Printer Friendly Version - Clinton Energy Committee Sets Sights on Public Works

The Clinton Town Energy Committee in partnership with Eversource and the Clinton Solar Campaign was able to donate more than $1,850 to Families Helping Families at the recent Lions Breakfast. Each of the town’s approved energy vendors—Con-Serv Energy, Lantern Energy, New England Smart Energy, and Ross Solar—all agreed to donate around $50 for each energy-saving contract they issued in Clinton. Pictured from left are Mark Ballou, Shawn Kravet, and Chris Lillquist, all of Lantern Energy; Samantha Stoyka of Eversource; Miner Vincent of Families Helping Families; Jane Scully Welch of the Lions Club; Paul Gebauer of the Clinton Energy Committee; James Noether of ConServ; and John Teffi of New England Smart Energy. Photo by Aidan Moran

Clinton’s Energy Committee has only existed for a handful of years, but it’s enacted several visible changes around town with no plans to stop. Past projects include solar arrays installed on the roofs of Joel School and Eliot School, a light bulb swap, and the electric vehicle charging station located behind Town Hall. Now, the committee is working on a solar energy system for the Public Works building.

Best of all, organizers say, is that state grants from the Connecticut Green Bank are paying for the 33-panel system.

“There’s no money out of the town’s pocket,” said Paul Gebauer, chairman of the Clinton Energy Committee. “The system corresponds with the size of the grant.

“Every time you pay your electric bill, money goes into the Green Bank,” he continued. “It helps subsidize green efficiency projects, whether it’s solar on your house or insulation in your attic. It’s such a successful project in the state it’s kind of become a business model for a lot of other states in the country.”

For the Public Works project, the committee applied for several grants that totaled $22,500. The installer, Aegis Solar Energy of Branford, designed a system to match the available funds. The 9-kilowatt system will draw its energy from 33 solar panels on the roof of the Public Works building. Aegis will install the system this spring.

“It’s free,” said Gebauer. “We just combined a few different grants. He [Aegis] has to submit the engineering plans, then we’ll get the check from the state and we’ll get the go-ahead.”

Founded in July 2013, the Clinton Energy Committee has received enthusiastic community support since its approval by the first selectman at the time, William Fritz. Its two residential solar programs, the Connecticut Solar Challenge and Solarize Connecticut, resulted in almost 50 residents installing solar arrays on their homes.

“Maybe a third of the solar installs in town are from people that we helped take advantage of those two programs,” said Gebauer.

“Our contractor said it was one of the most successful lightbulb swaps he’d ever had,” Gebauer noted. “It was a huge success. There was a line out the door the whole time.”

Currently, there is another way that residents can get involved with the committee’s vision to increase energy efficiency throughout Clinton. By signing up for a home energy assessment through Energize Connecticut, homeowners can reduce their environmental impact as well as their utility bills.

“It’s like a home energy audit,” Gebauer explained. “They go through your house, they check all the drafts, they change light bulbs, they check the efficiency of your appliances, they see how your furnace is running.”

The assessment costs $125; according to Gebauer, the average homeowner saves between $250 and $300 each year by having it done. Plus, “Every time the service is done $25 goes to Families Helping Families (FHF),” Gebauer said. “We’ve done over 300 of them since starting the Energy Committee.”

Late last month, the Energy Committee presented the results of that accumulation to FHF. At the annual pancake breakfast held by the Clinton Lions Club, the committee gave a check for $1,600 to the organization, which provides food and fuel assistance for local families in need.

“Almost everything we do, we tie in some donation to FHF,” Gebauer said. “There’s a small business [energy assessment] program that a bunch of businesses have taken advantage of, and every time they do that it’s $50 for FHF.”

As one example, Campbell’s Gymnastics reduced its energy bill by 55 percent after its assessment. The committee presented it with the Energy Efficient Business of the Year Award at the most recent Clinton Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner.

Finally, the Clinton Energy Committee has one big goal for the next decade. A resolution, passed unanimously by the Board of Selectmen, aims to have Clinton become fully sustainable by 2025.

For Gebauer, it’s been a satisfying—if intimidating at times—journey for the committee.

“I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” he said. “It’s been really great. We’re proud of what we’ve done. We’ll keep grinding it out, and it’s been fun.”

To sign up for a home energy assessment, visit www.energizect.com/your-home/solutions-list/home-energy-solutions-core-services. For information about energy-efficient upgrades for small businesses, visit www.energizect.com/your-town/solutions-list/Small-Business-Energy-Advantage.