Up to $60,000 in Funding for Developers of Affordable Housing Projects
Through the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund's (CCEF) Affordable Housing Initiative, developers who install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at affordable housing projects may apply for a grant to defray a portion of the upfront installation costs. Because the solar PV system will displace a portion of the electricity used, tenants will receive long-term financial benefits through stabilized electricity costs.  The rebate level for developers of single-family residential units is $6/watt (W) for the first 10 kilowatts (kW).The funding cap is $60,000 per project. Factors considered in calculating the rebate include: PV panel selection, inverter efficiency, system orientation and tilt, and shading on the site. For multi-family and rental units, the rebate level is $6/W for the first 200 kW, with a maximum award of $850,000 per project. Contact: Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, 200 Corporate Place, 3rd Floor, Rocky Hill, CT 06067; 860-563-5851 Fax: 860-563-4877; http://www.ctcleanenergy.com/default.aspx?tabid=101

Solar Lease Program for Photovoltaic Systems
CT Solar Lease allows homeowners to lease a photovoltaic (PV) system, with fixed monthly payments for a term of 15 years. This program, which combines the benefits of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund's Solar Rebate Program and federal tax credits for solar energy, is available to owners of one- to four-family homes with a household income not greater than 200% of the area's median income. All electricity generated by a leased PV system reduces the homeowner's electric bill. At the end of the 15-year term, the homeowner may either buy the system at a reduced cost, extend the lease for another five years at a reduced monthly cost, or remove the system - at the homeowner's expense - and return the system to the program operator. The homeowner is responsible for paying all repairs and maintenance during the lease, as well as insurance though the CT Solar Lease program requires PV installers to warranty labor for the system for five years and manufacturer warranties are required for the PV modules (20 years) and inverters (five years). Contact: CT Solar Lease Program, AFC First Financial, 1005 Brookside Road, Great Bear Center, Allentown, PA 18106; 800-232-3477; http://www.ctsolarlease.com/

Generous Incentives in Solar Photovoltaic Program
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund's solar photovoltaic (PV) program offers qualified installers monetary incentives that will be passed on to customers in the form of rebates. This program supports residential installations. The rebate level for residential systems is $5/watt (W) for the first five kilowatts (kW) and $4.30 for the next five kW, with the payment adjusted based on expected system performance. The funding cap is $46,500 per project. Factors considered in calculating the rebate include: PV panel selection, inverter efficiency, system orientation and tilt, and shading on the site. Please note that the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund has announced that rebate levels will be reduced on January 1, 2009 due to the recent extension and expansion of the 30% federal tax credit for residential photovoltaic (PV) systems. Contact: Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, 200 Corporate Place, 3rd Floor, Rocky Hill, CT 06067; 860-257-2362; Fax: 860-563-4877; http://www.ctcleanenergy.com/default.aspx?tabid=68

Loans up to $60,000 for Multi Residential Energy Programs
Energy Conservation Loans for single families are available through the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund to owners of one- to four-family homes who meet established income limits for family size and location. These loans may be used for a variety of energy conservation improvements such as: chillers; furnaces; boilers; heat pumps; air conditioners; programmable thermostats; duct/air sealing; building insulation; windows; passive solar space heat; solar water heat; solar space heat; photovoltaics; wind, biomass; and geothermal heat pumps. Interest rates vary and the loan may be repaid over 10 years. Loans for large residential properties are available through the Multi-Family Energy Conservation Loan Program. The terms are similar to the single-family dwellings loans but with a higher principal available. Contact: Connecticut Housing Investment Fund, 121 Tremont Street, Hartford, CT 06105; 860-233-5165 Ext.2019; Fax: 860-920-2038; http://www.chif.org/owner_borrowers/index.shtml - energy

Capital Grants for Customer-Side Distributed Resources
Connecticut offers grants to retail end-use customers of electric distribution companies for the installation of customer-side distributed resources. Customer-side distributed resources are defined as "the generation of electricity from a unit with a rating of not more than sixty-five megawatts on the premises of a retail end user within the transmission and distribution system including, but not limited to, fuel cells, photovoltaic systems or small wind turbines, or a reduction in the demand for electricity on the premises of a retail end user in the distribution system through methods of conservation and load management, including, but not limited to, peak reduction systems and demand response systems." Eligible baseload distributed generation projects will receive an award of $450 per kilowatt (kW). Electric distribution companies will purchase excess generation from the projects at the company's non-firm tariff rate. A grant payment will be issued to the customer-generator after the Department of Public Utility Control receives security equal to 50% of the grant amount, when the DPUC receives an affidavit that the project has completed final acceptance of the applicable interconnection process, including satisfactory commissioning test; and  the project is operational. Contact: Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051; 860-827-2773; Fax: 860-827-2613; http://www.state.ct.us/DPUC/dg.htm

Low Interest Loans for Customer-Side Distributed Resources
Long-term financing is available to retail end-use customers for the installation of customer-side distributed resources. Customer-side distributed resources are defined as "(A) the generation of electricity from a unit with a rating of not more than sixty-five megawatts on the premises of a retail end user within the transmission and distribution system including, but not limited to, fuel cells, photovoltaic systems or small wind turbines, or (B) a reduction in the demand for electricity on the premises of a retail end user in the distribution system through methods of conservation and load management, including, but not limited to, peak reduction systems and demand response systems." Interest rates are fixed and will be determined at the time the application is approved by Banc of America. Loans will be collateralized by way of equipment, or other collateral or credit enhancements required by Banc of America. Contact: Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051; 860-827-2811; Fax: 860-827-2613; http://www.state.ct.us/DPUC/dg.htm

Incentives to Improve Your Home's Energy Efficiency
Groton Utilities offers a variety of incentives for its residential customers to improve energy efficiency in their homes. Rebates are generally available for energy-efficient appliances, central air-conditioning units and heat pumps, and vary by technology. The Residential Low-Income Water Heater Wrap Program provides free insulation for water heaters and water heater pipes to low-income residents. Groton Utilities also offers cash incentives for customers who participate in the utility's Demand Response Program. This voluntary program requires customers to reduce electricity consumption when the electric system is severely constrained and the price of electricity is very high. This typically occurs only a few times a year during peak summer months. Contact: Customer Service, Groton Utilities, 295 Meridian Street, Groton, CT 06340; 860-446-4000; Fax: 860-446-4098; http://www.grotonutilities.com/elec_conserv_resident.asp

Rebates in Energy Saving Program
Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) provides residential customers a $60 rebate on the Energy Star-qualified appliances purchased between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2010. Eligible appliance purchases include refrigerators/freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, electric water heaters, and dehumidifiers. The program is limited to one rebate per appliance per residential electric utility account. In addition to the appliance rebate, NPU's customers can also participate in the Light Bulb Program and purchase compact florescent bulbs from the Energy Star Lights catalog at a direct discount. Contact: Norwich Public Utilities, Efficiency Programs, 16 South Golden Street, Norwich, CT 06360; 860-823-4522; http://www.norwichpublicutilities.com/energyefficiency/efficiency-res.html - res-electric

Incentives to $500 in Furnace and Boiler Replacement Program
Connecticut's Furnace Replacement Rebate Program encourages households to replace existing residential furnaces or boilers with more energy-efficient models. The program provides rebates of up to $500 to households that purchase and install replacement natural gas, propane or oil furnaces and boilers between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2017. Rebates are available for replacement natural gas furnaces or boilers that meet or exceed federal Energy Star standards, and for propane and oil furnaces and boilers that are at least 84% efficient. Only natural gas, oil and propane furnaces/boilers installed in existing residential structures containing a maximum of four units are eligible. Rebates are not available for new construction/installation. Contact: Public Information OPM, Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, Policy Development and Planning Division, 450 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106-1308; 866-940-4676; http://www.ct.gov/opm/furnacerebate

Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems
Connecticut provides a property tax exemption for "Class I" renewable energy systems and hydropower facilities that generate electricity for private residential use. The exemption is available for systems installed on or after October 1, 2007, that serve single-family homes or multi-family dwellings limited to four units. In addition, "any passive or active solar water or space heating system or geothermal energy resource" is exempt from property taxes, regardless of the type of facility the system serves. In addition, Connecticut municipalities are authorized, but not required, to offer a property tax exemption for qualifying combined heat and power (CHP) systems installed on or after July 1, 2007. Connecticut municipalities are also authorized, but not required, to offer a property tax exemption for (1) the amount by which the assessed valuation of an active solar energy heating or cooling system exceeds the assessed value of a conventional heating or cooling system, and also the amount by which the assessed valuation of a passive or hybrid solar energy heating or cooling system installed exceeds the valuation at which such real property would be assessed if built using conventional construction techniques. Contact: Public Information, Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, Policy Development and Planning Division, 450 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106-1379; 860-418-6200; 800-286-2214; Fax: 860-418-6487; http://www.opm.state.ct.us/

Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Energy Efficient Products
In Connecticut, compact fluorescent light bulbs and certain residential weatherization products are exempt from the state sales and use tax. Residential weatherization products are defined as programmable thermostats, window film, caulking, window and door weather strips, insulation, water heater blankets, water heaters, natural gas and propane furnaces and boilers that meet the federal Energy Star standard, windows and doors that meet the federal Energy Star standard, oil furnaces and boilers that are at least 84% efficient, and ground-source heat pumps that meet the minimum federal energy efficiency rating. Contact: Public Information Officer, Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, Taxpayer Services Division, 25 Sigourney Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5032; 860-297-5962; http://www.ct.gov/drs/cwp/view.asp?Q=382830&A=1436

Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Solar and Geothermal Systems
Connecticut has enacted legislation that establishes a sales and use tax exemption for solar energy equipment and geothermal heat pumps. This legislation has added passive and active solar water-heating systems, passive and active solar space-heating systems, and solar-electric systems to the list of exempt technologies. The exemption includes equipment related to eligible systems and sales of services relating to the installation of eligible systems. Contact: Public Information Officer, Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, Taxpayer Services Division, 25 Sigourney Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5032; 860-297-5962; http://www.ct.gov/DRS

Using funds received as part of the federal economic stimulus package (under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act), the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund has developed an incentive program for residents called the Solar Thermal (ST) Program.  This program will provide grants of approximately 20% of the cost of ST systems for domestic hot water heating only. Pool heaters and space heating applications will not be funded. All Connecticut residents and non-residential sites are eligible, regardless of the type of hot water heat they presently use.  **This program is not yet available.  Check the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund’s website for more details on when this program will be on offer.  A list of eligible contractors will be available on the website as soon as this program becomes available.  Contact:  Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, 200 Corporate Place, 3rd Floor, Rocky Hill, CT 06067; 860-563-0015; Fax:  860-563-6978; http://www.ctcleanenergy.com/YourHome/SolarThermal/tabid/71/Default.aspx