Originally published October 15 2005
Connecticut provides $2 million grant for renewable energy projects
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
With U.S. gas prices reaching record levels, the exploration of alternative energy sources is more important than ever, and Fuel Cell Today reports that Connecticut has set aside $2 million in grants for businesses to develop renewable energy sources such as fuel cells or solar panels.
With high energy costs hard to ignore, the state is pushing to make renewable energy sources such as fuel cells or solar panels more attractive to businesses.
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund will pay up to $2 million in grants for businesses to set up such renewable energy generating facilities at their sites.
The fund has a total of $21 million to try to stimulate demand for installing renewable energy plants at buildings statewide.
"Our challenge is that renewable energy has not become commercially competitive, so we have to finance the gap and make it viable for the public," said Lise Dondy, chief operating officer of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.
The onsite generation program, to be launched before the end of the year, targets municipal, public and industry facilities, colleges and hospitals.
"By placing small, onsite distribution plants at hospitals and hotels, we will have created alternatives to huge energy plants," Dondy said.
One example, she said, is a fuel cell generator installed at the New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority, where excess thermal energy provides supplemental hot water to an adjacent building.
She said the meeting was "unfortunately timely" given the effects of Hurricane Katrina, which brought the issue of oil and gasoline prices sharply into focus.
Setting up renewable energy plants is expensive, said Donald McCurdy, president of Environmental Systems Corp., a West Hartford-based firm that helps companies save on energy.
That may be true, says John M. Brown, project leader at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado, but renewable energy is a viable option when overall costs are considered.
"Traditionally, people look at savings in cents per hour, but you need to look at other benefits," Brown said.
"When you bundle all of these and look at the complete picture, the efficiency paybacks will become clearer."
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