This bill establishes a rebate program to help Connecticut residents, businesses, and municipalities purchase or lease new or used electric vehicles, with priority given to low-income households and environmental justice communities. It also creates a matching grant program to help municipalities upgrade traffic signals for better transit efficiency and reduces congestion. Additionally, the bill sets a timeline requiring most school buses to be zero-emission or alternative fuel vehicles by 2035, with accelerated adoption in distressed municipalities.
This bill establishes a new program for community renewable energy systems, allowing multiple subscribers to share access to solar or wind energy projects through a shared subscription model. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority must create rules by December 2026 that enable any electricity customer to subscribe to these systems while receiving lower electricity costs than standard service rates. Key provisions include a cap on renewable energy credits at 200% of a subscriber's typical annual usage and a host bank system to manage and monetize any excess energy not directly subscribed to. The program requires at least two subscribers per system and prohibits any single subscriber from owning more than 60% of the total subscriptions.
This bill increases the three-year registration fees for electric vehicles in Connecticut, affecting owners of battery electric, fuel cell electric, range-extended battery electric, and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Under the new provisions, electric vehicles would pay $345 annually while plug-in hybrids would pay $233, compared to the standard $120 fee for conventional passenger vehicles. The changes apply to all electric and hybrid vehicles except those with special license plates, though exemptions exist for certain nonprofit fire apparatus and transit buses. Owners aged 65 or older retain the option to renew their registration for one year or the standard period with prorated fees. The legislation takes effect on October 1, 2026.
This bill amends Connecticut's electricity laws to clarify that customers have the right to choose their own electric generation supplier starting July 1, 2000. It requires electric distribution companies to allow customers to purchase power from competitive suppliers rather than being forced to buy from their local utility for generation services. The law also ensures that customers who do not select a supplier will still receive electricity through a default arrangement managed by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. This change affects all electricity customers in Connecticut by formalizing their ability to participate in a competitive generation market.
This bill updates Connecticut's property tax exemption rules for renewable energy systems, expanding eligibility for homeowners, farms, and businesses while clarifying how exemptions are calculated. It allows property tax exemptions for residential solar, wind, and geothermal systems installed on or after October 1, 2007, and extends similar benefits to commercial and industrial renewable energy projects installed between 2010 and 2013 in specific municipalities. The legislation also establishes new exemption categories for commercial solar and wind projects installed after 2014, with additional restrictions taking effect in 2025 and 2026 that limit exemptions to the equipment itself rather than the entire property value. These changes apply to Class I renewable energy sources including solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower facilities that generate electricity for on-site use.
This bill imposes a 5% surcharge on insurance policies covering fossil fuel infrastructure such as oil wells, pipelines, refineries, and coal facilities, effective January 1, 2027. The collected funds will be deposited into a new climate resilience account managed by state officials. These funds will be used to provide flood risk data to communities, run public awareness campaigns about flooding risks, and offer grants for building climate-resilient infrastructure to reduce flood damage. The policy directly affects insurance companies issuing policies for fossil fuel operations and communities that may receive funding for flood mitigation projects.
This bill creates a public reporting system for double utility poles, which are two poles located within six feet of each other due to incomplete replacement work. It requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to launch an online reporting platform by July 1, 2026, where any person can submit reports with location details and photographs. The commissioner will compile quarterly lists of these reports and share them with electric distribution companies, telephone companies, and municipal electric utilities starting October 31, 2027. The legislation defines specific utility pole types and establishes clear timelines for implementing the reporting infrastructure.
This bill redefines how biomass facilities are classified under Connecticut's renewable energy laws by removing them from the list of Class I renewable energy sources. The change directly affects biomass power plants that currently qualify for renewable energy credits and incentives, as well as electric distribution companies and suppliers that purchase their energy. Key provisions include deleting biomass from the statutory definition of Class I renewable energy and establishing a new process for the state energy commissioner to solicit additional power purchase agreements from eligible biomass facilities that meet specific emission and capacity criteria. These eligible facilities must use sustainable biomass fuel, maintain low nitrogen oxide emissions, or have small capacity and pre-2003 construction dates. The bill also clarifies that biomass facilities with existing contracts before 2024 may continue under those agreements, while new contracts must follow state procurement rules and prioritize ratepayer interests.
This bill implements recommendations from the Department of Transportation by requiring utility companies to maintain infrastructure within state highway rights-of-way and establishing new standards for electric vehicle charging at state facilities. The legislation mandates that utility companies install, repair, and replace service connections in state highway areas, with larger companies needing permits for work on public roads. Additionally, the bill sets a target for state bus fleets to include at least 30% zero-emission vehicles by 2030 and requires new state facilities with public parking to have 8% of spaces designed for future electric vehicle charging. State agencies managing EV charging stations will be restricted from allowing non-charging vehicles to occupy those spaces, though exceptions exist for vehicles that can charge without being plugged in. These changes affect utility providers, state transportation infrastructure, and public parking policies across Connecticut.
This bill updates Connecticut's school bus regulations to allow hybrid buses alongside zero-emission and alternative fuel vehicles, aiming to reduce emissions while providing flexibility for school districts. It defines hybrid school buses as vehicles that combine a combustion engine with an electric motor and battery system, and establishes a grant program to help municipalities, school districts, and operators purchase these buses and related charging infrastructure. The legislation creates a new state account to fund administrative costs and technical assistance for transitioning to cleaner school bus fleets, with priority given to projects serving environmental justice communities. Key deadlines require 100% of school buses to be zero-emission, alternative fuel, or hybrid by January 1, 2040, though the bill includes proposed deletions that would have required 100% zero-emission buses by 2030 in certain areas.
