Chester Joins Clean Energies Program

REGIONAL – Creating clean energy for businesses and households in Connecticut became a step closer as Chester became the second town in the Connecticut River Valley area to join the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program. 

The program aims to answer the dangers Al Gore discussed in his recent film “An Inconvenient Truth” who believes if nothing is done to reduce harmful pollutants, global sea levels could rise causing devastation to coastal areas, more frequent and more intense heat waves, and more frequent droughts will occur in many inland locations. 

The Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program aims to reduce harmful pollutants, reduce demand on the state’s transmission and distribution system, and support locally-produced sustainable energy sources. 

According to the Smart Power website, the 20 percent by 2010 Clean Energy Campaign is a “challenge cities and towns, faith communities, colleges and universities, and businesses to start choosing clean energy.” 

Smart Power Program Coordinator Keri Enright said towns joining the campaign adapt formal resolutions to buy clean energy to power municipal buildings and services. 

While Chester signed up in May and has 25 residents who joined the program, Essex signed up this past February with 26 residents in the program, Enright said. 

Every 100 residents that enroll in the program will allow a town to receive a one kilowatt hour, kWh, solar power system and officially designates the town as a “clean energy community.” 

Other towns aiming to meet this challenge include Harwington, Wethersfield, Easton, Plainville, Orange, Cheshire, Woodbridge, Trumbull, New Britain, Westport, Bethany and Canton. 

Residents in several communities have already showed their support for clean energy. 

Branford, New Haven, Milford, Fairfield, Stamford, Hamden, Portland, Middletown, Hartford, West Hartford, Glastonbury, and Mansfield all have more than 100 residents who are participating in the program.