Press Releases
GOV. MALLOY APPLAUDS RECOGNITION OF CONNECTICUT AS FIFTH MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT STATE IN THE NATION
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today celebrated Connecticut's moving into the top five in a ranking among the 50 states for its commitment to energy efficiency and said we are poised to move up to an even higher rating next year as a result of steps now being put in place. Earlier today, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released a report that cited Connecticut's recently adopted energy strategy, which Governor Malloy signed into law this summer.
"Our state's ranking this year recognizes our focus on capturing the benefits of energy efficiency to lower monthly electric and natural gas bills for families and businesses," said Governor Malloy. "Energy efficiency is at the heart of my Comprehensive Energy Strategy because the cheapest energy is the energy that we don't use through efficiency measures we all can undertake - with every dollar spent on efficiency returning nearly $2.40 in savings on energy bills."
In the
new ACEEE scorecard
, Connecticut is joined by Massachusetts, California, New York, and Oregon at the top of the list. ACEE Executive Director Steven Nadel said, "Energy efficiency is the cleanest, cheapest, most reliable energy resource available. Over the past year, Connecticut has made major strides in creating a sustainable framework that will help its citizens reap all of the benefits of energy efficiency."
The ACEEE scorecard noted that Connecticut and the four other top states "…comprise the group of truly leading states that have made broad, long-term commitments to developing energy efficiency as a state resource." Ranked fifth, this is the first time Connecticut has been in the top five states since 2009. Last year, Connecticut tied with two other states for sixth place.
ACEEE also said Connecticut is a state "on the move" as a result of
Public Act 13-298
that authorized a virtual doubling of energy efficiency program opportunities for residents and businesses to reduce their monthly energy bills.
Governor Malloy said Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has now given final approval to a new plan that provides a stepped up investment in efficiency programs that will allow for greater efficiency gains in the future.
"The expansion of our popular efficiency programs is the perfect complement to a new array of innovative and affordable options we have put in place for financing additional energy efficiency investments, such as Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) and performance contracting," Governor Malloy said. "With all of the resources now available to us - including the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority, Connecticut's "green bank" - we will move quickly to capture more of the economic and environmental benefits associated with energy efficiency and become the national leader in this area."
The Governor said the strengthened focus on efficiency will further reduce energy costs in Connecticut by building on other initiatives that already contributed to a 12 percent decline in the cost of electricity since 2010.
Background on New Efficiency Investment
The expanded energy efficiency plan, known as the "
2013-2015 Conservation and Load Management Plan
," was developed by the public electric and gas utility companies in Connecticut and the board that manages the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund.
The expanded plan will increase investments in efficiency programs from $122 million a year to more than $220 million through 2015.
DEEP issued its Final Decision to approve the plan October 31 and it is now before the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), which will take action to establish the mechanism to fund it.
The plan includes programs for residents and businesses that will bring down the cost of efficient lighting products, expand resources to provide for more low-income residents to receive energy efficiency assessments of their homes, help small businesses with financing, provide increased flexibility for installing energy efficiency equipment for large industrial energy customers, and more.
Energy efficient measures such as insulation, efficient lighting, and Energy Star equipment and appliances reduce the amount of energy needed to heat, cool, and light a home or business.
"The Comprehensive Energy Strategy called for helping residential and business customers go beyond replacing lighting and putting in weather stripping to pursue 'deeper' energy efficiency savings," said DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty. "We are meeting that objective - with dramatic increases, for instance, in the number of people installing insulation after a home energy audit - and we'll build on that progress with our new efficiency plan."
Eric Brown, the Director of Energy and Environmental Policy for the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), said that "CBIA has been supportive of the state's efforts to help businesses and residents reduce their energy bills through greater energy conservation and efficiency…CBIA is pleased that state energy policy leaders, including Governor Malloy, DEEP Commissioner Esty and legislative leaders all recognize that our economic and environmental future are tied to providing Connecticut businesses and citizens with cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable energy."
William Dornbos, Connecticut Director for Environment Northeast said, "Connecticut is emerging as a national leader on energy efficiency because of its commitment to capturing all cost effective benefits from these measures. Without this type of commitment, residential and business energy consumers simply waste money - to the tune of an estimated $400 million a year in our state right now. With the help of the expanded efficiency plan we'll help people take steps to reduce their energy bills by eliminating wasted heat and electricity."
Benefits of Energy Efficiency Investments
-
In 2012, energy efficiency investments provided state businesses and families with more than $53 million in energy savings annually and nearly $600 million over the life of the efficiency measures.
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The state's Energy Efficiency Fund served 4,579 commercial and industrial businesses in 2012, saving those business $25.9 million annually and more than $320.4 million over the lifetime of those investments.
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In 2012, residential energy efficiency programs helped 28,715 households and an additional 12,877 low-income households, afford investments in air sealing, insulation, replacement furnaces, water heaters, and other measures, saving those residents more than $27.9 million annually and $276.4 million over the lifetime of those investments on their energy bills.
Additional Information
More information on energy efficiency programs available in the state can be found on the Energize Connecticut website at
www.energizeCT.com
. More information on the ACEEE scorecard can be found at
www.aceee.org
.
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For Immediate Release: November 6, 2013
Contact: Samaia Hernandez
Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy
860-524-7314 (office)
860-770-8298 (cell)
860-770-8298 (cell)
Contact: Dwayne Gardner
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Dwayne.Gardner@ct.gov
860-424-3938 (office)
860-833-7742 (cell)
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Dwayne.Gardner@ct.gov
860-424-3938 (office)
860-833-7742 (cell)
Twitter:
@GovMalloyOffice
Facebook:
Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy
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