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The Green Energy Park is a clean energy project currently under construction, where 9,000 solar panels and a fuel cell will be installed atop an old and unused landfill.
“We’re happy to see local jobs being created right here to create green energy,” said Finch. “This project will be powering 5,000 homes with clean energy. That’s 5,000 homes that aren’t going to be polluting the atmosphere.”
The city of Bridgeport is working with United Illuminating Co. to install the solar panels and the 2.8 megawatt fuel cell. Once finished the project will produce enough clean energy to power an additional 5,000 homes while creating up to 92 jobs.
“The benefits are fantastic,” said Curt Spalding, administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency’s New England Region. “We lower our carbon footprint and we create jobs. What’s really exciting is this opportunity in Bridgeport. A signature project for New England and certainly for Connecticut.”
Rivera said: “I’m learning. I’m a rookie mayor, a year and seven months in. It’s always good to see colleagues that are doing stuff that you can take home to your city.”
Lawrence is the home of Solectria Renewables, a clean energy company that has grown from four employees to nearly 200 over the last four years. It’s now one of the largest photovoltaic inverter manufacturers in North America.
Finch and Rivera met with officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before the tour of the Green Energy Park to discuss opportunities and best practices for bringing green energy and green jobs to their cities.
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