CT SB01078

Authorizes the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to issue solicitations for long-term contracts (up to 20 years) with energy providers for renewable energy, demand response, energy storage, and natural gas resources to improve reliability and meet state energy goals.

Allows procurement of Class I renewable energy sources (2-20 megawatts), passive demand response measures, and energy storage systems up to 20 megawatts through one solicitation track, and Class I renewable sources (20+ megawatts), large-scale hydropower, and larger energy storage systems through another track.

Permits natural gas procurement including interstate transportation capacity, liquefied natural gas, and storage to provide firm delivery capability to power plants in the regional grid, with contract terms not exceeding 20 years.

Limits total natural gas capacity to 375 million cubic feet per day equivalent and caps renewable energy and demand reduction procurement at 10 percent of state load; requires Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approval of contracts within 90 days.

Establishes up to $1.5 million in recoverable costs for solicitation and consultant expenses through nonbypassable federally mandated congestion charges, and defines "energy storage system" to include mechanical, chemical, and thermal energy storage technologies.