The Connecticut Green Bank has announced the honorees of its annual awards, which highlight the key partnerships and projects from 2024. This is the tenth year in which the Green Bank has recognized the dedicated network of contractors, developers, lenders, community leaders, home and building owners, and community members. Thanks to these relationships and projects, the Green Bank has helped create nearly 30,000 job years and reduced energy cost burdens for more than 71,000 families, businesses, and nonprofits since 2011.
"This is the tenth year that the Green Bank has formally recognized the great work of our partners across the state," said Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Green Bank. "We are excited to publicly acknowledge a diverse group of stakeholders. From Susan Auslander and her fellow residents at Meadow Ridge in Redding for their unwavering interest in solar for their facility to CT Department of Housing Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno for her team's leadership in promoting solar for affordable multifamily properties to the many contractors working in energy efficiency and renewable energy, we are honored to have such exceptional leaders in our communities."
Here are the award recipients for 2024:
President's Award
This year's President's Award was presented to Susan Auslander, a Meadow Ridge resident who led the Solar Committee and continuously championed the case for installing solar to the property management company, Redding Life Care. Susan's leadership is a great example of the Green Bank's vision for a planet protected by the love of humanity. Also recognized were members of the Solar Committee Carol Morgan, Peggy Southard, and Doug Dawson.
State Sen. Ceci Maher (D-26) and State Rep. Anne Hughes (D-135) also honored Susan and her fellow Solar Committee members with a citation for their efforts.
Chair's Award
For the Chair's Award, Amalgamated Bank was recognized by Green Bank Chair Lonnie Reed for their outstanding leadership and support of numerous Green Bank initiatives over the years, including their partnership with the Eversource Small Business Energy Advantage (SBEA) program, which helps businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities reduce their energy costs. In 2024, the Green Bank and Amalgamated Bank celebrated the cumulative purchase of $100 million in loans through SBEA, which offers a no-cost, no-obligation energy assessment and provides a one-stop service that combines easy access to energy efficiency measures as well as incentives and payment plans.
Known as America's socially responsible bank, Amalgamated has a long history of making financing accessible to all and supporting nonprofits, labor unions, advocacy groups, and others. Born in the 1920s from labor organizer Sidney Hillman and the leaders of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, their mission centers on "empowering organizations and individuals to advance positive social change," which includes environmental justice.
Community Solutions Award
Outstanding Partner - Andy Bauer
Andy Bauer has been a leader in Connecticut's clean energy and sustainability movement for decades, steering the Town of Portland's Clean Energy Task Force since 2005 and serving as a leadership example for advocates and volunteers across the state. He has been a driving force in his town's achievement of certification through Sustainable CT, and his leadership role in the Connecticut Energy Network illustrates his willingness to support like-minded advocates across the state.
Building Solutions Awards
Outstanding Project
Solar and energy efficiency project at Holy Cross High School in Waterbury
This award recognizes the leadership, faculty and students at Holy Cross High School for their solar and energy efficiency project that added 513 solar panels to their roof. In total, the project is anticipated to save the school more than $2 million in avoided energy costs over the life of the system. This award is shared with Facility Solutions Group in Oxford and Sync Renewables of Portland, the contractors that completed the project.
Outstanding Project
Solar project at Wampus Lane in Milford
Milford Holdings LLC completed a 1.1-megawatt solar project at their property at 80 Wampus Lane in Milford, which houses industrial and manufacturing businesses. The project is estimated to produce more than $4 million in energy revenue over the next 20 years for the ownership. Also recognized for this project are Evergreen Energy LLC of Southington and AEC Solar LLC of West Haven who installed the solar system and Jodi French of KPT Renewables who coordinated the partners to facilitate this project.
Outstanding Project
The project at Corbin District LLC
This award is presented to Counterpointe Sustainable Real Estate for their role in a project in downtown Darien called The Corbin District. Counterpointe provided $63.3 million in C-PACE financing, the largest C-PACE transaction to date in Connecticut. This mixed-use project is the first in the state to employ a resiliency measure to access additional C-PACE funding. Permeable pavers are included in the landscape design to enhance drainage.
Outstanding Partner for Solar MAP for Affordable Multifamily Housing
Connecticut Department of Housing
The Green Bank's successful Solar Marketplace Assistance Program (MAP) expanded in 2024 beyond serving municipal and state buildings to include affordable multifamily housing properties of 5 or more units. To reach this market, the Green Bank contacted the Connecticut Department of Housing for their assistance. Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno's team was instrumental in helping the Green Bank team connect with property owners and managers to inform them about the offering.
Outstanding Partner for Solar MAP
TotalEnergies Renewables USA played a pivotal role in the success of the Green Bank's Solar Marketplace Assistance Program's inaugural portfolio of solar projects for the State of Connecticut. They were the construction partner and long-term system owner for seven solar systems for the Department of Corrections that will save the state $12 million in energy costs. TotalEnergies is being recognized for their extraordinary expertise delivering the projects as they were envisioned and on budget, helping the state take a big step toward their clean, affordable energy goals.
Top Performer
Smart Roofs Solar (Monroe)
Since 2018, Smart Roofs Solar has been actively using C-PACE financing to close solar projects. In 2024, Smart Roofs was the top performer among all contractors in the program. A banner year for Smart Roof Solar, they contributed a whopping 40% of all closed transactions in the 2024 calendar year.
Accelerating PACE
Efficient Lighting Consultants, Inc.
Newtown-based ELC incorporates C-PACE financing and all other Green Bank commercial financing products into its core sales process, resulting in a constant stream of qualified projects with a high close ratio. The company excels in working with all types of commercial properties- from retail and light industrial, to office and nonprofits- developing both solar PV and energy efficiency projects.
Investment Solutions Awards
Outstanding Partners
Scale Microgrids and NuPower, LLC for the Bridgeport Thermal Loop
The fuel cell and thermal loop project currently under construction in Bridgeport is a story of patience and finding the right partner. NuPower, LLC spent more than six years developing this project to put it in a strong position to attract a great long-term owner to finance and construct the project. NuPower found that owner in Scale Microgrids, a leading developer and owner of distributed energy solutions. The development work performed by NuPower and the financing and construction organized by Scale have result in a Project that will provide more than 75GWh to the grid annually, discounted heat to surrounding organizations that support the community, and substantial tax revenue to the City of Bridgeport from a parcel that had been vacant for more than 20 years. The Green Bank is proud to give the Investment Solutions Award to Scale Microgrids and NuPower, LLC for the Bridgeport Fuel Cell & Thermal Loop project.
Ion Bank
As one of the lenders in the Smart-E loan program in 2024, Ion Bank doubled their number of closed loans and loan volume from 2023. Both of these numbers were their strongest performance in the program since joining in 2013. Headquartered in Naugatuck, Ion Bank serves Smart-E customers and contractors in Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, Hartford, and Litchfield counties.
Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union (NSFCU)
Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union had a huge performance in the Smart-E loan program in 2024. The Nutmeg team tripled their closed loans and loan volume when compared to 2023 and had their strongest year in the program. Nutmeg serves customers in the middle of the state across New Haven, Middlesex, Hartford, and Tolland counties.
Energy Storage Solutions
Launched in 2022 and co-administered by the Green Bank, Eversource, and UI, Energy Storage Solutions is a Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) program that incentivizes Eversource and UI customers to install batteries in their homes and businesses, helping customers across Connecticut increase their resilience when weather-related outages occur and providing benefits to the grid and all ratepayers. As the program continues to grow, the Green Bank recognizes contractors and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) leading the way.
Top Performers - Residential
- Earthlight Technologies (Ellington)
- PosiGen Solar (Bridgeport)
- Earth Smart (Monroe)
Top Program Newcomer
- West Electric (East Hartford)
Outstanding OEM
- FranklinWH
- Generac
Home Solutions Awards
Smart-E Loan - Top Performers
For 2024, the Green Bank recognizes Smart-E Loan Top Performers based on the services they provide or their overall growth in the program over the year. These Top Performers helped families across Connecticut make home energy improvements - allowing them to save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and live more comfortably in their homes. With climate resilience improvements added to the program in 2024, this is the first time that contractors are being recognized for their work in basement sealing and flood proofing. Since 2013, the Smart-E loan has allowed more than 9,000 families to save a projected $180 million in lifetime energy costs.
The 2024 Top Performers (in alphabetical order with their main office location):
Climate Resiliency
- American Dry Basement Systems, LLC (Brookfield)
- Currie's Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc. (Oakdale)
- Dr. Energy Saver of CT (a Division of Connecticut Basement Systems Inc) (Seymour)
Geothermal
- Dandelion Energy, Inc. (New York)
- King Energy, LLC (Lebanon)
HVAC
- Absolute Air Services LLC (Portland)
- Benvenuti Oil (Waterford)
- Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. (South Windsor)
- Homestead Comfort, Inc. (Ellington)
- Nutmeg Mechanical Services, Inc. (Manchester)
Solar
- Earthlight Technologies (Ellington)
- EcoSmart Home Services (East Berlin)
- Green Power Energy (Durham)
- Helio Solar, LLC (Shelton)
- SAVKAT Inc. (Bristol)
Home Performance
- Dr. Energy Saver of CT (a Division of Connecticut Basement Systems Inc) (Seymour)
- Highland Window Co. (West Hartford)
- Yost Home Improvements, Inc. (Waterford)
Photos from the awards presentation can be found at www.ctgreenbank.com/2024awards.
About the Connecticut Green Bank
The Connecticut Green Bank was established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2011 as the nation's first state-level green bank and has since supported the creation of nearly 30,000 green jobs in the state, while reducing the energy cost burden on over 71,000 families, businesses, and nonprofits. The Green Bank's vision is a planet protected by the love of humanity and its mission is to confront climate change by increasing and accelerating investment into Connecticut's green economy to create more resilient, healthier, and equitable communities. This is accomplished by leveraging limited public resources to scale-up and mobilize private capital investment into Connecticut. In 2017, the Connecticut Green Bank received the Innovations in American Government Award from the Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation for their "Sparking the Green Bank Movement" entry. In 2021, the Green Bank's model was expanded to include new areas of environmental infrastructure, related to climate adaptation and resiliency, land conservation, parks and recreation, agriculture, water, waste and recycling, and environmental markets, including carbon offsets and ecosystem services. To date, the Green Bank has mobilized nearly $3 billion into the State's green economy. This has reduced the energy costs for thousands of families and businesses, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and worsen public health.
