Statements from environmental groups:
“While we are glad to see the coal plant slated for retirement, we are concerned about PSEG’s plan to build another fossil fuel burning facility in the South End. Clean energy doesn’t come out of a smokestack, and the South End community has been severely overburdened with air pollution. A fracked methane gas plant is a fossil fuel, not clean energy,” said Sarah Lewis, a Bridgeport-based community organizer with Toxics Action Center.
Brenden Williams, a resident of the South End, said he isn’t looking forward to the construction of a new gas plant. “I live directly adjacent to the PSEG site. I’m not happy about another smokestack in Bridgeport. It means continued fossil fuel emissions in my neighborhood.”
Tiffany Mellers, a resident of the West End said, “As the time moves forward we seem to keep getting caught in the same web of ancient ideas like gas and coal. PSEG should be innovative and use green and renewable energy technology in Bridgeport. The CEO of PSEG, Ralph Izzo, prides himself as a leader in renewable energy. Yet, he continues to burn fossil fuels in Bridgeport, a majority low-income, community of color.”
Jorge Cruz, a community activist who spoke at the February 1st Public Hearing regarding the agreement mirrored Mellers concerns. “We want speedy closure of the coal plant, and a date for the retirement of the proposed gas plant.”
Ben Martin, an organizer with 350CT said, “Once again Bridgeport city officials ignore the will of their constituents in favor of the polluter from PSEG. You cannot solve the problem of environmental racism by adding more pollution from a gas power plant that would likely use fracked gas.”
I would like to know what was PSEG’s reply to Ben Martin’s concern about, “Once again Bridgeport city officials ignore the will of their constituents in favor of the polluter from PSEG. You cannot solve the problem of environmental racism by adding more pollution from a gas power plant that would likely use fracked gas.”
What is environmental racism? What is fracked gas compared to regular gas?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with fracked gas. The word fracked is just the name of the procedure and has nothing to do with the gas itself.
I think the use of gas is better than coal. Now for the advocates of neither coal nor gas, what do you suggest? The UI plant was at its present location long before anyone quoted here moved here.
One person against any fossil fuel usage stated the following: Ben Martin, an organizer with 350CT said, “Once again Bridgeport city officials ignore the will of their constituents in favor of the polluter from PSEG.”
I am a constituent of Mayor Ganim and no one from the city, state or Feds asked me how I felt about the new plant, Does Ben Martin live in Bridgeport? I think not. To the lady quoted as living near the plant, what were you thinking?
Environmental racism is placement of low-income or minority communities in proximity of environmentally hazardous or degraded environments, such as toxic waste, pollution and urban decay.
Thanks, got it. I don’t believe the UI situation falls into that category. When the UI plant was built that area for the most part was populated by immigrants. Back then no one knew what pollution was. Replacing a coal-burning plant with a gas-burning plant does not qualify as environmental racism.
The Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses are historic residences at 352-4 and 358-60 Main Street in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The simple, clapboard-covered dwellings were built in 1848 in what became known as Little Liberia, a neighborhood settled by free blacks starting in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. As the last surviving houses of this neighborhood on their original foundations, these were added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 22, 1999. The houses are the oldest remaining houses in Connecticut built by free blacks, before the state completed its gradual abolition of slavery in 1848. The homes and nearby Walter’s Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church.
Ron, I know about little Liberia thanks to you. There was no electricity in 1848.
Hey, when they build the coal plant BPT was wealthy.
It would seem the answers are complicated.
www .ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/coal-and-other-fossil-fuels/environmental-impacts-of-natural-gas.html
The answers are REALLY REALLY complicated!!!
Environmentalists are today’s new communists!!!
i don’t understand that statement. Please explain. It seems the only goal of your statement is to create a negative impression of environmentalists.
Rightfully so.
One of you tree-huggers please tell me an alternative method of generating enough electrical energy that is made now and will be made by the new gas-fired method.
Sarah Lewis, a Bridgeport-based community organizer with Toxics Action Center, tell me what is wrong with the gas-generated by fracturing other than the method used. Brenden Williams claims he lives across the street from the plant. Did you think about that plant when you bought your house? NO.