Bridgeport Energy cited for air emissions violations
BRIDGEPORT — The state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has entered into a consent order with Bridgeport Energy, LLC to address past emission violations at the company’s power generating facility in Bridgeport. The order requires Bridgeport Energy to pay a $298,000 civil penalty for the alleged violations. The company has also paid $345,500 in past-due emission fees and spent close to $1 million on the acquisition and installation of new pollution control equipment to address the violations.
“It is absolutely essential that companies issued permits for air emissions properly monitor, record and report those emissions to the DEP to protect the environment and the health of our citizens,” said DEP Commissioner Amey Marrella. “In this case, Bridgeport Energy routinely underreported carbon monoxide emissions — that is simply not acceptable. All companies in Connecticut must know the DEP takes very seriously violations of our environmental laws and regulations.”
Bridgeport Energy operates two electricity-generating turbines at 10 Atlantic Street. Reviewing submitted data, the DEP became aware that the company was not properly monitoring and recording carbon-monoxide emissions during periods of startup and shutdown on the turbines and had under-reported emissions. The DEP directed Bridgeport Energy to begin collecting carbon monoxide data during startup and shutdown to determine the magnitude of emissions during these periods.
DEP officials determined that the company under-reported annual carbon monoxide emissions and that the annual carbon monoxide limit was exceeded in calendar years 2003, 2004 and 2006. The excess emissions were attributed to the release of uncontrolled emissions during frequent startups and shutdowns of the facility’s turbines. In addition to the emissions violations, the facility was also cited for monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting violations associated with carbon monoxide. The company agreed to pay a $298,000 penalty for these violations.
DEP regulations require Bridgeport Energy to pay an annual emission fee based upon the amount of emissions released by the facility. To account for the excess emissions that went unreported in the past the company was also required to pay an additional $345,000 in fees to the DEP.
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