United Illuminating has agreed to Gov Ned Lamont’s call to delay its petition before the Connecticut Siting Council in order to give the state “extra time to come up with an alternative” to installing monopoles in Fairfield and Bridgeport.
Lamont made the announcement at the state Capitol on Tuesday where opponents from Fairfield and Bridgeport had gathered to protest UI’s plan to install overhead monopoles to the south of the Metro North train tracks.
UI Sarah Wall Fliotsos pointed out the governor’s comments at Tuesday’s rally. “We did talk to United Illuminating. They said they would not oppose the delay,” said Fliotsos.
The Siting Council took a non-binding straw vote on June 12, with four members opposing United Illuminating’s proposal, two in favor, and one abstaining. On Sept. 4, the council reversed course in another straw vote, approving the plan and setting up a final vote scheduled for this week.
Fairfield First Selectman Christine Vitale has called the last straw vote “highly suspect and indefensible”.
On Tuesday, she thanked the governor for interceding.
“Gov. Lamont has heard the voices of the people of Fairfield and Bridgeport and has offered both our municipalities and UI an opportunity to start again, this time with a plan that takes our concerns into account,” Vitale stated in a press release. “Now I call upon UI to finally sit down with us to meaningfully evaluate alternatives that will minimize disruption to the precious resources in our community.”
Steve and Andrea Ozyck, co-founders of Sasco Creek Neighbors Environmental Trust, Inc., also known as Empowering Fairfield, said, “We are deeply grateful to Gov. Lamont for standing with us and affirming the need for alternative solutions that deliver a resilient, reliable grid while protecting our communities from devastating harm.”
“The Town of Fairfield has been an involved intervenor in the process from the beginning,” said Vitale. “Overwhelming opposition from residents, small business owners, preservationists and religious leaders has been heard.”
Vitale stressed that Fairfield has consistently advocated for placing transmission lines underground along public roadways, a proven, safer, and modern solution that is regularly utilized by states throughout the nation and countries around the world.
