Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Wednesday that Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island have initiated a coordinated process that will lead to a three-state request for proposals for clean energy resources.

"By working together with neighboring states we can make the most efficient use of our resources to attract new clean energy projects at the lowest possible cost for ratepayers while advancing our interests in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases," Malloy said in a news release. "The joint procurement process opens the possibility of procuring large-scale projects and transmission to deliver clean energy on a scale that no single state could secure on its own."

Other goals include diversifying the fuel mix in New England and helping to address winter reliability issues.

The three states took the first step in the procurement process by formally releasing a draft request for proposals for a 30-day comment period. The comment period will end on March 26.

After considering the comments, the states will issue the final request for proposals this spring.

It will seek bids on new Class I Renewable Energy projects, which include wind, solar, small hydroelectric, biomass and fuel cells of at least 20 megawatts, and large-scale hydroelectric power projects that were constructed after Jan. 1.

The draft proposal seeks to allow the states to consider projects for the delivery of clean energy through:

• traditional power purchase agreements that do not require transmission upgrades.

• purchase power agreements that require transmission.

• transmission projects containing clean energy delivery commitments, but without any associated power purchase agreements.

The request for proposals invites bids for projects that deliver firm incremental clean energy over new or existing transmission projects of up to the equivalent of 500 megawatts of wind for Connecticut.

Connecticut has the ability to participate in this multi state initiative as a result of Gov. Malloy's Comprehensive Energy Strategy, which the General Assembly approved in 2013.

The Request for Proposals can be found at: www.cleanenergyrfp.com.