Energy groups focusing on how to promote greater conservation by state, businesses

'What's the Deal' conference tomorrow in Cromwell

(Oct. 16, 2007) It’s a very busy season for state policymakers encouraging energy conservation in Connecticut and businesses taking advantage of government incenttives for energy efficiency.

This Wednesday (Oct. 17), government, industry and regulatory leaders will meet in Cromwell to assess the state of energy in Connecticut. At the “What’s the Deal VIII” conference, sponsored by CBIA and the Connecticut Power and Energy Society, business leaders from several companies will describe how they are using state-offered programs to increase their energy efficiency and improve their operations.

Another panel will look closely at the energy marketplace in Connecticut and what government should – and shouldn’t – do to improve it.

Keynote speakers for the event include Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and UTC Power Corp. President Jan van Dokkum. For more information, visit cbia.com.

In other energy-related activities:

The state’s Energy Conservation Management Board (ECMB) is working on draft proposals to increase energy efficiency programs in Connecticut. Specifically, the group’s Commercial and Industrial (C&I) subcommittee is planning to reshape current energy conservation programs and encourage businesses to change their corporate culture.

The C&I subcommittee plans to create a new energy efficiency ethic by communicating the economic and environmental value of efficient energy use. First, the subcommittee plans to engage the entire business community by implementing pilot programs that will help measure results.

Similarly, the Connecticut Energy Advisory Board (CEAB) is studying the efficiency and effectiveness of current electric conservation programs and has begun its legislatively mandated review of the Office of Policy and Management’s plan for energy management in state facilities.

What’s more, the CEAB recently held a public hearing on the expansion of the criteria exempted from a Reactive Request for Proposal (Reactive RFP) for certain energy projects.

The legislature requires the CEAB to issue Reactive RFPs when certain energy projects are initiated before the Connecticut Siting Council, in order to solicit more energy-efficient and cost-effective alternatives. Under Public Act 07-242, however, the CEAB does not have to issue a Reactive RFP if it’s unlikely that it will result in reasonable alternatives to the proposed project. The CEAB is considering new criteria when a Reactive RFP is unnecessary and will release its proposal by Dec. 1, 2007.

For more information, contact CBIA’s Kevin Hennessy at 860-244-1979 or hennessk@cbia.com.