Conroy backs legislation for Beacon Falls solar project

State Rep. Theresa Conroy

HARTFORD - State Rep. Theresa Conroy (D-Seymour, Beacon Falls, Derby) testified this week before the legislature’s Energy Committee in favor of SB 394, An Act Concerning Virtual Net Metering and Certain Low Emission Generation Projects. 

The legislation would enable Beacon Falls to benefit from the Zero Renewable Energy Credit through the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.

Currently, Beacon Falls is constrained by the virtual net metering cap established in the ZREC program. This means that although ZREC has been such a success for communities around the state, Beacon Falls and other similarly situated municipalities have been left as “stranded towns” – unable to take advantage of the credit.

“I asked committee members to support expanding the cap for communities that would otherwise make great candidates for this credit program,” Conroy said. “Allow Beacon Falls to reduce our municipal energy footprint while reducing costs into the future.”

The Beacon Falls solar project would be located adjacent to the community’s public works and water pollution control facilities at 411 Lopus Road and would offer green energy to the community.

“The solar project is projected to save my constituents in Beacon Falls more than $900,000 in municipal electric costs over the next several decades,” Conroy noted.

The 297 kW system is expected to cover almost 77 percent of the town’s municipal electricity usage.

This is a press release from Conroy's office.