January 25, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ann O’Leary CAS
203.259.6305, ext. 102
aoleary@ctaudubon.org
Connecticut Clean Energy Fund To Be Featured at Seventh Annual Eagle Festival
Award Winning Eagle Festival set for February 18 & 19 in Essex and surrounding towns
Fairfield, Connecticut- The 7th annual Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festival, an annual celebration of wintering eagles on the Connecticut River, will feature a Clean Energy Exhibition at the 2006 event set for February 18 & 19 in Essex and surrounding towns. The exhibit will be hosted by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.
“Connecticut is the small state with very big plans for clean energy. Many cities, towns, and large organizations have committed to purchasing 20% of their electricity from clean, renewable sources by the year 2010,” said Charlie Moret, Managing Director of Marketing and Communications with Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.
In April 2004, the State of Connecticut made an unprecedented commitment to clean energy by agreeing to purchase 20% of the electricity for state government properties from clean sources by 2010 and 100% by 2050. This voluntary commitment to clean energy is among the most aggressive in the nation. With a 100% purchase of clean energy, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection recently became the first state agency to support the State’s efforts.
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund Exhibit will show visitors to the Eagle Festival how to produce their own electricity by installing a solar photovoltaic system on their home and receive financial assistance from CCEF’s residential solar rebates. CCEF will demonstrate how easy it is to choose clean energy through current utility and the CTCleanEnergyOptions program. Visitors can also obtain the information needed to become a local leader and encourage communities to make the clean energy choice option.
Also, through the Clean Energy Communities program, residents can partner with their towns or cities to earn a free solar energy system for a public building.
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund invests in technology to support the creation of supply from renewable sources and fuel cells in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for Connecticut. The Fund, financed by a surcharge on ratepayers’ electric utility bills, is administered by Connecticut Innovations.
“Clean energy helps to promote our mission of environmental education, conservation and advocacy,” said Robert Martinez, President, Connecticut Audubon Society. “Developing and using clean energy helps protect the environment we all need to live in and be healthy,” added Martinez.
Also featured at Connecticut Audubon Society’s Eagle Festival are guided two-hour boat tours leaving from the Steamboat Dock of the Connecticut River Museum at 9:00am, 11:30am, and 2:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday of the Festival weekend. Advanced reservations can be made by calling 1.800.714.7201. (This is the only Festival event with an admission price)
Visitors can also enjoy a wide variety of FREE activities at the Festival including land-based eagle viewing tours, environmental lectures, live birds of prey programs, musical entertainment, art exhibits, children’s programs, and much more. All activity tents are heated.
More information can be found by visiting www.ctaudubon.org and clicking on Eagle Festival.
The Connecticut Audubon Society Eagle Festival is presented by Pratt and Whitney, a United Technologies Company. The founding sponsor is Select Energy, a subsidiary of Northeast Utilities.
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, created by the Legislature, invests in technology to support the creation of supply from renewable sources and fuel cells in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for Connecticut. The Fund, financed by a surcharge on ratepayer’s electric utility bills, is administered by Connecticut Innovations.
Founded in 1898, Connecticut Audubon Society is a statewide, nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to providing excellence in environmental education, encouraging the conservation of the state's natural resources and advocating for enlightened public policy on ecological matters. The Connecticut Audubon Society operates nature facilities in Fairfield, Milford, Glastonbury, Pomfret, and Hampton, as well as program outreach offices in Hartford and Essex. Connecticut Audubon Society manages 19 wildlife sanctuaries around the state preserving over 2,500 acres of open space. Connecticut Audubon Society is completely independent and is not affiliated with any government, national or state Audubon agencies.
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