Municipal Virtual Net Metering in Connecticut

Thanks to our friends at SolarConnecticut and CT Clean Water Action, here’s an excellent overview of our state's current (Summer 2020) Virtual Net Metering (VNM) program. The recorded webinar describes the municipal revenue potential and energy cost-cutting possibilities for cities and towns that haven’t yet been able to participate, due to a legislated cap on the number of VNM megawatts permitted to date. Legislative action is needed to allow more munis to benefit from VNM, so the presenters urge us to contact our state senators and representatives, and insist that an enabling bill — one that significantly raises or eliminates the VNM cap — gets enacted ASAP.

SolarCT’s Mike Trahan speaks with his slides until minute 9:35 during this recording; Stephen Wagner, the chair of South Windsor’s volunteer energy committee, shares his actual experiences with VNM in his town; and three solar developers help answer questions posed by attendees — mostly municipal officials and clean energy task force members. The enlightening Q&A runs from 20:22 until the 42:26 close, and addresses the financial details and the need for local level expertise.