Connecticut Water and Earthlight Technologies Partner on Solar Generation Projects

CLINTON, Conn. - April 22, 2024- Connecticut Water will expand the solar electric generation capabilities with an expansion of a partnership with Earthlight Technologies, a family-owned company based in Ellington specializing in solar energy solutions, to reduce energy costs, protect the environment and bolster the state economy.

The two Connecticut companies most recently collaborated on a 371 kilowatt (kW) solar array at Connecticut Water's Clinton office and shoreline work center, which is projected to produce 440,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year.

"We are fortunate to have Earthlight Technologies, a nationally recognized solar installer, right here in Connecticut," said Connecticut Water President Craig J. Patla. "Partnering with a local firm to drive down operating costs for our customers while reducing greenhouse gas emissions is good business, supports our communities and benefits the environment."

By generating electricity with the solar panels, Connecticut Water can protect customers from unpredictable increases in electricity pricing. Within six years, reduced energy purchase costs will cover the project installation costs.

"Earthlight values the collaboration with Connecticut Water Co., a utility that cares deeply for the future of our natural resources and our environment and that consciously supports local business," said Earthlight CEO and Co-founder Sam Schneider. "We have worked closely with Connecticut Water on three projects and have found that they share our same Core Values; kindness, respect, building trust through honest relationships, delivering a high-quality product, and promoting energy conservation and environmental responsibility."

The solar array installed in Clinton generates 100% of the energy needs of the headquarters office and shoreline work center as well as four recently installed EV charging stations. The estimated payback period is six years. However, customers and the environment begin seeing the benefit right away because the company no longer pays the rates charged by the local electric utility and an estimated 312,000 kilograms of greenhouse gases are not emitted into the environment each year, according to an EPA calculator.

Connecticut Water previously partnered with Earthlight on two earlier projects in Colchester and Naugatuck that, combined, produce 181,000 kWh per year.

Connecticut Water and Earthlight are currently collaborating on the next solar installation, which will be installed at Connecticut Water's facility in Rockville this year.

About Connecticut Water Company
Connecticut Water is a public water utility that is regulated by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. The company provides water service to more than 107,000 customers in 60 Connecticut towns and wastewater services to 3,000 customers in the town of Southbury, Connecticut.

The towns served are Ashford, Avon, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bolton, Brooklyn, Burlington, Canton, Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Deep River, Durham, East Granby, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Essex, Farmington, Griswold, Guilford, Haddam, Hebron, Killingly, Killingworth, Lebanon, Madison, Manchester, Mansfield, Marlborough, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Oxford, Plainfield, Plymouth, Portland, Prospect, Simsbury, Somers, Southbury, South Windsor, Stafford, Stonington, Suffield, Thomaston, Thompson, Tolland, Vernon, Voluntown, Waterbury, Westbrook, Willington, Windsor Locks and Woodstock.

About Earthlight Technologies
Earthlight Technologies is a family-owned and operated business headquartered in CT and operating across the country. Earthlight has high quality solutions for commercial, industrial, and residential solar + storage as well as commercial EV chargers and energy efficiency. Earthlight's in-house experts are involved in all aspects of a project from start to finish including custom design, engineering, construction, financing solutions, system monitoring, operations, and maintenance. Earthlight's goal is to provide the highest quality products, performance, consistency, and value. This commitment is rooted in their culture and is essential to their continued growth and success. www.earthlighttech.com

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