Dear REEBA Members:
The REEBA Board of directors has identified four policy initiatives that should be pursued at the CT legislature in the upcoming session.
REEBA, however, wants your input to ensure all valuable ideas are brought forward. To that end, please identify if any of the following proposed policy initiatives are indeed priorities of your company, and make an offering of a policy initiative which is not represented, but may have some value to your company.
Proposed REEBA Policy Initiatives:
Twice-year ZREC/LREC Solicitations: The LREC/ZREC programs are very important to the REEBA membership. Many REEBA members feel that the State of Connecticut, Connecticut ratepayers, and the renewable energy business community that makes up the REEBA membership would be best served if at least one additional solicitation in this process was included, with perhaps as many as four solicitations per year.
Utility-Scale Class 1 Renewable RFP: The LREC/ZREC programs have done a good job of strengthening the under 1 MW sector of the renewable energy community. Many members feel that a similar and transparent process would be of value for projects in the 1 – 20 MW range. We propose establishing an RFP process for this sector.
CEFIA Raid Prevention: In 2013 there was a brief, though no less terrifying, proposal that clean energy funds would be raided to account for state budget shortfalls. The matter was ultimately resolved in large part by strong policy leadership from REEBA. However, every time a proposal such as this is floated it causes unnecessary risk to the clean energy markets; risk which carries with it costs in terms of financing and potentially furloughed workers. REEBA is committed to working on policy that would prevent such raids in the future.
Uniform Permit Process For Customer-Side Solar and Fuel Cells: REEBA is interested in seeing the permitting process in the state of Connecticut streamlined and coordinated throughout the 169 communities in Connecticut. The diversity and complexity of these applications add cost to REEBA businesses. We also seek to reduce the actual permit fees where applicable. Fortunately, REEBA has a great partner in CEFIA which has received some DOE funding to pursue resolutions to this issue. REEBA is committed to supporting this work and offer additional policy support if necessary.
Which of the above policy initiatives do you support?
What is not on the policy initiative list that would be of value to your company?
Make your voice heard by responding to this e-mail ASAP.
Please note that REEBA has retained a professional lobbyist to assist REEBA in pursuing REEBA’s proposed policy initiatives.
Thanks,