By Chet Warner, USCM Intern
July 30, 2007

Ansonia (CT) Mayor James Della Volpe announced the implementation of an Energy Improvement District (EID). “I am proud that we have a chance to be the first of many communities that will be moving forward on this exciting program,” he stated at the city’s public announcement. The goal of this district is to allow local businesses to hook up to a microgrid and save money while at the same time reducing the strain on the local grid. In recent years, the local grid has been stretched to capacity, most especially during the intense heat wave of last summer and the blackouts of 2003, in which much of southwestern Connecticut was without power for days. Della Volpe has chosen to use an EID as a solution to the problem of strained capacity and power irregularity in Connecticut.

The Connecticut state legislature June 2 passed a bill formally allowing the creation of EIDs within any municipality. This bill is what opened the door for the city to implement an EID.

An EID is a microgrid in which businesses jointly plan and finance technologies known as “distributed energies.” These range from locally renewable energies to on'site generators that use combined heat and power systems to optimize energy use within the microgrid. In addition, these systems can drastically reduce the cost of power and guarantee its reliability. With both a cost reduction and reliability guarantee, the EID has become an attractive new method for distributing power. “Our hope is that this district…will serve as a vehicle for local choice for a cleaner environment with dependable power that is generated locally,” Della Volpe said.

After his announcement last month, Della Volpe began looking for support from local businesses, and found a big ally in Ansonia Copper & Brass. The company, who plans to build a 58.4 megawatt generator at its factory, has already pledged to join the EID and to sit on the EID board. The support of such a prominent company could spur others to join, ultimately deciding the fate of the EID in Ansonia.

In order to develop the EID, Della Volpe and the city have consulted with Pareto Energy, Ltd., a Washington (DC) based company that specializes in financing and designing EIDs. Pareto has already lined up investors to finance the cost of developing and implementing the EID within Ansonia. In addition, it has worked closely with Della Volpe to introduce the idea to the businesses of the city.

Della Volpe now faces the approvals of the state Department of Utility Control and the Connecticut Siting Council before he can move forward in developing the EID. However, once approved, Ansonia will become the first city in the state of Connecticut to develop and functionally use an EID. Once these final hurdles are crossed, Ansonia is poised to become an example of electric progression in the United States with Della Volpe as the visionary leader.

For additional information on Pareto Energy, contact Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland at 301-460-5251 or send e-mail to kweyland@usmayors.org.