STONINGTON'S FUTURE IS ELECTRIC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2022
CONTACT
Sharon Lynch 202-550-2077
Kevin Bowdler 860-405-5434
Save this date. The 2023 Stonington Energy Fair planned for March 25th at the Milne Ocean Science and Conservation Center, adjacent to Mystic Aquarium, has galvanized organizers and participants alike.
The Fair will feature vendors of some of the latest EV automobiles and bikes, electric yard tools, residential batteries, solar, geothermal, heat pumps and more. Speakers, vendors, consultants and financial experts will discuss investing in resilience technology for home and business, and maximizing the economic incentives available from various government programs.
Still thinking about that Ford F150 Lightning or Tesla? Come take a look. Barry Kresch, president of EV Club of CT, has a 40 minute talk you don't want to miss. Wondering about solar costs/benefits for your home or business? Check out the keynote speakers from CT Green Bank, PACE, Eversource and other experts. There's even a Homeowners Panel, where Stonington residents who have "gone green" will share their experiences.
Town volunteers building the fair
Sharon Lynch, of Stonington's Climate Change Taskforce and one of the Fair's organizers, is exuberant. "What a team! I am so excited that the Town of Stonington, the Climate Change Task Force, and the Economic Development Commission are sponsoring an event where residents and business owners can dream and plan to make Stonington a showcase for a clean energy future."
"The Energy Fair is another excellent example of how the Town of Stonington benefits from the dedication and hard work of its volunteers!" says Stonington First Selectman Danielle Chesebrough. "This event will offer residents and businesses a fun and educational opportunity to better understand the many options available to them when it comes to sustainable energy options. Stonington has made significant progress in its path to establishing itself as a community leading the way in sustainability initiatives."
Isn't "Going Green" expensive?
The time seemed right to host the Energy Fair, especially given the global momentum towards sustainable energy technology, which continues to drive down costs. The price of solar energy has dropped dramatically over the past two decades. Between 1998 and 2009, the cost of installed solar dropped by 30 percent. And since 2010, the cost of installed solar has dropped a further 70 percent. Even more impressive is the growing menu of financial incentives available to home and business owners.
One example is EnergizeCT, an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, Connecticut Green Bank, the State and Eversource, all of whom are presenting at the Energy Fair. They have developed Renewable Energy Solutions, a program that compensates you for the power produced from your commercial or residential renewable energy systems and Renewable Energy Certificates or “RECs”. The program began in January 2022 and runs through 2027.
Kevin Bowdler of the Stonington Economic Development Commission said "I am excited to learn about the various rebates and tax incentives that are available to homeowners and commercial property owners when they install alternative energy sources. Not only can you do the right thing for the environment, but you can also be paid for doing it."
The Energy Fair committee is currently recruiting exhibitors who provide consulting, design, specification and installation services for alternative energy systems. For more information, contact Dan Fiore, dfiore4227@comcast.net, or (860) 303-1525.
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