CT Siting Council Reconsiders UI Monopole Proposal In Fairfield & Bridgeport

FAIRFIELD, CT — The Connecticut Siting Council on Thursday voted 4-3 to revisit its recent denial of United Illuminating's proposed monopole transmission line project through parts of Fairfield and Bridgeport, though the decision does not automatically mean it will overturn that earlier rejection.

Instead, the council essentially reset the clock, and now has 90 days to issue an opinion to coincide with its denial of the proposal, according to Fairfield officials.

"What we know from the meeting [Thursday] is that the Siting Council does not intend to overturn their vote from several weeks ago, and Council members articulated their desire for United Illuminating to come back to the table with a plan that takes into account the community’s needs," said Fairfield First Selectwoman Christine Vitale in a statement. "This is another victory for the Town of Fairfield and the City of Bridgeport, as it affirms the Council’s original desire to see UI present a new plan that addresses our concerns."

Under the rejected UI proposal, the utility company would install dozens of tall monopoles through parts of Fairfield and Bridgeport that would carry high voltage power lines. The company says the project is necessary to harden the system against natural disasters, and to help UI meet the future power needs of the region.

Opponents of the proposal, including leaders from both communities, residents, businesses and clergy members, say the proposal would adversely affect the area, and instead want the power lines buried underground. UI estimates that a below-ground approach would be significantly more expensive than hanging the lines above ground.

Read More:

• Fairfield & Bridgeport Team Up To Oppose UI's Proposed Monopole Project
• Court Overturns Controversial Decision; Ruling Is A Victory For Fairfield And Bridgeport
• Huge Price Tag For Underground Transmission Line Project In Fairfield & Bridgeport: UI
• Setting the Record Straight on UI’s Misinformation Campaign
• UI Responds To Statements By Fairfield Advocates In Monopole Dispute
• CT Siting Council Recommends A New UI Monopole Proposal In Fairfield
• UI's Monopole Project In Fairfield Inches Ahead With Siting Council OK
• Residents Urged To Speak Out Against UI Monopole Proposal In Fairfield
• Fairfield Leaders Blast CT Siting Council Over New UI Straw Vote
• State Council's 'Straw Vote' On Important Fairfield Issue Goes In Town's Favor
• UI Responds To Mounting Opposition In Fairfield To Monopole Proposal
• Fairfield Files Appeal Against CT Siting Council's UI Monopole Plan

Vitale said that Fairfield "remains steadfast in its commitment to fight for the protection of all of its residents, businesses and places of worship, and is determined to continue to advocate for UI burying the transmission lines, rather than building overhead lines that will destroy the precious resources of the Town."

Sarah Wall Fliotsos, a spokesperson for UI, told Patch that the council's failure to give an explanation last month for its denial of UI’s project "is not aligned with Connecticut law."

"But worse, it left us with no path forward for rebuilding our 60-year-old transmission infrastructure atop 110-year-old railroad catenaries in Fairfield and Bridgeport, which the Siting Council has already agreed needs to be replaced for the benefit of customers across Connecticut and throughout the region," Fliotsos said.

She added, "The stakes are high: to continue with delay after delay, as some state politicians have recklessly called for, risks a catastrophic transmission line failure that could result in a prolonged electric outage across the state and region, as well as tumultuous rail disruption. We encourage the Siting Council to move quickly to resolve the lack of clarity in their October decision so that we can work to finish the essential 25-mile transmission replacement program as cost-effectively as possible on behalf of the customers we serve."