On Friday Governor Dan Malloy, Mayor Bill Finch and U.S. Rep. Jim Himes will join executives from Dominion of Richmond, Va., and FuelCell Energy Inc., of Danbury to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Dominion Bridgeport Fuel Cell power station 1366 Railroad Avenue in the West End. Media alert on the event:
Dominion, one of the nation’s largest energy companies, announced in December that it had acquired the fuel cell power generating facility from FuelCell Energy. The facility will produce 14.9 megawatts of electricity–enough to power approximately 15,000 homes–using an electro-chemical process that efficiently converts natural gas into electricity.
The project supports Connecticut’s clean energy goals while producing significant economic development benefits for the state and the City of Bridgeport.
The Dominion Bridgeport Fuel Cell facility is part of Project 150, a program sponsored by the state and supported by the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) to increase renewable and clean energy projects in Connecticut by 150 megawatts.
FuelCell Energy Inc. will supply five Direct FuelCell® stationary fuel cell power plants and an organic rankine turbine that will convert heat from the fuel cells into additional electricity.
FuelCell Energy has expanded its Connecticut manufacturing workforce by more than 20 percent or more than 50 jobs in the past six months, reflecting demand such as this Bridgeport fuel cell park. The project is scheduled to be completed and placed into operation in late 2013. Dominion will sell the output of the fuel cell power station to Connecticut Light & Power under a 15-year fixed energy purchase agreement.
Natural gas has become less expensive than oil. Good deal. So this technology takes advantage of this fact. Locating in Bridgeport is good, too, because of Mayor Finch’s “green-ness.” Jobs are important in Bridgeport but no specific comment on how this facility in BPT gets locals to work. (Call me skeptical, but when the “release” is vague in this regard, it is not likely to help Bridgeport’s basic need.)
Finally, about property taxes? Not a word. Will this project add to the Net Grand List? What value will its assessment add to the List? How much will it pay in property taxes on the plant? And on whatever personal property is part of the business? Time will tell.
Some surprising people have great singing voices in the Halls of the City, American Idol would be proud (and no I won’t translate). lalalalala
*** NOW THIS, IF IT HAPPENS, IS GOOD NEWS FOR BPT. ***