Rep. Dan Carter Supports a Sustainable, Fruitful Future for Connecticut

DANBURY – Rep. Dan Carter (R-2) recently joined officials from Macerich, Bloom Energy, Washington Gas Energy Services, Connecticut Light & Power, and the Connecticut Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) to celebrate new sustainability initiatives taking place at the Danbury Fair Mall.

The shopping center is now sheltered by a 100% recycled thermoplastic white roof, which helps reflect solar radiation. In addition, energy efficient LED lighting has been installed in the parking lot to save Danbury an amount of energy that could provide 72 homes with electricity each year. This means approximately 309,015 pounds of coal, or 39,745 gallons of oil, will not be burned.

Next, a partnership between Bloom Energy and Washington Gas Energy Systems has led to the installation of 750 kW Bloom Energy manufactured fuel cells at the mall. This solid oxide fuel technology eludes combustion, is 60 percent efficient and uses 99 percent less water (which saves an amount of water that could fill 11 Olympic swimming pools each year). It is less expensive, more predictable, clean, reliable, and cuts carbon emissions by about 3 million pounds each year.

The changes don’t end there, however. Danbury Fair is planning to add over 400 solar roof panels next year.
If that isn’t enough, thanks to its collaboration with Keter Environmental Services, Danbury Fair is nearly qualified to receive a GOLD standard in recycling.

“This is not only a very exciting stride in the direction of environmental sustainability, but also in helping business to flourish here in Connecticut,” said Rep. Dan Carter, member of the Energy & Technology Committee.
The Danbury Mall Event comes a few days after Rep. Carter, also part of the Aviation caucus, attended as well the recent National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) 2014 Convention & Exhibition held in Orlando, Florida. While there, Rep. Carter visited the Connecticut based businesses exhibiting at the convention, as well as businesses who could be encouraged to move to Connecticut.

According to NBAA, this convention implements their mission of “fostering an environment that allows business aviation to thrive.” Businesses congregate from 49 different states and 95 countries to attract young professionals to the industry and participate in workshops on Education and Maintenance & Operation, Safety, and Professional Development & Networking. “I learned first-hand many of the challenges that keep our aerospace businesses from being competitive in Connecticut, especially when trying to do business with the larger companies in the state, such as Pratt and Whitney and United Technologies,” said Rep Carter. “I am hopeful we can consider bipartisan legislation next year that will boost the aerospace industry, and draw more high paying jobs into the state.”

“The Danbury Fair initiative and the NBAA convention have helped me identify growth opportunities in Connecticut,” said Rep Carter. “I believe that if bioscience will flourish here, aerospace and aerospace manufacturing can as well. I can see that there is a great deal we can do to help Connecticut companies compete with out-of-state manufacturing companies. The recent legislation granting United Technologies (UTC) the ability to invest unused state tax credits for major capital improvements, job retention and keeping their headquarters in Connecticut is a good example. Partnerships like the Danbury Mall initiative may also help manufacturers compete here. With the proper support, we can boost our manufacturing industry, and ultimately bring more aerospace companies to Connecticut.”