The City of Hartford Announces Significant Green Energy Purchase to Help Lead Connecticut's Clean Energy Efforts

 

HARTFORD, CT - May 16, 2007 (News Release)

The City of Hartford is leading the way when it comes to committing to clean energy by utilizing wind, solar and hydro sources. The Capital City will offset 20 percent of its power needs from renewable energy sources. Hartford is a proud member of the SmartPower 20 percent by 2010 Clean Energy Campaign and the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program. SmartPower's campaign has set an ambitious goal for all of the state's cities and towns to purchase 20 percent of their energy needs from clean, renewable sources by the year 2010. Committing to the campaign in February 2006, the City of Hartford continues to raise standards and expectations by achieving this goal three years ahead of the 2010 target.

Working with both Community Energy, Inc. and Constellation NewEnergy, the City will offset its electricity consumption by purchasing 8,575 megawatt-hours (MWhs) of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Splitting the purchase between both companies, the city will purchase 2,825 MWhs from Community Energy, Inc. and 5,750 MWhs from Constellation NewEnergy. These purchases will help offset electricity usage from traditional fuel sources with clean, renewable energy sources such as wind and hydropower. The City of Hartford's purchase is equivalent to planting approximately 2,000 acres of forest or removing 600 cars from the road.

"I am proud to announce our commitment to purchase 20 percent of our energy from renewable power sources. This decision not only underscores Hartford's dedication to energy independence, but it will also help to ensure that we are utilizing today's emerging clean and renewable energy sources," said Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez. "We are pleased to have Constellation NewEnergy and Community Energy as partners to help us achieve our renewable energy goals."

"We are very excited to support Hartford's commitment to clean and renewable power," said Carrie Cullen Hitt, Vice President of Product Management - Renewable Products for Constellation NewEnergy. "Following the example set by Hartford's leadership, we see an opportunity to incorporate clean energy into the electricity needs of our customers across Connecticut, which currently includes hundreds of cities and towns, school districts and Boards of Education, and many more businesses."

"SmartPower applauds the City of Hartford for achieving the goal of 20 percent clean energy prior to the 2010 date. This achievement truly makes Hartford a rising star in New England and demonstrates that clean energy is real, here and working," said Keri Enright, State Program Director for SmartPower.

As a part of the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities program, which is sponsored by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund and SmartPower, the City of Hartford will be awarded a free 1 kilowatt (kW) solar system for every 100 residential customers that sign up for CTCleanEnergyOptionsSM through Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P). Presently, 166 Hartford residents have enrolled in the program. To help the City continue to obtain more free solar systems, the City encourages all residents and business owners to look for the CTCleanEnergyOptions bill insert in your next CL&P bill.