After three years of implementing Bridgeport”™s BGREEN 2020 initiative, the city has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 55,000 metric tons””the equivalent of a year”™s worth of electricity for 7,600 homes.
Under Mayor Bill Finch”™s direction, more than 100 organizations and individuals in 2010 drafted the 10-year plan, aimed to transform the city into a greener, healthier and better place to live. Since then, more than 150 projects in support BGREEN 2020 have been completed or are underway, according to a three-year progress report.
By creating a new energy district and park; promoting energy efficiency and implementing a new recycling system, the city is well on its way to reducing its energy consumption by 10 percent by 2020. The city has already acted on enough projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 162,000 metric tons once completed. The amount is the equivalent of 377,312 barrels of oil.
Among the city”™s biggest accomplishments is the establishment of the Eco-Technology Park, designed to showcase the city”™s renewable and cogenerative energy production. There, Dominion is in the process of building the largest fuel cell plant in North America, which is expected to power more than 15,000 homes by the end of 2013.
The city, in partnership with the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, is also purchasing an anaerobic digester at the wastewater treatment facility to convert sewage into energy and a hot water pipeline to use heat for the city”™s solid waste mass burn facility. The energy generated will be used to power nearby industrial buildings and heat offices and apartments.
“In just three years, we have made significant progress and are already seeing a great deal of success with a citywide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, new green businesses moving into our eco-technology park, and increased recycling rates,” said Finch, announcing the three-year progress report. “We created BGREEN 2020 to create jobs, save taxpayers”™ money and fight climate change.”
The public-private plan is supported by the Fairfield County Community Foundation and funded by city, state and federal dollars, in addition to private investments.
More than 2,500 trees have been planted, recycling rates have increased 64 percent and access to healthy foods has expanded through farmers markets, community gardens and urban agriculture.
“Despite all of our progress, we still have much to do,” Finch said. “But I hope that our collective success in embracing and implementing the BGREEN 2020 plan will inspire us all to make Bridgeport the best it can be.”
