Connecticut Climate Change Leaders Named

May 29, Hartford, Conn.– Governor M. Jodi Rell has recognized seven individuals andorganizations with an award from the Governor’s Steering Committee on ClimateChange for their innovative contributions to address global climate change.Governor Rell said, “Climate Change is the major environmental challenge of our era and we need the help of everyone – not just government – to successfully address it. The accomplishments of these award winners clearly demonstrate that the work of individuals matters and can play a real part in helping us reduce the emission of dangerous Greenhouse Gases.

These 2007 award winners are making a real contribution to the future of our planet and forthat we thank them.”

Those presented with a 2007 Climate Change Leadership Award include:

• Andy Bauer of Portland, who teaches in the Glastonbury school system
• Dr. Charles Button, Central Connecticut State University
• Tim Cipriano, Food Services Director, Bloomfield Public Schools
• Bryan Garcia, Cromwell, for his work at the CT Clean Energy Fund
• Lynn Plant, Fairfield
• Yale University, New Haven
• Imani Zito, owner of Alchemy Juice Bar Café, Hartford

In presenting the awards at a ceremony at the Department of Environmental Protection in Hartford, DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy, Chair of the Governor’s Steering Committee on Climate Change, said, "In Connecticut, there are so many individuals and organizations working with great dedication to address global climate change. These people show us that there are simple solutions to this overwhelming issue and that each of us can make a difference. We are honored to acknowledge these champions and encourage others to follow in their footsteps."

To read more about the 2007 Climate Change Leadership awards, click here.

Source: www.ctclimatechange.com

Middletown High School Fuel Cell Project Gets Funding

May 25, Rocky Hill , Conn.– The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), today announced that the Connecticut Clean Energy Investment Committee has approved a grant of $940,000 to help defray more than half of the total project cost of installing a 200-kilowatt fuel cell at the new Middletown High School, currently under construction in Middletown, Connecticut. CCEF's funding will be provided through its On-site Renewable Distributed Generation (DG) Program.

The fuel cell to be installed at Middletown High School will be a phosphoric acid fuel cell supplied by UTC Power of South Windsor, Connecticut. It will provide approximately 48% of the estimated baseload electricity requirements for the school and will supply heat to the swimming pool and the school’s space heating system. Additionally, the fuel cell will provide grid-independent power to support the school’s function as an emergency shelter at times when the electric grid is unavailable. "We're delighted to add the new Middletown High School to the growing list of educational institutions that have chosen UTC Power PureCell™ 200 technology because of its environmental, economic, societal and educational benefits," said Jan van Dokkum, UTC Power president. "Fuel cells are one of the cleanest power generating technologies available today and are more than twice as efficient as the electrical grid when the fuel cell's exhaust heat is put to work, as it will be at Middletown High School."

For more information on the project, click here.

Source: CT Clean Energy Fund

Trump To Build Green in Connecticut

May 17, Stamford, Conn.– TV star and millionaire Donald Trump will be joining Thomas L. Rich and Louis R. Cappelli and building Trump Parc Stamford, a new luxury high-rise condominium located in heart of downtown Stamford. The developers announced they will seek LEED status for the building. The $160 million dazzling high-rise condominium tower will redefine luxury residential living in Fairfield County.

Centrally located at One Broad Street on the corner of Washington Boulevard across from UConn Stamford, Trump Parc Stamford is in the heart of Stamford's vibrant downtown with its many fine restaurants, shops and entertainment including the Palace Theatre and Rich Forum. It is conveniently located just minutes from the Stamford Transportation Center, which provides daily express train service via the Metro North New Haven Line into midtown Manhattan within 45 minutes.

Residents of Trump Parc Stamford will enjoy the convenience of their own private shuttle bus to the train station. On-site valet parking will be located on five levels at the base of the building. There will also be approximately 3,000 square feet of restaurant space fronting the corner of Washington Boulevard and Broad Street.

Trump Parc Stamford is located across the street from Stamford's Mill River Park, which is undergoing a $40 million restoration. The developers of Trump Parc Stamford are making a financial contribution to the multi-phase Mill River Park improvement project. Trump Parc Stamford will also be a LEED qualified green building which means energy efficiency and sustainability and lower utility bills for its buyers.

To find out more about the project, click here.

Source: Cappelli Enterprises Inc

Thirty-One States Join to Create U.S. Climate Registry

May 13, Washington, D.C.– Thirty-one states, representing over 70 percent of the U.S. population, have banded together to create a Climate Registry, marking the largest national effort to take action on climate change.

The participating states see the creation of the Climate Registry, which is based on voluntary reporting of statewide emissions, as a necessary first step toward developing mandatory, federal regulations on global warming-causing emissions.

"This historic milestone establishes a critical and credible 'common currency' that will help us succeed as we move forward with efforts to reduce these missions,' said Connecticut's Governor, M. Jodi Rell.

California has already taken the lead on reducing carbon emissions -- the state has legislated a mandatory 25 percent reduction by 2020 -- and other states in the Registry have begun working on ways to lower their emissions as well. The Hawaii state legislature recently passed a bill similar to California's, and Washington state and the states that make up the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative have started to reduce the emissions caused by power plants in their states.

The list of founding member states and tribes thus far includes the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the Campo Kumeyaay Nation. Two Canadian provinces, British Columbia and Manitoba, have also committed to participate.

The Registry is a tool to measure, track, verify and publicly report GHG emissions accurately, transparently and consistently across borders and industry sectors. The Registry's proponents say it is is a critical first step in developing robust programs to reduce GHG emissions. To read the full article, click here.

Source: GreenBiz.com

Recycling in CT with Nike

May 3, Hartford, Conn – The fourth annual state-wide recycling program for sneakers is currently underway. The Connecticut Recyclers Coalition, the National Recycling Coalition and Nike, are sponsoring Nike Reuse A Shoe collections at various locations statewide—it is the only statewide collection program in the nation. The program runs May 1st through June 30.

This is part of a national recycling program aimed at collecting old, worn out athletic shoes of all brands and recycling them into new playground and athletic surfaces. More than 10,000 pairs of sneakers were recycled in Connecticut in one year. Residents are strongly encouraged to set up a sneaker collection box in their hometown.

Reuse-A-Shoe collects, slices, and grinds up used (any brand) and defective (Nike only) athletic shoes to make Nike Grind material, which is then used in sports surfaces. Since its inception in 1993, the Reuse-A-Shoe program has recycled more than 13 million pairs of shoes, and has helped donate over 100 athletic courts, tracks, fields and playground surfaces to communities around the world. Nike Grind material from the shoes collected are allocated to Nike’s licensees—FieldTurf, Rebound Ace, Atlas Track and Connor.

Reuse-A-Shoe is an integral part of Nike’s new NikeGO initiative launched in the fall of 2002 to increase physical activity among youth ages 9-15—and give them the means to do it. Programs include the NikeGO Fund, NikeGO After School program, NikeGO Girls program, Reuse-A-Shoe, Bowerman Track Program and numerous field/court and product donations. Through NikeGO, thousands of youth will be encouraged to discover the joy of movement and physical activity in an effort to help lead healthier lives. For more information please visit www.nikego.com and www.nikebiz.com/reuseashoe.

For more information or to find a collection spot near you visit http://www.ctrecyclers.org/reuseashoe.pdf or contact Evelyn Golden at 860-658-7172.

GE Offers $25m for City Redevelopment

May 1, Hartford, Conn – General Electric has offered Bridgeport up to $25 million for the city's downtown redevelopment efforts, the Connecticut Post has learned. The terms of the grant from the 129-year-old, Fairfield-based international conglomerate, however, require an equal match from the state, according to sources familiar with the proposal.

Mayor John M. Fabrizi on Monday said he was "elated" by the interest, but termed details and negotiations as being in their "infancy." Fabrizi said he first heard the offer Friday.

"It's extremely exciting, especially for our downtown," Fabrizi said. "I applaud GE for starting the ball rolling. It's a tremendous boost and could be a great benefit to the investors who are rehabilitating and revitalizing downtown."

Fabrizi said that while the proposal injects a shot of optimism into downtown development, it has a long way to go. "There's a lot of work yet to be done, but it's truly exciting," Fabrizi said.

Gus Serra, manager of communications in GE's human resources unit, agreed Monday that talks are just beginning.

"GE Business has had very preliminary discussion looking at investment opportunities in Bridgeport," Serra said. Further details were unavailable Monday. Last year, GE's world sales topped $163 billion.

Lawmakers and representatives from GE are scheduled to meet this afternoon with Speaker of the House James A. Amann to gauge legislative support in what could become a historic infusion of private cash into the city.

"We love GE and we're more than willing to hear their proposal," Amann, D-Milford, said Monday afternoon. He plans to include other House leaders, including the co-chairmen of the Commerce Committee and Appropriations Committee.

Last month, unaware of GE's offer, the Democratic-dominated Appropriations Committee approved legislation for long-range state bonding that included tens of millions of dollars for Bridgeport projects.

Amann said that the General Assembly would have more than a month to amend the bonding legislation and he expects the issue to be brought up with Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell's budget team.

Source: The Connecticut Post