Energy Program News

Despite Unanimous House Approval, Senate Fails to Act on Bipartisan Solar Legislation

June 5, 2009 – (Hartford, CT) – The 2009 Connecticut legislative session adjourned Wednesday, June 3 without the senate bringing HB 6635, An Act Concerning Solar Power up for a vote. Earlier in the week, the Connecticut House of Representatives had unanimously approved the bipartisan bill with a 145-0 vote. Advocates had predicted passage in the senate but no major energy bills were acted on by the senate this year.  The program would have deployed 300 megawatts of solar power in Connecticut over the next decade, generating enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of 100,000 homes and bringing up to 8,000 new green jobs to the state. Despite tremendous support from the house and key stakeholders, the solar legislation did not advance through the senate before yesterday’s midnight deadline.

Clean energy advocates issued the following statements in response:

“The senate’s failure to act on the Solar Bill undercuts Connecticut’s efforts to create green jobs, reduce our reliance on expensive, dirty fossil fuels and cut global warming pollution,” said Christopher Phelps, Environment Connecticut Program Director. “The good news for Connecticut’s economy and environment is that State Representatives Vickie Nardello and Sean Williams forged a bi-partisan consensus in the house in support of the Solar Bill. The bad news is that the senate failed to act despite overwhelming bi-partisan support for the Solar Bill in both chambers.”

“I was thoroughly impressed with the level of personal engagement that many legislators devoted to developing a comprehensive, affordable solar program for Connecticut. The result, HB 6635, was a bipartisan bill backed by solar companies, the state Clean Energy Fund, electric utilities and DPUC that really would have led the nation,” said Roger Smith, campaign director for Clean Water Action. “Looking ahead, we now have the framework for an exceptional new solar program, and we need our state senators to take up the mantle of leadership on this critical issue.”

“With provisions for building a robust new solar market with diverse stakeholders, HB 6635 saw impressive support from both sides of the aisle and across the business, environmental and utility communities. It is clear that this bill fell short on time, not on merits. We will continue to work with state legislators and regulators to turn that incredible groundswell of support into a new solar program for Connecticut,” said Shaun Chapman, director of east coast policy for the Vote Solar Initiative.

Connecticut’s existing solar power incentive and rebate programs suffer from unstable funding and inability to meet high customer demand for solar power installations. As a result, solar companies have been moving jobs out of Connecticut to neighboring states with more favorable programs. HB 6635 was based on the findings of a recently completed solar strategy report and designed to help Connecticut tap solar's full economic and environmental potential by giving the growing industry the stable, long-term support it needs to flourish. Expanding both the size and scope of the state's solar program, the bill included a suite of incentives to support many types of solar installations including rooftop systems for homes, businesses, municipalities, schools, and other energy consumers.  The next legislative session begins in February, 2010.