Hartford Business Journal

www.CTGreenGuide.com SprinG 2014 • Connecticut Green Guide 11 cedures if customers will be losing their fixed rates. In other legislative action, Duff said he wants to have at least one com- mittee hearing on the so-called neighborhood electric vehicles. These EVs, which look like supped-up golf carts, are not allowed to cross state roads, which limits their use. By allowing expanded use of these vehicles, Duff said Connecticut can cut down on motorized transportation as people could get to public transit hubs without having to use their cars. They especially make sense on the shoreline, where people often take the train to work. "People can take them from their homes to the train station, and it would save them a lot of money," Duff said. On top of these issues, the energy committee will follow up on any needed changes from last year's comprehensive energy strategy, which spawned a myriad of issues like the natural gas expansion, submetering, and increased energy efficiency measures. "We had a big year last year, and this year will be some of the follow- through on that," Duff said. By the Numbers 420 Jobs in Connecticut added by solar companies in 2013, bringing total employment to more than 1,100. $30M Loss incurred on the stock of enfield solar firm STR Holdings by investor Red Mountain Capital Partners, which spent $36 million acquiring it before selling it off in December and January. 155MW Shortfall in the iSo new england auction to secure enough electricity to meet power demand for 2016-2017. The issue led to increased electric rates. Zero impact nearby wind turbines have on home and property values, according to a uConn study of home sales in Massachusetts. $365M Amount the Public utilities Regulatory Authority said Connecticut Light & Power could recover from ratepayers for its restoration costs from major storms in 2011 and 2012. CL&P had asked for $414 million. 126% Rise in new england wholesale electricity prices in December, as demand for the limited amount of natural gas piped into the region forced a number of plants to temporarily go offline. SouRCeS: enviRonMenT ConneCTiCuT, u.S. SeCuRiTieS & exCHAnGe CoMMiSSion, iSo neW enGLAnD, PuRA, uConn Variable contracts with electricity suppliers leave customers at the mercy of real-time pricing. PHoTo | HBJ FiLe BioMaSS PURChaSE — DeeP arranged for utilities Connecticut Light & Power and united illuminating to purchase renewable energy credits from biomass plants in vermont and new Hampshire. The deal will save ratepayers money on renewable energy, but one of the plants is owned by a subsidiary of northeast utilities, which also owns CL&P. WiND REGULaTioN — Connecticut continues its three-year ban on new wind turbines, as the legislature denied the latest attempt by the Connecticut Siting Council to write regulations that would lift the ban. Grade: F- Grade: C+

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