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July 13, 2010
Her Excellency, The Honorable M. Jodi Rell
State of Connecticut
State Capitol Building
Hartford, CT 06106-1591
First, on behalf of hundreds of Connecticut solar industry installation, distribution and manufacturing workers, thank you Governor for your encouraging words and actions related to solar power during your administration. Over the years, your views on clean energy in general, your presence at celebrations marking new solar installations, and your support for clean energy legislation have worked to strengthen this growing energy and employment sector unlike any administration before.
As you know, the solar installation industry here is at a crossroads. Solar industry entrepreneurs began relocating to Connecticut more than five years ago. They answered the call from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) which needed installers to carry out the state’s incentive programs that make solar power affordable for home and business electric ratepayers. These solar entrepreneurs became partners with the state after government officials assured these solar professionals that Connecticut was serious about creating a lasting solar industry. After getting this assurance, solar entrepreneurs took on risk and invested in Connecticut. They created businesses and began putting Connecticut residents to work.
Today, after legislation that would have solidified the solar industry failed to become law for a third straight year, I write to you in hopes you recognize the importance in restarting talks on a solar bill that could pass the Legislature and meet with your approval prior to the end of your tenure in office. It would be a fitting cap on your environmental record as governor. The solar community stands ready to begin these discussions immediately.
We’ve come a long way already. This past session we hoped to begin phasing out the existing ratepayer incentive program and replacing it with a market-based structure similar to successful models in other states. Despite what you may have been told, our plan contained measures that will limit any resulting rate increase to one percent. The bill would have stretched out incentives on the residential side and done away with the ratepayer surcharge incentive structure on the commercial side altogether. The bill would have finally brought stability to the state’s solar programs, which have experienced starts and stops that create havoc for solar business owners.
Given the immense benefits of Connecticut-made clean power we see this as a reasonable request in light of frequent and substantial rate hikes given to the state’s electric suppliers. For years, clean energy has ranked among the most favorable of surveyed issues. Americans want to support clean energy. Certainly, a one percent increase in electric rates isn’t a lot to ask in exchange for reducing the $1 billion the U.S. spends on imported oil every day, a cleaner environment, more clean energy jobs, and a stronger national security.
Little has changed since 2008 when you referenced the importance of the CT Solar Lease program by stating, “With the national economy in a slump, with energy prices at frankly ridiculous highs and other prices – including food prices – headed for the sky, our families are looking for alternatives. “ So, with the Veto Session now concluded, and the economy still down and energy prices still up, I ask that we work together to arrive at a solution.
We feel there is strong, bipartisan legislative support for passing solar and other parts of the energy bill you see fit. Many lawmakers in the House and Senate who opposed this year’s energy bill stated they would have supported the solar measures in the energy bill if brought forth in a separate proposal.
There is a price to doing nothing on solar. To wait another year for meaningful solar legislation means that the solar industry will bleed another year’s worth of clean energy jobs and job experience to our surrounding states. These states have solidified their positions on solar power. It’s time that Connecticut follows suit.
I look forward to hearing from your office on this matter.
Sincerely,
Mike Trahan
Michael T. Trahan
Executive Director
Solar Connecticut, Inc.
(o) 860-345-7449
mtrahan@solarconnecticut.org
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