New Milford to Implement Innovative Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure Improvements at Town Facilities and School Buildings

New Milford, Connecticut – The Town of New Milford signed a $15 million energy savings performance contract with Energy Systems Group, LLC (ESG), a subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and leading energy services provider, to design and implement comprehensive energy and infrastructure improvements in 17 facilities and school buildings.

The improvements will result in $19.1 million of total energy and operational savings over the twenty-year term of the contract and will reduce the Town’s carbon footprint by more than 2,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. This is equivalent to annually reducing greenhouse emissions from 600 passenger vehicles or planting 3,400 acres of forest.

The project scope includes various mechanical upgrades such as boiler and chiller replacements, upgrading 13,000 lighting fixtures to light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, energy management upgrades, building envelope improvements, and water conservation measures. ESG will also install two 75-kilowatt gas-fired engine-generators at the New Milford High School for on-site power generation and resiliency as well as 1.5 megawatts of onsite solar photovoltaic or renewable energy generation across four locations: New Milford Water Pollution Control Authority, Police Station, Sarah Noble Intermediate School, and Hill & Plain Elementary School. These improvements will help the Town secure about $1.9 million in renewable energy credits and utility incentives.

“We are excited to implement innovative improvements that will help reduce energy costs, modernize infrastructure, and promote sustainability in our town facilities and school buildings while paying for themselves through guaranteed savings,” said Mayor Pete Bass. “These improvements will help fulfill our goals for continued growth, economic development, and environmental stewardship,” added Bass. “ESG helped us design a capital improvement project that will benefit our residents, students, and environment without the requirement of new taxes or upfront capital costs.”

“ESG is proud to partner with Mayor Bass and the Town of New Milford to design and implement comprehensive building improvements and onsite renewable energy installations,” said Jarrett Simon, ESG Vice President. “We commend New Milford for its commitment to promoting sustainability and efficiency and improving working and learning environments for its residents.”

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Forward Looking Statement:
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release, the “should,” “will” or other similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions of management which are believed to be reasonable at the time made and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Any statements in this news release regarding future events, such as expected energy and operational savings, reduction in carbon emissions and other benefits resulting from the performance contract, and any other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this news release speaks only as of the date of this release. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the provided forward-looking information include risks and uncertainties relating to: (1) financial market conditions; (2) general economic conditions; (3) the timing and impact of future regulatory and legislative decisions; (4) weather variations; (5) changes in business plans; and (6) other factors, risks and uncertainties discussed in CenterPoint Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021, and other reports CenterPoint Energy or its subsidiaries may file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.