Printable Version

Connecticut Incentives and Laws

Listed below are the summaries of all current Connecticut incentives, laws, regulations, funding opportunities, and other initiatives related to alternative fuels and vehicles, advanced technologies, or air quality. You can go directly to summaries of:

• State Incentives (5)
• Utility/Private Incentives (3)
• Laws and Regulations (11)

State Incentives

Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicle Grants

The Connecticut Clean Fuel Program (Program) provides funding to municipalities and public agencies that purchase, operate, and maintain alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, including those that operate on compressed natural gas, propane, hydrogen, and electricity. The Program also provides funding to install diesel retrofit technologies, including diesel particulate filters, diesel oxidation catalysts, and closed crankcase filtration systems. Diesel retrofit technologies must be certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the California Air Resources Board to be eligible for funding.

Biodiesel Production and Distribution Grants

The Department of Economic and Community Development manages the Connecticut Qualified Biodiesel Producer Incentive Account and provides grants through the Biodiesel Production and Distribution Grant Program. A qualified biodiesel producer is eligible for up to 60 monthly payments, up to a total grant per fiscal year equal to: $0.30 per gallon for the first five million gallons of biodiesel produced; $0.20 per gallon for the second five million gallons of biodiesel produced; and $0.10 per gallon for the third five million gallons of biodiesel produced. If the total amount of funding available for the grant program is between $100,000 and $200,000, a qualified biodiesel producer is eligible for no more than $0.20 per gallon regardless of the number of gallons of biodiesel produced. If the total funding available equals $100,000 or less, the producer is eligible for no more than $0.10 per gallon, regardless of the total number of gallons of biodiesel produced. Any portion of biodiesel produced in excess of 15 million gallons per fiscal year is not eligible for these grants.

A qualified biodiesel producer that is not yet actively engaged in production may also receive a one-time grant for the purchase of equipment, cost of construction, or retrofit of a biodiesel production facility. The grant may not exceed $3 million, regardless of the number of facilities the producer owns. Additional grant funding up to $50,000 per distributor/site is available for the actual costs of creating storage and distribution capacity for biodiesel.

(Reference Connecticut General Statutes 32-324a through 32-324f)

Biofuels Research Grants

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) administers a fuel diversification grant program to provide funding to Connecticut institutions of higher education or institutions of agricultural research for purposes including research to promote biofuel production from agricultural products, algae and waste grease, as well as biofuel quality testing. DECD must report on the performance of the grant program on an annual basis. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 32-324g)

School Bus Retrofit Program

The Connecticut Clean School Bus Program was created to: 1) establish grants for municipalities and local and regional school boards for reimbursement of the cost of retrofitting full-sized school buses that are projected to be in service on or after September 1, 2010; 2) develop and implement an outreach plan and educational materials, and; 3) assist municipalities and local and regional boards of education and bus companies in retrofitting their full-sized school buses. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-21j through 22a-21k)

Idle Reduction Weight Exemption

A commercial vehicle equipped with idle reduction technology may exceed the state's gross vehicle weight limits by up to 400 pounds to compensate for the additional weight of the idle reduction technology. The additional weight may not exceed the actual weight of the idle reduction unit. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 14-267c)

Utility/Private Incentives

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Incentive - Coulomb Technologies

Coulomb Technologies' ChargePoint America program offers EVSE at no cost to individuals or entities in the New York City metropolitan area. To be eligible for a public or commercial charging system, an entity must be located within the New York City metropolitan area and in defined potentially "high use" areas, and provide public access to the charging system. Companies and municipalities may apply on the ChargePoint America Web site. To be eligible for free home charging stations, individuals living within the specified area must purchase a qualified electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Individuals purchasing an eligible EV or PHEV should apply for the ChargePoint America program at the dealership or with the vehicle manufacturer at the time of vehicle purchase. In most cases, installation will be paid for by the EVSE owner; some cities, states, and utilities, however, will provide funding towards installation costs. All participants in the ChargePoint America program must agree to anonymous data collection after installation. Additional restrictions may apply.

Natural Gas Infrastructure and Technical Assistance - SCG and CNG

The Southern Connecticut Gas Company and Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation provide technical and advisory assistance for alternative fueling station construction, fleet management, and vehicle conversions. Both utilities will assist fleet operators with natural gas vehicle planning, purchases, converting vehicles to operate on natural gas, and fueling station construction on a project-specific basis.

Natural Gas Technical Assistance - Yankee Gas Services Company

Yankee Gas Services Company provides information and technical assistance related to natural gas infrastructure and vehicles on a case-by-case basis.

Laws and Regulations

Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Planning

The Connecticut EV Infrastructure Council (Council) must coordinate interagency strategies to prepare for the adoption of EVs, including establishing performance measures for meeting infrastructure, funding, environmental, and regulatory goals. The Council submitted a final report to the Connecticut Legislature providing recommendations on EV infrastructure investment and standardization on September 1, 2010. (Reference Executive Order 34, 2009)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Procurement Preference

In determining the lowest responsible qualified bidder for the award of state contracts, the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services may give a price preference of up to 10% for the purchase of AFVs or for the purchase of vehicles powered by fuel other than a clean alternative fuel plus the conversion equipment to convert the vehicles to dual or dedicated alternative fuel use. For these purposes, alternative fuels include natural gas or electricity used to operate a motor vehicle. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 4a-59)

Ethanol Labeling Requirement

Any motor vehicle fuel sold at retail containing more than 1% ethanol must be labeled according to Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection specifications to indicate the percentage of ethanol in the fuel. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 16a-15)

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Promotion

The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), with funding from the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), has established a Connecticut Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Coalition (Coalition). The Coalition works to enhance economic growth through the development, manufacture, and deployment of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies and associated fueling systems. Representatives from industry, government, academia, labor, and other stakeholders make up the Coalition. CCAT prepared and submitted the Plan for Fuel Cell Economic Development, a strategic plan that addresses the status of the hydrogen/fuel cell industry in the state and concludes that hydrogen and fuel cell technology meets the state's pressing energy needs, improves environmental performance, increases economic development, and creates new jobs.

CCAT leads a Partnership Initiative (Initiative) with the U.S. Department of Energy to promote the use of hydrogen and fuel cell technology in early market applications. The overall goals of the Initiative are to reduce energy costs, improve energy reliability, and enhance Connecticut's environmental performance.

(Reference Connecticut General Statutes 32-9vv through 32-9ww)

Zero Emissions Bus Implementation Plan

As part of a state effort to identify strategies to expand the availability and use of hydrogen fuel and renewable energy sources, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, developed the Connecticut Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Deployment Transportation Strategy. The strategy includes a plan to implement zero emissions buses on a state-wide basis includes the technological, facility, and financial arrangements necessary to fully implement a zero emissions bus fleet, including identifying specific locations for hydrogen fueling stations along state highways and other locations. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 13b-38dd)

Alternative Fuel and Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Acquisition and Emissions Reduction Requirements

Cars and light-duty trucks that a state agency purchases must: 1) have an average U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated fuel economy of at least 40 miles per gallon; 2) comply with state fleet vehicle acquisition requirements set forth under the Energy Policy Act of 1992; and 3) obtain the best achievable fuel economy per pound of carbon dioxide emitted for the applicable vehicle classes. Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) that the state purchases to comply with these requirements must be capable of operating on an alternative fuel that is available in the state.

In addition, at least 50% of all cars and light-duty trucks that the state purchases or leases must be hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or capable of using alternative fuel. All AFVs purchased or leased must be certified to the California Air Resources Board's (ARB) Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEV II) standard, and all light-duty gasoline vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles the state purchases or leases must be certified, at a minimum, to the California ARB ULEV II standard. Beginning January 1, 2012, the required percentage of alternative fuel or advanced vehicles increases to 100%. The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services must report annually on the composition of the state fleet, including the volume of alternative fuels used.

Vehicles that the Connecticut Department of Public Safety designates as necessary for the Department of Public Safety to carry out its mission are exempt from these provisions.

(Reference Executive Order 22, 2009, and Connecticut General Statutes 4a-67d)

School Bus Emissions Reduction

Each full-sized school bus with an engine model year of 1994 or newer that transports children in the state must be equipped with specific emissions control systems, including either: 1) a closed crankcase filtration system and a level 1, level 2, or level 3 device; 2) an engine that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has certified as meeting Model Year 2007 emissions standards; or 3) use of compressed natural gas or other alternative fuel that EPA or the California Air Resources Board has certified to reduce particulate matter emissions by at least 85% as compared to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 14-164o)

Idle Reduction Requirement

School bus operators may not idle a school bus engine for more than three consecutive minutes except under the following conditions: uncontrollable traffic conditions or mechanical difficulties; operation of heating, cooling, safety or auxiliary equipment; outdoor temperatures are below 20 degrees Fahrenheit; maintenance of a safe temperature for students with special needs; school bus repair; or receipt or discharge of passengers on a public highway or road. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 14-277)

Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards

The Connecticut Low Emission Vehicles II Program requires that all new vehicles sold in Connecticut meet California emissions and compliance requirements, as set forth in Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-174g)

Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Labeling Requirement

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection must work with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles to: 1) establish a GHG labeling program for new motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less; and 2) educate the public about the labeling program and GHGs. The label should include the vehicle's GHG score and the average GHG score for vehicles in the same class. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-201 through 22a-201c)

Emissions Reduction Credits

Any state mobile emissions reduction credits program must allow credits for emissions reductions achieved by converting a vehicle to operate on an alternative fuel when such conversions are eligible for such a credit, even if the conversion took place before the credit program began. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-174i)