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SB00244 • 2026

AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATE MARKET.

AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY CERTIFICATE MARKET.

Energy Technology
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Energy and Technology Committee
Last action
2026-04-02
Official status
File Number 344
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details on how much money will be spent or what actions might follow from the study results, leaving these points as unknowns.

A Law to Study Renewable Energy Certificates

This law requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to study how renewable energy certificates work in Connecticut.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to conduct a study on the market for certificates issued by the New England Power Pool Generation Information System.
  • The study must look at the role of these certificates in supporting the development, financing, and continued operation of renewable energy resources in Connecticut and the region.
  • It also needs to examine current supply, demand, and pricing trends for such certificates both locally and in regional markets.
  • The study should assess if using these certificates demonstrates benefits in environmental protection and electric-grid resiliency.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection
  • Renewable energy projects in Connecticut

Terms To Know

renewable energy certificates
Documents that show a certain amount of electricity was produced from renewable sources like wind or solar power.
New England Power Pool Generation Information System
A system used to manage and track the generation of electricity in New England states.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money will be spent on this study.
  • It is unclear what specific actions might come from the results of the study.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-02 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  2. 2026-04-02 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate

  3. 2026-04-02 Connecticut General Assembly

    Senate Calendar Number 230

  4. 2026-04-02 LCO

    File Number 344

  5. 2026-03-27 LCO

    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/01/26 5:00 PM

  6. 2026-03-18 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  7. 2026-03-17 ET

    Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. 2026-02-20 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 02/24

  9. 2026-02-19 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred to Joint Committee on Energy and Technology

Official Summary Text

To require the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to conduct a study on the efficacy of the market for certificates issued by the New England Power Pool Generation Information System.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Senate
sSB244 / File No. 344 1

General Assembly File No. 344
February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No. 244

Senate, April 2, 2026

The Committee on Energy and Technology reported through
SEN. NEEDLEMAN of the 33rd Dist., Chairperson of the
Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute bill
ought to pass.

AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY
CERTIFICATE MARKET.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. ( Effective July 1, 2026 ) The Commissioner of Energy and 1
Environmental Protection shall conduct a study concerning the market 2
for certificates issued by the New England Power Pool Generation 3
Information System. The study shall include, but need not be limited to, 4
(1) the role of such certificates in supporting the development, financing 5
and continued operation of renewable energy resources in the state and 6
the region, (2) the current supply, demand and pricing trends for such 7
certificates in the state and in regional markets, including markets 8
administered by the regional independent system operator, as defined 9
in section 16-1 of the general statutes, and (3) the extent to which such 10
certificates, when used for compliance with state renewable energy 11
requirements, demonstrate benefits in environmental protection, 12
electric-grid resiliency or any other identified benefits to the state. Not 13
later than January 1, 2027, the commissioner shall submit a report on the 14
sSB244 File No. 344

sSB244 / File No. 344 2

results of such study, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 15
of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General 16
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to energy and 17
technology and the environment. 18
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In the last sentence, "on the results of such study" was added for clarity.

ET Joint Favorable Subst.

sSB244 File No. 344

sSB244 / File No. 344 3

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill requires the Department of Energy and Environmental
Protection (DEEP) to conduct a study concerning the market for
certificates issued by the New England Power Pool Generation
Information System. This is not anticipated to result in a cost as DEEP
has the staff and expertise necessary to complete the study.
The Out Years
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None

sSB244 File No. 344

sSB244 / File No. 344 4

OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 244

AN ACT REQUIRING A STUDY OF THE RENEWABLE ENERGY
CERTIFICATE MARKET.

SUMMARY
The Office of Legislative Research does not analyze Special Acts.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Energy and Technology Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 26 Nay 0 (03/17/2026)