🌎 The Future is Green

Edition 2: Connecticut Green Giants

Dear Readers,

For the past few decades, ACT | The Alliance for Climate Transition has championed innovation as the foundation of a thriving clean energy economy. Whether it's improving grid resilience, expanding equitable access to clean technologies, or accelerating the deployment of climate solutions, our work is rooted in a simple idea: the future is built by bold innovators, and it starts now.

Clean energy isn’t just about reducing emissions—it’s about improving quality of life, creating economic opportunity, and empowering communities to shape their own energy future. As we spotlight this edition’s Connecticut Green Giants, we’re reminded that progress comes from those willing to challenge what’s possible—from advanced grid monitoring to smart building tech and accessible EV infrastructure.

Together, we’re building the ecosystem that makes this innovation possible. Thank you for being part of it.

— Joe Curtatone President, ACT

🌎 Why Climatetech Still Matters

The clean energy transition is accelerating—but it’s not happening fast enough. Climatetech continues to be one of the most powerful tools we have to tackle not only emissions, but also energy affordability, resilience, and equity.

At ACT, we’re working to ensure these technologies don’t stay stuck in the lab. Through programs like Cleantech Open Northeast / ACT, we support early-stage founders with training, mentorship, and exposure to investors. For startups ready to scale, Navigate | The Alliance for Climate Transition helps connect them with capital, corporate partners, and policy pathways to bring solutions to market.

This is where ideas become action—and where the climate economy comes to life.

Check out our website to explore all the other work we’re doing to accelerate the climate transition, from policy advocacy to community engagement.

🔗https://www.joinact.org

🚨 Join us at an upcoming ClimaTech Event ⚙️

We're excited to be part of ClimaTech, an intensive two-day summit in Boston on May 13-14! This event brings together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators to tackle the most pressing sustainability challenges and explore breakthrough climate tech solutions. Join us for two days of great insight, networking, and challenging discussions moving towards a cleaner future.

🔗 Register here: https://registration.experientevent.com/showCLT251/?flow=%20EMNAOP251

🔬 This Month’s Spotlight: Connecticut Green Giants

Kelvin

Decarbonizing Urban Buildings with Smart Radiator Enclosures

Kelvin is reimagining heating efficiency in one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize— urban buildings. Their flagship product, The Cozy, is a smart thermostatic enclosure that fits over traditional radiators, optimizing heat distribution and reducing energy waste.

Kelvin’s system can cut heating costs by up to 25% while enhancing comfort in older buildings that are often left out of energy efficiency upgrades. What sets Kelvin apart is its data-driven platform that allows property managers to monitor and optimize heating systems remotely across an entire building portfolio.

Beyond residential heating, Kelvin is expanding its reach into large commercial and municipal buildings, offering a pathway to slash carbon emissions across dense urban environments. Their work is critical: heating accounts for over a third of building emissions in the Northeast.

Noteworthy AI

Grid Resilience Through Computer Vision

In an era of increasing climate volatility, Noteworthy AI is helping utilities stay one step ahead. The startup has developed a vehicle-mounted computer vision system that autonomously identifies defects in utility infrastructure—everything from cracked poles to corroded hardware.

By turning utility fleet vehicles into mobile inspection platforms, Noteworthy enables real-time grid monitoring at scale. Their system reduces the need for manual inspections, improves safety, and helps utilities respond more proactively to storm-related threats and wear-and-tear.

As Chris Ricciuti, Founder & CEO, explains: "By delivering real-time insights, we help utilities harden infrastructure, optimize storm recovery efforts, and improve overall grid resilience."

Their solution is already being piloted by major electric utilities and has the potential to revolutionize infrastructure maintenance, making our power systems more resilient, efficient, and prepared for the future.

Matcha

Scaling EV Charging Access Without the Capital Burden

Electric vehicle adoption hinges not just on car supply—but on charging infrastructure. That’s where they come in; Matcha provides turnkey EV charging stations for multifamily buildings and commercial properties, all with no upfront costs to landlords.

Matcha installs and manages the chargers, while property owners benefit from a profit-sharing model. Their proprietary software manages charging usage, monitors performance, and integrates with grid demands—ensuring both convenience and efficiency.

Their core innovation? Turning EV charging from a cost center into a revenue generator for property managers—especially important in urban housing markets where charging access is limited.

Matcha is already operating across multiple cities and is rapidly scaling to meet surging demand from states rolling out zero-emission vehicle targets.

⚖️ Policy in Action: Turning Innovation Into Impact

At ACT, we don’t just elevate climatetech companies—we work to build the policy frameworks that help them thrive.

This year’s Connecticut Green Giants—like Kelvin, Noteworthy AI, and Matcha Electric—represent the kind of innovation that can transform our energy system. But scaling those solutions requires more than capital—it demands policy support, grid access, and investment in equitable infrastructure.

That’s why, on March 6th during Connecticut Clean Energy Day 2025, ACT along with Solar Energy Industries Association brought together industry leaders and legislators to advocate for a suite of forward-looking bills that directly align with the challenges and opportunities our startups face:

📜 HB 5004: Supports clean energy expansion and job creation across the state—laying the foundation for companies like Kelvin to scale retrofits in underserved communities.

📜 SB 1352: Promotes energy efficiency, grid reliability, and heat pump adoption—paving the way for companies like Matcha Electric to operate in a more innovation-friendly policy environment.

📜 SB 7017: Establishes a task force to study Advanced Transmission technologies, which are key for startups like Noteworthy AI whose innovation depends on smarter, more resilient grid infrastructure.

📜 HB 6928: Advances municipal aggregation programs, enabling communities to pursue competitive clean energy sourcing—creating opportunities for broader deployment of local solutions and an affordable clean energy future.

By championing these policies, ACT is doing what we do best: bridging the gap between enabling policies, innovation and implementation. We’re proud to not only highlight these Green Giants—but to help clear the path for their growth across the region.

We were proud to stand alongside leaders from across the state, including individuals from Bloom Energy, Select Energy, CTC Global, BlueWave, PowerOptions, Inc., NORTHEAST ENERGY EFFICIENCY COUNCIL INC, Scale Microgrids, Sunnova Energy, New Leaf Energy, Inc., EVKON., IGS Energy, Energy Guard, and PosiGen. Their presence and support made Clean Energy Day a powerful moment for climate policy and innovation.

📉 What’s at Risk: IRA Rollbacks in the Northeast

Each future edition of this newsletter will spotlight how proposed rollbacks of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) could impact a different Northeast state. This month, we focus on Connecticut—where the stakes are high.

Thanks to the IRA, Connecticut has already seen:

✅ $34.6M in clean energy & transportation investments

✅ $156M in federal grants and loans

✅ 300+ new jobs

✅ 31 facilities developed, 16 manufacturing clean tech

But if federal programs are repealed:

🚫 $1.5B in GDP lost by 2030

🚫 5 MMT of added carbon pollution by 2035

🚫 $434M in higher household energy costs

🚫 7,200+ jobs lost in 2030 alone

These aren’t just numbers—they’re a warning. ACT is committed to ensuring our region doesn’t lose the momentum we’ve worked so hard to build.

📎 Read the full report at Energy Innovation Policy and Technology LLC here: https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/massachusetts_ira_repeal_analysis_march_2025_FINAL.pdf

🌍💡 Faces of the Climate Economy: Celebrating Leaders Driving Change 💡🌍

The clean energy transition thrives on diverse leadership and innovative thinking. At ACT, we launched "Faces of the Climate Economy" to spotlight the individuals shaping the movement—from entrepreneurs to policymakers to community advocates.

🔹 What is it? A series highlighting climate economy leaders, their journeys, and their advice.

🔹 Why does it matter? Representation fuels inspiration, creating role models for future climate professionals.

🔹 Get involved: Know someone who should be featured? Sign up to nominate yourself or others!

🎥 Watch the stories and join the movement: Sign up here!

Let’s celebrate those shaping the future of our climate economy! 🌱⚡

📅 What’s Next?

In our next edition, we’ll explore Maine's climatetech leaders, including:

🌟 Peregrine Technologies - Game-changing CO₂ turbines

🌟 Amply Energy, Inc. - Smart software helping scale heat pump adoption

🌟 FINSULATE USA - Nature-inspired antifouling wraps replacing toxic marine paints

📩 Subscribe for updates & stay ahead of the climatetech revolution!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR MAKING ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE!