UI's Monopole Project In Fairfield Inches Ahead With Siting Council OK

FAIRFIELD, CT ? The Connecticut Siting Council on Thursday gave the go-ahead for United Illuminating to begin drawing up a proposal for its controversial monopole transmission line project in Fairfield north of the railroad tracks, despite continued opposition from town officials.

Referred to as the Hannon-Morrissette Alternative, the proposal would place dozens of tall monopoles, most over 100 feet high, to the north of the railroad tracks through parts of town and Bridgeport, not along the south side between the tracks and the Post Road.

According to town officials, Thursday's Siting Council vote was 4-1 in favor, with two abstentions. Earlier this month, no council members voted in favor of UI's initial proposal, which had garnered fierce opposition from residents and state and town officials over its potential negative impact on Fairfield homes and businesses.

Despite the Siting Council's decision, First Selectman Bill Gerber said that town officials are in the dark over the new direction for the project, because UI has not provided a design for this option.

"The vote for the option to move monopoles to the north side of the railroad tracks, while it has the potential to be a step in the right direction, does a grave disservice to the Town and its residents," Gerber said in a statement to Patch. "Ratepayers as well as residents have a right to understand and weigh in on the impacts of potentially having new giant monopoles erected in their backyards."

A major concern of residents and town officials of the initial proposal for the project along the south side of the tracks, was the potential for UI to obtain permanent easements from multiple properties.

UI has said that it would work with property owners about such matters, but concerns remain, especially now that the project may move to the north side.

"Since UI has not yet designed this alternative route, property owners to the north have not been provided any notice of potential impacts on their properties, let alone a right to participate in the Siting Council hearing," Gerber said. "Property owners could be facing significant impacts on their properties without any due process rights. The Town still believes that undergrounding is the best option and we are discussing an appeal with our legal team."

In a statement to Patch, Jim Cole, vice president of Projects at UI, thanked the Siting Council for its decision, saying it showed that the council considered "all the evidence placed before it during these extensive proceedings."

"UI?s obligation, as it has been from the start, is to replace aged and deteriorated infrastructure that is more than 60 years old, fortify the grid for electrification demands expected to double for New England customers by 2050, and allow for upgrades to the CTDOT rail corridor - all while minimizing costs borne by ratepayers as well as community and environmental impacts," Cole said.

He added, "Significant work lies ahead to design and implement the selected alternative, and UI is committed to keeping municipalities, commercial, and residential customers informed every step of the way while working individually with abutting homeowners and impacted businesses."

UI officials estimate the design phase could take 9-12 months, followed by additional due diligence, community outreach, surveys and other work.

"Our concerns about the potential impacts of the double-circuit design have not changed: there should be no easements over sensitive areas to the north of the railroad tracks, and the monopoles should not be taller than those that are currently there," Gerber said.

Added Andrea Ozyck, co-founder of the grassroot opposition group, Sasco Creek Neighborhood Environmental Trust Inc., "The Siting Council?s responsibility is to balance the need for reliable and cost-effective utility services with the environmental and ecological impacts. Yet there?s no way for the Council to know what the impact is, because there is no engineered plan. So they?re approving a plan without knowing the impacts."