This story has been updated to include comments from United Illuminating and update the date of the press conference.
FAIRFIELD – Fairfield First Selectman Christine Vitale plans to hold a joint press conference with Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim on Wednesday on United Illuminating’s proposed monopole installation plan.
Vitale, Ganim and other local and state officials will make one last pledge to stop the Connecticut Siting Council’s approval Sept. 18 of the power company’s project to replace aging power infrastructure with new monopoles. The press conference will take place at the Barnum Museum at 820 Main St. in downtown Bridgeport at 1 p.m.
The officials decided to take their campaign to stop the UI plan straight to the people and the media following an unsuccessful meeting they had with UI President Frank Reynolds to voice their strong opposition to the UI monopole project.
last Thursday.
“Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim and I were joined by elected state representatives from both municipalities: State Reps. Jennifer Leeper, Cristin McCarthy Vahey, Sarah Keitt, and Sen. Tony Hwang, along with Bridgeport State Rep. Steve Stafstrom,” Vitale said in a letter to the community. “Legal teams from both communities and United Illuminating were also in attendance.
Vitale offered details of the UI meeting.
“Our hope was that we could work together to develop a plan to mitigate the disastrous effects on our communities,” she said. “UI stated that they were open to exploring other options but only after the Siting Council votes on Sept. 18. We are very concerned that by that time it will be too late for any meaningful influence on accommodations where they are critically needed.”
UI issued its own statement on Monday afternoon.
“As we do with many of our projects, we routinely meet with our customers and elected officials to discuss the details of our plans and proposals,” said Sarah Wall Fliotsos, UI spokesperson. “As we have communicated since our outreach process began in July 2021, our preferred alternative best serves the public interest of the state: protecting the environment and reining in costs.
“While the cost of our least expensive option would be spread across 14 million New England ratepayers, the cost of the underground route preferred by the intervenors would incur $500 million borne by Connecticut ratepayers alone. Ultimately, though, UI is not the decision-maker on the project route, and we await the Connecticut Siting Council’s decision.”
Vitale said her administration will continue to work with the town’s legal team to oppose the twice-denied plan by the Siting Council and inexplicably and suddenly approved in a straw vote on Sept. 4.
Hwang, who is challenging Vitale in special election to fill the first selectman seat following the late Bill Gerber’s death, issued the following comment on the monopole decision on Sept. 8.
“This isn’t anti-infrastructure —I t’s pro-process, pro-community, and pro-solution,” Hwang said. “The Council’s abrupt reversal — without any new public testimony, fact-finding, or record development — undermines confidence in a body that must be above reproach. We need a lawful reset that restores public trust.”
Vitale said her administration will again fight to have a Siting Council decision reversed or struck down. That was the case in April, when a New Britain Superior Court judge struck down an earlier Siting Council to go ahead with the project. The court remanded the project approval back to the council. Then the council voted 6-2 in a straw vote to once again approve it without new testimony.
“We will advocate for a new, responsible solution and pursue every legal route available to use,” she said. “I am steadfast in my commitment to fight for the protection of all Fairfield residents, businesses and places of worship.”
