(a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) “Participating qualified nonprofit organizations” means individuals, nonprofit organizations and small businesses;

(2) “Small business” means a business entity employing not more than fifty full-time employees;

(3) “Eligible energy conservation project” means an energy conservation project meeting the criteria identified, as provided in subsection (d) of this section;

(4) “Participating lending institution” means any bank, trust company, savings bank, savings and loan association or credit union, whether chartered by the United States of America or this state, or any insurance company authorized to do business in this state that participates in the Green Connecticut Loan Guaranty Fund program; and

(5) “Bank” means the Connecticut Green Bank.

(b) The bank shall establish the Green Connecticut Loan Guaranty Fund program from the proceeds of the bonds issued pursuant to section 16a-40d for the purpose of guaranteeing loans made by participating lending institutions to a participating qualified nonprofit organization for eligible energy conservation projects, including for two or more joint eligible energy conservation projects. In carrying out the purposes of this section, the bank shall have and may exercise the powers provided in subsection (d) of section 16-245n.

(c) Participating qualified nonprofit organizations may borrow money from a participating lending institution for any energy conservation project for which the bank provides guaranties pursuant to this section. In connection with the provision of such a guaranty by the bank, (1) a participating qualified nonprofit organization shall enter into any loan or other agreement and make such covenants, representations and indemnities as a participating lending institution deems necessary or appropriate; and (2) a participating lending institution shall enter into a guaranty agreement with the bank, pursuant to which the bank has agreed to provide a first loss guaranty of an agreed percentage of the original principal amount of loans for eligible energy conservation projects.

(d) In consultation with the Energy Conservation Management Board and the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, the Connecticut Green Bank shall identify types of projects that qualify as eligible energy conservation projects, including, but not limited to, the purchase and installation of insulation, alternative energy devices, energy conservation materials, replacement furnaces and boilers, and technologically advanced energy-conserving equipment. The bank, in consultation with said entities, shall establish priorities for financing eligible energy conservation projects based on need and quality determinants. The bank shall adopt procedures, in accordance with the provisions of section 1-121, to implement the provisions of this section.

(e) The bank shall, in consultation with the Energy Conservation Management Board and the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, (1) ensure that the program established pursuant to this section integrates with existing state energy efficiency and renewable energy programs; (2) establish performance targets for the program to ensure that the program in coordination with existing financing programs will enable efficiency improvements for at least fifteen per cent of single family homes in the state by 2020; (3) enter into agreements with participating lending institutions that provide loan origination services; and (4) exercise such other powers as are necessary for the proper administration of the program.

(f) Financial assistance provided by participating lending institutions pursuant to this section shall be subject to the following terms:

(1) Eligible energy conservation projects shall meet cost-effectiveness standards adopted by the bank in consultation with the Energy Conservation Management Board and the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority.

(2) Loans shall be at interest rates determined by the bank to be no higher than necessary to result in the participation of participating lending institutions in the program.

(3) The amount of a fee paid for an energy audit provided pursuant to this program may be added to the amount of a loan to finance the cost of an eligible project conducted in response to such energy audit. In such cases, the amount of the fee may be reimbursed from the fund to the borrower.

(P.A. 10-179, S. 135; P.A. 11-80, S. 124; P.A. 14-94, S. 29.)

History: P.A. 10-179 effective May 7, 2010; P.A. 11-80 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (5) defining “authority” as the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority, amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) by replacing “Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority” with “authority”, amended Subsec. (d) by requiring Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority, in consultation with Energy Conservation Management Board and Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority, to identify eligible projects and by eliminating requirement to consult with Office of Policy and Management, and added Subsecs. (e) and (f) re program financing, effective July 1, 2011 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (b), a reference to Sec. 10a-180 was changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. 16-245n(d) for consistency); pursuant to P.A. 14-94, “Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority” and “authority” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Connecticut Green Bank” and “bank”, respectively, effective June 6, 2014.