Solar Connecticut Public Forums

As part of President Bush’s Million Solar Roofs program, Solar Connecticut is planning a series of public forums to answer questions on solar energy, including what consumers need to know about purchasing solar electric systems in Connecticut. These forums will present drivers for solar energy, the basics of solar electricity, options for residential installations, and information on incentives offered by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF). Some of the upcoming forums are:

Greenwich: February 17. 2005, Greenwich Library, 7-8:30 p.m.

West Hartford: February 24, 2005, Dana Hall, University of Hartford, 7-8:30 p.m.

Norwalk: March 3, 2005, Norwalk Library, 7-8:30 p.m.

Rocky Hill: March 10, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, 6:30-8 p.m..

Westport: March 17, Earthcare/Earthshare Ministry, Saugatuck Congregational Church, 7-8:30 p.m.

In just the past four weeks, three more Connecticut cities and towns committed to purchasing 20% of the energy needs for municipal buildings from clean energy sources by the year 2010. West Hartford, Fairfield, and New Britain all joined SmartPower’s 20% by 2010 campaign by passing resolutions at their respective town or city council meetings; the clean energy purchases could begin as soon as next year. The program is succeeding as more local leaders discover the availability, reliability, and benefits of clean energy and realize that the additional cost for the energy is no longer prohibitive. Localities have the added incentive that joining the campaign makes them eligible for the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities program from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. Through Clean Energy Communities, when residents sign up for the clean energy option on their electric bill, the city or town can earn a complete, free solar photovoltaic system to be installed on the roof of a municipal building. The free system would generate electricity for municipal use and provide additional visibility for clean energy technologies around the state.

Six Connecticut communities and the State of Connecticut have already committed to purchasing clean energy as part of SmartPower’s 20% by 2010 Campaign.

As the momentum has built for clean energy purchases in Connecticut, it becomes increasingly likely that an aggregate purchase of clean energy among several cities, towns, faith communities, universities, colleges, and the state could provide reduced costs and stronger benefits for everyone participating. To encourage this line of thinking, SmartPower and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund are sponsoring a half-day workshop for representatives of the Connecticut entities that have committed to, or are considering committing to, purchasing clean energy through SmartPower’s 20% by 2010 Campaign. This exciting opportunity to meet other clean energy leaders and identify opportunities for cooperation will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 9th at the offices of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund in Rocky Hill. All state and local officials, faith community leaders, and representatives of academic and other institutions that are interested in purchasing clean energy are encouraged to attend. For questions or to RSVP, please contact SmartPower at 860-249-7040 or info@smartpower.org; please provide in advance the annual electricity usage, in kWh, of your respective facilities, whether it be city/town buildings, houses of worship or entire college campuses.

SmartPower’s unique marketing and messaging campaign on clean energy has arrived in the Keystone State. With a grant from the Pennsylvania Sustainable Development Fund, SmartPower is joining with the Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition, the Pennsylvania utility PECO Energy, and other Pennsylvania-based organizations to create and execute a marketing plan for clean energy throughout the state. PECO is a subsidiary of Exelon.

The Sustainable Development Fund’s mission is to promote the use of renewable energy and advanced clean energy technologies, as well as energy conservation and efficiency among residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial customers.

“Pennsylvania has shown itself to be a leader in the creation and support of clean energy,” said Brian F. Keane, president of SmartPower. “With the introduction of the SmartPower messaging and marketing campaign, we can build on Pennsylvania’s accomplishments by ensuring that awareness of clean energy is spread far and wide.”

SmartPower will direct all of the mass media operations of the multifaceted campaign and assist with its online presence, while others in the collaboration will handle public relations, web services, and grassroots organizing. The media plan is based on the television and radio advertisements developed by SmartPower and the Clean Energy State Alliance (CESA). The advertising, intertwined with the other efforts of the Pennsylvania collaboration, will create a marketing campaign that will ultimately help create customers of clean energy.

The campaign will work directly with PECO’s clean energy switching program. PECO offers its customers PECO WIND, supplied by Community Energy, Inc., in blocks of 100 kWh; each block costs $2.54 and supplies about 15% of a typical home’s energy use. Customers can also choose to purchase PECO WIND equivalent to their entire home energy use, at 2.54 cents per kilowatt-hour. The program has already signed up over 9,000 customers; with the introduction of the SmartPower campaign, the goal is to double that number.

The Exelon – Community Energy wind farm at Mill Run, PA.

Perhaps more important than the number of customers who will sign up under this campaign are the attitudes toward and awareness of clean energy in the state. In Pennsylvania – as in other states throughout the nation – the public perception of clean energy is still one of disappointment and failure. The SmartPower campaign will show people throughout Pennsylvania that clean energy is as strong, as available, and as reliable as conventional sources of power. In the end, the SmartPower’s Pennsylvania campaign will judge success based on the number of residents who will know: Clean energy. It’s real. It’s here. It’s working.

The Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festival will return to Essex, Connecticut, February 19 and 20, 2005 for its sixth event celebrating the annual return of the bald eagles to the region – and for the first time, the festival will feature clean energy, thanks to a Clean Energy Exhibition sponsored by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.

Each winter the majestic birds come from Canada and northern New England to feed on prey found in open waters of the lower Connecticut River. The Festival provides an opportunity to view them from prime spots, and learn about energy, the environment and wildlife in the same day. Popular television talk show host Phil Donahue will once again serve as the Honorary Chairman of the Eagle Festival and will be on hand to participate in lectures, boat tours and more.

Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of free activities in and around Essex, including land-based eagle viewing tours, environmental lectures, live birds of prey programs, duck carving demonstrations, musical entertainment, art exhibits, children’s programs and much more. Two-hour guided boat trips provide additional opportunities for eagle viewing and are scheduled throughout the weekend for a nominal charge.

At the Clean Energy Tent, clean energy companies and supporters will be on hand to demonstrate the available technologies, discuss clean energy programs and answer your questions. Along with the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and SmartPower, other organizations present will include GE Wind Energy, SolarOne, Akeena Solar, Global Resource Options, Pioneer Valley Photovoltaics, SolarWorks, Sunlight Solar Energy, and UTC Fuel Cells. Throughout the day, short presentations will cover such helpful topics as choosing clean energy through your utility bill, discovering whether solar electricity is right for your home, and using the most effective energy efficiency technologies.

Last year’s event attracted over 14,000 visitors to the area. “Visitors filled our lectures, live demonstrations and boats trips to capacity and enjoyed all that the Festival offers including viewing the nature show that these amazing bald eagles put on all weekend,” said Bob Martinez, Executive Director of Connecticut Audubon Society.

Make plans to be in Essex and enjoy spotting scopes, view the eagles, and learn about clean energy while having a great excuse to be outside in winter. And be sure to stop by the Clean Energy Exhibition to learn about energy. For more information, see the Connecticut Audubon Society website.