Smarter Power Choices In Newtown

By Kendra Bobowick

“We need more clean energy,” said resident Kathy Quinn, referring to renewable resources such as wind or hydropower. Doing what she can to send that signal, she now reads by the light of alternative energy.

Since the state began a clean, or renewable energy, initiative in 2005, residents have had an option to sign up for alternative power made from approved renewable resources.

“We have all said, ‘I’ll do it,’ but, we never get around to doing it,” Ms Quinn said.

In recent years Connecticut Light & Power or United Illuminating companies can purchase power from one of two alternative providers — Community Energy or Sterling Planet — Ms Quinn explained. The opportunity is then extended to customers.

How does this work? Customers who enroll continue to receive electric delivery service from their utility company, but pay a small clean energy surcharge. “CL&P, on your behalf, increases its total purchase of clean energy,” Ms Quinn explained. “It doesn’t change in the home, it changes at the grid.” She described the change as “transparent” to customers. Buying into an alternative source does not change the currents flowing into a particular homes.

One customer at a time, the percentage of alternative power use in the state will rise. “The point here is to increase the production of clean energy,” Ms Quinn said. “It sends the signal out…the number of people signing up increases the demand.”

Although putting off the change initially, Ms Quinn finally signed up for the alternative power plan. Sitting down to pay her utility bill roughly one year ago, Ms Quinn remembers the flyers and announcements regularly spilling from the envelope along with the month’s invoice.

“I had seen the flyer. I generally don’t look at the stuffers, but I had put one aside,” Ms Quinn said. When she began to feel that she wanted to participate in the alternative program, the information was within reach. “I thought I wanted to do something to improve the environment.”

Also participating is The Graceful Planet Moving Arts Center owner Kathleen Barton who is involved both as a business owner and homeowner. Her reasons? “It’s definitely environmental,” she said.

Also inclined to recycle, for example, Ms Barton said, “It’s a conscientious effort to reduce impact.” Newtown is also a customer.

A major business participant is Curtis Packaging. The company is the first 100 percent carbon neutral printing and packaging company in North America. The company’s environmental minded-approach has been developing for the last five years, according to a release dated October 4. “The luxury folding carton manufacturer is a leader in the industry for its environmental stewardship,” stated the release. Throughout the last five years the company has been assessing and reducing its contribution to the carbon footprint and has become the first printing and packaging company in the United States to be both Forest Stewardship Council certified and to use 100 percent renewable energy to power all operations.

Curtis Packaging is working with The CarbonNeutral Company and participating in Governor M. Jodi Rell’s OneThing campaign.

CarbonNeutral is a leading carbon offset and climate consulting business. The OneThing campaign is an extension of the governor’s Energy Vision for a Cleaner Greener State, which has several elements. Visit onethingct.com to learn more.

The town is also involved, joining the state’s SmartPower initiative approximately one year ago, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said. “By joining it’s a good example; hopefully residents will get some of their power from renewable resources.” Overall, he hopes to “wean us off oil,” he said. The government, local through national, needs to set an example to look into responsible energy use, he said.

 

How Much?

Alternative energy bills are slightly higher than regular utilities, but not much. Ms Quinn estimates she pays roughly $100 more per year. Of course, the bills depend on usage, she said. Affiliated with Community Power, Ms Quinn said that convincing customers to convert to clean resources is not always easy. Money is a main factor.

“It’s sometimes a hard sell. People are just squeaking by,” she said. Some residents feel they cannot afford several dollars more per month. Others feel differently, “Some think they are already spending a lot, so they might as well do the clean energy.”

Through Connecticut Innovations and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, the SmartPower clean energy campaign aims to increase the state’s alternative energy use to at least 20 percent by the year 2010. Mr Rosenthal wants Newtown to reach the 20 percent mark.

An Ad Hoc Energy Task Force has been assembled in town to satisfy a requirement to the state’s SmartPower program, of which Newtown is a participant (see related article).

As an incentive, the state is awarding solar panels to municipalities for every 100 homes that sign up for the program. Schools will be one place the first selectman wants to locate a panel. To learn more about Newtown’s clean energy statistics, go to www.ctinnovations.com/communities/Newtown.php.