roadmap by 11:59 p.m. on September 23, 2024. For more information about the request for written comments and the link to the meeting recording, please see the updated Notice of Public Meeting and Request for Written Comments.

 

The Connecticut Green Bank offers incentives and innovative low-cost financing to encourage homeowners, companies, municipalities, and other institutions to support both renewable energy and energy efficiency. The links below allow you to follow the progress on DEEP’s renewable energy related responsibilities to implement a wide range of renewable energy initiative and programs.

Microgrid Grant and Loan Program – Connecticut created the Microgrid program under Public Act 12-148, Section 7 to help local distributed energy generation for critical facilities.  A Microgrid generally operates while connected to the grid but can disconnect and operate in island mode on its own if there is a crisis such as a power outage or a major storm.

Siting Clean Energy on Connecticut Brownfields – Brownfields are particularly attractive for renewable energy because they require large sites for installation that usually have existing infrastructure needed to support development.

Sustainable, Transparent, and Efficient Practices (STEPS) for Solar Development – To advance the recommendations of the Governor's Council on Climate Change (GC3) and the Draft 2020 Integrated Resources Plan (IRP), DEEP is convening a stakeholder engagement process on Sustainable, Transparent and Efficient Practices (STEPs) for Solar Development to identify policies, legislative actions, and best practices, particularly related to the procurement, siting, and permitting of ground-mounted solar systems in Connecticut.

 

Content Last Updated August 2024