Connecticut

Established in 1998 and subsequently revised several times, Connecticut's renewables portfolio standard (RPS) requires each electric supplier and each electric distribution company wholesale supplier to obtain at least 23% of its retail load by using renewable energy by January 1, 2020. The RPS also requires each electric supplier and each electric distribution company wholesale supplier to obtain at least 4% of its retail load by using combined heat and power (CHP) systems and energy efficiency by 2010.  
 
Separate portfolio standards are required for energy resources classified as "Class I," "Class II," or "Class III." Class I resources include energy derived from solar power, wind power, fuel cells (using renewable or non-renewable fuels), methane gas from landfills, ocean thermal power, wave or tidal power, low-emission advanced renewable energy conversion technologies, certain newer run-of-the-river hydropower facilities not exceeding five megawatts (MW) in capacity, and sustainable biomass facilities. Emissions limits apply to electricity generated by sustainable biomass facilities. Electricity produced by end-user distributed generation (DG) systems using Class I resources also qualifies. Class II resources include trash-to-energy facilities, certain biomass facilities not included in Class I, and certain older run-of-the-river hydropower facilities.  
 
Class III resources include: customer-sited CHP systems, with a minimum operating efficiency of 50%, installed at commercial or industrial facilities in Connecticut on or after January 1, 2006; (2) electricity savings from conservation and load management programs that started on or after January 1, 2006,; and (3) systems that recover waste heat or pressure from commercial and industrial processes installed on or after April 1, 2007. The revenue from these credits must be divided between the customer and the state Conservation and Load Management Fund, depending on when the Class III systems are installed, whether the owner is residential or nonresidential, and whether the resources received state support.  
 
Electric providers must meet the standard with at least 20% Class I resources and 3% Class I or II resources by January 1, 2020, and 4% Class III sources by 2010, and thereafter, according to the following schedule:

• On and after 1/1/2006: 2.0% Class I + 3% Class I or II  
  
• On and after 1/1/2007: 3.5% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 1% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2008: 5.0% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 2% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2009: 6.0% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 3% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2010: 7.0% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 4% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2011: 8.0% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 4% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2012: 9.0% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 4% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2013: 10.0% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 4% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2014: 11.0% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 4% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2015: 12.5% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 4% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2016: 14.0% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 4% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2017: 15.5% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 4% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2018: 17.0% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 4% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2019: 19.5% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 4% Class III  
  
• On and after 1/1/2020: 20.0% Class I + 3% Class I or II + 4% Class III

RPS requirements may be satisfied by purchasing electricity generated using Class I or Class II resources within the jurisdiction of the regional independent system operator (ISO New England). Renewable energy credit trades and purchases are tracked through the NEPOOL Generation Information System (NEPOOL-GIS). Renewables within the jurisdiction of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware are also eligible, provided that the Connecticut Department of Public Utilities (DPUC) determines these states have an RPS comparable to Connecticut's.  
 
Electric providers that fail to comply with the RPS during an annual period must pay $0.055 per kWh to the DPUC; these payments will be allocated to the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) for the development of Class I renewables.  
 
Public Act 07-242 of 2007 required the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC) to develop portfolio standards for the municipal electric utilities in the state, and to report standards annually to Connecticut Innovations, Inc., quasi-governmental investment organization.