Download Connecticut’s renewable electricity PDF
Renewable Mandate Status: Not on Track
- 2009 Estimated Qualified Renewable Generation: 4.7%[i]
- 2009 Renewable Mandate: 6%
- 2020 Mandate: 27%[ii]
Eligible Resources: three separate classes
- Class I: 20% by 2020; solar, wind, fuel cells, methane gas from landfills, ocean thermal, wave/tidal, low-emission renewable conversion tech., certain run-of-river hydropower not exceeding 5 MW, sustainable biomass (end-user distributed generation using Class I resources also qualify).[iii]
- Class II: 3% by 2010 (can include Class I as well to meet requirement); eligible resources include: trash-to-energy facilities, certain biomass facilities, older run-of-river hydropower facilities.[iv]
- Class III: 4% by 2010; eligible resources include: customer-sited combined heat and power systems, electricity savings from conservation and load management programs, recovered waste heat or pressure from commercial/industrial processes.[v]
Renewable portfolio history: Established in 1998 (allows for purchasing Class I or II generated electricity within ISO New England as well as REC’s from NY, PA, NJ, MD, and DE to satisfy RPS)[vi]
Credit Trading: Yes
Noncompliance penalty: 5.5 cents/KWh ($55 per MWh).[vii]
Electricity Price Ranking: 2nd Highest (Highest in the Continental U.S.)[viii]
- 17.54 cents/KWh in Connecticut
- 7.67 cents/KWh in non-mandated states
[i] Energy Information Administration, Electricity Generation 2009, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/generation_state_mon.xls.This total reflects EIA’s data excluding hydroelectric. Connecticut law limits eligible hydroelectric sources, but has not published any reports have not published any reports on the amount of hydroelectric produced that is included under this standard, but IER estimates that the majority of hydroelectric would be excluded under the standard. With hydroelectric, Connecticut’s renewable total is 6.7%.
[ii] Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-245a, http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/pub/Chap283.htm#Sec16-245a.htm.
[iii] Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-1a, http://www.cga.ct.gov/lco/Statute_Web_Site_LCO.htm.
[iv] Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-1a, http://www.cga.ct.gov/lco/Statute_Web_Site_LCO.htm.
[v] Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-1a, http://www.cga.ct.gov/lco/Statute_Web_Site_LCO.htm.
[vi] Database of state Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, Connecticut, http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=CT04R&re=1&ee=1.
[vii] David Goldberg, CT’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and Its Implementation, http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/air/SIPRAC/2006/ctrenportfolio09feb06.pdf.
[viii] EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B., Average Retail Price of Electricity, June 2010, Released Sept. 15, 2010, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_b.html.
