DEEP Issues Draft Request for Proposals from Private Developers of Zero Carbon Energy Using Onshore Wind, Solar and Co-located Energy Storage – Deadline for Comment is August 28, 2025

On August 21, 2025, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) released an expedited draft Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP seeks submissions from project developers for new, advanced-stage solar, wind and co‑located energy storage projects that may be at risk of losing eligibility for certain federal tax credits under sections 45Y and 48E of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. 

The draft RFP states that “while DEEP will accept bids from projects that are not at risk of losing eligibility for these tax credits, DEEP recognizes the expedited timeline in this draft RFP may limit the ability of some developers to bid and intends to conduct another broader procurement for zero carbon renewable energy resources in the near future.”

Effective October 1, 2025, Public Act 25-173 requires DEEP to establish a proposed schedule for solicitations for new zero-carbon Class I renewable energy resources necessary to achieve a target of an additional 7 percent of the total load served by Connecticut’s electric utilities in the aggregate by 2030.

DEEP requests written comments on the expedited draft RFP on or before 4:00 p.m. on August 28, 2025. Responses should be emailed to DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov with “Expedited Zero Carbon Draft RFP Comments” in the subject line and will be posted on the DEEP website. DEEP specifically requests comments on the following question: In what scenario(s) should selected bidders be allowed to recover the required security? For any identified scenario, provide a clear and specific standard to apply.

Under the proposed schedule, DEEP intends to release the Final Zero Carbon Energy RFP on September 10, 2025, and plans to host a remote Bidder’s Conference on September 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Final bids will be due October 10, 2025, and DEEP intends to announce its decision in November 2025.

Thereafter, winning bidders will negotiate contracts and submit them for Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approval in December 2025. Depending on the applicable statutory authority, PURA’s review process must be conducted within 30, 90 or 180 days.

For any further information, please contact either Lee D. Hoffman at 860-424-4315 or lhoffman@pullcom.com or Kathryn E. Boucher at 860-424-4372 or keboucher@pullcom.com.