Fawcett Meets with Westporters Concerned about CL&P Substation

State Rep. Kim Fawcett (D-Fairfield) met with residents of the Greens Farms neighborhood of Westport this week to hear their questions and concerns about a CL&P plan to build a substation near their homes.

"I am shocked that CL&P would so inappropriately decide to place this project not only in a residential community, but next to a school," Fawcett said in a news release.

Several Greens Farms neighbors expressed surprise at the lack of information about the substation and were shocked to hear that CL&P is in the final stage of approval for the site.

Residents became aware of the project only recently because of signs posted near the proposed site at 6 New Creek Road that announced a public hearing. The Connecticut Siting Council held the hearing March 31 in Westport to determine the suitability of the site for a CL&P substation.

"When CL&P approached our school with this proposal it was presented as a fait accompli," said Janet Hartwell, head of Greens Farms Academy.  The school opposes the plan.

About 25 people met with Fawcett. Many said they feared the project and cited the tragic accident of a 13-year-old boy who was electrocuted at a substation in Southington last year.

"This occurred despite the best safety practices of CL&P, and that substation wasn't even near a school," said Jim Burke, an opposition organizer and concerned parent.

Jennifer Boyd-Mullineaux, another organizer and ecological wellness practitioner, suggested that CL&P had not proven a clear need for the substation in its application to the siting council. She believes that the residents can work together to make a substation less necessary by "going green" with solar panels. "If several residents and a few businesses pledge to generate their own power, then no community will be asked to absorb the enormous risk of raising their children in the vicinity of a substation," she said.

This idea, because of incentives from the Obama Administration and Greens Farms Academy's interest in installing solar panels, could provide a solution for reducing the load on the existing substations, Boyd-Mullineaux said.

"I'm alarmed by the data associating these substations with electromagnetic fields that can increase the risk of childhood leukemia," said Dan Mullineaux. "That's all the reason anyone needs to oppose this."

 The Siting Council, an independent group appointed by various state organizations has until April 30th to hear from the public about this proposal before delivering a verdict.

The Greens Farms neighbors hope that the public will voice their opposition and sign their on-line petition at www.petitiononline.com/newcreek/petition.html.