“I’m proud to support Gov. Malloy’s commitment to fighting climate change, creating good paying green jobs and growing our clean energy economy. In Bridgeport, we’re making smart investments in the future. We’re doing this in part by creating green jobs, investing in clean energy production, and creating transit-oriented developments – all of which will ensure our kids breathe cleaner air.” – Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch
Bridgeport, Conn. (September 18, 2015) – Today, Mayor Bill Finch announced he is supporting Governor Dannel Malloy’s recently signed declaration to commit Connecticut to reducing carbon emissions 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2050. Earlier this week, Gov. Malloy, while participating in the first-ever “U.S.-China Climate Leaders Summit,” signed a declaration to commit to action on climate change and to meet specific emission reduction targets.
“I’m proud to support Gov. Malloy’s commitment to fighting climate change, creating good paying green jobs and growing our clean energy economy,” said Mayor Finch. “In Bridgeport, we’re making smart investments in the future. We’re doing this in part by creating green jobs, investing in clean energy production, and creating transit-oriented developments – all of which will ensure our kids breathe cleaner air.”
In signing the declaration on behalf of Connecticut, Governor Malloy said, "President Obama's initiatives to address climate change at a national level are critical to ensuring that the entire nation is on course to reduce harmful carbon pollution. At the same time, state and local governments are playing a leadership role in demonstrating effective approaches to address our climate emergency. We've been doing exactly that in Connecticut - and we have already achieved a 2020 goal of reducing emissions 10 percent below 1990 levels. We are also demonstrating that climate action and economic progress are compatible - we have achieved this emissions reduction while seeing population growth of nine percent, and overall economic growth of 41 percent."
In August, the White House released a fact sheet titled, “President Obama Announces New Actions to Bring Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency to Households across the Country,” Bridgeport was recognized as one of fifteen cities.
The acknowledgement is due in part to Mayor Finch signing the Park City onto “The Compact of Mayors.” It’s “a global coalition of mayors and city officials that have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience to climate change, is committing to further the uptake of clean energy technologies, including in low-income communities, and to track overall progress,” according to the White House.
Mayor Finch, who serves as co-chair for the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Task Force, has been recognized as a national leader in creating green jobs and promoting clean energy.
Through his green job and clean energy initiative, BGreen2020, Mayor Finch has helped reduce carbon emissions in the city by 55,290 metric tons per year, which is roughly equal to taking more than 11,000 petroleum-fueled vehicles off the road annually.
Earlier this year, he received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Leadership Award, which recognizes groups and individuals who demonstrate innovative leadership in combating climate change.
Mayor Finch was the only individual in the United States to receive the award this year. And, his leadership on beating back climate change is already showing significant results in the Park City, including:
- Creating green jobs: Bridgeport is training workers for 21st-century jobs while growing green businesses. At Bridgeport’s Eco-Technology Park, green businesses employ hundreds of people, and through a citywide initiative, nearly 1,000 workers have been trained and placed in green jobs over the past several years.
- Producing clean energy: Bridgeport’s Dominion Fuel Cell, which is the largest in North America, powers 15,000 homes with clean energy. And, Bridgeport’s Green Energy Park, which is currently under construction consists of putting thousands of solar panels and a fuel cell atop an old and unused landfill. Once complete the Green Energy Park will power another 5,000 homes with clean energy. These projects are creating jobs while ensuring kids breathe cleaner air.
- Building transit-oriented developments: Bridgeport, and other densely populated cities across the country, account for significantly less pollution than suburbs. That’s why in order to combat climate change, Bridgeport is improving the city’s downtown area, developing Steelpointe Harbor, and building a second train station – as well as more than 1,000 new apartment in these areas – so more people will live within walking distance to public transit.
“Our city’s Eco-Tech Park has created hundreds of green jobs with hundreds more to come,” said Mayor Finch. “And, soon, we’ll be producing enough clean energy to power up to 20,000 homes. These investments in the future and others are helping us ensure Bridgeport becomes a place where our kids and grandkids will choose to live, work, and raise their families, too.”