Hope for Energy Conservation Funds?

Jessie Stratton, a Director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters and an advisor on Governor Malloy’s transition team, is quoted in the January 11 CT News Junkie article, Finance Committee May Restore Conservation Funds.

CT News Junkie reporter Christine Stuart writes, “Environmentalists and small businesses are hopeful that since the state doesn’t have to borrow as much money as it initially expected when it passed the budget last year that it will restore some of the $28.5 million it planned on taking annually from the Energy Conservation and Load Management Fund.”

Jessie Stratton of Environment Northeast estimates that taking a portion of the Energy Conservation and Load Management Fund to pay off the debt will cost the state 1,120 jobs a year. She said restoring the money for the fund will help maintain jobs in the state.

The 2010 legislation that raided the energy conservation fund was roundly viewed as bad for Connecticut’s green jobs sector, bad for consumers who want to save money by making their homes and businesses more energy-efficient, and bad for the environment by adding to greenhouse gas pollution.

Clean Energy Plan Going on Tour

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund has drafted its 2011-2012 plan for programs and investments and invites the public to information sessions on it.  Public  information and comment sessions will take place on June 28, 29 and 30, in Essex, Westport and Hartford. 

The comprehensive clean energy plan covers the gamut of renewable energy issues, including everything from high-performance schools, net zero energy homes, and education and training, to on-site renewable distributed generation,  emerging renewable energy technologies, and financing programs. The comprehensive plan is available online at www.ctcleanenergy.com/comprehensiveplan.

Public Meeting Schedule

• Monday, June 28, 2010
  6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  Essex Town Hall Auditorium
  29 West Avenue
  Essex, CT
• Tuesday, June 29, 2010
  10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
  Westport Town Hall, Auditorium
  110 Myrtle Avenue
  Westport, CT
• Wednesday, June 30, 2010
  11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  Legislative Office Building, Room 1A
  Hartford, CT

Public comments may also be sent by email or mail by July 14th to:

Connecticut Clean Energy Fund
200 Corporate Place, 3rd Floor
Rocky Hill, CT  06067
Attn: Loyola French
comprehensiveplan@ctcleanenergy.com

Connecticut’s Green Jobs Makers

- Kelly Kennedy, CTLCV

Kudos to the Connecticut Fund for the Environment for assembling a Google map of Connecticut’s green industry.  Maybe it’s time for a new industry cluster so Connecticut can genuinely position itself for the inevitable shift to a clean energy economy.   We have clusters for bioscience, aerospace, software/IT, metal manufacturing, maritime, plastics, agriculture, and insurance & services.

Map Key
Red: Solar (design, installation, supply)
Aqua: Alternative Energy (geothermal, wind, other)
Yellow: Architecture, Green Building Design
Blue: Weatherization & Efficiency Retrofit, Builders
Pink: Electrical Efficiency & Lighting (consulting, installation, supply)
Green: Fuel cell, Research, Manufacturing
Purple: Development, Finance
---

Why not?  As the Department of Economic & Community Development website states,  the Industry Cluster Initiative “puts Connecticut companies on the fast track; develops the resources needed to compete globally; achieves sustained, measurable growth in jobs, education levels, start-ups and R&D funding; and ensures that positive results extend beyond a single contract, company or city.” 

It’s worrisome that aside from frequently noting the state’s high energy costs, the state’s Strategic Economic Development Plan says little about a vision and plan for developing the clean, green business sector, deferring mostly to Governor' Rell’s 2006 Energy Vision.

Anyway…  You can click on the green business map above to enlarge it.  And if you’re a part of Connecticut’s burgeoning green industry and you’re not listed, email CFE at survey@cfenv.org to get added to the map.

Broad Coalition Rallies for Action on Green Jobs

A broad coalition of environmental advocates and clean energy businesses united with legislative leaders yesterday to call for policies that will get Connecticut residents back to work in good, green jobs.

Some policies would cost nothing to adopt

While some of those policies would require some financial investment, others would require no financial expense at all. In many cases, the no-cost policies call only for planning, cooperation and communication.

Many no-cost, green jobs policies call only for planning, cooperation and communication, perennial shortcomings in Connecticut’s fragmented approach to government—shortcomings that have caught up with us in the form of out-of-control budget deficits.

Businesses call for state to “Stay the Course” to Develop & Support Ct’s clean Energy& energy efficiency Industries

If Connecticut is serious about being a major player in the new clean energy economy, it’s critical that legislators and the Governor stay the course and keep our focus on investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy. 

As businessman David Leishman, Chair of the Connecticut Chapter of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Council, pointed out, Connecticut’s energy efficiency programs have been rated number 1 in the country by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).  Energy and energy efficiency businesses need to be able to count on those policies staying in place if they are to stay in business, hire or expand.

Chris Lenda from Aegis Electrical Systems added that in terms of supporting our home-grown clean energy industry, Connecticut is falling behind compared to nearby states.  New Jersey was mentioned several times as the new state leader in clean energy policy. 

Connecticut’s waffling on those pro-clean energy and pro-efficiency business policies, such as last year’s proposal to siphon off clean energy and energy efficiency funds and dump them into the general operating fund kitty, makes the industry more than a little uneasy. The same goes for this year’s proposal to securitize some of those clean energy funds. 

Policies that spur Good Green Jobs

Based on their report entitled “Building Connecticut’s Economic and Environmental Future,” the advocates call for policies to be enacted this legislative session that:

• Expand Connecticut’s solar industry to its full potential.
• Invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy to lower the cost of energy and develop reliable sources for the future.
• Create financing options to make it easier to invest in energy efficiency improvements and clean energy.
• Rebuild and repair our stormwater and sewage systems to clean up our water.
• Restore Long Island Sound habitat and water quality.
• Get toxins out of our environment .
• Manage our forests and open lands sustainably.
• Support our farms and farmers so we have  fresh, healthy and locally-grown  food.
• Create a 21st century transit system to provide reliable, rapid transportation between our towns and cities and to the northeast region.
• Make our communities more livable, walkable and sustainable.

Green Jobs Advocates

Groups speaking up for green jobs include:  American Farmland Trust • Audubon Connecticut • Clean Water Action • Connecticut Forest & Park Association • Connecticut League of Conservation Voters • Connecticut Fund for the Environment • Environment Connecticut • Environment Northeast • Rivers Alliance of Connecticut • Save the Sound • Sierra Club, Connecticut Chapter • The Nature Conservancy • Transit for Connecticut • Working Lands Alliance • 1000 Friends of Connecticut.

T4America Wants Amendments to Clean Energy Bill

Transportation for America is getting the word out that the American Clean Energy & Security Act needs a little tightening up.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act is probably the biggest opportunity in generations to jumpstart our economy; create millions of good, new, jobs; and set the stage for America to prosper and lead in a 21st century economy, while reducing global warming pollution at the same time.

While China and India made massive investments in developing clean energy, oil and coal lobbyists are desperately trying to put the brakes on clean energy development in the US.

According to Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General, clean energy investment in the United States fell by 2% in recent years, but in 2008 China became the world’s second largest wind market in terms of new capacity and the world’s biggest photovoltaic manufacturer. A rise in geothermal energy may be getting underway in countries from Australia to Japan and Kenya.

Meanwhile, Wall Street Journal reports from a few days ago reveal that sustainable energy investment in India went up to $3.7billion in 2008, up 12% since 2007.

If Americans are serious about wanting to restore prosperity and lead the 21st century global economy, T4America and others argue that we must level the playing field for new energy industries and limit the entitlements and tax breaks and government handouts that have been par for the course for the energy industries that ruled last century.

T4 America calls on Congress to strengthen the bill through three amendments:

• Amendment #1: Ensure more clean energy for America. Increase the Renewable Electricity Standard to 30 percent by 2020. Support renewable energy and energy efficiency to deliver more clean energy jobs to the U.S. economy more quickly.
• Amendment #2: Hold Polluters accountable. Restore authority to the EPA to regulate carbon emissions from power plants under the Clean Air Act.
• Amendment #3: Create more clean energy jobs for America and build resiliency to climate change. Reduce allocations to polluting industries in order to supplement allowance accounts that would bolster green job development and would protect vulnerable communities that are impacted first and worst by climate change. Shave allocations from fossil fuel producers and redistribute them to programs that deliver energy efficiency and renewable energy, create green jobs and train workers to fill them, and protect natural resources here and around the world.

Business as usual, or even mostly as usual, will not cure us of our fossil fuels habit or position us to compete well against the economic behemoths that are China and India. Congress needs to chart a new course. Tell them.