What Happened?
Bridgeport, Connecticut, is turning its municipal landfill site into a green energy park that generates renewable sources of fuel to run residents and businesses. The city, State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and United Illuminating are working together to install solar panels and fuel cells to optimize the area.
The Goal
The public-private partnership between the local government and United Illuminating will bring new sources of capital to fund the development of the green energy park, as part of the BGreen Plan for 2020. The 50-acre renewable energy park will house solar, fuel cells and wind installations to reduce fossil fuel consumption, lower taxpayer costs and combat climate change at the local level.
The renewable energy park is expected to produce 2.2 megawatts of solar photo voltaic and 2.8 megawatts of fuel cell energy annually. When combined with United Illuminating’s projects, an estimated 3,000 homes can be powered by 28 million kilowatts of locally generated, renewable energy each year. The city predicts the installed cost of capacity would be $5,000-$5,500 per kilowatt with a generation of cost of about $0.12/kilowatt over the course of the project.
An act passed in 2011 enables local electric distribution companies in Connecticut to develop, own and operate renewable electric generation systems totaling 10 megawatts. United Illuminating applied to build, own and operate 5 of its allocated 10 megawatts of renewable energy within the state in Bridgeport as part of the sustainability plan.
Bridgeport’s Bigger Picture
While the renewable energy park is a significant component to the city’s sustainability plan for 2020, Bridgeport has other green initiatives in the works to clean up its fuel consumption. The city is also developing:
- An energy improvement district to implement renewable energy generation projects as well as retrofitting projects to reduce building greenhouse gas emissions. This district will focus on lowering household and commercial energy bills, lower property tax burdens and increase overall efficiency.
- Strategies to lower greenhouse gas emission from transportation with increased access to public transit and complete roads, hoping to reduce the dependency on automobiles.
- A green collar institute to work with businesses to reduce waste and make better use of available resources. The city wants to become a green business incubator, and attract eco-friendly companies to set up shop locally.
- Zoning and geographic information systems to encourage green redevelopment efforts throughout the city. The projects will transform vacant lots and buildings into energy-efficient infrastructure and businesses.
- A conservation commission to create a parks plan that increases and enhances green space throughout the city with additions such as community gardens and pocket parks.
- More resources to manage recycling and composting tasks to reduce the cost and burden of disposal while creating jobs and saving money.
The city is recruiting youth groups to deliver literature and educational materials to local residents and businesses to keep them abreast of what changes are being made, and opportunities available to participate in the initiatives.
Go Green Or Go Home
Gov1 has monitored the growing popularity in green energy initiatives such as rooftop solar panels and solar-powered water services.