The Connecticut Siting Council on Thursday approved a public hearing for 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 agency had received requests for a public hearing from residents in Black Rock and South End, including City Councilman Enrique Torres.
Melanie Bachman, staff attorney and acting executive director of the Connecticut Siting Council, says a date for the public hearing will likely be scheduled at the council’s next meeting in July. She said the council process will include a public site review and a hearing at a location to be determined in Bridgeport.
The Connecticut Siting Council is a final step for greenlighting 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.
“UI argued no hearing was necessary since the locals approved it,” Torres said. “The Siting Council disagreed. It gives us an opportunity to argue our case once again.”
Finch spokesman Brett Broesder said in a statement that the solar array was thoroughly vetted at the local level and is a “bullish investment in Bridgeport’s future” that will create jobs and cleaner energy.
More from Brian Lockhart, CT Post here.
If you see dark cars with tinted windows containing men carrying briefcases of cash, you know you are in Bridgeport.
Nice to know this project continues to undergo public scrutiny and vetting by state bodies.
From the following CT Post piece, I’d thought we already had a 9,000-panel solar farm in Bridgeport in someplace called “Energy Park.”
Finch speaks to U.S. mayors on climate change
blog.ctnews.com/connecticutpostings/2014/06/23/finch-speaks-to-u-s-mayors-on-climate-change/
Posted on June 23, 2014 | By Frank Juliano
Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, who serves as co-chair of the climate protection task force of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, addressed the conference Sunday on the Park City’s efforts to tackle climate change.
Finch said his city’s sustainability plan, BGreen2020, puts Bridgeport at the forefront of U.S. cities dealing with the global issue. BGreen2020 is a joint project of the Finch administration and the Greater Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce.
…
Bridgeport also has a 9,000 panel solar array built on an old landfill. “When that’s combined with a second fuel cell–creating what we call able Energy Park–we’ll be able to power nearly 20,000 homes with clean energy that will help our kids breathe cleaner air. The bottom line is that we’re in the midst of creating a clean energy future,” Finch said at the conference’s plenary session.
(BTW: If you watch the video, try not to laugh too hard when the toadies repeatedly refer to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson as “President Johnson”–there in Texas.)
The Post writes, “Finch spokesman Brett Broesder said in a statement that the solar array was thoroughly vetted at the local level and is a “bullshit investment in Bridgeport’s future” that will create jobs and cleaner energy.”
Can someone find the typo?
Finch must be steaming right about now, his deal for future employment with UI hangs in the balance of this decision. And this time he can’t get Anastasi to make up loopholes. I bet Finch shows up at this meeting and will say ANYTHING to get the panel to pass it.
Enrique’s plan is based on a false premise: the western part of Seaside Park is already a dump and has been industrialized beyond measurement. The Mayor’s plan seeks to replace unused turf with solar panels and propel Black Rock into the future of renewable energy and transform a dump into a park-like setting.
Local,
Seaside Park is part of the South End neighborhood and the “Mayor’s plan” for transforming solar energy was not intended to do anything for Black Rock, last I heard. How do you see anything from this siting and project that will “propel Black Rock into the future” of anything? Time will tell.
If Seaside Park is part of the South End then Mr. Torres has the kind of political awesomeness that extends beyond Black Rock. He has always been critical of the plan for Black Rock residents. If The Siting Council gives a public hearing but allows the vote to stand, solar panels will be how Black Rock gets propelled into the future.
So Lennie, who’s the new director of Adult Education?
Sonny, a new director has not been named yet. Interviews took place last week. John Fabrizi’s last day at work in charge of Adult Ed is this August 18.
With few exceptions, Adult Education is an upscale pseudonym for GED administrator which means high school diplomas for dropouts.