By Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland
October 22, 2007

While the related issues of environmental sustainability and energy management continue to gain interest at the national level, it is at the local level where ingenuity and action have combined to produce innovative solutions to this complex, far reaching dilemma. At the forefront of this local movement is a legislative initiative to enable Energy Improvement Districts that will clear the regulatory obstacles to communities and businesses seeking to control of their energy future.

The Energy Improvement District (EID), an organizational innovation developed by the United States Conference of Mayors in cooperation with Pareto Energy, Ltd., organizes commercial businesses and communities to invest in more modern, locally based technologies for efficiency, micro-generation and microgrids. With efforts from state and city political leaders, the Energy Improvement District is gaining recognition as a powerful means for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint while increasing their power quality and reliability.

Recently, Connecticut passed legislation enabling the creation of microgrids with Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida pursuing similar enabling efforts. In Connecticut, the breadth of response to the recent passage of the enabling legislation has been substantial, with many cities and communities identifying renewable and sustainable energy projects to implement the innovative EID concept.

Recognizing the positive impact EIDs have on city economic development, Ansonia (CT) passed an ordinance this July establishing the “Ansonia Energy Improvement District” to promote the planning, development, construction and funding of energy improvement districts. One local business, Ansonia Copper & Brass, began efforts on their own to offset their ever increasing electricity costs. But with the new city ordinance, their effort can now be coordinated with those of other businesses in the community allowing for the prospect of higher efficiencies and savings to be achieved.

Other Connecticut cities are following suit. New Haven, Watertown, Beacon Falls and Stamford are currently working on passing similar ordinance, with Stamford in ongoing consultation with Pareto Energy and the Fairfield County Business Association. Meanwhile, Bridgeport has made Energy Improvement Districts a priority in an impressive and substantial redevelopment effort, identifying project areas to implement the EID concept in support of high-tech business development in the area.

For more information on EID’s and Pareto Energy, contact Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland at kweyland@usmayors.org or 301-460-5251.