FAIRFIELD — As the Connecticut Siting Council (CSC) decides its next action in the controversial monopole installation through Fairfield and Bridgeport, state legislators have gotten on board First Selectman Bill Gerber’s efforts to lobby against any plan that includes overhead poles.
The CSC had to reconsider its prior approval of United Illuminating’s project to install several large overhead monopoles through both municipalities as part of a plan to update the transmission line near the Congress Street substation. That was because New Britain Superior Court Matthew Budzik ruled in April that CSC should not have approved the monopoles north of the Metro-North train tracks.
In addition to The Town of Fairfield, the City of Bridgeport, a grassroots neighborhood organization from Sasco Creek, numerous state legislators have now weighed in on the UI monopole application.
“The community has spoken loud and clear that UI’s south side proposal does not adequately balance the energy needs with what is best for our community,” said state Rep. Jennifer Leeper (D-Fairfield). “Thankfully, the judge ruled against the Siting Council’s north side decision. I will continue to fight for what’s best for our community and advocate for the Siting Council to dismiss UI’s original application and require a new application that undergrounds these transmission lines.”
Rep. Steve Stafstrom (D-Bridgeport) reminded everyone that CSC needs to get it right this time.
“Here we go again,” he said. “The Siting Council has already been scolded once for exceeding the scope of its authority. Due process, transparency, and fundamental fairness require that the Siting Council dismiss UI’s application outright and allow for public participation consistent with the legislative directive of Public Act 24-144 on any future application.”
Republican Sen.Tony Hwang of Fairfield said that residents have already made themselves clear on this issue.
“The people of Fairfield and Bridgeport have spoken loud and clear: massive overhead monopoles are an unacceptable and unfair imposition on our communities,” Hwang said. “I stand with our residents, businesses, and local leaders in demanding that United Illuminating’s application be dismissed outright and that any future proposals start from scratch, with real accountability, real transparency, and full consideration of underground alternatives.”
State Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D-Fairfield) urged the Siting Council to reject the application.
“Give our communities the opportunity to meaningfully engage and deliver a solution that properly balances energy demand with critical community needs,” McCarthy Vahey said.
On Friday, June 6, The attorneys representing the Town of Fairfield, the City of Bridgeport, SCNETI (Sasco Creek Neighbors Environmental Trust), and other impacted parties submitted a joint letter to the Connecticut Siting Council urging the Council to deny UI’s current application in Docket No. 516. The letter cites the Superior Court’s ruling that the Council acted outside its authority and violated public due process and emphasizes that only a new, properly submitted application can meet legal requirements and protect the community’s rights.
The virtual CSC meeting that will determine the next step in the controversial United Illuminating (UI) monopole project will be Thursday, June 12.
Gerber and Easton First Selectman David Bindelglass will be among others who will testify at Thursday’s meeting, which will be available on Zoom. They registered as intervenors in the CSC monopole application case.
The Zoom link is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81351401216… The meeting ID: 813 5140 1216 and passcode is a39FiM. To Dial In by phone, call 1 (929) 205 6099 US (New York) The meeting ID is 813 5140 1216 and the passcode is 950005.
Details of judge’s decision
In April, Judge Budzik of ruled that the CSC “exceeded its statutory authority and violated principles of fundamental fairness” and remanded the matter back to the CSC “for proceedings consistent with [the Court’s] memorandum of decision.” However, instead of dismissing the pending application on remand, the CSC has instead scheduled a meeting to consider new proposed findings of fact – even though there has been no hearing since Judge Budzik reversed the prior CSC decision, and the new proposed findings of fact have not been made public.
The Town of Fairfield, the City of Bridgeport and intervenors BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc; SCNETI appealed the initial decision of the CSC approving the construction of overhead transmission lines along a new route to the north side of the Metro North train tracks.
Critical to the decision was the finding that the CSC “changed the facility under consideration in the application from the 1430 Line to the 1130 Line.” United Illuminating never applied for a certificate to rebuild the 1130 Line, preventing the Town of Fairfield and its residents from adequate notice of any potential modifications to the 1130 Line to the north.
