Newtown, Curtis Packaging Among Clean Energy Award Recipients

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) recognized Newtown and 18 other Connecticut communities, as well as Curtis Packaging of Sandy Hook, for supporting clean energy initiatives. Awards were presented to the municipalities, one other state company and one university — all winners of CCEF’s 2008 Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Awards.

Timothy Bowles, chair of the CCEF board of directors, said it was encouraging to see the enthusiasm generated at a community level by citizens who are driving the demand for clean, renewable energy through the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program.

“Now more than ever, it is imperative that renewable energy be embraced as a viable alternative to fossil fuels in an extremely volatile energy market,” he said during the ceremonies. “I offer, on behalf of the CCEF board, my sincerest congratulations to the communities we honor today for their leadership and forward thinking.”

Nationally renowned advocate of “green collar jobs” and supporter of clean energy, Jerome Ringo, president of Apollo Alliance and immediate past chair of the National Wildlife Federation, delivered the keynote address.

The 19 Connecticut municipalities that were honored all became Connecticut Clean Energy Communities by making the commitment to purchase 20 percent of the electricity for their municipal facilities from clean renewable sources by the year 2010 and achieving certain thresholds of signups under the CTCleanEnergyOptions program by December 31, 2007. In becoming Connecticut Clean Energy Communities, each of these municipalities has earned a solar photovoltaic system paid for by CCEF to be installed on a municipal building of its choice.

Curtis Packaging and ING of Hartford committed to purchasing 100 percent clean energy and, in the process, assisted their respective municipalities in becoming Connecticut Clean Energy Communities. Curtis Packaging Corporation has previously received state and national recognition for its environmental stewardship.

“We’re proud to be a leader in our industry and to continue to do our part to help protect the environment,” said Don Droppo, Jr, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Curtis Packaging. “Our customers and the community recognize and value the commitment we’ve made to a safe and secure energy future.”

Financial services company ING has made a worldwide corporate commitment to purchasing 100 percent clean energy and achieving carbon neutrality for its business operations.

Wesleyan University also received a CCEF award and has committed to purchasing one-gigawatt hour of clean energy from the CTCleanEnergyOptions program. This clean energy purchase helped Middletown to become the first Connecticut Clean Energy Community.

Other recognized municipalities are Bethany, Branford, Bridgeport, Canton, Cheshire, Essex, Madison, Manchester, New Britain, Newtown, Norfolk, Portland, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, Wethersfield, Windsor, and Woodbridge.

Governor M. Jodi Rell said the CCEF awards celebrate a significant commitment to clean energy by communities statewide.

“The amount of clean energy they have collectively committed to purchasing each year would power annually over 10,000 houses — an impressive figure and one that demonstrates that, at the local level, we all can take meaningful steps to make a real difference in our energy future and our environment,” Gov Rell said.

CCEF was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and is funded by the electric ratepayers. CCEF’s mission is to promote, develop, and invest in clean energy sources for the benefit of Connecticut’s ratepayers in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state. CCEF is administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public authority.

For more information on CCEF visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.