Mayor Joseph P. Ganim
Bridgeport, CT
For Immediate Release For More Information:
February 11, 2016 Av Harris (203) 814-7992
av.harris@bridgeportct.gov
Mayor Ganim, Senator Blumenthal, Congressman Himes Praise Auction Moving Construction of PSEG Natural Gas Plant Forward in Bridgeport
$550 Million Construction Project will Create Hundreds of Jobs, Replace Coal Fired Power Plant, Add More than $5,000,000 per Year to City Tax Receipts
Bridgeport – Mayor Joe Ganim today joined Connecticut U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) in praising the successful auction result that is allowing PSEG Power Connecticut to move forward with the construction of a $550 million dollar natural gas fired power plant on the site of the current coal-fired plant in Bridgeport’s South End. Construction on the new power generating station is expected to begin in 2017 and will result in the creation of more than 350 construction jobs in addition to 20 permanent maintenance jobs in Bridgeport, as well adding an expected $5,000,000 in annual revenue to the city’s tax base. Once the new power plant is constructed, the coal fired plant will be decommissioned and dismantled, replacing its coal emissions with cleaner burning natural gas. PSEG has also come to agreement with the Bridgeport city council, several community groups and environmental organizations on a $2,000,000 annual Community Environmental Benefits Agreement that will fund projects and improvements focused on creating environmental beenefits to the residents of Bridgeport, establish a community liaison officer that will be a main point of contact for PSEG for the neighborhoods closest to the power plant, and work with the community to support local and regional hiring for the jobs created by the construction of the facility.
“This is a huge win for the city of Bridgeport and one of the largest private investments ever made in our city,” said Mayor Ganim. “Not only will Bridgeport get a reliable source of energy for years to come, but more than 300 new jobs will be created by the building of this facility and we get to retire the last coal plant in Connecticut and replace it with cleaner burning natural gas. PSEG is also a pledging to be a good corporate citizen of Bridgeport and we all stand to gain by the addition of more than $5,000,000 per year in tax revenues and the neighborhoods closest to the plant will be bolstered by the $2,000,000 yearly investment set forth by the community environmental benefits agreement. This will help transform the future of our city and the Bridgeport waterfront for generations.”
Connecticut U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said, “This new plant will provide critical, cleaner energy to Connecticut residents, revitalizing a dormant, antiquated facility. The new plant will replace an old coal-fired plant-- an environmental hazard with serious health risks for families nearby.”
Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4), whose district includes Bridgeport, said, “Moving the last coal-fired power plant in CT to natural gas will provide cleaner and more affordable energy to the people of Southwest Connecticut. Making this change will improve the health of Bridgeport families and represents a victory for environmental justice as we will no longer be burning our nation’s dirtiest fuel source in the middle of our state’s largest city. Now, we should move forward rapidly to make this transition as quickly and smoothly as possible without any undue delay.
After construction on the new facility begins in 2017, the PSEG natural gas power plant is expected to take approximately two years to complete. PSEG expects the new facility to come fully online in June of 2019. It is expected to be capable of generating 485 Megawatts of energy at one time.
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