Governor Ned Lamont is weighing in on a long running fight over tall electrical transmission lines in Bridgeport and Fairfield, known as monopoles. Opponents see it as a victory, even if the proposal may still get approved.
Reverend Carl McCluster, the senior pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in Bridgeport is critical of the project.
鈥淲e cannot allow this to happen to our city; it is time for Bridgeport to rise up,鈥� McCluster said.
McCluster spoke alongside several residents, advocates, local and state officials in Bridgeport Wednesday by the Barnum Museum.
The gathering was scheduled before Lamont announced he wanted the vote by the 黑料吃瓜网 Siting Council postponed over concerns residents were not fully informed on the proposal.
Residents, local and state officials say they鈥檙e happy over Lamont鈥檚 advocacy. United Illuminating, which planned to install the monopoles, has consistently pushed back against criticism over the potential impacts they would have on Bridgeport and Fairfield.
Many local residents oppose the plan to put up the poles over environmental concerns, property values and aesthetics, many residents say they鈥檙e eyesores.
Lamont鈥檚 advocacy was warmly greeted by opponents. Fairfield First Selectman Christine Vitale said while UI appeared willing to discuss the proposal, she wasn鈥檛 sure if the siting council would delay the vote.
鈥淚鈥檓 cautiously optimistic that they鈥檙e willing to come to the table, to find alternate solutions but right now based on conversations we鈥檝e had to this point with them they want the vote to happen,鈥� Vitale said.
UI declined to answer questions on if it would request a delay on the vote, to 黑料吃瓜网, but a spokesperson referred to Lamont鈥檚 remarks where he said UI did not oppose delaying the vote.
State Reps. Sarah Keitt, Antonio Felipe, State Sen.Herron Gaston, and Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim are among those who oppose the plan in Bridgeport. Their criticism is in line with those who are against the plan next door in Fairfield.
Barnum Museum Executive Director Kathleen Maher said the monopoles, if installed, would be less than 500 feet away from the museum. That she said would be a problem, since the museum is a . She said the designation gives additional requirements for nearby developments.
Maher said the museum was informed about the project later on. The poles, which could be taller than the M&T Bank building according to their location, at 195 feet (formerly known as the People鈥檚 United Bank building) in Bridgeport, are concerning, according to her.
鈥淪tanding from a position of needing to know exactly what the details are from these poles, on the 250,000 people that are going to be coming to the Barnum Museum, yeah it鈥檚 going to impact us,鈥� Maher said.
However, while Lamont and the entire state delegation from Bridgeport and Fairfield are opposed to the monopoles, the vote has yet to be delayed. The vote is still scheduled for September 18th, according to the council which confirmed the date as of Wednesday afternoon.
Vitale said she is concerned about legal costs if the fight, which has been ongoing since 2024, continues. But she said the town is not backing down.
鈥榃e are going to continue to fight this, so I鈥檓 looking for a speedy solution that benefits our community,鈥� Vitale said.
