RFP offers chance to start energy park

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BEACON FALLS — After several setbacks, a planned renewable energy park will soon have another chance to move forward.

The Beacon Falls Energy Park will likely submit a bid in response to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s request for clean energy project proposals. The deadline to submit proposals is the beginning of April and DEEP is expected to select the winning projects in mid-June.

DEEP’s latest request is for anaerobic digesters, off shore wind, and fuel cells up to 20 megawatts.

Although the Beacon Falls project is fully permitted and approved for 63.3 megawatts, Bill Corvo, president of CT Energy & Technology, the parent firm of the Beacon Falls Energy Park project, said the project can be built modularly so he can submit a bid for a portion of the project.

“The project is all set to go,” Corvo said.

He said the Beacon Falls Energy Park recently extended its large generator interconnection agreement with Independent System Operators New England. That agreement would allow the company to integrate its project with the energy grid over the next three years.

In 2016, the Beacon Falls project faced a setback when it was not selected as one of the projects in the New England Clean Energy Request for Proposals. Fuel cells are considered a Class 1 renewable in Connecticut.

If selected, the Beacon Falls Energy Park could enter a 20-year agreement with Eversource and United Illuminating to supply those companies with renewable energy credits to meet the state’s requirements. The project would then be reviewed by the Public Utilities Regulatory Committee.

The Beacon Falls Energy Park plans to use the latest technology from Danbury-based manufacturer FuelCell Energy, which has a factory in Torrington.

Corvo said the company is discussing other options to get portions of the project done.

“We’re continuously examine opportunities for the development of the project,” he said. “It doesn’t all have to be built at one time.”