Dear Editorial Board,

The state of Connecticut is about to consider its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) – which currently requires at least 20 percent of electricity come from renewable sources like wind and solar by 2020. A hearing on legislation to update the RPS was held last week, with the Energy & Technology Committee scheduled to act on energy bills on March 28. At issue: What types of energy should be included in the RPS, and is there a role for large Canadian hydropower?

Our View:

The New England Clean Energy Council supports the utilization of large hydropower from Canada as part of Connecticut’s diverse energy portfolio, but does not believe large hydro should be part of the RPS. We strongly believe that inclusion of large hydropower in the RPS will undermine achievement of its objectives. Instead, it would discourage deployment of new renewable energy technologies using market mechanisms that continue to increase competition and bring about price declines, along with local economic development benefits.

Negative Effects on Renewable Energy Development of Including Large Hydro in RPS

• Large hydro is a mature technology and does not need and should not be eligible for financial support provided by Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).

• If counted toward RPS targets, large hydro will meet a large portion of the demand created by those targets, reducing demand for smaller, local and regional renewables, lowering REC prices and thereby revenues to support new renewable projects.

Appropriate Role for Large Hydro

• Large hydro has the potential to help reduce Connecticut’s energy costs.

• Large hydro can also help achieve the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.

• A Clean Energy Standard (CES) or a separate RPS class would be appropriate ways to incorporate large hydro into Connecticut’s energy mix.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Donahue
Communications Director
New England Clean Energy Council
125 Summer Street, Suite 1020
Boston, MA 02110
617 500 9993
jdonahue@cleanenergycouncil.org