Thursday, October 15, 2009

Conn. puts $4M in stimulus funds to solar water heating

By Mass High Tech staff

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Connecticut Gov. Jodi M. Rell has set aside $4 million in federal stimulus funds to aid residential and commercial installation of solar-powered water-heating systems within the state.

Dubbed the Solar Thermal Incentive Program, the funds cover costs for about 600 residential and 120 nonresidential solar-powered water-heating systems. The systems themselves can provide up to 80 percent of a household’s annual hot water needs.

Connecticut qualifies to receive about $38 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, officials said. Those stimulus funds may apply to statewide plans to grow fuel cell use, add cleantech jobs and make energy-efficient amendments to buildings.

In related news, Rell announced Wednesday that the state is using $420,000 in federal stimulus funding to change lighting fixtures and controls to two University of Connecticut Health Center buildings. The state itself has been tapped to receive $15.4 million specifically for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.