Sec. 16-245aa. Municipal renewable energy and efficient energy generation grant program. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 16-245aa. Municipal renewable energy and efficient energy generation grant program. (a) There is established an account to be known as the "municipal renewable energy and efficient energy grant account", which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the Renewable Energy Investment Fund, established pursuant to section 16-245n. The account shall contain any moneys required or permitted by law to be deposited in the account and any funds received from any public or private contributions, gifts, grants, donations, bequests or devises to the fund. Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, may make grants-in-aid from the fund in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section.

      (b) Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, in consultation with the Department of Public Utility Control, the Department of Education and the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, shall establish a municipal renewable energy and efficient energy generation grant program. Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, shall make grants under said program to municipalities for the purchase of (1) renewable energy sources, including solar energy, geothermal energy and fuel cells or other energy-efficient hydrogen-fueled energy, or (2) energy-efficient generation sources, including units providing combined heat-and-power operations with greater than sixty-five per cent efficiency or such higher efficiency level as Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, may prescribe, for municipal buildings. Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, shall give priority to applications for grants for disaster relief centers and high schools. Each grant shall be in an amount that makes the cost of purchasing and operating the renewable energy or energy-efficient generation source competitive with the municipality's current electricity expenses.

      (c) On or before October 1, 2007, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, shall develop an application for grants-in-aid under this section for the purpose of purchasing and operating renewable energy or energy-efficient generation sources and may receive applications from municipalities for such grants-in-aid on and after said date. Applications shall include, but not be limited to, a complete description of the proposed renewable energy or energy-efficient generation source.

      (d) Commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, and for each of the five consecutive fiscal years thereafter, until the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, not less than ten million dollars shall be available from the municipal renewable energy and efficient energy generation grant account for grants-in-aid to municipalities for the purpose of purchasing and operating renewable energy or energy-efficient generation sources. Any balance of such amount not used for such grants-in-aid during a fiscal year shall be carried forward for the fiscal year next succeeding for such grants-in-aid.

      (e) On or before January 1, 2009, and annually thereafter, Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated, shall report on the effectiveness of said program to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy.

      (P.A. 07-242, S. 91.)

      History: P.A. 07-242 effective June 4, 2007.