Malloy Pledges Microgrid For UB

Governor Dan Malloy today announced a new microgrid project for the University of Bridgeport will help keep critical buildings and facilities powered even when the grid goes down. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Microgrid Program will provide $2.2 million in funding for the university. From news release:

“Residents of Bridgeport will benefit from these microgrids because they will keep lights on and the power running at critical locations even when the lights go out elsewhere,” Governor Malloy said. “Microgrids are an essential part of our strategy to make certain we can better withstand the type of catastrophic storms we have experienced in recent years–and the extended loss of power that accompanies them.”

University of Bridgeport (UB)–Power will be provided to campus buildings including a dining hall, recreation center, student center, police station and two residence halls. The DEEP microgrid grant will provide almost $2.2 million in funding for eligible design, engineering and interconnection infrastructure costs. The microgrid will be powered by a 1.4MW fuel cell. The UB buildings will be available to serve city residents during a power outage or emergency. The on-campus facilities can provide shelter to about 2,700 residents and the dining hall can provide food service to residents as well as emergency responders. This project is a logical companion to a Bridgeport microgrid project funded in a first round of grants, which will provide power largely for critical city services.

Created under Public Act 12-148, DEEP’s Microgrid Pilot Program is increasing the safety and quality of life to Connecticut residents during electric grid outage situations. Microgrids will provide electricity to critical facilities and town centers on a 24/7 daily basis and will include a system to isolate the microgrid so it can provide power even when there is a large-scale outage.

The projects will provide power for government services and businesses that are critical during extreme weather events such as police, fire, and emergency response teams, shelters, dining facilities, state and town emergency response centers, grocery stores, and gas stations.

Governor Malloy will request that funding for the new Bridgeport and Milford projects be approved by the state Bond Commission.

As part of DEEP’s efforts to continuously improve the Program and to increase municipal resiliency across the state, DEEP will schedule a workshop to receive comments and feedback from program participants and other interested persons.

0
Share

16 comments

  1. Mary-Jane Foster has been an active and vocal supporter of Dan Malloy and his re-election bid.

    In 2011, Mary-Jane Foster repeatedly criticized Mayor Finch for the illegal takeover of the BBOE and repeatedly utilized this issue on the campaign trail. I have seen all the e-mails and Malloy and just about his entire cabinet was heavily involved with this coup. They did everything they could do to lend Mayor Finch a helping hand. I didn’t hear Mary-Jane Foster mention one word about Malloy’s involvement.

    Mayor Finch and his administration disqualified her petitions for Mayor and she decried the will of the people had been circumvented. This was an injustice to democracy.

    Mayor Finch tried to pass a charter referendum to take our right to vote for our BBOE members away and she barely made a whimper. A lot of Malloy’s largest contributors helped fund this effort. One of Malloy’s top 10 contributors donated $50,000 to the effort. I don’t recall any outcry from Mary-Jane when Malloy’s closest friends were helping Mayor Finch.

    Malloy and the Democratic State Central Committee spent thousands of dollars supporting Mayor Finch’s BBOE candidates and spent a substantial amount of money on mailers for ROW A in the primary. Once again, I didn’t hear a peep from Mary-Jane Foster.

    Malloy and Finch are two peas in a pod. However Mary-Jane sees and/or portrays Mayor Finch as BAD, and Governor Malloy as GOOD.

    This $2.2 million dollars was a nod to Mary-Jane Foster for her support, it was nothing more.

    And this brings me back to a lack of ethical, principled and transparent politicians in Bridgeport.

    0
    1. Thank you Grin Ripper for reminding all of us (those who need it and those who may not) of the grudge culture in our City that has grown far beyond the bounds of Irish culture.

      And I am sure you know of the Irish sports pages? These are the Obituary notices that are the only reason some people read the CT Post these days, or so they say. When they do not find their name posted, they have affirmed they have another day of life. Do they turn to the true sports pages or the comics for relief? Time will tell.

      0
  2. Maria, you are full of it up to your ears. Mary-Jane did not write any articles to OIB but she certainly let her opposition to what Finch wanted done to the BOE known. She was present at several meetings that were held in the office on Stratford Ave and on election day she worked the polls. If that is not enough for you, tough shit. I seem to remember Mary-Jane and a lawsuit?
    I hate to inform you, but UB is not all about Mary-Jane but if she had anything to do with the university getting state money then I say Bravo. You don’t like Malloy because you have a personal agenda that is becoming a tired story and before you ask I do not support Malloy nor do I agree with the crap you write.

    0
  3. Andy, my comments clearly state she campaigned against Mayor Finch on the BBOE coup, however I have never read a published comment from her on OIB or anywhere else for that matter where she held Malloy accountable for the exact same coup. Not a word.

    Once again, re-read my comments, I address Mary-Jane’s failure to publicly speak against Malloy for having some of his top contributors and close friends make significant contributions to the “Vote Yes” charter referendum campaign. She never made one comment about how Malloy and the state Democratic Committee spend thousands on Mayor Finch’s ROW A Democrats against other Democrats which is almost unheard of. I didn’t state she hadn’t participated in the “Vote No” campaign.

    When the supreme court ruled the takeover was illegal, Mayor Finch ran up to Hartford seeking Malloy’s assistance in passing legislation to undo the supreme court’s decision. Malloy and several of his high-level cabinet members did everything they could do to help Mayor Finch push this through. Where was Mary-Jane Foster’s denouncement of Malloy and his administration? After all, her four BBOE members were plaintiffs in the case. I didn’t even hear so much as a whisper.

    You can disagree with what I write, that is certainly your right. I think most people know you are friendly with her, however I am entitled to my views as well, whether they are a “tired story” or not.

    0
  4. Maria, Mary-Jane’s actions spoke volumes. Again, you will rarely see a comment from her on this blog at any time. She made the proper statements to the Connecticut Post. Her actions also showed where she stood. Just because she did not cause a scene or video voters does not mean she was not involved. Like Malloy or not, if you are a mayor of a city you have to work with whoever is governor whether you like it or not. Mary-Jane does not have the time or the inclination to tilt at windmills. She will leave that to you.

    0
  5. She made no comments to the CT Post against Malloy regarding the illegal takeover of the BBOE, only against Mayor Finch.

    I never stated she should have created a “scene” or “video voters,” you are making stuff up as you go along.

    It is hypocritical to condemn Mayor Finch for the illegal BBOE takeover, and not hold her friend Governor Malloy to the same standard. I don’t care how you slice it or dice it, an onion is an onion.

    0
    1. That is true and an onion is an onion and a malcontent is Maria Pereira. Mary-Jane works on a higher plane than you do. You can disagree with what someone is doing without making a scene; besides, Mary-Jane was running against Finch, not Malloy.
      It is not hypocritical to speak out against one and not the other. Maria, move on to today, not 3-4 years ago. Tell me about the threat telephoned into a city school and the heavy police response and then tell me why the kid who made the call is still in school. Stop living in the past.

      0
  6. I will write about what I choose to write about. Do not presume to tell me when I should “move on.” My comments were germane to the topic at hand, yours are not. If you find the topic of a threat made by a student so important, you should write about it yourself.

    0
  7. Maria, I never stated what you should write about, I asked you about a certain incident. Maria, you are mired in the past, you are mired in BOE bullshit you had a large part in.
    Other than writing about your laughable excursions into filmmaking, no up-to-date comments on education, no comments even now on how to lower the dropout rate, no comments on how to stop kids from throwing their books out the window. You are a windbag and a one-trick pony. Get current or get lost.

    0
  8. How quickly you forget. You wrote “tell me about the threat telephoned into a city school and the heavy police response and then tell me why the kid who made the call is still in school. Stop living in the past.” How am I supposed to “tell” you about it if I don’t “write” about it? Should a start a fire on my front lawn and send you smoke signals?

    Oh my, more name-calling from the spokesman against name-calling. Now I am a “windbag” and “one-trick pony.” Well, I guess I should thank God I am not senile, unlike you.

    0
    1. Maria, I did not ask you to write anything as we have seen in your last group of postings you can’t write. If you go out to your front lawn, please lift that American Flag you have there off the ground. You can send signals as I was a signalmen in the Navy for four years. Maria, you are a windbag and a one-trick pony, just look at your postings. I am really not senile but do suffer from CRS, but I can’t forget to read your drivel.

      0
  9. Isn’t it interesting the only time these flies and leeches whose position in government is threatened seem to show up with money and assistance? Where has Malloy been since elected? Certainly not helping UB.
    TERM LIMITS are needed at all levels of elected government. It was never intended to be a career to be an elected official.

    0

Leave a Reply