Renewable Portfolio Standard - Connecticut

Connecticut originally passed an RPS law in 1998 but it proved to be flawed. The most recent RPS legislation was passed in 2003. The new law requires electricity providers to generate 4% of all retail electricity sales from renewable energy by January 1, 2004, rising steadily to 10% by 2010.

The Connecticut law has two classes of renewables with a portfolio standard for each class. Class I renewable-energy sources include energy derived from solar power, wind power, a fuel cell, methane gas from landfills, ocean thermal power, wave or tidal power, low emission advanced renewable energy conversion technologies, a run-of-the-river hydropower facility provided such facility has a generating capacity of not more than 5 megawatts, or a particular biomass facilities. Electricity from end-user distributed generation using Class I resources also qualifies. Class II renewable-energy sources include trash-to-energy facilities, biomass facilities not included in Class I and certain approved hydropower facilities.

More:

• Full Text of Public Act 135 of 2003 - approved June 26, 2003

CT Statutes Sec. 16-245a

(a) To be licensed under section 16-245 of the general statutes, an applicant for a license shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Department of Public Utility Control that not less than one-half of one per cent of its total electricity output shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional five and one-half per cent of the total output shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources.

On and after July 1, 2001, not less than three-fourths of one per cent of the total output of any such supplier shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional five and one-half per cent of the total output shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources.

On and after July 1, 2002, not less than one per cent of such output shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional five and one-half per cent of the total output shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources.

On and after July 1, 2003, not less than one and one-half per cent of such output shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional five and one-half per cent of the total output shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources.

On and after July 1, 2004, not less than two per cent of the total output of any such supplier shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional six per cent of the total output shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources.

On and after July 1, 2005, not less than two and one-half per cent of the total output of any such supplier shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional six per cent of the total output shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources.

On and after July 1, 2006, not less than three per cent of the total output of any such supplier shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional six per cent of the total output shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources.

On and after July 1, 2007, not less than four per cent of the total output of any such supplier shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional six per cent of the total output shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources.

On and after July 1, 2008, not less than five per cent of the total output of any such supplier shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional six per cent of the total output shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources.

On and after July 1, 2009, not less than six per cent of the total output of any such supplier shall be generated from Class I renewable energy sources and an additional seven per cent of the total output shall be from Class I or Class II renewable energy sources.

An electric supplier may satisfy the requirements of this subsection by participating in a renewable energy trading program approved by the state. Any supplier who provides electric generation services solely from a Class II renewable energy source shall not be required to comply with the provisions of this section.

(b) An applicant's demonstration of generation sources, as required under subsection (a) of this section, shall be based on historical data, which may consist of data filed with the regional independent system operator.

(c) The department may adopt regulations pursuant to chapter 54 of the general statutes to implement the provisions of this section.

Other Resources:

• The Treatment of Renewable Energy Certificates, Emissions Allowances, and Green Power Programs in State Renewables Portfolio Standards - Edward Holt and Ryan Wiser, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, April 2007
• Renewable Portfolio Standard Fact Pack - State Environmental Resource Center, 2004
• The Renewables Portfolio Standard in Texas: An Early Assessment - by Ryan Wiser, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, November 2001
• The Renewables Portfolio Standard: A Practical Guide - by Nancy Rader and Scott Hempling, February 2001
• A Powerful Opportunity: Making Renewable Electricity the Standard - by the Union of Concerned Scientists, August 1999
• Interstate Renewable Energy Council
• Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE)