Community Renewable Energy Siting Tool (CREST)
Public Act 24-31 required DEEP to put information regarding the potential siting of solar projects in the state overlayed onto existing grid interconnection maps maintained by the electric distribution companies as part of the Integrated Resources Plan.
CREST Collaborative
DEEP designed CREST in partnership with the University of Connecticut’s Center for Land Use Education and Research (UConn CLEAR) and the CREST Collaborative, an advisory group convened in October 2024 to guide the development, testing, and distribution of CREST (What is CREST factsheet). The CREST Collaborative is comprised of representatives from over 20 organizations, spanning municipalities and regional councils of government; community-based organizations advocating for farmland, open space, wildlife, and renewable energy outcomes; electric utilities; solar developers; and other partners.
CREST Map Viewer
CREST is intended as a planning tool for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used or interpreted to be an agency determination on solar suitability.
CREST Webinars
- Upcoming Events:
- UConn-CLEAR and DEEP plan to provide an overview of the CREST to the Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions (CACIWC) at the Annual Meeting on November 15, 2025.
- UConn-CLEAR and DEEP will be introducing the CREST to the CT Council of Small Towns (COST) on at 1:30 PM on November 13, 2025 via Zoom. The webinar is free for COST member towns and associate members, but registration is required.
- Previous Events:
- On September 21, 2025, DEEP tabled at Sun Day at CCSU with an interactive demonstration of how to use the CREST.
- On September 10, 2025, UConn-CLEAR and DEEP provided an overview of the CREST to the APA Connecticut Chapter.
- On June 18, 2025, UConn-CLEAR and DEEP held a webinar introducing the CREST and how to use it. The webinar recording can be viewed here, and slides can be found here.
Supplemental Information
- CREST “How-To” Guide
- CREST GIS Data Layer Information Factsheet
- The CREST Map Viewer can also be found on CT ECO
- Questions/comments on CREST can be directed to DEEP.STEPS@ct.gov
- For those interested in more information on permitting related to solar projects, please refer to DEEP’s Solar Project Environmental Permitting factsheet
- For projects generating over 1 MW, please refer to the Connecticut Siting Council website