Town of Old Lyme, CT - Old Lyme Commits to 20% Clean Energy by 2010

(Old Lyme) - On Monday, April 2^nd, the Town of Old Lyme became the latest community in Connecticut to help the state solidify its place as a leader in clean energy when it committed to the SmartPower 20% by 2010^sm campaign. Working to create a cleaner environment and greater energy independence, Old Lyme is the first town in New London County and the 43^rd municipality in the state to commit to 20% clean energy by 2010. Old Lyme joins the other 42 cities and towns in the state that have made a commitment to clean energy.

"Old Lyme's~commitment to the SmartPower 20% by 2010 Clean Energy Campaign means that the town and its residents are now a part of the clean energy solution.~ We are excited about this program and the opportunities that it presents us in addressing our energy future. Ultimately, the town's commitment to this campaign will help to demonstrate that clean energy is real, here and working in~Old Lyme~and across Connecticut," stated Timothy C. Griswold, First Selectman of Old Lyme.

As the national leader in the marketing of clean energy, SmartPower has worked successfully with leaders in Old Lyme and the 42 other 20% by 2010 communities across Connecticut to clearly demonstrate the strength and availability of clean energy to both residential and institutional electric customers.

“Old Lyme leaders and residents alike have shown how important clean energy is to clean air and energy independence,” stated SmartPower Connecticut Director, Keri Enright. “The Old Lyme Board of Selectmen and a dedicated group of citizens deserve a tremendous amount of credit for demonstrating to everyone that the right marketing and messaging will create a sustainable clean energy market across Connecticut.”

The total annual electricity demand in Old Lyme is 432,000 MWh. When the city ultimately achieves its 20% by 2010^sm goal, it will be responsible for the generation of 58,000 MWh of clean energy on an annual basis. This voluntary portion of this commitment will be complimented by the Connecticut Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in 2010, which will be a mandatory 7% of the entire electricity demand.

The next threshold for Old Lyme is to reach the milestone of 100 customers of the CTCleanEnergyOptions^sm program. Currently, Old Lyme has 67.5 customers signed up making the town more than half of the way to achieving the status of Clean Energy Community. When Old Lyme realizes their 100^th customer, the town will achieve Clean Energy Community status and will be provided a FREE 1kw solar PV system from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.

"We signed up for clean energy as soon as it became available because the earth needs us to be proactive in any way that we can. One way is to use alternative fuel sources, and we joined as soon as it was offered,” stated Dave and Judy Winer, Old Lyme community leaders, who were among the first to sign up for clean energy.

Working with the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) over the past four years, SmartPower has forged a marketing collaboration with a wide-ranging group including various state agencies, utilities, suppliers and many in the NGO community to help grow a voluntary market for clean energy in Connecticut. This unique marketing collaborative has been instrumental in making the 20% by 2010 program and the award winning Connecticut Clean Energy Communities program recognized as cutting edge clean energy marketing.

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) supports this campaign by serving as a founder and the lead financial sponsor of SmartPower in Connecticut and offering communities incentives and tools to expand their commitment to clean energy. CCEF administers the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program, awarding “earned” solar PV systems to cities and towns that first commit to the 20% by 2010 campaign and then secure 100 clean energy sign-ups through the CTCleanEnergyOptions^sm program.

“We are delighted that Old Lyme has joined the 20% by 2010 campaign and look forward to seeing the town boost its commitment to clean energy even further by becoming a Connecticut Clean Energy Community,” said Lise Dondy, President of CCEF.

“The Clean Energy Communities Program has become a key collaborative effort between SmartPower and CCEF,” continued SmartPower’s Enright. “Our ultimate goal is to get all 43 towns that have committed to our 20% by 2010^sm Campaign to become clean energy communities. When we’ve done that, we will truly show the success of the voluntary market here in Connecticut.”

The clean energy options program allows Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) customers in Old Lyme to sign up for and support clean energy from one of the two state sanctioned suppliers of clean energy, Sterling Planet or Community Energy. Old Lyme residents or any Connecticut rate payer can visit www.gocleanenergy.com to learn more about this program.

SmartPower is a non-profit marketing organization dedicated to promoting clean energy. SmartPower’s 20% by 2010 campaign encourages institutions, municipalities and individuals to make a commitment to obtain 20% of their electricity from clean sources by 2010. Please visit www.smartpower.org or www.gocleanenergy.com Clean Energy – Let’s Make More!

CCEF was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and is administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public organization. CCEF promotes the development and commercialization of clean energy technologies; the creation of clean energy supply; and the demand for electricity from clean, renewable sources in Connecticut in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state.~ CCEF’s funding comes from a surcharge on electric ratepayers’ utility bills. ~For more information on CCEF, please visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.