Connecticut Incentives and Laws

Last Updated August 2009

Connecticut is the home of the Capitol Clean Cities of Connecticut, Inc. (www.ct-ccc.org), New Haven, Inc. (www.nhcleancities.org), Southwestern Area, and Norwich (www.norwichcleancities.org) Clean Cities Coalitions. Coordinator contact information is listed in the Points of Contact section.

State Incentives

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 regarding the program, and; 3) assist municipalities and local and regional boards of education and bus companies to retrofit their full-sized school buses. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-21j and 22a-21k)

Biodiesel Production and Distribution Grants

The Connecticut Qualified Biodiesel Producer Incentive Account, managed by the Department of Economic and Community Development, provides grants to qualified biodiesel producers and distributors. A qualified biodiesel producer is eligible for up to 60 monthly grants from the account, up to a total grant per fiscal year equal to: 1) $0.30 per gallon for the first five million gallons of biodiesel produced; 2) $0.20 per gallon for the second five million gallons of biodiesel produced; and 3) $0.10 per gallon for the third five million gallons of biodiesel produced. Any portion of biodiesel produced by a qualified biodiesel producer in excess of 15 million gallons per fiscal year is not eligible for these grants. A one-time grant for the purchase of equipment or establishment or retrofit of production facilities is also available; grants may not exceed either $3 million dollars or 25% of the equipment or construction cost. Additional grant funding up to $50,000 per distributor/site is available for the actual costs of creating storage and distribution capacity for biodiesel. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development must report to the Governor and General Assembly on the performance of the grant program on an annual basis. (Reference Senate Bill 881, 2009, and Connecticut General Statutes 32-324a to 32-324f)

Biofuels Support

The Department of Economic and Community Development is required to administer a fuel diversification grant program to provide funding to Connecticut institutions of higher education or Connecticut institutions of agricultural research for purposes which may include research to promote biofuel production from agricultural products, algae and waste grease, as well as biofuel quality testing. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development must report to the Governor and General Assembly on the performance of the grant program on an annual basis. (Reference Senate Bill 881, 2009, and Connecticut General Statutes 32-324g)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Parking - New Haven

The City of New Haven provides free parking on all city streets for HEVs and AFVs registered in New Haven that have a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency city or highway fuel economy rating of 35 miles per gallon or greater. HEV and AFV vehicle owners must obtain a non-transferable pass from the Department of Traffic and Parking to place on the vehicle's dashboard or hang from the rearview mirror. AFVs and HEVs are subject to all time and other posted parking restrictions. (Reference New Haven Code of General Ordinances, Title III, Chapter 29, Article III, Division 1, Section 29-56)

Point of Contact

Department of Traffic and Parking
City of New Haven
Phone 203-946-8075
Fax 203-946-8074
http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/TrafficParking/

State Laws and Regulations

Zero Emission 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, Inc., must develop a plan to implement zero emission buses on a state-wide basis. The plan should be completed by December 31, 2010, and include the technological, facility, and financial arrangements necessary to fully implement such a bus fleet, including identifying specific locations for hydrogen fueling stations along state highways and other locations. (Reference House Bill 6649, 2009)

Idle Reduction Weight Exemption

A commercial vehicle equipped with an 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 added idle reduction technology. The additional weight may not exceed the actual weight of the idle reduction unit. (Reference Senate Bill 1081, 2009)

Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Labeling Requirement

The Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection is required to work with the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles to: 1) establish a greenhouse gas (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 greenhouse gas score and the average greenhouse gas score for vehicles in the same class. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-201 through 22a-201c)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Procurement Preference

In determining the lowest responsible qualified bidder for the award of state contracts, the Commissioner 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 conversion equipment to convert the vehicles to dual or dedicated alternative fuel use. For these purposes, alternative fuel means natural gas or electricity when used as a motor vehicle fuel. (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 specifications established by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, indicating 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. The Coalition is made up of representatives from industry, government, academia, labor, and other stakeholders. 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 also leads a Partnership Initiative (Initiative) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 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 to enhance environmental performance. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 578-32-9vv and 578-32-9ww)

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

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

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

Department of Public Safety vehicles that the Commissioner of Public Safety and Commissioner of Administrative Services designate 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

Prior to September 1, 2010, each full-sized school bus with an engine model year of 1994 or newer, transporting children in the state, must be equipped with specific emissions control systems, including either: 1) a closed crankcase filtration system and a level 1 device, level 2 device or level 3 device; 2) an engine certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to meet Model Year 2007 emission standards; or 3) use compressed natural gas or other alternative fuel certified by the EPA or the California Air Resources Board 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 are prohibited from idling the engine of any school bus for more than three consecutive minutes when the school bus is not in motion except under the following conditions apply:

1) The school bus is forced to remain motionless because of traffic conditions or mechanical difficulties over which the operator has no control;

2) It is necessary to operate heating, cooling, safety or auxiliary equipment installed on the school bus;

3) The outdoor temperature is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit;

4) It is necessary to maintain a safe temperature for students with special needs;

5) The school bus is being repaired; or

6) The operator is in the process of receiving or discharging passengers on a public highway or public road.

(Reference Connecticut General Statutes 14-277)

Low Emission Vehicle Standards

The Commissioner of Environmental Protection has adopted regulations to implement the light-duty motor vehicle emission standards of the state of California for vehicles with a model year of 2008 or later. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-174g)

Alternative Fuel Taxicab Regulation

In compliance with other regulations governing the use of taxicabs, any alternative fuel sedan or station wagon with a wheelbase of at least 102 inches may be used to provide taxicab service. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 13b-96)

Emissions Reduction Credits

Any state mobile emission reduction credits program must allow credits for emission 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)

Utilities/Private Incentives

Natural Gas Infrastructure and Technical Assistance

Southern Connecticut Gas Company and Connecticut Natural Gas 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.

Point of Contact

Michael Smalec
Manager Commercial, Industrial and Key Accounts
Southern Connecticut Gas Company/ Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation
Phone (203) 795-7748 or (860) 727-3327
Fax (203) 795-7619
msmalec@soconngas.com
http://www.soconngas.com/

Points of Contact:

NAME/EMAIL/TITLE	AGENCY	PHONE/FAX
Lee Grannis Clean Cities Coordinator	Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, Inc.	Phone:(203) 627-3715 Fax:(203) 393-3433
Craig Peters Clean Cities Coordinator	Capitol Clean Cities of Connecticut, Inc.	Phone:(800) 255-2631 Fax:(860) 646-8861
David Levine Clean Cities Coordinator	Capitol Clean Cities of Connecticut, Inc.	Phone:(860) 653-7744 Fax:(860) 653-0858
Ed Boman Clean Cities Coordinator	Southwestern Area Clean Cities Coalition	Phone:(203) 256-3010 Fax:(203) 256-3080
Pete Polubiatko Clean Cities Coordinator	Norwich Clean Cities Coalition	Phone:(860) 887-6964 Fax:(860) 887-3438
Mike Scarpino Project Manager	U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory	Phone:(412) 386-4726 Fax:(412) 386-5835
Taxpayer Services Division	Connecticut Department of Revenue	Phone:(860) 297-5962 Fax:
Department of Traffic and Parking	City of New Haven	Phone:203-946-8075 Fax:203-946-8074
Joel M. Rinebold Director of Energy Initiatives	Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology	Phone:(860) 291-8832 Fax:(860) 291-8874
Michael Smalec Manager Commercial, Industrial and Key Accounts	Southern Connecticut Gas Company/ Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation	Phone:(203) 795-7748 or (860) 727-3327 Fax:(203) 795-7619
Richard Guggenheim Assistant Director	Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments	Phone:(860) 889-2324 Fax:(860) 889-1222
Ariel Garcia Environmental Engineer, Region 1	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	Phone:(617) 918-1660 Fax:(617) 918-0660
Alison Simcox Environmental Scientist, Region 1	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency	Phone:(617) 918-1684 Fax:(617) 918-0684