Danbury Hospital has quietly secured nearly $2 million in state funding to build a $15 million combined heat and power generation plant on its premises.
The plant would supply much of the hospital”™s power needs, in excess of 5,000 kilowatts, as well as heat for use in hospital rooms and systems.
The Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) approved the grant in early August, as well as $600,000 in funding for a similar project at Saint Mary”™s Hospital in Waterbury that will cost $5.5 million to install.
DPUC has $60 million available for such projects as part of its CT Energy Efficiency Partner Program, a new initiative meant to encourage the purchase of systems to reduce electricity demand in Connecticut.
DPUC withheld $200,000 Danbury Hospital had applied for under a supplemental program, due to the program expiring in April.
While Danbury Hospital will not be able to sell any excess power into the larger grid serving Fairfield County, but the generator should help the region reduce federal “congestion” charges the region has been paying for an inadequate power grid.
