Renewable Portfolio Standards - Connecticut

Connecticut originally passed an RPS law in 1998 but it proved to be flawed.  The law was updated again, most recently in 2007.  Separate portfolio standards are required for energy resources classified as "Class I," "Class II," or "Class III." Class I sources include solar, wind, new sustainable biomass, landfill gas, fuel cells (using renewable or non-renewable fuels), ocean thermal power, wave or tidal power, low-emission advanced renewable energy conversion technologies, and new run-of-the-river hydropower facilities with a maximum capacity of five megawatts (MW). Air emissions limits regulations apply to electricity generated by biomass. Electricity produced by end-user distributed generation (DG) systems using Class I resources also qualifies. Class II sources include trash-to-energy facilities, biomass facilities not included in Class I, and certain hydropower facilities.  

Class III sources include: (1) customer-sited CHP systems with a minimum operating efficiency of 50% installed at commercial or industrial facilities on or after January 1, 2006; (2) electricity savings from conservation and load management programs that started on or after January 1, 2006,; and (3) systems that recover waste heat or pressure from commercial and industrial processes installed on or after April 1, 2007. Customers that install Class III systems on or after January 1, 2008, are entitled to Class III credits equal to at least one cent per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The revenue from these credits must be divided between the customer and the state Conservation and Load Management Fund in different ways, depending on when the Class III systems are installed, whether the owner is residential or nonresidential, and whether the resources received state support.  

Electric providers must meet the standard with at least 20% Class I sources and 3% Class I or II sources by January 1, 2020, and 4% Class III sources by 2010, and according to set schedule.

More information:

• Full Text of Public Act No. 07-242 (HB 7432) - approved June 200