The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced Friday that it has released a draft request for proposals to implement the Shared Clean Energy Facility pilot program, which will give a broader range of electric customers the ability to participate in a clean energy resource.

DEEP was authorized to establish the program — commonly known in other states as shared solar or community solar — under Public Act 15-113, An Act Establishing a Shared Clean Energy Facility Pilot Program, as amended by Public Act 16-116, An Act Concerning the Shared Clean Energy Facility Pilot Program, DEEP said in a news release.

Connecticut’s program is more expansive than just solar, including all Class I renewables such as wind, fuel cells and anaerobic digestion.

A public hearing on the draft request for proposals will take place June 9 at DEEP’s New Britain Office, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain.

DEEP also will accept written comments through June 20 at DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov.

DEEP expects to release a final request for proposals for bid by July 1.

Under the act authorizing the program, DEEP is establishing a pilot program for electric distribution customers to participate in and receive monetary credits from shared clean energy facilities.

DEEP is required to issue a final request for proposals by July 1 and can select multiple projects up to 6 megawatts in size, with 4 megawatts in Eversource Energy territory and 2 megawatts in United Illuminating territory.

Legislative clarification of the cost recovery mechanism for the program, enacted in Public Act 16-116, has cleared the way for the program to move forward, DEEP said.

Connecticut has popular incentives for electric customers to generate clean energy from renewable facilities such as solar photovoltaics on their homes.

Many customers are not able to take part, however, because their roof does not get enough sun or they do not own their home.

A shared clean energy facility program is another avenue for customers to affirmatively choose to support clean energy resources and potentially save on their energy bills, DEEP said.

The draft proposal can be found at http://bit.ly/1Vnq5XH.