The Waterbury Generation Project consists of an approximately 96 megawatt (MW) generator built on a Brownfield site on Washington Avenue in the City of Waterbury. This generator is a state-of-the-art combustion turbine manufactured by the General Electric Company that, during periods of high electric loads, primarily burns natural gas with ultra low sulfur distillate (similar to kerosene) used as backup fuel.

Pursuant to Section 12c of Public Act 05-01, An Act Concerning Energy Independence, the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) issued a competitive bid solicitation for new or incremental electric generating capacity to reduce Federally Mandated Congestion Charges (FMCCs) for the benefit of Connecticut ratepayers. The Waterbury Generation Project was announced in April 2007 as one of four projects chosen in that competitive solicitation. The Project is owned by Waterbury Generation, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company. As a selected bidder, Waterbury Generation LLC has signed a 10 year contract with The United Illuminating Company (UI) to provide its generating capacity to the State.

Following approvals by the Waterbury Planning and Zoning Commission, the Connecticut Siting Council, the DPUC, and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), construction began in early 2008 and commercial operation of the Plant will begin on July 1, 2009. The Waterbury Generation Project is estimated to cost $120 million.

Project Benefits

The Waterbury Generation Project will:

• Provide much-needed clean, flexible, and efficient electric generation in Southwest Connecticut.
• Save Connecticut ratepayers more than $50 million during the first 10 years of its operation alone. These savings will be multiplied by the impact they will have in allowing Connecticut businesses to be more competitive.
• Pay more than $110 million in property taxes to the City of Waterbury during the 40 year life of the plant.
• Pay more than $40 million in corporate taxes to the state of Connecticut during the 40 year life of the plant.
• Pay over $3 million in sales and use tax during the construction period.
• Create more than 40 construction jobs and four full time positions, in addition to part time effort for 8-10 employees at FirstLight’s corporate headquarters.

Project Communication Plan

• Project Communication Plan - June, 2009 (109KB)

Additional Project Data

• U.S. EPA Clean Air Markets
• Energy Information Administration
• Stack Test Results Submitted to CT DEP (9MB)
• Stack Test Data for Back Up Fuel (6.8MB)

Project Photos

• Construction Photos - September, 2008
• Construction Photos - April, 2009
• Aerial Photos - August, 2009

Project Q&A

For more information, please click on the following link(s):

• Questions and Answers from Public Meeting on 09/12/2007 (131KB)