PURA can unlock the benefits of community solar in CT

Connecticut is at a pivotal juncture in its transition to renewable energy.

Adopting clean energy reduces our dependence on environmentally harmful fossil fuels while stimulating economic growth and local job creation. As we work to achieve an effective transition to zero-emission energy in Connecticut, we encourage the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to adopt community solar policies that will deliver clean energy equitably and equitably across our state.

Public Act 24-31, just passed by the Connecticut General Assembly, gives PURA the keys to guide this necessary transition.

Community solar refers to programs that make it easier for people who cannot install solar panels, such as renters or those with inadequate roofs, to access clean energy. These programs help expand the use of renewable energy sources while providing savings in the form of subsidies on subscribers’ electricity bills. Community solar also supports the local economy by creating jobs, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes energy justice by prioritizing lower-income households.

In Connecticut’s current limited platform, community solar use is made possible through the state’s Shared Clean Energy Facility (SCEF) program. Established by the Connecticut General Assembly and managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in partnership with Connecticut utilities, SCEF offers a practical, if small, alternative for residents and businesses unable to pursue their own solar projects.

Through SCEF, low- and moderate-income energy customers can directly benefit from the energy production of a shared clean energy facility. As SCEF projects become operational, customers are selected to register as “subscribers.” Subscribers then receive a monthly bill credit for a portion of the electricity generated by the project for up to 20 years, at no cost to them.

Verogy is proud to have completed the state’s largest SCEF project to date – Enfield Solar One, located in Enfield.

The 5.96 megawatt (MW) Enfield Solar One DC grid will produce an estimated 8,566,000 kWh per year. By adding 2.5 cents per kWh to subscribers’ monthly bills, Enfield Solar One will generate an estimated $4,283,000 in electricity bill savings for low- and moderate-income households and other utility customers over the next 20 years. By providing low- and moderate-income customers with monthly bill credit, our project helps ensure the benefits of renewable energy are broadly and equitably shared.

Verogy is on track to build more SCEF projects in Connecticut than any other company, with our team expected to build an estimated 42 MW of combined capacity in the coming years. Importantly, every kilowatt-hour produced by these projects will mean reduced greenhouse gas emissions and critical progress in the fight against climate change.

Community solar also provides significant benefits to Connecticut residents’ wallets and pockets. For example, the three-year average cost per kilowatt-hour to serve customers at Eversource, Connecticut’s largest utility, is $0.1421. These kilowatt-hours, obtained from traditional energy sources, only meet Connecticut’s minimum renewable energy generation mix requirements (currently 37%).

On the other hand, when Eversource sources the energy generated by Verogy’s SCEF project, the cost is $0.0925 per kilowatt hour, a remarkable 35% less, with the added benefit that the energy is 100% renewable. Moreover, the kWh price for a SCEF project in Connecticut is locked in for 20 years, which means that as standard offer energy prices continue to rise, energy sold through SCEF projects will remain at a lower, fixed rate.

Unfortunately, when it comes to community solar, Connecticut lags significantly behind its competitors, and the numbers are glaring. As of June 2024, Connecticut has deployed approximately 7 MW of AC clean energy through solar power in communities. What about our neighbors? New York: 1,800 MW. Massachusetts: 850 MW. New Jersey and Maryland have been able to deploy approximately 141 MW and 101 MW each and are growing rapidly.

If Connecticut wants to make clean energy accessible to everyone, not just wealthy residents of the wealthiest communities, significant action will be necessary. Thanks to SCEF’s preparatory work and the authority granted to PURA under Public Act 24-31, Connecticut has the potential to deliver a thousand megawatts of clean energy to families in our state, but only if regulators and legislators take significant action soon.

Through Public Act 24-31, lawmakers directed PURA to conduct a study to expand SCEF and research potential successor programs after SCEF expires in 2027. Unfortunately, the results of that study are not scheduled to be known until January 15, 2026. As months pass, residents will continue to face high energy costs, Connecticut will not meet its climate goals, and we will inevitably fall behind our peers.

This unfortunate outcome can be avoided with timely action by PURA. By taking decisive action soon, learning from the states that have already outshone Connecticut’s efforts, and designing a truly impactful community solar program, PURA can deliver on the promise of clean energy to all, not just the few.

Projects like Verogy’s Enfield Solar One are not just about producing renewable energy; they are about making this energy more accessible than ever. Thanks to SCEF, even more Connecticut customers can now benefit from clean energy, but we can do more.

A strong community solar policy is an important part of our path to a sustainable future, and time is of the essence. As PURA commissioners review SCEF and plan for its successor, we encourage them to take swift action to develop a community solar program that harnesses the potential of the sun for not just a few, but every Connecticut resident.