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PSEG expects to begin construction of the clean, natural gas-fired plant in 2017. The plant, which represents an investment of more than $550 million, is targeted to be completed and supplying needed energy to the Connecticut region beginning in June 2019.
“We are pleased that PSEG Power will be making further investments in power generation in our city,” said Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. “The new plant will result in jobs and tax-base generation, adding more than $5 million in additional tax revenue per year to the city.”
"The pollution that coal creates is damaging to the environment, damaging to resident's health, and damaging to the state," said Gov. Dannell Malloy.
"Today's announcement to convert the PSEG plant to natural gas is incredibly positive news. Our state continues to show that we can meet our energy needs while decreasing our carbon footprint - we are leaders in combating global warming," Malloy added. "I applaud the residents of Bridgeport, city officials, and proponents whose advocacy over the last several years helped bring about the change that we're seeing today. And I thank PSEG for making this decision. This is an important step forward. Local residents will no doubt benefit, as will the entire state. This will mark a new milestone."
Connecticut recently joined with a group of seven of neighboring states on the East Coast to sign a petition urging the federal government to take action against nine Western upwind states who have coal-powered plants they said spew dirty, polluted air into the jet stream that gets carried across the borders and into the East Coast states.
"This is another step into the future. Every day we continue to work towards bold action on this issue at home and across the nation. We all need to take action - together," Malloy said.
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