Issue Position: Strengthen State Programs and Pursue Regional Solutions

Issue Position

Strengthen State Programs and Pursue Regional Solutions

We must continue to update and strengthen existing state programs and work collaboratively with other state governments to pursue regional solutions. This collaboration will be modeled on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI).

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a multi-state initiative requiring power plants to purchase emission allowances at an auction, and the money is reinvested in energy efficiency programs and the Connecticut Green Bank. RGGI investments have saved the state millions in energy costs, saved lives, and created thousands of jobs. I strongly support RGGI and support reforms including instituting a minimum price for carbon.
The financing mechanism known as property-assessed clean energy (PACE) helps customers afford energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements located on private properties. PACE programs help finance the initial cost of improvements and are paid back over time by the property owners on their property tax bills. The C-PACE (for commercial properties) program has been updated and it is now very successful, but the R-PACE (for residential properties) statutes need to be revised to provide private homeowners in Connecticut access to such a program.
I support extension and improvement of Connecticut's Zero Emissions Renewable Energy Credit (ZREC) program. The ZREC program is widely supported by the business community and is an important tool in promoting new renewable energy capacity.

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