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UI (opinion): Bridgeport transmission line snapped in cold heightens need for grid modernization plan. ‘We got lucky’
On Saturday, Jan. 24, on one of the coldest days of winter, we narrowly avoided what could have been a very serious event in the heart of Bridgeport – one that UI has been trying to prevent for nearly three years now. Just before dawn that morning, one of the transmission lines that hangs above Interstate 95 and Metro-North Railroad snapped in the cold, falling onto the interstate before landing on the train’s power wires, structures and facilities above Tracks 1, 2 and 4 of the railroad. Thankfully, train operations on those tracks were halted before any trains could travel through these areas and did not reopen until repairs were completed some nine hours later, causing delays and impacting Metro-North riders. The line that failed, called a static wire, is a de-energized line that helps prevent lightning from striking our energized transmission wires. Replacing the wire could take months, given the need for complex coordination between UI, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, and Metro-North. If the repair extends into the spring when thunderstorms begin, service to thousands of customers along the railroad could be at risk under certain conditions.
CT seeks new contracts for nuclear power, renewables
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said Friday that it would begin seeking new contracts for carbon-free electricity from large power generators, including the Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Waterford. The announcement marks the start of the agency’s latest round of “grid scale” clean energy procurement, which began in 2011. Several years later, officials used that process to provide a lifeline to Millstone after its owner threatened to shut the plant down due to the difficulty of competing against lower-cost natural gas. As part of a 10-year contract that expires in 2029, Connecticut agreed to purchase half of Millstone’s output at the set price of $50 per megawatt hour. Like all the grid scale clean energy contracts, utility customers pay a premium on Millstone’s power whenever it’s higher than the wholesale cost of electricity — typically determined by the price of gas. But when the cost of electricity rises above the contract price, customers receive a credit on their bills.
https://ctmirror.org/2026/01/30/deep-rfp-nuclear-renewable-contracts/
Beeline Update: $9M project construction in spring
PLAINVILLE — Town Manager Michael Paulhus has provided an update on the Beeline Trail, which will connect Plainville and New Britain, and is set to begin construction next Spring. Paulhus said the $9 million project will be entirely state funded. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2027, pending funding, right of way acquisition and permits. “A major trail and street improvement project is coming to Plainville and it could change how people move through town,” he said. “It’s called the Beeline Trail, a new east-west connector linking New Britain and Plainville.” The Beeline Trail, also known as the New Britain–Plainville East–West Connector, will build a new road-separated, multi-use trail along with streetscape and complete street improvements along East Main Street, Pine Street and Woodford Avenue and White Oak Avenue. “It also closes a critical gap linking the Beeline Trail with the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail,” Paulhus said.
Greenwich train station reopens following $30M plaza renovation
GREENWICH — The Greenwich train station reopens to commuters Friday morning, following a major renovation project that is expanding and modernizing the station plaza. Visitors to the station will find a new wood-slatted ceiling, high-end lighting, upgraded restrooms, new flooring, railings and an elevator. The exterior of the station has a new clock, similar to ones at train stations in Europe. “We’re incredibly grateful to the residents, commuters, and local businesses for their patience and support throughout construction,” said Ryan Harvey, CEO and president of The Ashforth Co., the development firm behind the construction. The modernization of the railroad plaza, called Greenwich Crossing, required the closing of the passenger terminal in May. Commuters had to take stairs to reach the train platform. Harvey said the completion of the new station was part of a larger project that will have a lasting impact on the community.
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/green-train-station-plaza-reopening-21322093.php
FEMA reimburses CT DOT $4.4M for repair of massive 2021 sinkhole by PGA Tour golf course in Cromwell
CROMWELL — The Federal Emergency Management Administration has reimbursed the state $4.4 million for repairs it made to the Wethersfield Secondary Freight Line after a 2021 hurricane opened a massive sinkhole next to the golf course that annually hosts the PGA Tour Travelers Championship tournament. “It covers emergency restoration following the remnants of Hurricane Ida in September 2021,” said David Bednarz, a spokesman for Gov. Ned Lamont. “Extreme rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems, causing a massive washout … that left the tracks suspended over a collapsed embankment between the TPC River Highlands golf course and the Connecticut River.” Bednarz said the massive sinkhole was 120 feet long, 60 feet wide and 80 feet deep, located near the 13th hole at the golf course. This funding, he said, ensures the structural integrity of this vital freight corridor. The Cromwell site was part of $105 million in FEMA funds to support recovery for past disasters in five New England states, according to a press statement announcing the grants. The projects included debris removal, emergency protective measures and the repair or replacement of public infrastructure damaged by recent disasters. This regional funding is part of a broader effort announced by the Department of Homeland Security. In this past week alone, DHS and FEMA approved more than $2.2 billion in public assistance projects to communities across the U.S.
Wilton Board of Selectmen OKs two bridge replacement projects, each costing more than $5M
WILTON — The Wilton Board of Selectmen approved two bridge projects, each totaling more than $5 million. Last week, the board unanimously approved two state-funded replacement projects for Honey Hill and Cannon Road bridges. The projects are awaiting final approval by the town’s attorneys. Both projects were discussed on Jan. 20 with Director of Public Works Frank Smeriglio, who said the town received the grants around two or three years ago. He said both grants include other incidentals like the design, construction contingencies and inspection services for both projects. “The state requires that there is an inspector on the project eight hours a day, every day,” he said. Smeriglio added that there are also easements and state permits that still need to be completed for both bridges. “Work can’t start until the easements are in place,” he said. “We don’t plan on starting until the beginning of April.”
CT DOT plans new $35 million transportation project. It will be paid for by the state.
The Connecticut Department of Transportation has a $35 million plan for a shoreline train station improvements project. The plan calls for improvements to the Madison Shore Line East Railroad Station that will require acquisition of rights of way and impact local wetlands, records show. The work would include construction that is anticipated to begin in fall 2027, according to the Department of Transportation. The project also is anticipated to be undertaken with 100% state funds, according to the DOT. Connecticut Department of Transportation Project Manager Scott Anderson said, “This project relates directly to CTDOT’s ongoing commitment to improve commuter rail services.” For example, the project would include a new pedestrian bridge over the active rail line that would connect to the north and south side platforms, according to the DOT. “The proposed work at the town’s Shore Line East Station will make commuter rail services modern, reliable and convenient so that the future transportation needs of Connecticut’s residents are met,” Anderson said, in a statement.
Update of Hartford’s underground loop heating system on hold
A contentious plan to heat state office buildings in downtown Hartford with a new generation of gas-powered boilers is on hold due to potential interference from the planned reconstruction of Interstate 84, officials confirmed this week. In an interview Wednesday, Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Michelle Gilman said her agency decided late last year to pause a planned renovation of the Capitol Area System — a network of 15 buildings connected by underground heating and cooling pipes known as the “loop” — following discussions with other state officials about need to utilize space around the loop for highway construction. By agreeing to pause the project, Gilman said the state would avoid wasting money on new equipment that might later need to be removed to accommodate the highway. In addition, she said the pause will give officials more time to consider more climate-friendly alternatives to new gas investments that have been pushed by some advocates. The loop is powered by the CAS thermal plant on Capitol Avenue, which utilizes natural gas boilers to provide heat and hot water for hundreds of state offices, as well as some private buildings such as the Bushnell Performing Arts Center. (The state Capitol building relies on a separate system to heat and cool the 146-year-old building.)
https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/update-of-hartfords-underground-loop-heating-system-on-hold/
Site at Waterbury-Middlebury line eyed for apartments or hotel
A Washington, Connecticut-based company is seeking permits to construct either a new apartment complex or hotel on roughly 7 acres at the border of Middlebury and Waterbury. In June, a Waterbury wetlands agent approved Credit Resources of Connecticut Inc.’s plan to excavate rock outcrops on the site and install drainage and parking, creating a development pad partially framed by a rock wall. The work would involve blasting and removal of 3,805 cubic yards of material, according to application materials. Now, Credit Resources — whose principals are Philip and Gretchen Farmer, of Washington — is seeking an excavation permit from Waterbury’s Zoning Commission. A public hearing is scheduled during a commission hearing Wednesday evening. About 4 acres of the development site sits in Waterbury. Land records show that portion was acquired in a $1.06 million transaction in 2009. According to a Jan. 16 memo from Waterbury City Planner Robert Nerney, the project depends on the State Department of Transportation moving forward with its plan to realign the Exit 17 interchange from Interstate 84 onto Chase Parkway, which quickly crosses from Waterbury into Middlebury.
https://hartfordbusiness.com/article/site-at-waterbury-middlebury-line-eyed-for-apartments-or-hotel/
CT town has concerns about planned 4.65-megawatt solar array. A treasured scenic view is one of them
Citing concerns about views from the Heublein Tower, potential environmental damage and more than $300,000 in unpaid property taxes, Simsbury has successfully asked state regulators for a public hearing on Lodestar Energy’s plan for a solar array on Nod Road. The company is proposing a 4.65-megawatt solar facility on about 19 acres at the former Tower Ridge Country Club. The state Siting Council must decide by June 2 whether to declare the project needs no certificate of environmental compatibility and public need; Lodestar wants that designation because it would streamline the approval process. Simsbury First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis this winter was able to secure a hearing so neighbors and other residents can offer their opinions before the council votes. “As drafted, the application raises serious concerns about potential harm to both the wetlands and the flood zone,” she told the Siting Council in a Dec. 30 letter. “We recommend relocating all development outside these sensitive areas and outside Simsbury’s local Upland Review Area.”
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