The Connecticut Siting Council has announced that a public hearing will take place September 11 in the council chambers of City Hall with sessions at 3 and 7 p.m. to review the planned United Illuminating solar park on the city’s closed dump in the West End of Seaside Park. The state agency’s authority includes jurisdiction over power facilities and transmission lines.
The siting council will conduct a public field review of the proposed site September 11 at 2 p.m. prior to the public hearing. The state agency approved a public hearing at the urging of Black Rock and South End neighbors including City Councilman Enrique Torres.
The 3 p.m. session will provide petitioners, parties and intervenors an opportunity to cross-examine positions, according to the siting council announcement. The 7 p.m. hearing allows the public to make brief statements into the record.
The Connecticut Siting Council is a final step for confirming the project approved by the Bridgeport Parks Commission and City Council that calls for a 20-year lease agreement between the city and United Illuminating for the installation of 9,000 solar panels.
Last year Mayor Bill Finch announced a city partnership with United Illuminating for the Green Energy Park renewable energy project, one of the initiatives proposed in the City’s BGreen 2020 sustainability plan to create jobs, save taxpayers money and fight climate change.
“This clean energy project is proof that Bridgeport is making bullish investments in our future,” said Finch in a statement. “This project will create green jobs. It allows us to turn an old and unused dump into a green economic engine that will power thousands of homes with smarter, cleaner, affordable energy. And, by investing in cleaner energy our kids can breathe cleaner air. The project has also been thoroughly vetted by the Bridgeport City Council, the Parks Commission, community leaders, and elected officials.”
Bill Finch’s comments posted in the above paragraph are a lie. The park department originally voted down this project.
The mayor and his gang of tough guys (laugh) spoke to each of the park commissioners and what do you know, a bunch of scared old men changed their minds and voted for the project. So Mr. Mayor, let’s not make this seem like a happy moment. Fear and intimidation work on the weak and the old.
I don’t think he could produce one “community leader” who is in support of this proposal.
Hector, he sure could. Here are a few names. Ayala, Santiago, Timpanelli, Stallworth, Clemons. Do I need to go on?
Finch lies so much, he believes them now. “The project has also been thoroughly vetted by the Bridgeport City Council, the Parks Commission, community leaders, and elected officials.” Haha, c’mon now Bill, the parks commission voted no at first, then you had Anastasi come out and say the dump area isn’t part of the park, once that position got challenged, you “had a talk” with the park commissioners and demanded they vote again. Does any of this sound familiar???