The Connecticut Siting Council approved Bridgeport's green energy park, consisting of 9,000 solar panels and a 2.8-megawatt fuel cell atop an old and unused landfill, giving final regulatory clearance for the project to commence. The project has also received approval from the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the Bridgeport Parks Commission and the Bridgeport City Council.
The Siting Council, which has jurisdiction over energy-related infrastructure projects, voted 6-1 on Nov. 13 in favor of the solar project and 7-0 in favor of the fuel cell facility.
According to Mayor Bill Finch, Green Energy Park will bring in $7 million in tax revenue to the city during its 20 year lease. It will produce enough clean energy to power 5,000 homes. And, said Finch, the cleaner air will benefit Bridgeport, where child cases of asthma and breathing ailment rates are three times the state average.
United Illuminating will proceed with design and procurement of key project elements. Before breaking ground, the investor-owned utility company must submit an updated development and management plan to the Siting Council, which is standard procedure. United Illuminating hopes to have approval by spring, and could be ready to begin construction without delay.
