Groundbreaking for Dominion Bridgeport Fuel Cell Power Station

A previous FuelCell Energy installation, a 10.4 MW fuel cell power plant in South Korea (courtesy FuelCell Energy).(Via fuelcelltoday.com) Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes and other dignitaries will join executives from Dominion of Richmond, Va., and FuelCell Energy Inc., of Danbury, Conn., to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Dominion Bridgeport Fuel Cell power station in downtown Bridgeport. It will be the largest fuel cell power station in North America.

The event will take place on Friday, May 3, 2013, 11 am EDT at 1366 Railroad Ave. Bridgeport, Conn. (visitors will be directed where to park).

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 MW 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 andThe location of the new fuel cell (Courtesy Google Maps) 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.

Solarize Bridgeport Program

Solarize Bridgeport is a unique discount buying program that uses a tiered-pricing structure, town-supported education and outreach and one competitively selected installer to dramatically reduce the cost of solar. The more residents sign up for Solarize, the more the cost comes down. All contracts must be signed by July 12th to participate.

Click here to get more information about how Solarize can help you!
Download the presentation from our Bridgeport Solarize Kick-off Workshop (PDF)

Solarize Connecticut is a State-sponsored program through Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) that combines coordinated town education and outreach efforts to significantly increase residential solar. The more residents participate in the program, the more the price drops, with all residents receiving the lowest possible price for their installation no matter when they sign up for the program.

However, residents must sign a contract by July 12, 2013 to qualify.

If you want to learn more about the Solarize Bridgeport Project, go to www.SolarizeCT.com/Bridgeport, or call Astrum Solar at 800-903-6130.

Come to a Solarize Bridgeport Workshop:

• Thursday, May 9, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at North Branch Library
• Tuesday, May 14, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at Black Rock Library
• Thursday, May 23, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at North Branch Library



Pleasure Beach Master Plan

Mayor Bill Finch visits Pleasure BeachBridgeport is in the process of restoring the Pleasure Beach recreational areas. Access to Pleasure Beach from Bridgeport has been impossible since 1996 when a fire burned down the wooden bridge connecting the island to the mainland.

The restoration of Pleasure Beach has been one of Mayor Bill Finch’s primary goals. The Master Plan represents the City’s desire to restore the park, and transform the undeveloped area into a sustainable, environmentally friendly, family-oriented outdoor recreation area.

The plan incorporates needed facilities through restoration and new construction, and emphasizes co-existence between wildlife and people. Pleasure Beach is to serve as a recreational, educational, and a wildlife resource.

Through a grant from CT DEEP, a new fishing pier has been built, and several new buildings that will serve as restrooms, An example of new Pleasure Beach Infrastructureshowers, concession stands, and a welcome center are planned for construction. The new construction will feature sustainable building practices and materials such as recycled rubber roofing, composite decking and metal, permeable pavement, solar hot water systems, and rainwater harvesting systems.

The final step in the master plan is the addition of a new water taxi. The taxi will take the place of the old wooden bridge by shuttling visitors from mainland Bridgeport out to Pleasure beach.

Parks Master Plan

The new splash pad at Washington ParkThe ultimate goal of the Parks Master Plan is to enhance existing parks, create new parks, and provide better connections between parks and residents by physically connecting the areas using public transit, pedestrian walkways, and complete streets.

Improvements to the park system will revitalize the surrounding areas, and increase the vitality of the city as a whole. The Margaret E. Morton Government Center plaza, Knowlton Park, and Washington Park are some of the first locations that have benefitted from the master plan.

Improvements to Knowlton Park such as new plazas, gently sloping open lawn areas, and an overlook pavilion are included in the master plan. Boardwalks that allow for pedestrian waterfront access will weave throughout native vegetation plantings that provide habitat for wildlife in the area and cleanse stormwater runoff.

Washington Park was Bridgeport’s first public park. Renovations and improvements for Washington Park will include a gazebo, restrooms, basketball court improvements, fence restoration, lighting and sidewalk repairs, site furnishing, and landscape improvements.

An artist's rendition of the Knowlton Park improvements A splash pad has already been installed in Washington Park, and a new swing area is nearly complete. A new curb around the Victorian garden has been completed and work is now being done to install granite curbing. The restoration of this historic park will be an example of community pride and pleasure.

The Broad Street Plaza in front of the Margaret E. Morton Government Center has recently been renovated. Improvements to the area include several new benches, the installation of new sidewalks that utilize permeable pavement, and improved landscaping.

Save The Sound Through Green Infrastructure

Possible locations for stormwater management systemsThe Long Island Sound is one of the most densely populated regions in the U.S., which means that polution levels are a major environmental concern. It is imperative to invest in green infrastructure techniques that ease the pollution loads currently impacting the area.

One type of green infrastructure includes plant and soil systems such as bioswales and rain gardens. These systems naturally filter stormwater before it flows into local waterways, thereby reducing the amount of pollution flowing into the Sound. Another solution to stormwater runoff is the use of stormwater collection systems.

Stormwater can be collected, and either reused, cleaned, or evaporated. Since 2004, an estimated 1.6 billion gallons of sewage have been dumped into the Long Island Sound by Bridgeport in order to avoid sewage and stormwater mixture overflow within facilities.

Save the Sound along with NRDC and CT DEEP have conducted a study of the feasibility of stormwater control measures in Bridgeport and New Haven. This map (above) shows the various possible locations for stormwater management systems around the coast of the Long Island Sound.

The City of Bridgeport is also investigating the use of permeable pavement, which allows polluted stormwater to pass through roads and sidewalks before it is allowed to flow into the Sound.