IMPORTANT REMINDER - PLEASE ATTEND TODAY'S SITING COUNCIL MEETING
NOTE: As of this morning (9/18), Docket 516/516r is still on the agenda
Final Siting Council Vote - Thursday, 9/18 at 1:00 PM
The Siting Council is scheduled to take its final vote on Docket #516. As mentioned, the Governor has requested that the vote be delayed, so it's possible that the vote will be tabled but it's unclear whether the Council will respect that request or proceed with a vote. See Events page for details on how to join the meeting
Quick status of where our opposition stands:
9/17/25 Fairfield and Bridgeport leadership stood together in opposition to UI’s plan. This garnered continued press coverage and showed unity between the Bridgeprt and Fairfield communities.
9/16/25 Our rally in Hartford was a powerful success as we saw a meaningful step forward: Governor Lamont announced that he will be requesting that the Siting Council delay Thursday’s final vote on Docket #516 to allow some time for less destructive solutions to be explored. He also shared that he has already spoken with UI, and they agreed not to contest the delay — so hopefully, the Council will heed his request. Read more in the Town of Fairfield’s Press Release and watch a video of the Governor’s remarks.
9/4/25 – In a stunning reversal, the Siting Council took a new straw vote in favor of approving UI’s application to run massive monopoles and transmission lines along the South side of the Metro North tracks. If finalized, this decision would result in the seizure of 19.25 acres of private and municipal land, permanent loss of vegetation, and construction directly over multiple nationally recognized historic sites.
8/6/25 – The Governor appointed a new ecology expert, fulfilling the statutory requirement that the Siting Council include two members with an ecology background. With this appointment, the Council is now properly constituted to resume deliberations on Docket 516.
6/26/25 the Connecticut Siting Council was expected to take a final vote on Docket 516, as directed by the Superior Court’s remand order. Based on the Council’s recent 4–2 straw vote recommending denial of the application, we had every reason to believe that outcome would hold. Instead, in a surprising turn, the Council voted to approve a motion filed by UI just two days ago asking them to delay the final vote. The request was based on a new statutory requirement that says the Council must include two members with an ecology background—and right now, it only has one. So the final vote is now on hold until the Governor appoints an additional Siting Council member with that required expertise.
6/12/25 the Connecticut Siting Council held a virtual meeting to discuss next steps in Docket #516. During the meeting, the Council took a straw vote on United Illuminating’s original application, which proposed installing massive new monopoles and transmission lines along the south side of the Metro-North railroad through Southport, Fairfield, and Bridgeport. While an official vote is still pending, a majority of Council members voted to deny the application. If that result holds, UI will be required to submit an entirely new application, triggering a fresh review process.
4/23/25 MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT The Connecticut Superior Court ruled in favor of SCNETI, the Town of Fairfield, and our fellow co-plaintiffs in our appeal challenging the Connecticut Siting Council’s approval of United Illuminating’s transmission line project through Fairfield and Bridgeport. The court found that the CSC “exceeded its statutory authority and violated principles of fundamental fairness.” Central to this decision was the fact that the Siting Council approved a project located on an entirely different route from what was originally proposed, without proper notice or an opportunity for public input. While this ruling is a significant and hard-earned victory for our community, the road ahead remains uncertain until United Illuminating announces its next steps. We remain prepared and committed to protecting our property rights, environment, history, and public safety in whatever comes next. See the judge's memorandum for more details.
1/13/25 our Appeal hearing was held in New Britain Superior Court before the Honorable Judge Matthew Budzik. Arguments were presented by attorneys from SCNETI, the Town of Fairfield, the City of Bridgeport, Southport Congregational Church, and BJ's Wholesale. Judge Budzik has 120 days to issue his decision and we are hopeful for a favorable outcome. See the 1/16/25 First Selectman's update for additional details about the hearing.
See Recent Updates page for more details