The list below contains summaries of all Connecticut incentives and laws related to Hydrogen Fuel Cells.
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.
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)
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)
Point of Contact
Joel M. Rinebold
Director of Energy Initiatives
Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology
Phone: (860) 291-8832
Fax: (860) 291-8874
jrinebold@ccat.us
http://www.chfcc.org
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)
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)
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)