Citing fuel cell projects in Bridgeport, including the University of Bridgeport, a federal report highlights the city’s technological advances. News release from city Communications Director Brett Broesder:
In a recent U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) report titled, “State of the States: Fuel Cells in America 2014,” Bridgeport is highlighted as a leader in using the virtually pollutant free energy source to power thousands of homes. The report also notes that Connecticut is one of the top five fuel cell states in the country.
Mayor Bill Finch, who also serves as co-chair for the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Task Force, noted that fuel cell technology plays a major role in his vision for Bridgeport’s future.
“In Bridgeport, we’re making smart investments in the future by creating green jobs, and investing in clean energy that ensure our kids can breathe easier,” said Mayor Finch. “Fuel Cells play a vital role in my vision for our city’s future. We’re serving as a national leader on this front. We’re home to North America’s largest fuel cell, which power 15,000 homes with clean energy. And, soon we’ll be home to two new fuel cells. In the future, we’ll be generating enough clean energy from fuel cells to power up to 19,000 homes.”
Bridgeport is unique amongst cities in the United States with its 19 megawatts of stationary fuel cell power plants announced, providing both electric grid support as well as on-site power, which is double that of the other two leading cities in America with extensive fuel cell installations: San Diego, California and San Jose, California.
The U.S. DOE report makes note of three Bridgeport fuel cell projects–one complete and two that will be online in the near future–which include:
Ø Bridgeport Dominion Fuel Cell–Bridgeport’s Dominion Fuel Cell, spearheaded by Fuel Cell Energy, is the largest in North America (14.9MW), and can power 15,000 homes with clean energy (Click here for photos: bit.ly/1vxv2MT and click here for more info: slate.me/1qkafOE).Ø Bridgeport’s Green Energy Park–-Bridgeport’s Green Energy Park consists of a 2.8MW fuel cell and 9,000 solar panels that will sit atop and old and unused landfill. It is slated to begin construction in 2015 (Click here for renderings of the project: bit.ly/1u7yP5V and click here for more info: cour.at/1xotzPg).
Ø University of Bridgeport Fuel Cell–University of Bridgeport is seeking to install a 1.4MW fuel cell, spearheaded by Fuel Cell Energy, on their campus (click here to read more: bit.ly/1CXPUlr).
The fuel cell projects in Bridgeport are affordable with private capital providing public benefits. Responsible power generated in an environmentally friendly manner and close to the point of use enhances grid resiliency while supporting sustainability goals. Fuel cell power plants generate power electrochemically in a highly efficient process.
Due to the absence of combustion, virtually no pollutants are emitted, such as the harmful products that create smog, acid rain, and aggravate asthma, and the carbon footprint is low. And, fuel cells do not require or are exempt in most states from air permitting due to the almost complete absences of pollutants.
All of this is f’n great, so why does my UI bill keep going up? BTW where are the homes that are getting this energy?
Your UI bill, city taxes and prices for everything keep going up for the same reason: deficit spending. What’s stimulating the debt is increasing the cost of everything else. For the feds, it’s intentional and desperately seeks inflation.
In a related matter, the energy is going to nearby businesses and homes.
YAAFJ.
File this story under nobody gives a damn but Bill Finch.
Bob Walsh should know leaders prepare for the future and care about things others are uninterested in.
YAAFJ.
Andy, you are cracking me up.
LE
As Andy previously asked and you need a response to, “why didn’t the town of Trumbull give up some of their pristine park land to house this monstrosity?”
The answer the state, Trumbull and Bill Finch came up with was “only in Bridgeport.”
Bob Walsh: you ignored my challenge during the primary.
YAAFSJ.
Stop practicing your mistakes and start explaining yourself. Like this: YAAFJ as in You Are A Fardy-esque Jerk.
YAAFSJ.
LE,
Normally I would not bother trying to explain myself but I realize you have difficulty following a complicated thought process. Trumbull has dumped on Bridgeport for decades. Whether it is trash, the CRRA incinerator, poop in the WPCA, hospitals, social service agencies, drug treatment facilities, etc, etc.
Even when something is merely an eyesore, Trumbull believes it is Bridgeport’s duty to take on regional irritants and to bear the cost of these facilities through below-market lease arrangements.
So that is what Andy means when he says YAAFJ. Got is now?
My colleagues think Bob Walsh is afraid of me because he’s already refused my challenge and chosen to insult me.
YAAFSJ.
As a Bridgeport resident for the past 27 years and Fairfield for about 23 before that, I have come to see Bridgeport as the ‘hub’ of an imaginary ‘half wheel’ of communities that frankly get mired down in Long Island Sound (where there are no municipalities). There are and have been any number of social service, business service, and interlocal agreements over the years that have connected Trumbull and Bridgeport as well as other neighboring communities. Some in the legislature have seen such a future pattern evolving for more collaboration.
However, the personnel issues, the expenses involved, the siting of operations, the control or participation in decision making, and the funding, at a minimum will take lots of discussion and consideration. It will also take residents from all communities to look at the larger picture where a mixture of Federal, State and local laws, rules and regulations as well as funding patterns have created a stuck status quo that probably defies logical explanation and efficient operations today (if you were starting from scratch and were going to fairly allocate expenses). So taxpayers of all communities, it is up to you to begin the process by putting the info together before the politicians are heard from. Today is a good day to begin the process while Bridgeport and Connecticut are severely challenged financially, but Bill Finch has proven himself disinclined from facing fiscal realities and sharing them with taxpayers. Does he know and not care? Does he not know and not care? He couldn’t care and not know like most of us, could he? Time will tell.
Cobbler’s children have no shoes! We pay the highest taxes in the nation!
Bridgeport has the Highest CO2 count in New England, while the Mayor of this polluted city lets the power companies sell their power to other towns, with no discount for Bridgeport’s ratepayers or taxpayers!