From city Communications Director Brett Broesder:
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, and city officials are calling on federal, state, and local officials across Conn. to help increase fuel cell development across the state. The announcement was made at the site of Bridgeport’s Dominion Fuel Cell, which is the largest fuel cell in North America and produces enough virtually pollutant free energy to power 15,000 homes annually.
“Clean energy, our energy future, and our economy all depend on what’s happening right here in Bridgeport, and that’s why I’m going to be inviting my colleagues to come here and see Connecticut’s and our nation’s energy future. Connecticut is the fuel cell capital of the world, and here in Bridgeport, fuel cells have been applied to save money, save on pollution, drive the economy and create more jobs. It’s really a win/win and Bridgeport is leading the way,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal.
“Bridgeport stands ready, willing and able to do more than we’ve already done to make sure the hydrogen economy of the future begins here in the city of Bridgeport,” Mayor Finch said. “Fuel cell technology creates jobs and creates energy that doesn’t get our kids sick, cleans our air and provides economical fuel for our families in Bridgeport.”
The announcement comes just days after a new report was released by a group of New England energy companies that calls for fuel cell generation to increase six-fold in Connecticut by 2025.
According to the report, within the next 10 years fuel cells should be powering up to 175,000 homes across the state.
Click here to read the full report: bit.ly/1DNl2WP.
Currently, fuel cells–which produce virtually pollutant-free energy–generate enough electricity in Connecticut to power nearly 29,000 homes.
Bridgeport accounts for more than half of Connecticut’s fuel cell power generation. The Dominion Fuel Cell alone powers 15,000 homes, and two more fuel cells are being built that will be able to produce enough energy to power an additional 5,000 homes.
By 2016, Bridgeport will be producing enough fuel cell energy to power nearly 20,000 homes.
Bridgeport currently has three fuel cells–one that is active, and two that are in development–including:
Bridgeport’s Dominion Fuel Cell Park (Active)–Bridgeport’s Dominion Fuel Cell Park is the largest fuel cell in North America, generating 15 MW of pollutant-free energy to power 15,000 homes (Click here for more info: bit.ly/1D2ZCBh and click here for photos of the Dominion Fuel Cell: bit.ly/1vxv2MT).
Bridgeport’s Green Energy Park (In development)–-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)
University of Bridgeport Fuel Cell (In development)–University of Bridgeport is seeking to install 1.4MW fuel cell, spearheaded by FuelCell Energy, on their campus (click here to read more: bit.ly/1CXPUlr)
Where are the homes that are benefiting from this energy source?
Energy? Money? Jobs? Who benefits? What’s the real picture, Senator Blumenthal, Mayor Finch, et al.? It is hard to see the ‘clean energy’ picture when so much smoke is blown at us in these announcements.
As Fardy says, are those Bridgeport homes? It seems in fact the UB site will benefit that campus.
Money? The second siting above, part of Seaside Park now is renamed Green Energy Park, although when those neighboring solar installations are set up perhaps the name will change to Toxic Leaching Park. And the risks retained by the City at what potential expense? And the funds coming to the City are variable and not guaranteed?
Jobs? Needed in Bridgeport? You bet. Mentioned in these press releases? Not mentioned.
The ‘smoke’ gets in your eyes and makes you ‘cough’ and why is so much time spent on the hype? Time will tell.
Finch thumbed his nose at the people of Black Rock for his solar park. Voters should flex their solar plexus in 2015 and tell him to Kiss Their Glass!
You can bet one of the “jobs” the toxic solar field produces is one for Bill Finch, from the UI. No doubt that sweet deal Finch arranged for them will be paid back in the form of employment for Bill when he loses in November.
From a 2014 report on the DOE site:
Small Footprint, Quiet Footsteps
Fuel cells can take up much less space than other technologies offering similar power output. This is a huge benefit in areas where land is expensive and hard to come by. The fuel cell’s smaller footprint and weight also mean that fuel cells can be situated not only outside, but also inside buildings or on roofs, offering maximum flexibility.
Fuel cells can be a good alternative or supplement to intermittent renewable energy technologies. An end user may wish to generate electricity from solar or wind power, but an assessment may reveal that the site does not have sufficient space. Recent fuel cell
installations in Connecticut reinforce that a lot of power doesn’t have to take up a massive amount of land.
[NOTE that SEASIDE PARK landfill installation is cited among the CT installations] United Illuminating (UI) is installing 2.8 MWs on just 1/4 acre; the 2.2-MW solar array it is collocated with to generate renewable electricity requires more than 8 acres.
Source: energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/11/f19/fcto_business_case_fuel_cells_2014.pdf
Blumenthal is a media hound. He has little to nothing to do with this matter but there must have been a camera around. Senator, get to work and start generating some real results for the country and CT.
Bridgeport is not “developing” anything. We are simply “hosting” more power plants that will provide the energy for other towns–that really are “developing” and manufacturing value-added products–to build their taxes and prosper and preserve their own land for more lucrative uses.
Senator Blumenthal and Mayor Finch work very well together–making fools of the people of Bridgeport who continue to buy their propaganda and vote for them.
What else–that could add a significant number of living-wage jobs and tax base/tax relief for Bridgeporters–could have been located on this wonderful, magical fuel-cell site (and on the Seaside Park land)? What have we sacrificed by hosting these “showcase” projects that were located here only to bolster/sustain the lifestyle of our suburban neighbors? Would they put these projects in Compo Beach, Westport or Norwalk?
Norwalk just decommissioned their harbor power plant in order to allow lucrative waterfront development. Is that why Bridgeport has to develop more generation capacity–to compensate for the Norwalk decrease?
Yes General Lee, we’re having a lot of smoke blown up our collective orifice from the proponents of these two wonderful, magical, mystical, “futuristic” more-energy-for-suburban-sprawl plants (which complement our other harbor-obscuring and garbage-magnet, energy-for-the-suburbs plants).
How many jobs, and how much tax base has this mayor added during his tenure? How much have these two projects contributed to BRIDGEPORT’S well-being?
The fact our economic development (mis)director is an elected official from Stamford really shows!
Wow! These politicians have very little shame and probably less conscience!
Lights, camera, action. Ministry of public enlightenment and propaganda in action. Making Bridgeport Better, Yahoo!