The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund awarded $1.98 million to 14 solar projects on Thursday, under its new program to encourage investment in renewable energy inside the state.
Because of cuts in funding, the Clean Energy Fund had to be choosier in what renewable projects received state money. Prior to this year, projects received grants on a first-come-first-serve basis until the fund ran out of money. The new program requires projects to bid against each other.
The Clean Energy Fund received 29 applications for this round of funding, and staff screened them down to the 14 awards on Thursday. The projects have until April 29 to accept their funding awards. If all 14 are built, they will generate 800 kilowatts of electricity.
Wesleyan University received the largest award of $638,000 for a 182-kilowatt solar installation on its Middletown campus.
Other large projects include a $325,000 award for an 84-kilowatt installation at Newtown Public Works. and a $288,300 award for a 198-kilowatt installation at Bridgeport Central High School.
The awards are open to most types of renewable technology include wind, fuel cell, landfill gas, biomass and hydropower; but only solar projects received funding.
The Clean Energy Fund has $12.86 million to award before June 30, 2012. Applications for the next round of funding are due July 1.
