Connecticut’s two major utilities filed their plan to create one of the nation’s most progressive clean energy project incentive programs.
The zero-emission and low-emission renewable energy credits — better known as ZRECs and LRECs — provide owners of renewable energy installations with money to offset the higher costs of using clean technologies to generate power. The program was created under the state’s energy policy reform law, passed in June.
Eligible projects range from solar panels and wind turbines to fuel cells and landfill gas.
Berlin electric utility Connecticut Light & Power and New Haven electric utility United Illuminating on Monday officially filed their plan for this program with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. Although it is a joint plan, each company will accept bids for the ZRECs and LRECs from their separate service territories.
Credits for projects are allocated for 15-year periods. Some of the requirements include projects begun operation after July 1, 2011; located behind customers’ electric meters; and are capped at 1,000 kilowatts for ZRECs and 2,000 kilowatts for LRECs.
For information on the program, visit www.uinet.com/powerprocurement.
