Challenging The Smokestack, City Council Supports Phase Out Of South End Coal Plant

coal plant
The coal plant in the South End has been the subject of protests from environmental groups.

Declaring the South End power plant a health hazard, the Bridgeport City Council Monday night passed a non-binding resolution urging PSEG to “phase out the coal-fired electricity generation at the Bridgeport Harbor Station … to remediate the property for the next use.” See full resolution authored by councilor Enrique Torres here. CT Post scribe Brian Lockhart weighs in here.

Although the resolution has no formal force of law, environmental activists such as the Sierra Club have pressured the City Council and Mayor Bill Finch to take a stance against PSEG, one of the city’s highest taxpayers, to segue to natural gas.

While not addressing PSEG directly, Finch stated following the vote, “Any efforts supported by the City Council that spur green job creation, generate cleaner energy, and support green business growth are more than welcome.”

Mayor’s full statement:

“As the co-chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Task Force, I know all too well that cities like Bridgeport–which account for significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than suburbs–are the key to a sustainable future for our kids and grandkids. For example, according to the University of Berkley, a Bridgeport household produces less than half of the carbon emissions of an average Easton, Conn. household generates annually.

“In order to beat back climate change, it’s critical that Bridgeport experiences population growth, which means more families need to move to Bridgeport. And, in order to entice people to our city, we need to create green jobs, generate power through clean energy sources so our kids can breathe cleaner air, and make our city a place where more companies want to invest and hire people.

“Any efforts supported by the City Council that spur green job creation, generate cleaner energy, and support green business growth are more than welcome. And, several initiatives that have been supported by the City Council include: developing North America’s largest fuel cell, creating Green Energy Park that consists of putting solar panels and a fuel cell atop an old landfill, and growing Eco-Technology Park that houses hundreds of jobs and generates millions of dollars in annual income.

“Bridgeport is moving forward due to a clean energy future. We’re creating green jobs. We’re powering more and more homes through the production of virtually pollutant free energy right here in our city. And, we’re continuing to become a national leader in the green economy. Thanks to the City Council for their support in doing just that. Together, we’re helping Bridgeport become a better place to live, work, and raise a family–every single day. Let’s continue moving forward.”

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5 comments

  1. Not so fast, Mayor Seafoam!
    Remember Bill, Seafoam green is made by combining yellow and blue, but more yellow!
    So is the solution to increase population density? Increasing population density in central cities “would require a really extraordinary transformation for very little BENEFIT, and high carbon suburbanization would result as a side effect.” It may not come as a big surprise but the Berkeley analysis confirms public transportation can have a big impact. “Well-working mass transit systems not only allow you to bring down the carbon footprint but we know that places where mass transit works well are cities that are seen as more equitable and more livable for lower income people.”
    “This is not to condemn urban suburbs and just packing yourself in urban cores is a good thing.” “We have cities that are relatively spread out–for example, Portland, Oregon, which has one of the best public transportation systems in the country and, as a result, Portland actually has the lowest per capita vehicle ownership of any big city.
    So now Bridgeport needs a “Well Working Transit System.” Finch, you talk out of both sides of your mouth.

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  2. Remember a couple of years ago, the banner draped from the coal plant, then the Climate Summer March to the gates of the coal plant? One of them had a Finch face mask on. Totally non supportive was this Mayor then and he accompanied the march with an entourage of police cars to keep them in line. Sociopathic.

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