Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program Wins National Award
On January 13, 2009, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)’s Clean Energy Communities Program won the State Leadership in Clean Energy Award. The award, presented at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., was one of five given out by the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA), a national nonprofit organization that works with clean energy…
On January 13, 2009, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)’s Clean Energy Communities Program won the State Leadership in Clean Energy Award. The award, presented at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., was one of five given out by the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA), a national nonprofit organization that works with clean energy funds and state agencies to advance markets for clean energy technologies.
CESA established the State Leadership in Clean Energy Awards to recognize state programs that are most effectively accelerating adoption of clean energy technologies and advancing clean energy markets.
In recent years, some of the most innovative and effective activities to advance clean energy have taken place at the state level. In many cases, the states have established special funds to promote renewable energy and other clean energy technologies.
During the fall of 2008, state funds and agencies from across the country nominated programs for State Leadership in Clean Energy Awards. Seven judges selected five winners from all of the award nominations. The winning entries exemplify the ground-breaking work being done by the states.
The Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program, which was developed and funded by the CCEF, uses creative marketing, multi-sector collaboration and grassroots action to build a large voluntary market for clean energy in Connecticut. The program rewards communities with solar photovoltaic systems when (1) a city or town commits to obtain 20% of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2010, (2) its citizens sign up for clean energy through the CTCleanEnergyOptionsSM program, and (3) a city or town purchases clean energy. Because of the program, 88 communities (more than half of the state’s 169 cities and towns) have committed to obtain 20% clean electricity by 2010 and many of the more than 21,000 electricity customers have voluntarily chosen to pay a premium on their electricity bills for clean electricity. To date, towns have earned collectively a total of 190 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic systems.
Source: Connecticut Clean Energy Fund
Press release 1/13/09
